Business owner, apprentice trainer, and award-winning hairdresser Jacqui Victor has lots to celebrate.
With 40 years in the industry, 30 years as a business owner and this month celebrating 20 years of her award-winning salon True Grit, ‘it’s hard to fit 40 years of wow into words’ Jacqui reflects.
We caught up with Jacqui to find out about her journey in the hair industry and how she’ll be celebrating these milestones!
Can you tell us about your journey into the industry?
My journey started in 1985 (40 years ago) with Hairline in Hamilton Ray Astwoods, was renowned for training apprentices. Consequently, I did my apprenticeship with him and his salon full of awesome stylists. Left and did London and my OE, came back to Christchurch – Hamilton wasn’t for me. In 1995 (30 years ago) I created my first business the iconic ‘Front Room’, here I began my passion for the industry in training young stylists. Apprenticeships were important to me and my business and I recognized that early. In 2005 my husband and I bought True Grit (20 year anniversary). Today I still have Jen Buckley who started with me as an apprentice. Operated 2 salons for 5 years, then closed The Front Room and moved everyone to True Grit. Rest is huge! As the owner of that salon my leadership went from strength to strength, I had to be strong. True Grit certainly lived up to its name, (especially when) the journey of the earthquakes began on the 4th Sept 2010…
What do you love the most about the hair industry?
The Fashion and the passion. I love colour and I LOVE cutting hair. My clients are extremely important to me and I couldn’t stand the thought of them feeling fusty and old because they are bored with their hair. A visit to me at True Grit is fun, and boisterous and they walk out feeling a million bucks with an exceptionally great haircut and colour.
“I absolutely love my team and I’ve had many over the years. My people are what make me see sense of my day everyday……”
With so many years in the industry what are some of your career highlights?
- Winning Training Salon of the Year in 2010. Even though we had been displaced. That’s when I took on a small space in Tuam Street, now that’s another story.
- Winning Industry Awards Employer of the Year in 2015.
- Winning Kitomba Salon of the Year and cleaning up at the awards in 2016. We had just moved back into our purpose-built, beautiful salon on Manchester Street.
- There are many moments when my young stylists have won Apprentice of the Year with HITO and the latest is my newly qualified stylist, Georgia, winning New Gen Stylist of the Year with Hair & Barber.
How many apprentices have you trained in your time and what do you love about training apprentices?
I actually haven’t got a number for you. There are many ex Front Roomers and True Gritters out there still in the industry doing their thing. Having this latest celebration of 30 years in the business I’ve had so many of my ex-girls and gals sending fabulous messages. It’s a great career and can be taken to great levels. So many of my successful apprentices have excelled in their chosen career. The peeps that had the guts and the Grit are still thriving in the industry and that makes me super proud.
“I love that I can put back into an industry that is soooooooo exciting vibrant and fun.”
Why is training apprentices important to you?
It’s super important for the industry. We need stylists out there and that starts with apprenticeships and training. We employ a trainer at True Grit and Hannah does a fabulous job of preparing my young team for the unit standards and being salon-ready for our clients. This is a huge investment, but it pays off.
I just wish there were more salons out there taking on apprentices. Apprentices are tomorrow’s stylists.
What drives you to keep going in the hair industry?
Not sure. I’ve always questioned my tenacity – where does this inner strength come from? My husband is a driver as well, I love my team; they are important to me and my clients.
We hear it’s True Grit’s 20th birthday this month – how will you be celebrating?
We have loads of in salon prezzy’s, champagne, and there is a party to celebrate with clients of 30 years. We even hired a photo wall, it’s been hours of putting together photos from years of salon fun with exceptional teams.
Anything else you want to tell us
I’m 61 years and I’m still doing it, still cranking out some great hair dos and leading great teams. I love people.
It’s hard to fit 40 years of wow into words…..
“And truly there’s been some huge down moments as well …. But I’ve always just dusted myself off and got back on the pony 😊”
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