SAAHSP INDABA

SAAHSP’s first Beauty Indaba held 2- 4 September at Professional Beauty was a great success. Key discussions around compliance, ethics, professionalism, education, funding and grading took centre stage and this indaba showcased, “Why our business does matter.”

The term “Indaba” comes from the Zulu and Xhosa languages meaning “business” or “matter. SAASHP turned this business matter into a strategic open discussion for all role players.

Starting on 2 September, the SAAHSP Board came together to discuss business matters and put in new strategies with the official launch of the new grading system. An award ceremony was held to acknowledge long service awards, innovations and appreciation for industry players who have played vital and pivotal roles for the development of the Professional Body and its industry.

With the official first beauty Indaba recently held at the Professional Beauty Trade Show, SAAHSP created a stir and got the tongues wagging but in a good way. No one expected to see all role players sitting around the table discussing pertinent educational issues and trends while sharing information and taking hands to make our industry even greater. SAASHP School representatives with Japie Nel(SAQA), Nomfezko Vendke (Services Seta) and Marco MacFarland (QTCO) were just some of the role players who supported the education discussions earnestly. People not only spoke but listened more too.

The honourable minister Gadija Brown, MEC for Finance of the Free Strate opened Monday’s proceedings with promising words about funding for local business initiatives within the industry re-iterating that the government needs to make money and our industry has potential to assist. Good business plans can get funding.

Influencer and business woman, Unaiza Suliman, well known Brow Queen was MC and her success story of perseverance, tenacity and achievement created a message of hope for all students and potential business owners. Of course nothing comes easy but hard work always pays off. We never stop learning ever.

Motivational Speaker Thabo Kwakwa wowed the audience with his beautiful perfumes and gifts and his dynamic self presence. His slogan, “It’s good manners to smell good,” and his sharing of entrepreneurial skills and anecdotes motivated our young students to new levels.

Appointed by SAQA, SAAHSP The South African Association for Heath and Skin Care Professionals is the official appointed Professional Body for Skin, Body and Nail Care Industry in South Africa. Belonging to a professional body is an all important aspect for all industries and it is paramount to ensure that various issues about ethics, professionalism, complaints and up to date trends within industry are upheld by professionals. Qualifications within education, designations, industry concerns, site inspections and audits as well as the newly announced project about the grading system were discussed at length during the indaba. All these projects form part of SAAHSP’s objective to ensure compliance and professionalism.

This first Indaba has dealt with the aspects seen as stumbling blocks for our industry’s growth and development in South Africa. While they were appropriately unpacked, issues could be openly discussed with government role players, industry professionals and interested parties in a very constructive manner. For our speakers and participants we are grateful to have been able to facilitate this first interaction.

Every visitor and every sponsor who participated in our First Beauty Indaba helped us achieve a phenomenal result. Many industry professionals confirmed that communicating and discussing challenges as well as highlighting educational matters will most definitely support industry better. We touched on aspects and topics many have been too afraid to confront.

The launch of our new grading system was very welcomed and is still very new. Our industry has been asking for this and we at SAAHSP listened and are in the process to role this out. It is a hot topic which doctors and product houses have even offered more support to establish and develop so our industry can become more professional, ethical and compliant. Our pilot projects will be completed soon and we look forward to releasing more information too.

Some very difficult controversial topics with different role players who shared different opinions connected, discussed and planned to resolve issues that have been hampering industry growth. We might not all agree on everything, but one thing is sure, we all want the best for the industry. The networking buzz we had at the Indaba keeps resonating back and we look forward to our next Indaba very soon. Our plan is to keep communication channels open for all so our industry can grow.

For organizer and brains behind the first Beauty Indaba, SAAHSP VicePresident Feroza Fakhir, it was a special project to unite so many. Fakhir maintains that hot topics are best addressed in person. COVID forced the world to function on line and everyone needed to delve deeper into the challenges faced by industry by resolving these in person, face to face. The idea of a grading system has been in her back pocket for a while. Her dream to launch and promote an ethical business practice is now coming to fruition. With the launch at the beauty Indaba it once again confirmed that SAAHSP has the ability to bring the industry together to ensure compliance, ethical conduct and professionalism. We look forward to sharing more about our grading launch with our first pilot projects as industry embraces the this new grading development wholeheartedly. Everyone wants statutory and regulatory requirements to be addressed fairly, especially in our industry.