Shellharbour and Wollongong skin care business Skin Correctives is celebrating the lockdown as a finalist in two categories of the Australian Beauty Industry Awards.
Owner director Karen Meiring de Gonzalez said her 11 year old business with salons in the two local government areas presently in lockdown is a national finalist for Salon Team of the Year and Business Director/Owner of the Year.
It is the first time the 2020 Illawarra Business Woman of the Year has entered the ABIA Awards and she said it was a wonderful boost for her team of eight staff while they are are unable to see clients this week.
Instead they are making the most of the time to catch up with other things such as additional training and providing remote assistance customers.
Mrs Meiring de Gonzalez said it was really important for her to enter her team who have risen to the challenge of two lockdowns and risen above every hurdle to do their best for every customer.
“Being a finalist in the Salon Team of the Year category is in recognition of the things we have done as a team together,” she said.
“My team moves around both salons in Shellharbour and Wollongong.
“I specifically wanted to enter the team because they have been absolutely incredible and amazing.
“We have had a more profitable year with less staff than we have ever had.
“They have worked extremely hard. During the last lockdown as a team they were so highly productive.”
And that positioned the business better for post lockdown in 2020.
“We took the business to the next level while we were closed by being able to collaborate as a team,” Mrs Meiring de Gonzalez said.
“I entered these national awards because I really wanted them to feel rewarded and proud to be part of a team that has pulled through so well.
“We have been booked with a waiting list every single day for the past year.”
This week they have been doing training and in contact with clients to provide support ensure their treatment programs remain consistent while they are in lockdown.
That includes sending out home care instructions.
The team is also using this lockdown to look at how they can be more productive to better service customers after the lockdown when waiting lists are likely again.
Mrs Meiring de Gonzalez said she is keeping all her staff fully employed during the lockdown.
“I know if we put the time in now during these two weeks whatever I’m paying them I’ll get back ten fold,” she said.
“I see this time as an investment so we can all grow and we can all benefit at the end.”
COVID-19 restrictions permitting the winners will be announced at The Star in Sydney on August 29.
This article was originally published by Greg Ellis in Illawarra Mercury, 2nd July 2021
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