Beauty Industry Leaders

WA Finally Has Its Own Beauty Awards — Here's the Story Behind WASSABA

• Sammy Kennedy

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She applied for awards twice and went home with nothing. No trophy. No feedback. Just the bill.

Then she won Australian Clinic of the Year, only the third WA business in history to ever take that title.

And now? She's building an entirely new awards program so nobody else has to go through that process blind.

In this episode, I sit down with Rachel Diaz from Love Beauty Skin Clinic and Elke Richter from Skin Inspired, two of the three founders behind WASSABA, the brand new Western Australian Skin, Spa, Beauty and Aesthetics Awards.

This conversation goes way beyond awards. It's about what's been missing in the WA beauty industry for years: a place to be recognized without flying to Sydney, a community that actually supports you, and education that goes deeper than "just post more content."

In this episode:
👉 How a joke at a national awards night turned into a real organization within months
👉 Why the founders can't enter or judge their own awards, and why that matters
👉 The difference between a "fluffy pink clinic" application and the one that won Australian Clinic of the Year
👉 Why it costs $20K to $30K to take your team to national awards, and why WA needed a local alternative
👉 How WASSABA gives feedback to every applicant so you can actually improve
👉 Categories for cosmetic tattooists, body sculpting clinics, makeup artists, and spray tanners, groups that are usually left out
👉 The Profit and Planning Summit on June 17th covering pricing, end-of-financial-year prep, and brand strategy
👉 Why awards aren't about validation; they're about reflection, visibility, and knowing you're on the right track

Whether you've never entered an award in your life or you've applied and walked away empty-handed, this episode will change the way you think about putting yourself forward.

And if you're in WA and haven't looked at WASSABA yet, this is your sign.

Connect with WASSABA:
www.instagram.com/wassaba.official
www.wassaba-official.com

Connect with Rachel Diaz:
www.instagram.com/lovebeautyskinclinic

Connect with Elke Richter:
www.instagram.com/skininspired_

I want to empower women in the beauty industry to create an impact, build an empire, and leave their legacy!

Ready to become an industry powerhouse?
Get more clients, more income, and your time back without burning out. Be among the first to access exclusive scripts, strategies, and systems to get booked, banked, and in demand.
https://beautyindustryleaders.com.au/booked-banked-and-in-demand


If you have any questions about the episode, or have a burning question you’d like me to answer on the show, or if you’d like to join our movement of ambitious beauty leaders, connect with me and the rest of our incredible community on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/sammykennedycoach/
https://www.instagram.com/beautyindustryleaders/ 

SPEAKER_02

We went up for Salon of the Year maybe four times, four years in a row. And we never won. Never won it. And I remember the last year I'd only just had my son and six weeks later I was appearing at the awards. And as I say, that was our last year. We didn't win it. But I didn't go away from that feeling like I hadn't achieved and I hadn't done what I wanted to do. I actually went away with that and with a sense of I didn't quite take it off. But we won other awards and I know myself that my business is good. So I don't actually need to have someone else kind of go, you are amazing, you are the best. It's not to take any of that away. I think it's all so important. But for me, I just came away from that feeling that regardless of whether I'd won an award or not, it doesn't matter because what I've achieved, I'm happy with.

SPEAKER_04

The biggest one's probably you're doing it for yourself. You're trying to prove something. But not in a bad way, in a way like I've built this, I think it's incredible. I'm gonna put myself out there and you know hope for the best because I love it so much and I've put all my hard work and effort into it. And I think that's the original thing that you go in, and all the rest is just the perks.

SPEAKER_03

Hello and welcome back to another episode on the Beauty Industry Leaders Podcast. I'm your host, Sammy Kennedy. Today I'm joined by two of the founders from the Western Australian Skin Spa Beauty and Aesthetics Awards. You got it, you got it, you didn't. Today I've got Rachel Diaz from Love Beauty.

SPEAKER_01

No Love Beauty.

SPEAKER_03

Love Beauty Skin Club. I see you. It's just like I know the logo, but in my head, I just love skin. LB. I know it would be good to take the beauty out, but I think we've seen it. I know you were skin, not beauty though. Surely under the only one that you're watching this.

SPEAKER_04

The love of all things beauty. Beauty is skin, beauty is everything. So it's Love Beauty Skin Clinic. It's a strong brand, so I don't think I'd take the beauty pie.

SPEAKER_03

Anyways, there's Rachel. We've had her on before. She's amazing. She loves skin and beauty. And we've got a brand new face who I'm very excited to have sitting here with us. This is Elka Richter. She's the founder of Skin Inspired. She's had so many years of X series. Well, both of you have. And then also we haven't got Laura with us here today because she's in Vietnam living her best life, but she'll be coming on later. As founders of the brand new Skin and Beauty Awards in Western Australia, like how are you feeling bringing this to WA? We obviously haven't had anything like this. We usually have to travel all the way to Sydney, and with that comes costs and additional pressure. Like, Rach, what are your thoughts about the whole vision?

SPEAKER_04

I think it's very exciting. Um, it's been we've been putting a lot of work and time and energy into it. Uh, it's yeah, really special to be a part of something with Elka and Laura. They're incredible women, and we all have like a history of attending awards and we love it, and it's yeah, just been really exciting and special.

SPEAKER_03

Elka, I know that you have such a passion for telling the founder's story. If you could just give us insight of like how did this all come together? What was your initial thoughts? How did you find the right team and bring it all together?

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, sure. Um, it was interesting. I remember being at some national awards uh last year and I was sitting next to Rachel and I sort of said to her, I was like, oh, Rachel, there's no, there's very few West Australians that are entering these awards, and and only a couple that were nominated as finalists. So I jokingly looked at her and I said, Hey, we have to do this in WA. So effectively it really sort of started from there, I guess. But um, but yeah, we just wanted to create something that was, you know, again, a chance for West Australian um beauty industry to be recognised. Um, so yeah, really exciting to be involved in it. And of course, then we knew Laura, and I think that, you know, again, from different walks of life, it was just a great opportunity for us to get together and do something, even though we're ridiculously busy as it is, and mums and you know, juggling a thousand balls as so many business women are. Um, but yeah, great to great to get involved in it.

SPEAKER_03

So, for the people who don't know you, can you give me a little run through of like who you are, what your role is in Wasaba, and also who you are outside of your business?

SPEAKER_04

Okay, so I'm Rachel. My role in Wasab is industry relations. So I deal with like the socials, with outreach, with the social media, posting and advertising as well. Um, yeah, but then I also helped to set up the award um platform as well. I built that out, and yeah, me and Elka worked on that. That was a big crazy.

SPEAKER_03

That's been like a three-month process.

SPEAKER_04

It's been a process. Um, but now that it's all complete and it's open and people are applying, and there's been about 50, I think, applications already in the first two weeks. So it's been really incredible to see, and yeah, I'm very proud to be a part of that beginning.

SPEAKER_03

Quick question: what's the most popular award category that everyone's applying for right now?

SPEAKER_02

I think it was the skin therapist. Skin and then Soul Trader was actually a really big one too. Yeah, very, very popular.

SPEAKER_03

I think a lot of people in beauty are soul traders, like there's not as many that make it past a team of five, let alone 10 or 20. So it doesn't surprise me. We've got some incredible soul traders in the industry.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, they're very excited. But it's been great because there's actually across the board every category has been entered already.

SPEAKER_04

Which is fantastic. That's epic. Yeah, and we've had some people from other states reach out wondering if they could be a part of it. So that might be something to look into one day. Never know. Yeah. So it's yeah, been received really well.

