BLO Named 2008 Global Salon Business Award® Winner

Business Wire, July 1, 2008

RALEIGH, N.C. & BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- BLO, a local favorite for hot hairstyles, has received the salon industry's highest business honor at the recent 2008 Global Salon Business Awards[R] (GSBA). The award was presented to BLO co-owners Bryan and Silvia Nunes at the GSBA Gala Awards Ceremony at the Hollywood Renaissance Hotel, hosted by television personality Leeza Gibbons. BLO was selected from more than 3,000 nominated salons from around the world. The prestigious judging panel, coordinated by the UCLA Anderson School of Management's Price Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, scrutinized all entries and selected BLO as one of the award winners representing 23 countries.

According to GSBA Founder Paula Kent Meehan, "The Global Salon Business Forum and Awards program is truly unique and one of the only awards dedicated to honoring those in the salon and beauty industry whom excel in the areas of business."

As a first step, salon owners must be nominated by multiple industry peers and are judged through a rigorous, six-phase review process. The UCLA scoring system evaluates entrepreneurial culture, uniqueness, level of risk taken, team philosophy, compensation, retention, training, reward and recognition programs, client services initiatives, loyalty programs, community service, marketing and promotion, financial stability and profitability of the business.

Bryan and Silvia Nunes were awarded a GSBA crystal statuette while being joined by their peers in Hollywood to celebrate with honorees from around the world.

"This is our industry's highest recognition for business and is a direct reflection of the talents and commitment of the BLO design team," said Bryan Nunes. "Silvia and I were most excited about the fact that we had seven BLO staff members accompany us to Hollywood for what was an amazing experience."

The awards gala at the Hollywood Renaissance Hotel highlighted a three-day extravaganza with industry seminars at the UCLA Business Forum, and a business panel moderated by CNN's Larry King. Top sponsors included: Estetica International, Goldwell, Kerastase, L'Oreal Professionnel, Matrix, Paul Mitchell, PureOlogy, Redken, Aveda, and L'Anza-Healing Haircare.

Media sponsors included: American Salon, BehindTheChair.com, C&C Magazine, Canadian Hairdresser, Frisor, FrisorFaget, Frisortidningen, InStyle, Irish Hairdresser, Launchpad, Modern Salon, Pinni, Salon Today, South African Hairdressers Journal, Tocado, and Top Hair International.

The Global Salon Business Awards[R] are produced by The B.E.S.T. Foundation (Business Education for Salons Today), a non-profit organization whose mission is to support the continued development of the global salon industry through advancement, global recognition and growth. The Foundation was formed by beauty icon and Redken Founder, Paula Kent Meehan. For information on the Global Salon Business Awards[R] program and its rigorous judging criteria, please visit www.salonbusinessawards.com.

Last summer, BLO was one of only three salons nationally selected by Redken and Glamour Magazine to hold the Blow-Dry Bootcamp. BLO is an award-winning salon that has a distinctive metropolitan appeal without the pretension typically associated with upscale salons. Located in Raleigh, N.C., BLO is home to a talented design team with unique appreciation for community, where egos are passe and replaced with "A Lot of Hot Hair." The entire BLO staff regularly attends advanced training in New York City. Book an appointment online at www.JustBlo.com or call 919.484.8600.