Cutting edge

Local salon Raw Edge Hairdressing is the winner of the Customer Service category at the 2017 Powercor Geelong Business Excellence Awards.
The current owner purchased the Chelsea Lane salon in 2010 after managing it for nine months.
The salon had been operating for 12 years but was on the brink of closure.
It took five years of blood, sweat and tears to turn the salon around but when it was finally profitable it was relaunched as Raw Edge Hairdressing.
At relaunch, new staff members were hired and since then it has grown from a one-woman operation to a thriving salon with seven staff.
Customised marketing techniques were developed to aid this process and the salon is now Geelong’s leading colour specialised salon.
It has a database of more than 3500 clients, an outstanding online presence, and is now one of few multi award-winning salons in Geelong.
The salon has tripled its revenue, the profit has reached a generous six figures, and a system has been implemented so the managers can guide staff to operate the business without the owner being in attendance.
Raw Edge provides services to all men and women, prides itself on selling only socially responsible products, and is the only green-accredited salon in Victoria.
The past year has brought further advancements for Raw Edge, with the owner stepping off the floor completely, the salon preparing for relocation to new premises later this year, and the owner building on the success to launch a second business, Summit Salon Coach, where she mentors owners of other salons.
The owner and team are excited about the future of Raw Edge Hairdressing.