SPEAKER_02

Elkar, what is your role within Wasaba? So I'm operations, so I get to do the fun bit with lots of emails and uh looking after the uh looking after the sponsorship side of things, which I actually really enjoy. Um got a lot of good contacts out there, obviously I've been in distribution myself for a long time. Um so it's nice to sort of be able to reach out, speak to people on that front. Um, and then I uh obviously with the awards, I'm really that support person sort of in the middle that assists with um sort of every angle of the business. Uh so yeah, so that's great.

SPEAKER_05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

And then how does Laura come into things? Because I know that she's got some incredible things going for her. She's got lush, skin and beauty. Lush, skin and body? Beauty. Body, I think. I think it's body. Lush, skin and body. Well, if I see the Instagram logos or the handles, I know you're gonna do very well trying to remember. She's just Laura. And then she's also got her networking group, which I'm not even gonna butcher the name of because my brain is just not working this morning. I think it's the beauty aesthetic network, is it? Yeah, yes, yeah.

SPEAKER_04

And so what is she doing within Wasaba? Uh, she again, because she's fantastic at events, so she's doing a lot of the organization for the events. I feel like um we all had a part in the sunsets, but she's really taken on uh the June event that's coming up. Um, yeah, so she pretty much organises all that side and the speakers and everything.

SPEAKER_02

And I get to come in with the budget bit at the end and say, This is the budget, then you need to make sure that everybody's in control of the budget and not overspending.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, but do you know what? We all kind of help each other. So, like she'll help me a little bit, Elka will help me a little bit, and vice versa. We all get involved because we are all busy, so yeah, it's really great to have each other's support.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, it kind of reminds me of back when I was running the beauty pageant a few years ago because it was like a group of A players. You come together and you just are so booked out with your own life, but then you're doing this essentially for free because it's the early days, and you've got to try get sponsors on board, you've got to try manage all your contestants, which in your thing would be your applicants. Like it's just the same kind of business model. How are you guys handling all the pressure at the moment? Like, is it a lot to try juggle with your business, or are you feeling like, okay, we're getting through this all right?

SPEAKER_02

I think the first year is definitely, as you say, obviously, probably the hardest. Um, you know, trying to pull the awards together, submission side of things. There's a lot in the way of criteria that obviously Raches and we put together. So I think from that perspective, it's probably been uh fairly epic, let's just say. Yeah. Um, but I think again, you know, the fact that we've got each other, we're supporting each other. We're also getting feedback as well as we go from from clients and you know, along the way, which is great. So that obviously gives us that little bit of an opportunity then to see from what happens this year to then where we go next year. But definitely year one is the trickiest.

SPEAKER_03

Because you're building out all the systems, you've got the foundation, and then once you've got all your award categories set up, you're not gonna have to stay up until midnight trying to add.

SPEAKER_04

I know, I know. Now I can rest and I feel good about it, and seeing it like live is fantastic as well, and seeing people enter, seeing so many people enter something that we created is unbelievable, it's so exciting. Um, but I think that we've also got really good teams, all three of us. We have managers that are kind of running the show behind the scenes, and um, we're just juggling everything with kids and business and wasava, but we're making it work.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, yeah. So, what's the common goal of Wasaba? Like, what are you setting out to achieve within the industry that hasn't already been done?

SPEAKER_02

So, I guess effectively we're trying to uh create a networking um opportunity for um industry, and then also obviously with the awards, a chance to give them the opportunity to be recognized and celebrated, I suppose. So you've done it successfully.

SPEAKER_03

I saw the sunset sessions event, like I was so sick, and I just honestly deep down could not be bothered going, and I'm like, nah, I'm heading here. And it was worth it. You guys brought a great crew together, there were some great insights from the speakers, and it attracted a really high calibre level of business owner. And I think seeing other industry events and the type of people that go, like the branding, the people behind it, the sponsors you guys have got on board, that is a testament to what you've built.

SPEAKER_02

Thank you. Yeah, it it's been received really well so far, and it's just so you never really know when you start something new. You sort of think, oh, how's this gonna go? But it's just I don't know, we've had such a great response. It's been really quite humbling, actually.

SPEAKER_04

So yeah, it took off. Um, and we had to find the bigger space to be able to allow enough people to attend so that people didn't miss out. So that was a great surprise because you never know how things will be received when you put them out. But for the first event, it did really, really well. Yeah. What was the feedback that you received after? No bad feedback. It was all very positive that we should do more, and that people that didn't attend felt like they had FOMO and that they want to come to the next event. So it was it was good. Maybe the mics when we were on stage, I think you couldn't hear some oh yeah, from the there was like some footy game or something.

SPEAKER_03

Like I kind of split between the two.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, but I think I think again, you know, like we are in Western Australia, obviously, everybody has always been that feeling as though, oh, we're in another country over here. Yes, you know, we're so far away from everything. So to go and be involved in education events or awards over in Sydney or Melbourne or interstate, it's it can get fairly costly for us from here to go across there. So I think to be able to set something up here like that, and just even for those networking events, it was such a huge thing. That's why there were so many people that jumped on board with us so quickly. Because I think going back, you know, 10 or 15 years ago, there was that real perception that it was like closed book, there's so much competition, I can't talk to you, I can't talk to you. But I think now people are really, you know, conscious of having an opportunity to be able to talk together, to share their feelings, how's the working for you? What's happening? Are you feeling the same way? So I think just that, even that little bit in itself is huge. 100%.

SPEAKER_03

Like even with the podcast and the guests that come on and then the DMs that people receive, it's like opening up this conversation where I feel that for so long people have been scared to put themselves out there. Maybe they had a bad previous boss, or maybe they became friends with someone in the industry who then kind of turned their back. And I think now more than ever, our industry has to come together because the race to the bottom with pricing, like staffing issues, like less people choosing a career in it, like we need to all cultivate that positive workplace, a great business model, and make sure that everyone feels rewarded in doing it because it is damn hard work. The amount of burnout, the amount of stopping and starting, like trying to juggle family life and then also business. For you guys, when you were wanting to give those opportunities to your team to go across to somewhere like Sydney for the avia, what kind of budget are you looking at realistically to make that happen? Just to put it in perspective.

SPEAKER_04

Depending on how many people you take, I would say I actually spoke to Jesse about this. Um, 20 to 30k. Because you're paying for their accommodation, you're paying for their food, um, if you're especially if you're going out to dinners together, you're paying for their tickets, which are quite pricey.

SPEAKER_03

And do you feel like there's a bit of pressure as well to go there to almost like stay relevant or not get that FOMO? Because I felt that way, and I'm not even in as deep as you with all the clinics and the teams and the awards. Like I was just going because I was like, oh, maybe I'll find some cool podcast guests. But it is a big pressure, and I talk to so many women, and they're like, Oh, but if I don't go this year because like I can't afford it, I'm not gonna look good, or I don't get to see the latest, greatest things, and I'm like, it doesn't change too much year to year.

SPEAKER_04

I think that it's definitely if I were to not go, there's a big FOMO. I think that I don't feel like I need to go, but I want to go. Seeing everyone come together and everyone from all of the different states fly into Sydney, um, all of the different businesses, you it has this slight powerful feeling, like you want to be a part of it. Yeah, uh, it's exciting, and yeah, definitely I have missed uh the events before, and I do feel like I'm missing out and upset.

