Wella RED Business Network Live once again proved to be the highlight of the year for salon owners and their teams. More than 300 delegates gathered at the exclusive Belfry Hotel & Resort in The Midlands for two days of learning, collaboration and inspiration.
Hosted by Industry influencer and podcast host, Dom Lehane, guests enjoyed a packed agenda engaging with professional speakers, insightful panel discussions and thought-provoking conversations. In true Wella style, there were also dedicated moments to unwind, share experiences and build meaningful connections with peers.
Each speaker had been perfectly positioned to deliver business building content for the audience of salon owners, managers, and their teams. Over the years, Wella RED BNL has established itself as the premier hairdressing event that uniquely blends business expertise, visionary thinkers, creative innovators, and industry professionals with inspiring real-life experiences. It delivers practical insights and actionable strategies that truly resonate with its audience.
The 2026 Speaker Programme covered an impressive range of topics designed to inspire and drive growth, from understanding consumer behaviour through insights, to future proofing business with AI technologies.
Topics included persuasive technology, creative problem solving, strategic planning, brand building, delivering exceptional customer experiences, and selling luxury. The essence behind every session focused on business growth, with plenty of ideas to implement in salons of any size.
Wella’s Senior Sales & Education Director UK & Ireland, Tatiana Suvorova, opened the event: “It is a great privilege to be your partner on this journey of reinventing business in this ever-changing world,” she said.
Leading futurist and technology advisor Andrew Grill delivered practical and insightful guidance on becoming ‘AI‑ready’, cutting through the confusion around integrating tools such as ChatGPT into everyday salon life. “It is about empowering people, not replacing them. AI replaces tasks, not people, and will transform the entire way we work,” Andrew explained.
Further AI‑focused insight came from author and behavioural science expert Nathalie Nahai, who shared pragmatic ways salons can use AI to save time and support business growth. “AI is powerful. It has huge potential for good, but we have to be sensible about how and where we use it. I recommend using it to remove effort and time from tasks in your day,” she advised.
TV presenter and journalist Steph McGovern connected effortlessly with the 300‑strong audience, sharing her own journey to becoming a respected, award‑winning business journalist. With a deep understanding of the challenges facing today’s high‑street businesses, she encouraged the audience to “stay authentic, don’t try to fit in, and focus only on what you can control.”
Attendees also benefited from a highly practical and impactful social media session from Alex Brown and Kate Roberts of leading social agency Campfire, who provided an invaluable toolkit of take‑away guidance.
Serial entrepreneur and creative visionary Simon Morris captivated the room with his emotional story of navigating an extraordinary business journey. He offered thought‑provoking perspectives on emotional connection, purpose, and the human element of leadership.
Maddy Christina delivered a compelling presentation on ‘selling luxury’, exploring client experience, retention, and the nuances of premium business positioning. Advertising expert Rory Sutherland followed with a brilliantly engaging session on behavioural insights and consumer decision‑making. “To economists, price is a number. To consumers, price is a feeling. People don’t pay for what they get; they pay for how you make them feel,” he noted.
As night fell, the business atmosphere shifted seamlessly into full‑scale celebration, complete with drinks, dinner, a live saxophonist, DJ, and an after‑dinner comedy performance.
Across the two days, panel discussions from the Wella leadership team and industry experts tackled key topics including apprenticeships, VAT, building profits, utilising AI, and recruitment. A strong sense of community, partnership, and shared learning was felt throughout the event.
The impressive line-up of entrepreneurs and business experts who generously shared their insights and experiences through their engaging storytelling and encounters, ensured that Wella RED Business Network Live 2026 delivered a powerhouse of inspiration and practical strategies for the year ahead. Packed with actionable insights and key messages, the event left delegates invigorated and ready to take on new challenges. It was, without question, the must-attend networking experience for salon owners looking to set themselves up for success.