At the 2000-2001 Salon of the Year Awards, we saw a few familiar faces and some new ones as well, as we honored individuals and salons that have made an art out of contributing to our industry. As NAILS’ judges combed through the many great entries for all three categories, we couldn’t help feel that this year may have been the toughest to judge yet.

For NAILS’ seventh annual Salon of the Year Awards, sponsored by The Nailco Group, we once again were given the unenviable task of selecting nine finalists – and then three winners – from some very stiff competition. The awards recognize the professionalism, dedication, and inspiration that these top salons and nail technicians have to offer the industry.

The winners of the year’s awards all have something in common – they have taken the initiative and raised the bar of professionalism in the nail industry. At the same time, the winners also offer outstanding customer service to their clients, act as role models for their employees and coworkers, and make various contributions to their communities as compassionate businesspeople.

Although it was tough, nine finalists were finally chosen and invited to attend the annual awards banquet at the Great Lakes Beauty Show in Dearborn, Mich., in October. Nail technicians and other key industry figures made up the record crowd when winners were announced by NAILS editor/publisher Cyndy Drummey and Larry Gaynor, president and CEO of The Nailco Group.

In the following pages, we will introduce you to the winners and runners-up in the Nail Technician of the Year, Salon of the Year (1-4 Nail Technicians), and Salon of the Year (5+ Nail Technicians) categories. The winners received $500 and an engraved trophy, and the runners-up all received $250 and a framed certificate for their accomplishments. The Nail Technician of the Year winner also will be flown to California this year to do the nails for an upcoming NAILS cover shoot.

The 2001-2002 ceremony is planned for October 20, 2001, and the deadline to enter is July 2001. Applications and information will be available online at www.nailsmag.com and will be published in upcoming issues of NAILS. We invite all of you to participate and hope that you’ll be as inspired as we are by these accomplished professionals!

[Photo 1] Being runner-up for the second year in a row for Salon of the Year (5+ Nail Technicians) gave Patrick’s Salon owner Megan Arambula and her team something to smile about.

[Photo 2] Awesome Nails was a runner-up in two categories this year – nail manager Darlene Feric was up for Nail Tech of the Year and salon owner Mary Metscaviz was up for Salon of the Year (5+ Techs). This celebratory shot includes NAILS senior editor Patricia Oropeza, Feric, Cyndy Drummey, Metscaviz, Larry Gaynor, and NAILS associate editor Vanessa Jezin.

[Photo 1] Two-time runner-up Nail Technician of the Year and competition judge Nancy King inspects competitors’ nails and answers questions after they received their scoresheets.

[Photo 2] Larry Gaynor of The Nailco Group took time out from his busy show to get a quick haircut before the Salon of the Year Awards ceremony.

[Photo 3] These three prizewinners have something to smile about. Gaynor presented them with $250, $500, and $1,000 in cash for having the keys that unlocked the treasure chest on the last day of the show.

[Photo 4] Gaynor hands out cash to prizewinners at the GLBS Treasure Chest. Everyone who attended the show had a chance to unlock a treasure chest full of prizes.

[Photo 5] Members of the FPO team came out in full force at the welcoming party. Included in the celebration were FPO brand manager Heather Heiderer and FPO vice president of sales Dixie Eklund (standing, third and second from right respectively).

Nail technician and competitor John Hauk shows that he is not shy around the ladies.

[Photo 6] Competition director Sharon Martin and Gaynor present the Give Yourself a Hand awards. (Competitors have to do a full set of sculptured nails on one of their own hands.) Pictured from left are Martin, fourth place winner Salina Rush, third place winner Shelly Morley, second place winner Mary Metscaviz, first place winner Eriko Kurosaki, and Gaynor.

[Photo 7] Nail competitor and runner-up in Nail Technician of the Year Darlene Feric and Martin have something to moo about at GLBS – animal prints were a big hit at this year’s show.

[Photo 8] The Great Lakes Beauty Show got off to a great start with a welcoming party the night before the show started. Here NAILS managing editor Hannah Lee (left) and eastern sales rep Michael Kirk share a few secrets with Divi International’s Lorna Nehme and Ultronics’ JoAnn DiPrete (far right).

[Photo 9] Gaynor interviews top competitor Eriko Kurosaki during the nail competition awards on the show floor.