SPEAKER_02

But as you say, for some it's just not always justifiable. Yeah, but the thing is they're incredible businesses too. And that's I think where really ultimately a lot of this came from is that there's so many amazing businesses just here in Western Australia, and they just can't always get across to something like that, or maybe you know, logistics of it just too much. So having something here that can give them that chance, yeah, and I think that's why again it's just been received so well is that they're all excited and dying to do it, but on a West Australian stage, it's just that little bit easier at this point in time, you know.

SPEAKER_03

I'm really curious with the applications and the messages you've received so far, are a lot of them in Perth, or are you also getting people who are a little bit more regional out maybe Bunbury, Margaret River, Albany, or up near June Bay, like because WA is massive when you think about it as half of Australia.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, she is quite big. We've had uh a bit of both. We have a lot based in Perth. Yeah, um, but I've been looking and keeping track on the Wisaba page, and we get a lot of DMs, and we do have someone Geraldton, I think. Oh, yeah. So we are getting rural people, and I think once we uh talk about it more, especially on our socials, more we'll come out as well and want to be involved.

SPEAKER_03

It's that ripple effect, like everyone is scared to go first, yes, and then when they see the first one, they get the FOMO and they're like, I need to go, and that's gonna just keep working for you guys.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

With Wasaba as an awards, like what is your point of difference? What do you want to be known for in terms of the gaps that you're solving within the industry? Because there's different awards out there, and there are some rigged ones, there are some really incredible ones led with integrity, and I'm not just talking about beauty, I'm just talking about general like awards. What do you want to be known for as an awards?

SPEAKER_02

Transparency and fairness, yes, yeah, an opportunity for them to um feel as though they're a part of something that's non-biased. Um, you know, we've obviously working on our judging process at the moment and who our judges will be, but um, 90% of them are gonna be industry experts from here, from interstate, but don't actually own a business as such or beauty business. And I think that's something that's quite important to make sure that there's a fair way that the the winners are chosen. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04

Uh and we we just want to make sure it's as fair as possible. Uh, and even like with myself and Laura, we're not able to enter the categories because that's a conflict of interest. Why would you? I know, but we wouldn't. Well, we want we'd love to. We'd love to do that. They might think that we would. I would say a lot of people would think that we'd enter our own businesses. But but um, yeah, that's not something that we'll be doing because it's a little bit too close for home.

SPEAKER_03

And you guys aren't involved in the judging process either, no, which I think is a huge thing to highlight because there are so many different awards and people, and it's so easy to go, oh well, they knew that person and they got that. Like, I know people don't want to say it out loud, but I know you're they're always thinking it. Absolutely, yeah. You guys are essentially like eventals and smalls.

SPEAKER_02

It is small at the end of the day, so people can have that element, but that was a big thing of when we came together. I was very clear on that. None of us can enter. Um, and none of you're judging. None of us are judging, no.

SPEAKER_03

We're not, it's completely um, yeah, we're so you guys are like glorified event organizers now.

SPEAKER_04

Yes, pretty much. It's a little bit like that. We set it all up though, we set up the criteria, yeah. Um, but we're just not the ones that are judging. So we're in the background, we've set up everything.

SPEAKER_02

And I think a couple of the things that Rach has done too, um, in the actual categories and the awards uh side of things is that she's given little hints and tips for people too, which is not something that we're necessarily aware of from some of the other awards that are out there. So I guess, you know, we want to give everyone an opportunity to be involved, whether they are a sole trader, whether they are a rising star potentially, and someone that's really new into beauty. So the first, you know, zero to sort of two years of being involved. I think that's important for them to have their own little category because how do they go up against someone that's essentially been in business for 20 odd years, you know? Oh, yeah. So we're trying to create some categories that I guess open up and the opportunities for everyone across the beauty industry.

SPEAKER_04

And we've also added um different categories for people that aren't normally involved, like cosmetic tattooists, um, sculpting, uh, body sculpting clinics, um, makeup artists, and spray tanning as well. We just wanted to give them a chance to kind of be seen and noticed and to step up. Which is your favourite category that you guys are like? Skin. Probably skin. Uh the either the skin dermal therapist of the year or skin clinic of the year. But I also really like the impact um leader.

SPEAKER_02

I'd have to say that's probably one for me too. I think uh impact is a huge one, and that could mean anything. Anything is it right? TikTok dances.

SPEAKER_04

Uh no, maybe maybe not that. Maybe then again, maybe we're inclusive of the work.

SPEAKER_03

I mean we hold DMs to someone saying, hey, I'd notice you've got some good content, but you could really approve it if you didn't. We have asked them to showcase their work.

SPEAKER_02

That might be their work. But um, yeah, no. I think I think even too, as I said, made the comment of the rising star. You know, I think there's so many young girls now, obviously, that are coming into the industry, and it it is a little bit challenging to get in, you know.

SPEAKER_03

Oh, they all want two years' experience. Where are you meant to get that experience?

SPEAKER_02

Exactly, exactly. But I think getting in there and growing and learning and have those and really taking things on board, this is a great opportunity to to showcase them as well and their abilities. Yeah. Um, because it does start there.

SPEAKER_03

So do you nominate yourself or can other people nominate you? Like, how does that work?

SPEAKER_04

Other people can nominate you, so they would put you forward to apply for a certain award, essentially. Um, so you can be nominated several times by different people. You could nominate yourself and just put yourself forward and apply, but it also isn't just like when you think impact leader, uh, it's a contributor. So it could be someone that has created like a course in the industry, it could be a mentor or a coach in the industry. Um, it's very broad.

SPEAKER_03

So is there a difference between someone getting nominated and then they apply versus them just self-nominating?

SPEAKER_04

It's the same, but it's for people that might not feel confident, but someone else sees that in them. Yeah, then you're gonna be able to do that.

SPEAKER_03

So I could go, hey, I really love this young girl. She's come into the industry. I would love to nominate her for rising star. And so she would get an email and then be able to fill out the application for it essentially.

SPEAKER_04

And that was very important for us because we know, like how we were saying, people are scared to come forward, especially in the first year. But then when someone else believes in them and backs them, um, that can sometimes give them the courage to to go in and to step into their power. And we've talked to people before. We actually had a lunch with a lovely lady, and uh she said that she nominated someone and that gave her the confidence to enter, and she actually won. So and she wasn't going to enter. So it we thought that that's something that's quite special that we wanted to include.

SPEAKER_03

That's really cool. I recently had an awards that I got nominated for, and it was almost like that imposter syndrome. You're like, oh my gosh, I have to put myself forward and say all these things. But if someone does write you that letter of recommendation or something, it kind of makes you go, oh, okay, let's do this.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_03

With Wasaba, how are you guys ensuring you have a integrity-led and fair judging process?

SPEAKER_04

We have a panel of different professionals across the industry that don't have, like we said before, current businesses. So they've got that background, that knowledge to be able to fairly judge. And again, because it is more anonymous, they're not seeing the actual clinics, they're going off of the information in the application. Uh, so it's very fair and it's um based off of the hints and what they're providing in their award applications. So, do you redact their business name from those? Yes, yeah, for them. We can see it on RM, but we're not judging, but they won't be able to see that. And then that way it's all based on their business health and um their. Team and how they run their business, or if they're an individual, it's all based on um what that looks like as well.

SPEAKER_03

So as a business, are you mentioning names of your employees and things like that, or are you just kind of keeping it?

SPEAKER_04

I you don't really mention names of your employees in awards. You talk about your team, yeah. Um, or you would call you'd reference them like my dermal therapists or my beauty therapists or my aesthetic nurses. Um, yes, so we don't really give names in there either.

