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North America News

Wahl Professional Promotes Anne Marie Kollias

Wahl Professional has announced the promotion of Anne Marie Kollias to the position of U.S. Director of Sales and Marketing.  Kollias had held the position of national sales manager for Wahl Professional since starting with the company in 2015.  Kollias will continue to oversee all U.S. sales accounts and add day-to-day operations, marketing and product coordination responsibilities to her role.

“I am so proud to be part of this team and this journey, says Kollias. “Sales are the fuel that provides resources for Wahl’s continuous research, innovation and growth, says Kollias. “And marketing is Wahl’s opportunity to make connections with our customers and the professional beauty industry with many touchpoints that allow us to tell our story and build relationships. I’ve learned, no matter what category of this industry you work in, our business is a relationship-driven business from end to end. From manufacturer to distributor, distributor to salon, salon owner/manage to beauty professional and beauty professional to customer, we’re all in the people business.

“Anne Marie has been instrumental in growing our professional division within the U.S. As a result, it’s a natural fit for her to expand her role and we’re so pleased she’s accepted this challenge,” says Lance Wahl, Global Vice President of Professional Products.

In focusing on the future, Kollias says, “We feel a strong sense of responsibility to continue laying the foundation for the next generations. We will continue to work with barbers and stylists, distributors, professional beauty stores, field sales teams and our talented Wahl Education and Artistic Team (W.E.A.T.) members to develop the industry’s best tools.” In addition, Kollias’ vision includes developing a stronger connection between professional tools and fashion. “Most people don’t realize that the evolution and innovation of clippers, trimmers and finishing tools has greatly influenced hairstyle and fashion trends. We will continue to bring a fashion focus to the professional teams’ marketing and education efforts.”

Kollias’ previous positions include Vice President of Spa Operations for Me Spa, Spa Director, District Manager and National Field Sales Manager for Coldwater Creek.

Barber Bill Proposed in Arkansas

Arkansas Senator John Cooper (R) has put forward a bill which would repeal the Arkansas Barber Law (August 1st, 2017), abolish the State Board of Barber Examiners and amend the current law governing the practice of cosmetology.

The bill is available to read in full here and has brought about a backlash from the state’s barbering community. It’s not clear if/when the bill might be passed or rejected, but local barbers are attempting to get the word out about the bill in order to fight it.

Wahl Professional Welcomes New Head Educator

Wahl Professional is pleased to welcome Lisa Finucane as the company’s new US Director of Education.

Finucane has considerable history in the barbering and beauty industry having started her career as a cosmetologist as a way to pay for college. Most recently she served as a regional sales manager with Babyliss Pro. Prior to this she was a field sales manager for Cosmoprof Beauty, a regional educator with L’Oreal Professional and a regional educator with Wella.

Finucane is excited to bring her experience as a cosmetologist and marry it with the barbering experience to give Wahl an edge over the competition by increasing its artistic vision. She knows that barbering is the future of the industry and is excited to be involved.

“The most important thing is to remain teachable in this industry because things change so quickly,” said Finucane.

The idea of sharing experience and giving back through education is what initially drew Finucane to Wahl. She saw Wahl’s initiative to start its Fade It Forward program to give underprivileged youth a barbering education and it made her realize working for Wahl would be the right fit for her.

“Education is so important in general because no one can ever take it away from you and it gives you power in life and opportunity,” said Finucane. “Specifically, education is so important within the barbering community because it gives more than access to new trends. It shows people that there is a bigger picture, barbers can see the world they fit in and they can they can create a network or fellow barbers on which to rely.”

“Wahl Professional continues to improve upon its educational offerings for barbers and stylists within the US and across the globe. We’re looking forward to Lisa making an important contribution to our US education team,” says Lance Wahl, Global Vice President – Professional Products, Wahl Clipper Corporation.

SCurl host pop up shop at NBA All-Star weekend

The recent NBA All-Star game, held in Charlotte, NC, was not only memorable for the high scoring game between Team LeBron and Team Giannis, but also for the unique pop up barbershop which featured throughout All-Star weekend.

Luster’s SCurl created and hosted the barbershop specifically for the event, with many of the leading NBA stars of past and present getting involved in proceedings, including the legendary Artise Gilmore and Charlotte Hornets guard Malik Monk.

Visit www.scurl.com to view the full range of premium grooming products for men.

Wahl’s New Mentor Detachable Clipper Honors an Icon

The new Mentor Clipper honors the life, career and mentorship of Wahl employee and barber mentor Isadore Adams. Isadore Adams was a pioneer of barbering and a valued employee at Wahl. After opening his first shop in 1971, Isadore designed his first of many barber hair style charts, which are now commonly known to the industry as I ADAMS or Wahl Posters.

Isadore eventually grew to a vital role at Wahl, keeping the century-old clipper company deeply connected to working hair professionals. He regularly traveled to barbershops throughout the U.S., taking time to understand what barbers need from their Wahl tools. His experience and first-hand knowledge were critical in the development of the premier Wahl 5 Star barbering line alongside another Wahl legend, Bo Langley.

During his travels, Isadore held true to his passion for the craft by taking barbers under his wing, becoming a valuable mentor to many. He then led the charge to form the Wahl Education & Artistic Team (W.E.A.T.) and, to this day several current members attribute securing their places on the prestigious team to the support of and mentorship by Isadore.

“He worked the information into us, there was no option other than success if you were learning from him,” said Wahl Education & Artistic Team member Garland ‘G-Whiz’ Fox. “He met everyone at their level regardless of their gender, income, location or whatever – he was an awesome mentor.”

A reflection of Isadore’s passion for barbering, the Mentor Clipper is designed for the barber or cosmetologist who is serious about their craft. Excellent for achieving a seamless fade with using just one tool, and especially great for debulking course, thick hair.

The Mentor comes with a detachable four-blade system. Compared to other Wahl clippers, the Mentor has much more power; its brushless motor has a speed between 3,000 and 3,7000 RPM – faster than all other detachable blade clippers on the market. This extra power makes the Mentor better and faster to use on coarse or thick hair. It’s an ideal tool for barbers that work with quick turnaround clients. “The new detachable blade system diminishes the lines of demarcation when changing blades. This allows the barber or stylist to work faster at completing the haircut. A high RPM clipper and improved blade design is a winning combination” says Tracy Vock, Wahl Professional Senior Product Manager.

Ergonomic and light weight, the Mentor makes it easy to use for barbers and cosmetologists alike. Wahl increased the comfort and control to make sure it was perfectly balanced and reduced the vibration to a minimum. In addition, a long flexible cord allows for ease of movement for the barber or stylist. Plus, to prevent mistakes, there’s a locking mechanism that must be engaged in order to switch the blades.

Taking its cue from Isadore, the Mentor Clipper brings a new depth of opportunity to the professional hair industry by maintaining quality while pushing efficiency. A reminder that there is no other option than success and acting as an ode to every great barber who had a great mentor.

Visit www.wahlpro.com for more details.