Salon's Natural Shine

Newcastle Herald

Monday November 3, 2008

with MELISSA LYONS

GREEN is a colour not often associated with hairdressers, but it has been adopted by a Newcastle salon that is turning heads.

Vogue Eco-friendly Hairdressing opened on Darby Street last week, offering environment-conscious ladies and gents eco-friendly products.

"With climate change this is the way the whole world should be heading now," Lee Nesbitt, who co-owns the salon with his wife Mikhali, said. "It means whatever is washed down the sink does less harm to our environment."

All styling products used in the business are free of sodium laurel sulphate and hair colours are ammonia free, which has offered benefits beyond the environment.

"The big thing is we can colour pregnant women's hair. Usually ammonia is what opens up the pores of the skin and allows carcinogenics to get into people's systems. And it will stop our clients and staff from breathing in the fumes of ammonia," Mr Nesbitt said.

Owners of Hamilton salon Beaumont on Beaumont, the Nesbitts said they would continue to expand their green approach with plans to introduce organic coffee at the salon.

POWER OF GOOD

ERARING Energy has embraced a safety-first approach that has been recognised on a state level.

The energy corporation has been named best individual contributor to workplace health and safety, and public sector leader for injury prevention and injury management at the WorkCover NSW Safe Work Awards last week.

WorkCover NSW chief executive Jon Blackwell said Eraring Energy had been successful in identifying risks and ensuring they were eliminated or managed effectively.

Hunter business Physio at Work was a finalist at the awards.

The award runner-up takes physiotherapy to workplaces in the Hunter, and has grown by 300 per cent since its inception nine years ago.

"We are driving down injuries in the workplace, halving them from one year to the next. Some clients are paying up to 80 per cent less in workers' compensation compared to five years ago," director Daniel O'Neill said.

HOUSING THE TROOPS

THE Greater Building Society and Defence Housing Authority have teamed up to offer a property investment option in the Hunter.

Free seminars held across the Hunter during the next month will discuss defence housing investment opportunities.

The limited properties have long-term security of a Defence Housing Authority lease, with guaranteed rent for the terms of the lease.

The authority's standard lease terms are nine to 12 years, with an option to extend by up to three years.

Greater chief executive Don Magin said: "In this economic climate, a guaranteed return up to 12 years, with no vacancy risk, will be a very attractive investment option."

$58M PROFIT FOR BRADKEN

HUNTER-based international manufacturing company Bradken held its annual general meeting in Brisbane last week.

Bradken reported a net profit of $58 million for the year ending June 30, and said shareholders should have received a full-year dividend of 37 cents a share, an increase of 17 per cent compared with last year.

DIARY DATES

? Friday: Hunter Business Chamber annual general meeting, speaker Jeff McCloy (pictured), Newcastle City Hall, Newcastle, 12.30pm-2.30pm

? November 12: Export information event, 251 Wharf Road, Newcastle, noon-2pm and Singleton Civic Centre, 4.30pm-6.30pm

? November 18: My Business is your Business, Andor Systems, New Lambton, 5.30pm-7.30pm

? November 26: E business workshop, 251 Wharf Road, Newcastle, 9am-4.30pm

The biz

Were going through

an absolute crisis

and all our members

are telling us

business has

slowed.

Peter Shinnick on the

lack of consumer

spending sparked

by financial

pressures.

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