SPEAKER_03

That's good feedback to know because sometimes when I'm applying for awards, I'm using specific examples to make sure that I'm not just saying I've done the thing of like this person did this, which created this result and helped these people. So, in terms of the award applications, you want these people to just use general terms.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, just like professional terms, uh like therapists, like we said, practitioners. Um, they can use their own name. A lot of the time when the questions like why do you deserve to win this award, they will say, I'm Rachel, and I've been in business for this many years. But again, they won't be saying, they won't be seeing the business name, they're just getting the general name of the applicant.

SPEAKER_03

Interesting. I think it's always cool to understand how these things work as well, because you do get so caught up in the moment, and then you're trying to perfect your answers and you're going back and forth and you're overthinking it, and then you're like, you want to write from your heart, and then you're like, does that sound good enough? And you put it through Chat GPT. What are your thoughts about people applying and using Chat GPT or Claude to pull their answers together?

SPEAKER_04

I think that as long as you take out the little that line, yeah, so we can't tell, and you change the American spelling back to English because they they put Z in their words, and you can tell that it's not like English, it's the American spelling. So, no, I think as long as they edit it and they don't use it to create their whole application, because we're looking at data, we're looking at like real back evidence.

SPEAKER_02

We want to see, we want to see their real side come account too. You know, if you use Chat GPT, it sounds very calculated sometimes, you know. So I think it's about don't be scared, you know. Like as we said before, there's there's gonna be businesses that are gonna enter that have done this loads and loads of times that application process is really straightforward and simple for them. And then there's gonna be newer therapists or newer businesses that are entering that are gonna go, I have to have it worded perfectly to a T. It's not about that, it's about showing the heart and showing why you're passionate and what you love about the industry and what you're doing. And I think that's what the judging judges are actually going to look at as well.

SPEAKER_03

And they can tell when you've put effort into it. Like I've seen some people who have applied for the podcast, and they'll put like a one-sentence and it was just like you're like, you don't need to be a good one. And then you see someone else who really puts the time and energy in, and they're like, This is how I believe that I can help your audience. I I would love to be able to speak on this, like just being able to come from that kind of perspective. Yeah, definitely.

SPEAKER_04

It's like when someone um applies to work with you, and if they do you know, when you get an incredible resume though, like they've photocopied and they've got pictures and different coloured fonts and their picture on there as well, and you can see how much effort and how professional it looks, it's kind of the same thing, like you can see how much they've poured into it, and it makes you think, okay, they've they really care.

SPEAKER_02

And and the plan too is that from then obviously the the judging process, we would really again um probably one of the big things that we're wanting to do is give um the applicants feedback. And I think that's just so important for them to be able to grow, for them then to go back and go, okay, if I didn't quite get my submission, how if the judges were wanting to see it this year, I'm gonna go back. I've got some feedback now. I know how to have another crack at it again next year, you know? Um, and that's important because we what we don't want either, and I have heard this a little bit from people, I had a couple of girls um email across the other day to say that they'd done awards before. They'd never won, they'd entered three or four times, and they've almost got award fatigue. And I think for us it's making sure that whether they win or they don't win, there's that real feeling of it doesn't matter because I know that what I'm doing means something, and regardless of whether I win that award or I'm up there as a finalist or I've just applied, there's something in it for me. I'm learning, I'm growing every time that I do it. And I think that's really important to us.

SPEAKER_03

And that is the thing about awards. If you have this judging process, it's different experts, you're not getting any feedback, there's no way for you to actually improve, and there's no incentive for you to want to try again.

SPEAKER_04

Exactly, yeah. And then every time that you well receiving that feedback, you can create a a more a better application and it will give you more chance next time. But I think them understanding too that just because you don't win that time doesn't mean you're not good enough. Um, becoming a finalist is still an incredible honour as well. Yeah, huge, huge.

SPEAKER_03

I want to know what are some of the biggest mistakes that you made in the early days when applying for awards?

SPEAKER_04

Um, for myself, probably fluffing it up a little bit, where instead of putting like factual information, I'd be like, I'm Rachel, and this is my dream career. And um I've been doing this for I don't know, eight years back then or something like that, and my my salon's pink, I don't know, all of that kind of lovely stuff. Um and then I found as time went on and I refined my application process and how we created that, um, I would put more factual information because you only get like 300, 500 word count. Yeah. So you just want to make sure it's hitting the spot for the judges what they're looking for. What about you?

SPEAKER_02

Okay. So I was telling Raj this the other day that of course, back when I had my clinics was good for years ago now, and of course, we were applying for national awards, um, probably fairly on in the process for them starting the awards. And of course, we were actually applying via a coffee table book. So it wasn't an online submission. It was actually a beautifully presented book that we'd put pictures in and we'd write in, and it's so it was quite a different process. Yes, literally, literally. I actually loved it, I must admit, because we'd come back and we'd put it on the table and it was, you know, something there for everybody to say.

SPEAKER_03

We're actually perfect for beauty people present.

SPEAKER_02

It was so visual, so it is really nice to sort of see, but you know, it was really interesting, like again, a bit the same. Like I I must admit, back then, and again, as I said before, 10-15 years ago, we were just so nervous to put anything out there that anyone might see that says, Oh, your figures aren't quite where they should be, or they're, you know, overinflated, or whatever it was. So that always made me really hesitant to sort of put that sort of side of things in there. Put as much as you can into that submission. You know, whatever you've got, as you say, it does not have to be perfect, but put what you can in there to give yourself that best opportunity because that's what they're gonna be looking for.

SPEAKER_03

So, do you guys plan on having like consistency with the judges for those categories over the years? Because the reason I asked this is if I was applying and let's say my first run was pretty darn average, but then I got the feedback and it was like, look, this is what you need to focus on. This would set you up a lot better for next year and maybe try this. Would I almost have the opportunity for that same judge to see my progress if I applied over three to five years, or is it completely different every time?

SPEAKER_04

It will just depend because I guess it will depend on their availability. When you upload to your past applications, stay up there. So if they did want to look over it quickly, they could look over the notes. Or I just feel like with the refining of the applications over the years, the new judge will still judge it fairly.

SPEAKER_02

I think the plan, as you say, we'd love to think that most of those judges would stay. And I guess it would really only be a reason of if they couldn't for one year, or let's say they maybe opened a business and it became a bit of a conflict of interest, then I guess maybe then we might have to re-look at why or how. Um, but yeah, if it's working well, why change it? Hundreds that's what we would like.

SPEAKER_04

What does consistency look like to you? The just the same applications, um, the same judging model of judging, yeah. Keeping things the same, but also taking into account feedback uh from people that are entering and making little tweaks and refining over the years as well.

SPEAKER_03

So when you were saying having those really fluffy applications, what did you specifically learn that you needed to focus on when you were talking about stats and facts?

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, so different things. Um talking about the process, not just the results, like how you do something, thinking outside of the box. So it might even be explaining how you reduced uh last-minute cancellations or no shows, or how you increase your rebooking rate, or how you've um grown your team annually and like what percentage that is. So data, we would make little graphs for our one so you could actually see like on a PDF, we'd make them look pretty. Jesse, uh me and Jesse, I would give you the information, but he's good at all of that stuff. But we would make little graphs and um we would provide information that they didn't even ask for as well, just anything to make it a strong application. We would talk about our team, how many team members, because that's important, what their roles are. Like I have one manager, two coordinators, five dermal therapists, whatever it is, so you can see the different departments in the business and how it's run. So we can see the business health as well. So you could put um it's up to the person and what they're comfortable with, but you could put like your numbers in there if you do feel comfortable for that. You don't have to though.

