Tim Avory – Toni & Guy, Guildford

Business Director of the Year 2005

In the run up to this year’s British Hairdressing Business Awards we take a thorough look at one of last year’s business category winners.  And not to scrimp on providing you with all the information you could ever possibly need, please don’t forget to check in with the related stories on this site:

-      Starting your own business

-      British Hairdressing Business Awards 2006

-      Also see Tim’s gallery with pictures of his entry into the men’s category of last years British Hairdressing Awards.

Here though, we look at the creative and business acumen of Tim Avory, who works within the Toni & Guy brand. 

His background:
He started his hairdressing career when he was just 18-years-old with Trevor Sorbie, he joined Toni & Guy in 1988 and just one year later he became a franchisee for the company, meaning that he had earned the right and respect to sell their goods and services.

His first salons were in Guildford and Camberley, where he is still the sole franchisee.  He shares a percentage of the business at 19 other T&G salons, including one in Barcelona, and has also become involved in furthering the business intentions and successes of the recent Essensuals brand, a subsidiary of the Toni & Guy brand.

His awards:
Tim has been recognised and rewarded with many awards for both his creative work and business successes within the T&G operation, including, Southern Hairdresser of the Year 3 times, Southern L’Oreal Colour Trophy Award winner 3 times, and Salon Franchise Director of the Year.  He has also been awarded the Investors in People award and has made it into the British Hairdressing Hall of Fame in 2002.

Driving his team:
With so much on his plate business wise, it’s hard to imagine how Tim manages to still keep a full dairy of clients at his Guildford salon, and also keep furthering the artistic direction of his team by sharing his knowledge and expertise, and continually encouraging them to be challenged and motivated.  Many of his team members have gone on to lead successful businesses within the T&G group based on the business and creative knowledge they gained from Tim’s training. 

It is his remarkable ability to balance all these things which makes the Guildford salon continually busy and one of the most successful of all the T&G salons.  But his business skills and his commitment to his staff and all the salons he is involved with benefits the T&G brand worldwide, and contributes to its continued success. 

He takes a relaxed approach in anything that he does, and this reflects in his ethos of building strong teams to drive a business.  It seems he has that rare ability to balance strong team leadership with still being considered one of the team.  By organising his teams and setting realistic, but at the same time challenging, goals for all members, he provides a place where they can grow as individuals and as professionals.  He takes a structured approach to continued improvement, holding regular team meetings and training sessions.  This is crucial when it comes to running your own business: you have to expect to keep progressing and learning with the industry. 

Have you got what it takes?
If you are reading this and thinking ‘this is exactly what I want to do’, then you will have to work your people skills to the max, and keep a clear and organised head!  Tim juggles numerous tasks without compromising his original dream, and it takes a kind and calm person to succeed in this high-paced, high-demand role.

If you think you DO have what it takes, take a look at our advise on how to get started in business…