NERGISH WADIA-AUSTIN graduated from the Vidal Sassoon Academy in Hong Kong and quickly rose through the ranks from stylist to a Director of the market-leading salon by the age of 19. She also qualified as a Beauty Therapist via the renowned French Institute of Beauty-Elysee.
Since then Nergish has embarked on many roles both in the UK and abroad focusing on the operational and commercial aspects of retail within hair & beauty salon’s, spa’s, barbershops and retail sites. Her accounts have included the retail elite, including Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, Simpsons, Fenwick, Dickins and Jones, Debenhams, House of Fraser, Top Shop, Bentalls and Allders, amongst others.
She has also been asked to speak at the Fellowship of British Hairdressing Events and has been appointed by several UK Colleges to offer Career Advice to the graduating Hair and Beauty students. In addition she has become a regular contributor to leading trade publications such as Hairdressers Journal, Health & Beauty, Creative Head, Frizz, Scratch, Beauty Salon News & Salon Business. Since 2003, each year, Nergish has been asked to join a panel of respected industry experts who are set the enormous task of judging the British Hairdressing Business Awards and the Sapphires Franchising Awards.
In 2004, Nergish joined forces with Andre Ouellette to develop, produce and sell management training videos and DVDs of Nergish’s training via their company Salon Standards Ltd. The first two in the series were called Increasing Customer Spend –The stylist’s approach and Increasing Customer Spend- The Receptionist’s Approach and were designed to help salon managers to assist team members in reaching their retail, colour service and treatment targets. These DVD’s helped businesses focus on ‘chair-side’ language.
In 2006, Nergish was invited by L’Oreal Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and Dubai to design and conduct similar management training programmes for their regions. As a result of her repeated success at HJ’s Salon International where she speaks regularly at the salon business extra forums, she has also been asked to speak at Hair Expo in Sydney (in 2007, 2010, 2011.) and Expo New Zealand (2011) Nergish continues to inspire numerous national and international visitors at these key International Industry events.
In December 2010, Nergish launched PHAB Standard Ltd, the first performance based industry standard for the Hair, Beauty and Nail Industry. PHAB verifies individual productivity, when you prove repeat custom and retail sales. It also verifies salon/spa performance, when you develop PHAB approved teams. With PHAB Standard, Nergish hopes to introduce, for the first time, standards given for proof of performance, a way of officially recognising business talent and productive team players. She also hopes to provide a stepladder for career progression, guidance for salon owners recruiting new professionals and guidance for customers choosing new salons and professionals.
