Salon scoops three awards at national ceremony
LACEBY STYLIST TO THE STARS REFLECTS ON DIFFICULT TIMES
A LACEBY salon has scooped three awards at a national ceremony proving that hard work during difficult times can pay off and the owner says she’s feeling positive about the future. As we entered a new national lockdown, it was grim news once again for salons in this area as they were forced to close their doors for a third time, but for Fusion Hair Co there was a silver lining to the cloud this time around. Owner Chris Grimley, who has styled during star studded catwalk shows at London Fashion Week, said it has been her aim to turn the salon into an award winner but she never anticipated it would happen in such difficult circumstances.
She said: “I took over the business as the sole owner two years ago but we’ve been here since 2007 so I’ve been working towards this for 13 years.
“One of my goals when I became the owner was to make this into an award winning salon but obviously with everything that has been going on with the pandemic that has been made a little more difficult. I’m absolutely delighted that we’ve been able to achieve this as a team, it is just a fantastic achievement and we’re definitely proud.”
The team at Fusion Hair Co scooped three prizes for the Lincolnshire region at the annual Salon Awards in December which celebrate excellence in the hair and beauty industry.
The national awards judge salons in their regions looking for how they improve standards, elevate business, reward individuals, and showcase the professionalism of their industry locally.
The team have been crowned as the best in Lincolnshire for the categories of ‘Best Customer Experience’, ‘Marketing Trailblazers’ and ‘Best Colour Salon’.
The last few months have been difficult for many businesses and salons and hairdressers have been among the first to close and the last to open, unsurprisingly, as the industry relies on contact between people. Chris said: “It has been a really difficult few months, it is really stop and start with the lockdowns but we’re just looking forward now to seeing how we can improve on this.
“For the category of Best Customer Experience, that was partly based on what we’ve been doing during the lockdowns, we’ve kept in contact with our customers and made a real effort to talk with people who might need us.
“Now we’re looking to do the same again and we’re filling the book for when we can open again, it is just about staying positive now and taking the time to do some of the jobs we’re too busy to do usually.”
In the past Chris has had the opportunity go to some of the world’s leading catwalk events and featured in a Naomi Campbell show at London Fashion Week in 2019.
She has been to seven London Fashion Weeks overall and was also booked for the Paris Haute Couture in 2020 which had to move online due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Chris learned her craft at Grimsby Institute and later taught hairdressing and has often been invited back to inspire students as a guest speaker. Speaking about her time working at the fashion shows, Chris told GrimsbyLive: “When you are working all you can hear is the click, click of the cameras. I love it.”
“Some of the shows have up to 50 models, others there are about 15 models. It is fast and complex and you have always got to be perfect. “I am passionate about my work. I am lucky that I can do all that and then come home and tell all the team and pass on tips and tricks. I love sharing it all.”