SPEAKER_02

That's not like it depends on the category too. Yeah. Obviously, there is a director of the year, so they're gonna need to talk a lot about the team and how they've built the growth and how they lead their team. Same with Clinic of the Year, you know, or BD Salon of the Year. I guess they're gonna have to have some more evidence-based information to for us to be able to set them apart, essentially, I guess, from the next business.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah. So and you can see the business growth. So over the the years when I first started, I probably had like a team of four, and then now I've got a very big team team of it bounces between 18 and 19. So that you can see the business growth. And my applications were still up on the platform that you could go back and see past applications and put them together and be like, my, how I want to see this first one. Oh my goodness, they were not. I think I've still got the book somewhere.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, that would be lovely to see. I love that. When you are thinking about a strong applicant, what kind of things need to go into the application that go above and beyond? Because obviously you're answering questions, but some people don't even answer the question. Like that's that's number one, like making that so clear is just looking at the question, dissecting it. Are there examples? Is there proof? Can I do a step-by-step process? But outside of answering the questions, are there other things that can help someone come across as a stronger applicant?

SPEAKER_04

Definitely. And that's something we did different as well, what Elka was saying before with the hints. So every single question has five hints. So it might be like show us your standardized treatment protocols, how, what are your ethos and your philosophy, what's your niche, what's your um treatment style? So a little bit of personal, and then again, the um showing the business health as well. Like show us your year-on-year growth, show us like your team growth, what do you do to support your team and for their development? Like, what ongoing education do you organize? What does that look like? And even um things like the process, like just say again, if you're in skin or you're in beauty, what does the process of your treatment look like? Like not just the results, but like what did they do? What was the process to get to the result? Um, so yeah, just thinking outside of the box. But I think that because we've done the hints, that gives everyone clarity on how to answer the question. And we really wanted to support people and make it not as easy as possible, but not so they're very confused and they have no idea what to add into the application. Yes, yeah. We wanted to make it very clear. So they're quite specific the way that you've asked them. And for every single category, they're different. So every award category is completely different. That's why it took three months. It took a long time. But no, I think that that's something that uh we'd really liked about our awards, and that's like our point of difference as well. And especially for people that have never entered before, they haven't entered the larger ones, they don't know what information to put in there. Um, also any kind of like media, any industry involvement, any charity work, any studying they've done awards they've won, awards they've won, um, anything that is exciting about their business.

SPEAKER_03

So if I were to apply for the awards and then I found out I'm a finalist, what does that process look like from being a finalist to getting on to the awards night?

SPEAKER_04

Okay, so um the finalists will be announced on our socials and then we will be reaching out to them and we're wanting to uh plan some in-clinic experiences or in-business experiences where we visit to get a picture of the business itself. Um, and for those that aren't applicable, that are more rural, we will be doing something like online virtual consultations so that we're able to speak with them as well.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah. For where where it applies. So for certain um categories, I guess, essentially, we'd look at some of that.

SPEAKER_03

Totally. It's not like you're gonna get on a flight, go up to like some remote maybe. We've got to be realistic about it.

SPEAKER_04

Um, but yeah, we'll be communicating with them so we can see a little bit more and a little bit know a little bit more about their business as well.

SPEAKER_02

I think it just allows for a fairer way of finding that winner, essentially.

SPEAKER_03

You know, I've got a really good question, which I know a lot of people have come to me about when it comes to the awards. How many finalists on average are you thinking per category? Because I know there's been other awards where you apply, you hear out you're a finalist, and then everyone that applied is almost a finalist for that category.

SPEAKER_04

It depends how many people apply. We won't have like 30. Okay. And that's reassuring.

SPEAKER_02

I think you know, Sammy, it's a really tricky question in a first year. Yeah. It's really hard to answer that in all honesty in a first year until we get a handle on how many we've got, um, all of those things. But we're certainly, it isn't going to be a case of let's put every single entrant up into that category. As much as we'd love to, um, we will find other ways to recognise those that maybe didn't quite make that finalist list. But I think it's got to be fair. If they are a step above the rest, then they are the ones that essentially should be up there and finalized.

SPEAKER_03

Where your events come in because that allows you to help them improve their business from different aspects so that if they were to apply again, they're more favorable because they've got the skills, they've got the knowledge, they hopefully go and implement that into their business.

SPEAKER_02

And I think that, as I say, is okay, we started with the awards, and that was obviously a big part of why we we started the brand. But in the end, I think really what we became more excited about is that opportunity to do some more networking events and educational events. And I think it's the education that is not just a quick 10-minute education session, it's a proper, solid education session. Um, and it could be anything when it comes to award feedback and how we actually look at maybe improving our awards for the next year. It could be an education on skin, anything that's gonna help support and promote businesses is is effectively what we're also trying to bring in and establish too. And it's just what's needed, it's it's so needed out there.

SPEAKER_04

So and we're gonna be a bit different because we're focused on like the business education. So, like with that end of year financial event, that's not something that we've really seen being done before. Um, and again, a lot of women and with the economics at the moment, like society at the moment, everyone, what they're going through, they're wanting to talk to others, they're wanting support, they want to know how other businesses are doing things as well that maybe they weren't taught. So we're just bringing everyone together and trying to help support and educate as best as we can.

SPEAKER_03

It's actually wild when you think about it because a lot of these people who come through a beauty career, they either went the OG way, which is through TAFE or a college, and then maybe they work for someone else. I find that pathway they actually do work for someone else a lot more likely to. But then you've also got, I've done a short course or something along the lines of that, and then they go open their own business. And so there is such a lack of education around how to actually manage clients, do that consultation, like all the technical side, because you don't get to troubleshoot in real time with someone who is an expert guiding you. But then on the other hand, no one teaches you about numbers, no one teaches you about building a reputable brand. Like, here's your logo from Canva and some pretty colours. So the opportunity to be able to do these events, I think, is really important because there's almost two things I'm seeing right now, especially with the clients I work with. There's really incredible people who have tried to do the best they can and they've kind of hit that roadblock and they need that guidance. And then there's the other side who they either do nothing or they use Chat GPT for everything. And so it's like it's all or nothing. And being able to have these touch points where you can support business owners on the journey, where you can actually bring different experts in who are credible, who do have a great reputation and solid advice, I think that will be so good because you've already done the vetting. Everyone's traumatized. The amount of times I've had to like talk to a client and just be like, I'm not like every other coach who's probably done this and that in the past. Like you've got to spend so much time, but you guys are a vetted organization, which makes it so much easier for people to choose.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah. And I think, you know, again, we're obviously planning to have, you know, education come from all over Australia at different points, but we want to start here because we've got so many great, clever business people here that really can impart a lot of knowledge, um, including yourself, Sammy, which will be great to have you at our next event. But, you know, I think let's look local first because there is so much here that we can do. Um, you know, and just to give everybody, as you say, the best opportunity. We do have some incredible businesses, and you made the point before that, you know, like I think I don't know about you, Rach, but I know I got in. Well, I funnily enough, I probably fell into the industry a little bit. My mum was in it, and I sort of just followed in her footsteps. But none of us are taught how to do business. No. We're taught how to make clients feel and look good, and that's essentially what we do. And a lot of us do a bloody good job of it. But I think what we don't know is exactly as you said, we don't know numbers, we don't know how to really understand. Well, you learn it, a lot of people do, but there's still a lot of people that don't really even understand a proper break even and how to make sure that their costs are, you know, all of those things. So I think it is really important to know that they've got access to that and they don't have to be scared to go and ask for that assistance either.

