©René Martin
By Sunita Sehmi, Walk The Talk
Pioneering, passionate and incredibly close to perfection – for more than 50 years, TONI&GUY has been renowned as the innovator within the hair industry, having grown from a single salon in Clapham, London, to a multi-national company. With more than 475 salons across 48 countries, CEO, OBE and co-founder Toni Mascolo and his brother Guy started TONI&GUY back in 1963. Furthermore, TONI&GUY is Official Sponsor to London Fashion Week.
Olga Tetard, Managing Director, and the Salon Manager, Sheffield (born Richard Long), manage the TONI&GUY Geneva branch. I sat down with them both at their trendy hair salon.
I hope you enjoy the interview as much as I did!
Sunita Sehmi: Tell us a bit about yourselves.
Richard: I’ve worked within the T&G family for 20 years now; I started in Manchester then returned to my hometown of Sheffield. I’ve also worked in Marbella, London and previous to Geneva, I worked in Jersey. I first met Olga when I arrived in Geneva, she was a client and we hit it off immediately! We have remained firm friends ever since. I have been in Geneva for ten years now; I came here to set up Toni & Guy in Switzerland and it feels like home, I love it here.
Olga: I was born in Geneva. I worked for multinationals and accounting and audit firms in the finance department for over 20 years. When I had my daughter I decided to take a break. At this time, Richard was running the former salon in Rive Gauche (Geneva) with his partner. Unfortunately, they had to close this shop and at this time Richard asked me to come to help him with the financials. After the closing, I thought there was an opportunity to continue running the brand in Geneva and with the great support of the head office in London, we created a new entity and opened this new salon in Rue des Alpes, owned by new shareholders and new management. I’m completely dedicated to make this salon work through good management and business development, plus undertaking the financial and admin responsibilities. Together with Richard and his Stylists Team, his 20 years experience within T&G, the creative work, education and the quality of services provided to the clients, we compliment each other.
©René Martin
Sunita: What drew you to hairdressing?
Richard: You have to use your brain, and problem solve and it’s all about making people feel good about themselves. I think making people happy is a big part of it for me. People want to feel that they are in capable hands, this is the key to success and that is why I never want to stop learning. That’s why at Toni & Guy we are passionate about education and self-development for all our staff. In order for individuals to grow and improve their skill sets we believe education should be a continuous journey. We actively look to grow, develop and innovate.
Olga: Yes it’s all about the client. We focus on them and spend a lot of time in the consultation phase. We want to give consistently good service, so that is why we also require all our staff to attend regular training programs to keep up to date with the trends. For more than 50 years, Toni and Guy’s success and philosophy has been rooted firmly in education, sharing our unique experience, to create innovative and globally renowned hairdressing training.
©René Martin
Sunita: Tell us a little bit about your clientele.
Richard: It really varies; it ranges from professionals to busy mums – people are from all over Geneva. Between us we speak seven languages. Whoever they are and wherever they are from our mission is to give our best service to the client. My mission as a leader is to cultivate the best, most profitable hairdressing company on the planet where people love to work and clients love to be.
Olga: Yes, our core values include being customer-focused and team players! We believe in quality; and we are passionate and self-motivated!
Sunita: Any advice to people trying to fit into Swiss life?
Olga: Learn French!
Sunita: What’s the next challenge for us? What's next for you?
Richard: Keep doing great work; keep our customers happy - that makes me happy. Our success is built on education, motivation and fashion – people are the cornerstones of our business. In addition to continuing to provide great hair care services at TONI&GUY Geneva we have a great professional beautician, Geeta. She is a highly qualified beautician with over 20 years of experience from leading beauty institutes in Paris, London and New Delhi & Zurich. Geeta provides a large variety of beauty services from head to toe, with very high standards. Over the years at TONI&GUY Geeta has built a loyal clientele following through her expertise, dedication and exceptional quality service. She always goes the extra mile to make sure her clients leave our salon looking and feeling their best. Geeta is also a qualified practitioner of the Swiss luxury beauty brand Bellefontaine products and techniques. The crowned Queen of eyebrows threading in Geneva, feel free to contact her on the number below.
©René Martin
Contact Richard or Geeta at Toni & Guy
Toni & Guy Geneva
Rue Des Alpes 9
1201 Genève
022 738 85 86
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
http://toniandguy.com/salon/geneva
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Please note there is a special offer by Toni & Guy Geneva: anyone who likes this interview on Toni & Guy Geneva's Facebook page will receive a 15% discount for one visit. Like them on https://www.facebook.com/toniandguygeneva/.
Job vacancy
Toni & Guy is currently looking for a stylist, who can speak English and French, (spoken), for their busy TONI&GUY salon in Geneva.
Responsibilities will include: Full consultation with clients, building new clientele, referring clients for colour, recommending products throughout the ranges and increasing client product knowledge and product sales. Experience within a busy salon is essential. A candidate who has achieved the TONI&GUY varderers certificate is preferred but not essential. As a TONI&GUY Stylist, you will play a key part in representing and promoting the TONI&GUY brand and Superband status at all times. In return we offer the opportunity to be a part of a global brand that believes in the perfect salon where people love to work and clients love to be! If this is you apply NOW!
Please send your application to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Sunita's Bio
Sunita is an Executive Coach, Trainer and Consultant. She is of Indian origin and was born in London before moving to Geneva in 1992. She has a Psychology background (specialising in Occupational Psychology) and a Post Graduate in the Development and Training of Adults. She also completed a Masters in Ressources Humaines, Coaching et Gestion des Carrières at the University of Geneva.
During her 25 years experience Sunita's drive has always been to help people to do their best and hence led her to create Walk The Talk.
In her free time Sunita is a Mentor for the Branson Center of Entrepreneurship and a proud member of the School in The Cloud Team.
