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Besch Up For National Award
By:Mindy Baker
1/26/2006

Stacy Besch, owner of Innovations Salon and Spa, has been nominated for the 2006 Global Salon Business Award.

"It was a big surprise," stated Besch. "We've worked hard as a salon to set us apart. This is a great honor, and it lets us know that people have noticed what we do."

Her product supplier, Aveda, out of Minneapolis, nominated her. Just to get to this point, she had to show salon leadership, advanced client philosophy and business management. The Business Education for Salons Today (BEST) Foundation is looking for extreme growth in the nominees.

"The global Salon Business Awards were created to honor the unsung heroes of the professional salon industry," stated Kristin Firrell, executive director of the BEST Foundation. "This is the one and only program that acknowledges hairdressing salon owners as the entrepreneurs who are leading the way."

Besch is competing for the top title in the United States against a limited number of other salons; many based in much larger retail markets like Los Angeles and New York.

"I think that's what I'm most proud of," added Besch. "That we're in a rural area and can offer that big city service expected in fashion centers like New York."

The next step for Besch is an extensive selection process involving lengthy essays, letters of recommendation, a CD-ROM of pictures, financial statements and a customized portfolio that needs to be sent to the final selection committee before Feb. 28.

The U.S. winner will be named April 15, and wins a trip to Barcelona, Spain, for the 2006 Global Salon Business Awards presentation on June 3.

Besch is grateful for her loyal customers who have made the nomination a possibility.

"I've been in the industry for 14 years, and this year is our 10th anniversary at Innovations," stated Besch. "My passion is to make people feel good about themselves. That's a reward in itself."