SPEAKER_03

And you guys are doing it at a very affordable price point too. Realistically, the people who need the support the most often can't afford it. And the people who do have the experience, like sometimes they can't afford to just do everything at a cheap price. So, really, where you're coming in is this beautiful space where people can get access to that knowledge, but it's not going to break the bank as well.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, definitely. You say we've in it, we've been in it, we've seen it, we've worked in all different aspects of it. And I think for now, it's not about, as you say, it sounds cliche, but it's not about the money for us. It's about ensuring that the business, the businesses in Western Australia and the staff and the owners still continue to stay passionate, they love it, and they feel super supported. And that's, I guess, what we're trying to do in amongst everything else we're trying to do.

SPEAKER_04

Definitely. So, yeah. And we're trying to organize people that we're inspired by. So, like at this next Center Financial Year um event, the Profit and Planning Summit, we've got incredible speakers like yourself and Vicki from Glide Accounting. She's like an industry accountant, but she's also very broad, all different industries. She was also a lecturer at uni and then she created her own firm. Um, she knows the industry inside and out. Um, and she knows how like to, well, she will explain how to prepare for things coming up, like putting away your taxes and your Bass and your super, instead of being like, oh my gosh, I've got like a huge bill that's just come in preparing for that, um, making business less stressful, essentially. And again, like you both have said, we don't learn that. We don't learn finances in beauty therapy or in dermal therapy. We don't learn how to manage a team, we don't learn even communication. So it's it's really important.

SPEAKER_03

And leadership. Leadership is such a huge one because most of the time people are burnt out, which is when they go, I need to hire someone. Yeah, and then those reactive hires can obviously do some damage in the long run if you're not strategic about it. Yeah, they can be unaligned and create cultural problems. Yeah, and that's probably why there's a lot of sole traders. Like of mind. Actually, if you have this conversation, if there were some really incredible bosses, your staff wouldn't leave you. Yeah, no, you know, it's always when there's some toxic workplace culture that people get that idea. It's like being in a relationship. If they nurture you, they love you, they look after you, why would you go look somewhere else?

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, yeah, exactly. But do you know from the business side of things, a lot of the business owners don't know how to create that for their team because you don't know what you don't know. So they don't know where to turn, or maybe they've done mentoring, but they're not mentoring them in those skills and um they're mentoring them in like business, like make money this way, upgrade, add this on, retail sales. But like for creating and building and um nurturing like your team and your culture is the number one because you won't, even if you know how to do upgrades and retail, you know, that's not enough. The team is number one. And having your team long term. Like some of our girls we've had for over five years, they know everything. Like they're the best calibra of you know therapists out there because they've been with us for so long and they've been consistent. And then their learnings, their education has just compacted over time. And yeah, that's really important. Plus, it stops the business owner getting burnt out of, like you said, getting stuck in a cycle of another one's gone, we've got to rehire, we're desperate, grab her, and then you're investing and you're training, and then they leave. And yeah, you want to kind of break out of that. Amen.

SPEAKER_03

Just thinking about all the times where, you know, like I've had a few employees, and it's interesting. I do believe it really comes down to personality and then also how much time you invest into them. Yes. And aside from profit and planning, I think leadership and also just teaching even sole traders, like how to actually delegate. I've had some epic massive teams, and then I've had some sole traders, and I think something that's become really apparent to me that is worth speaking into is the level of burnout. And so even as a sole trader, you might be thinking, oh, I don't need to learn leadership and I don't need to have a team. But like, what if you could just delegate some of your social media? Yeah, what if you could delegate some of your admin to someone to help out? Like it doesn't mean you have to go hire 19 staff members and then deal with all those pressures, but just at least not putting that pressure on that you have to do everything yourself and pretty much sacrifice your health, your happiness, and all your time to be a slave to your business.

SPEAKER_02

It becomes unenjoyable then, and that's not why you started out totally.

SPEAKER_03

So, yeah. When we look at winning an award or even becoming a finalist, how can we actually leverage that to the maximum potential? Because man, I have I was always very skeptical about awards and it put me off applying, hence why I've never applied for ABR. I probably won't apply to yours because I want to be involved in the back A. I love it, I love supporting you guys, but like for me, I've loved doing it for bowling, and maybe it's the emotional attachment to but really believing in that business and like maybe not believing in myself here. Like it's actually been a huge level of imposter syndrome, hence why I've like, oh, I'm not sure. But then of the awards we have won, my gosh, I'm like, I should have done this for everything. Yeah, you know, you get obviously in the newspaper, is like usually a big one. You can put your prices up, you can go and podcast, you can talk to other people, like it does get you noticed. Yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_04

It kind of positions you as almost like an industry leader, it gets you known. Kind of like Jacinta, that was the speaker at our panel for Sunsets. She's won so many awards and it's just boosted her career. Everyone knows who she is. She's on the maps, she's here, there, everywhere. Um, she's very connected now. You know, you're you're making relationships with other business people that you wouldn't otherwise. You're making great friendships as well. But like you said, media kind of um presentation uh opportunities for myself. Like I've had, you know, features in magazines or um like Spa and Clinic, Mocker Publishing, Professional Beauty, and I love them. You can keep them, have them on hand, you know, as a little they're like a trophy. Yeah, it's I don't know. I like clients, yeah.

SPEAKER_02

It attracts the right staff members too when they see that you're a business that's put yourself forward for awards. That is very true.

SPEAKER_04

You get your name out there, it builds credibility as well. Just lots of different opportunities. And yes, I find that since winning awards and kind of like strengthening our brand, more people want to work for you and the right kinds of people, the ones that are like high performers and they want to do a good job and they want to get in there and you know, they want to learn as much as possible.

SPEAKER_02

I think I think for me too, going back, especially when I won uh Director of the Year again, long, long time ago now. But for me it was, you know, sure, we did get a little bit of publicity out of it and that kind of thing, but for me it was just that element of a sense of I think I'm on the right track. You know, like I didn't need to be up and have my face out there and all of those things, and everybody's different as to how they want to be perceived for that kind of win or whatever it is. But for me, it was just really like it was a little bit of a it's okay, I'm on the right track. Like I feel like I'm I'm doing the right thing, you know, and I'm doing a good job. And that for me was what it was all about. So again, everybody's you know, perception or what they want out of an award win is gonna be different too, which I think is quite nice, you know.

SPEAKER_04

I think that the biggest one's probably you're doing it for yourself, you're trying to prove something, yeah. So not in a bad way, in a way like I I've built this, I think it's incredible, is it? Like I'm gonna put myself out there and you know hope for the best because I love it so much and I've put all my hard work and effort into it. And I think that's the original thing that you go in, and all the rest is just the perks.

SPEAKER_02

Well, I think having that beautiful trophy also, too, that sits up on the mantle as you know, one of the clients.

SPEAKER_04

I mean, I love my trophies, love them. Um, it is it's like a I don't know, it's like a little trophy that you can.

SPEAKER_02

There's lots of different facets that make it a great thing, essentially.

SPEAKER_03

So take me back to maybe a time where you applied and you didn't win. Did you cry? Did you feel like a failure? Was there a moment where you almost felt so vulnerable because you put yourself out there and like really tried, but it didn't work out? Because I feel like that's the thing people don't talk about and how you keep going or find the motivation to pick yourself back up and not make it mean something about you as well because it is so personal you're putting yourself out there.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah. Um, for myself, the first two times that I applied, I didn't win anything, I didn't go home with anything, and it was quite costly because your the outfit was even costly, and the makeup and the hair, and then the tickets, and the flying over East as well. So it is sad going home with nothing. I didn't personally cry. Of course, you feel let down. And of course, if someone wins, and like I had been in the industry a long time and I had done all this with a small child, and I feel like I put my whole life into my work and I had started my own business, and then a new person comes along and wins, like she's been in the industry a year, it hurts. But then again, I don't know what she put in her application. I probably put the fluffy, I have a pink clinic.

SPEAKER_02

I don't know. Rachel so made the point of what she did is that she didn't win. No, and she went to the effort to actually call the company and say, Hey, what do I need to do? What do I know?

SPEAKER_04

Increase my chances for next year, you know? Because it's not impossible, you just need more information. And because it was very um broad, I didn't know what they're looking for in the questions. So I'm making it up a bit to fill the 500 words. So I did call them and then I was like, what exactly are you looking for in the answers? And then that helped a lot, and then just experience, and then when we won the first time, I thought, okay, we're on the right track, like what you said earlier. And then I just kept building it out from there.

SPEAKER_03

So you need to keep entering to experience that and to that is so true because you get better at writing it, and also it's this beautiful reflection piece where, like, when I was doing our awards, and then I was doing the Gina Reinhardt Young Leader Award, I was like, Whoa, sometimes we get so much imposter syndrome thinking we're not good enough for this, or why would they ever choose me and there's someone else here? And it you get in your head, like I know I do, it may not look like it with all the podcast studio and all the content, but like deep down when you're sitting there, you're like, Am I even good at this? And then you start to like look for those pieces of feedback or those not necessarily achievements, but just things you've had to overcome. And when you look at all the shit you've been through, the hardships you've endured, the money you've invested, and then where you've gotten to or what you've built, I feel like that is almost kind of a gift within itself because how often do we actually stop, reflect at what we've done, and then not enough proud of that?

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, exactly. We don't, and we all have imposter. I don't know about you, Elka, but I don't we all have imposter syndrome. I could and it's weird. You could like, I know, you could like be doing great and then you're like, oh, I'm great, I'm doing a good job, and then the next day, oh my gosh, I'm not doing a good enough job. It's like a day apart. The difference between you ovulating and then like having a period. Pretty much, pretty much. That you're always gonna feel like that, I think. And um, you can't let that get to you because you are good enough, everyone is, and the people winning just put themselves forward. That's it, that's the difference. The people that you know about, you know their business names, you know, you know, all about what they're achieving, that's just because they stepped up and they put themselves forwards. Otherwise, we don't know you if you're not, you know, introducing yourself.

SPEAKER_03

So true. Back to like podcasting. There's some incredible people who are not the main phases of the beauty industry that you see everywhere at every single speaking giggle conference, but their story and what they've achieved is so powerful. And I feel like having a platform where, okay, let's look at who's doing really well and why and how does that work and have a conversation around that. And then let's look at who's maybe doing an epic job, but they haven't been put in the spotlight. Because at the end of the day, if you think about it, like everyone has value to offer in this world. Definitely, and you don't, it doesn't make you any more or any less. It's just some people have gone really hard to try make the most impact. And I started thinking of it like this instead of going, I'm trying to get this award for social validation or whatever it was. Because I I could definitely say when I was younger, coming from country town, I'm like, I need to prove to everyone that I'm not a failure, and I'm like, look at me now. But now I do it from a place of like the more noise you can make, the more PR you can get, the more eyeballs, the more impact. And so you're not gonna be quiet if you want to make an impact.

SPEAKER_04

You've got to step forward, and um, that's what everyone, that's what I did, and that's what everyone has done that you know about essentially that comes before you. And being rejected and losing is part of life, and it's the ones that bounce back that you know you go on to win. And we lost the year before last, and I could have given up, and then I applied again and I won the whole ABIA. Like I won Australian Clinic of the Year, and we're the third person in WA to ever have won that award in ABIA history. So, like, just because you lost, you could be up for a win, like you're not far off. So, yeah, it's all about ego. Don't let the ego take over. Rejection is normal, and it's when you bounce back, like and how fast you bounce back, that's when you're closer to achieving what you want.

SPEAKER_03

Someone said to me once that when it comes to rejection, sometimes you get a no, and it doesn't mean no forever. It might just mean not yet. Yeah. Maybe you're not ready, maybe you've got some things to work on, or maybe you've got a lesson to learn, or a cycle to break before you're ready. And I'm like, maybe there were some times where I probably wasn't the right person to be put in the spotlight because I was coming from a place of like anger and shame and frustration and needing that. And then at the times when you finally make peace with yourself and you stop trying so hard and you just go, okay, I've done my best. If someone else is gonna see that, usually it does fall into place.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, it was funny. I know when I as I say we won a couple of different awards along the way with the clinics and different things, but we um I I think we went up for salon of the year maybe four times, four years in a row. Oof. And we never won. Never won it. And I remember the last year I'd only just had my son, and six weeks later I was appearing at the awards. Uh still nice and bright eyed, of course. Um, and as I say, that was our last year. We didn't win it, but I didn't go away from that feeling like I hadn't achieved and I hadn't done what I wanted to do. I actually went away with that and with a sense of, do you know what? I didn't quite take it off, but we won other awards. And I know myself that my business is good. So I don't actually need to have someone else kind of go, you are amazing, you are the best, you are the, you know, it's not to take any of that away. I think it's all so important. And again, it depends on what is important to that person. But I think for me, I just came away from that feeling that regardless of whether I'd won an award or not, it doesn't matter because what I've achieved, I'm happy with, you know.

SPEAKER_04

Absolutely. And the reflection of the process, like when you're applying, you're getting all your information together, especially of over the last 12 months and seeing what you've done, because we don't stop to see all of our hard work and how far we've come, but like actually being intentional and sitting down and collecting all that information, you're like, we did a lot, we've done a lot, a year's worth of growth, and what you can, you know, fit into that and how you can evolve is um a lot, essentially. So I love looking back and it you give yourself a little pat on the back. And like Elka said, it's you don't need it for validation. Um, you want it because it's the cherry on top of the hard work that you've achieved. So it doesn't mean that it's the be end of the be all and end all, but it is it's really nice when you do win, it feels amazing.

SPEAKER_03

I'm honestly like psyching myself out of my head because I've been nominated for this award. And I'm like, I find out next week if I'm a finalist. I'm like, if I'm a finalist, then it's five in WA, and I'm like, will I make it? And then I'm like, oh, I don't know if I should announce it because what if I don't make it as a finalist? But then at the same time, the reason why I'm sharing this is because just sharing the fact that you're nominated, yeah. Just sharing the fact that you're a finalist, it does still get eyeballs and you still do get recognition. And it is something you can leverage because after I got even announced that I was nominated, I had two newspapers contact me. So don't be afraid to share the thing, even if you don't win, because podcasting opportunities, media opportunities, people reach out, but it does still make a difference.

SPEAKER_02

And I think from a national perspective, you're going up against so many people. And if my category is up to 40, others like and that's and and that probably that's the point I was sort of trying to make is that it doesn't matter because you've been recognised. Yeah. So whether you win or you're not, you're recognized, you know. And I think maybe again with us, and especially in this first year for the West Australian Awards, is that we want people to look at it and go, I'm gonna give it a shot, because it's the first year as well, and I'm in with a really good chance.

SPEAKER_04

You know, like I'm in with the first chance. It's the best chance. Absolutely. Um, it's when it gets massive that it gets more challenging. So the first couple of weeks.

SPEAKER_03

And having something that well-rounded, there's a lot of pressure where people have high expectations, especially because it's beauty. But I think the thing to remember is it's your first time and you're already doing it at such a high level, like it's only gonna get better from here. Yeah, yeah. Unless one of you leaves, then it's gonna leave.

SPEAKER_04

We're united. We've all known each other for a very long time. Like Elka, and I've known Elka, I would have been like 20 when I was watching you speak with Maria for In Skin. So like I've known Elka. No, I'm old too, but um, I was it's been a long time, a long journey. Um, and same with like Laura. Laura's, you know, since she's been in Western Australia and she's built her business from the ground up. We all have known each other, we've been in awards together. Like, I think that she mentored me years ago, like seven years ago. We balance each other quite nicely, don't we?

SPEAKER_02

We know each other, we've all got a skill and we're bringing it together, and hopefully can create something for the rest of you know the the uh West Australian community to come together. Come together.

SPEAKER_04

I think it's good, and I think that's why everything's done so well so far.

SPEAKER_03

Okay, so all that stuff aside about awards, I'm gonna get to the juicy stuff because I know this is what everyone actually cares about. What is the awards night gonna look like?

SPEAKER_02

We're very excited to announce it is at the Ritz Carlton. So we're gonna have a beautiful hotel, which will be fantastic. Um, and obviously we're just finalising. In fact, I think we've put ticket prices up. So they've just become available now. So they are actually on the website, and we'll start promoting that over the next few weeks. I guess we essentially just wanted to get the awards live um and they are up, so we're happy that that's sort of done now. But yeah, um it's gonna be look, it's gonna be a fantastic night. Again, whether you're uh nominated or you're not nominated, anybody is welcome to attend. Anyone from the industry.

SPEAKER_04

What's the max? Was it 300?

SPEAKER_02

I think we can take about 300 in the room.

SPEAKER_04

That's the max. So hopefully a lot of people and like Sunset's people want to be involved and we want them there. We want the industry to come together and have this incredible night.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah. Sponsors, winners, nominees, teams, people that want to be involved essentially to come along. And and whilst the awards are obviously really important, we want to make sure that it's fun too. There's gonna be a bit of dancing and a bit of celebrating and no TikTok dance. No TikTok dancing. No, no TikToks. No TikToks, just real dances. Then again, we can't stop that if no, we want it to be a fun night.

SPEAKER_04

So we'll do the awards. We will have like a are we gonna do it like a three-course meal? Yeah, yeah, and the sit-down, but then we want it to be, you know, engaging and to get people up and to have fun. It's gonna be fun.

SPEAKER_03

Man, when I went to the AHA Awards for we won the venue of the year for Wild West Bowling, I I'd just been to ABR maybe like three weeks prior or four, and it was so different. Like it was the biggest room in Crown, but everyone spoke the entire awards. Like, you've got Monica from Nine News trying to MC and quiet everyone down, no one stops walking. Yeah, and you go to the ABR and it's just like quiet. It's like you can feel the tension in the room, and then there. I think because hospitality don't get weekends off ever, and it was a Monday night, they were just getting smashed. And so I've seen so many different ways of awards. I'm really looking forward to your one because I know you guys are all at that level where you do put so much intention and thought into it, and it's a really cool thing. Like, I'm looking forward to the sunset, not the sunset session. Oh my gosh, the profit and planning summit. What can we expect there? How many people are you expecting? What's the vibe? How do we get tickets?

SPEAKER_04

I think it was initially going to be 30 people, but we've opened it up to a maximum of 60, so it's more of a small intimate event compared to sunsets.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04

And then that's available online now as well. And we've just started promoting that on our socials. So ticket sales are now, and it's on June 17th, so it's coming up. Okay, so who have we got?

SPEAKER_03

We've got me talking about all things, not the actual numbers side, but how to actually increase your prices without losing all your clients, and then what does it look like to build the brand that can have the high prices and people want to pay them? You've got Vicky from Gladiator County.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, she's going to be talking about planning, end of financial year planning, and in general, like how to run a profitable business instead of letting all of your overheads, you know, get you behind. Um, how to kind of plan ahead and come out of that essentially and have a healthy business. Yeah. And then Brie from now socials. So she's she's fantastic. She's really taking off from the industry. She was an influencer and then she started her social business, and then um now she's branching out and she's got her own commercial space. So she's going to come and teach everyone the importance of like branding and socials and content essentially, and again how to plan that out and to speak a bit about her services.

SPEAKER_02

I think you're just perfect timing, really, coming into the new financial year. And I think, as we said before, with everything that's sort of going on out in the world at the moment, everybody's a little bit nervous or a little bit hesitant to see how things are gonna go, and you know, um, so I guess this is just gonna give a little bit of you know information and assistance with how to kind of you know move into 2027 financial year um in the right way, I guess, you know.

SPEAKER_03

So absolutely. You know what's funny, Nick and I were walking down Subiaco, like Rockabee Road the other day, and it was packed like restaurants, cafe, like everyone's spending money. I think food is where the money's been through at the moment. Like we've just gotta get it back into like the beauty and the stress comes though, yeah, the food. Guys, I think we're gonna have to like open up like little food things in the salon just.

SPEAKER_04

We might have to a little yo chi. Yo chi's doing really good. Just coffee. Good coffee, gonna do coffee.

SPEAKER_03

You're only gonna have it after appointment. That's right, exactly. Yeah. I've loved having you guys on. It's been amazing to get some insight. Obviously, I've tested you a little bit, but you guys have done really, really well. Is there any last words of wisdom or advice that you want to share before we wrap up the episode?

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, look, I would just say if you're planning to, if you're not sure about entering the awards, um, some of you will be, yep, I'm in, I'm ready, and that's great. But if you're not sure, don't be scared. We are here to support you. The email is open, and if you do have any questions, by all means, we've already had some questions that have come through. So we're here to support you for sure. But what I will say too is that um in the end, if we want to make sure that West Australian continues this, then come and support the events, because that too is really important. You know, there's no point in one year, our first year we get it off the ground, and then all of a sudden maybe we don't quite get things sticking over as well as the next year. I think it's really important if you want to have those events, if you want to have the education and the support and the awards, make sure that you get involved and have as many friends get involved too.

SPEAKER_04

And I think everyone's needing it right now, despite the state of the world and everything. It's good to come together and have that support. Poor, especially for women.

SPEAKER_05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04

And going through harder times, business being a bit slower as well. So I think that this next event couldn't have come at a better time. And we hope to see everyone there.

SPEAKER_03

It's gonna be epic. I'm looking forward to it. And hopefully, I don't stuff up your love beauty skin.

SPEAKER_01

No, you better not. LB. Just say LB.

SPEAKER_03

That's easy. Love beauty. Love beauty. Love skin. Love beauty. Skin is inspired. A lot of people's easy. Awesome. Thank you so much for tuning in to today's episode. We have some incredible events coming up at Wasaba. So if you were keen on attending, applying for the awards, or getting involved, please make sure you check out the link in the show notes because we have all the info there. Thank you so much, Rach and Elkar, for joining me today and giving up your Mother's Day morning. Hopefully, you can enjoy it with everyone else. I mean, unless this is more fun. Well, kids aren't too. We've had a great time. All right, thank you so much for listening and we'll catch you in the next episode. Bye.

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Sammy Kennedy

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