By Leanne Cutler – Hair Shots 2 The World

The Joey Scandizzo Salon is now open for business – a move that has set tongues in the industry wagging.   Many are curious as Joey heads into a new phase of career and life.

Joey Scandizzo says his partying days are over and it’s now time to settle down and settle into some serious business.  And it looks like he’s right on target.

2011 is proving a year of massive life change for him with a wedding at the end of the year and his sophisticated, buzzy salon in South Yarra now trading under a new name, Joey Scandizzo Salon.

The question on everyone lips have been why the big move?

“After 16 great years with Rokk Ebony, I’ve grown older and it’s time to challenge myself and set out building my own empire,” Joey said.  “I gave my former salon everything I could for 16 years and now it’s time to create my own destiny.”

“I have succeeded in building business from the creative, on the floor side so now it’s time that strategically direct of salon business too,” he said. “I am enjoying learning more about the business side of operation and I have two great new business partners to give the venture strength.

“The Joey Scandizzo salon is owned by a team of three partners with complementary skills, my brother John Scandizzo, and hairdresser Joseph Semaan,” Joey said.

He said that what some people did not realise was that he was always a partner in Rokk Ebony, South Yarra so the change is a name and partnership change.

Operating the same premises, with the same team for the salon client base has made the transition smooth.

“There has not really been any kind of significant changeover in daily operations, so it’s not been a big challenge in many respects,” Joey said.

“But I will miss the brilliant business relationship I had with my mentor and ex-business partner, Tony Torcasio.

“Tony was my business and life mentor who built me from the start, so of course, I will miss such a wonderful influence, but it’s my time to venture out .”

He also said things would also be different not working with the 120 staff of the old salon chain.

“It is different now but the Joey Scandizzo salon team number 25, and it’s going to be a fantastic journey developing the team further.”

Whilst some salon owners only have the time and energy to run their own salons, Joey is effervescent in his enthusiasm for the greater hairdressing industry.

His new empire is one thing, but building a better, healthier hairdressing industry is also on his priority list.  In particular, he wants to encourage young people into hairdressing careers using his own story, and he’s even turned down a guest artist spot on the Australian Fame Team world tour to get the program under way.

His story is a great encouragement to young people looking at job options.   Interestingly, it is hard to imagine affable Joey as the person he describes as a the “up to no good” teenager at school.

“I was  a big trouble maker at school,” Joey said.

“Things got to the stage that there was no way I could stay at school, so I had to find a trade,” he said.  “I knew a carpenter and a hairdresser so I did work experience with both.

“Carpentry proved to be cold and wet the week I tried it out, so there was no way I was doing that.

“But then I tried hairdressing and found out that I’d be around really nice girls every day, so that was my choice,” he jokes.

“It’s the best decision I have ever made.”

Joey said that the next few months will be busy developing the Schools Program  but it is the right time ‘to get stuck in’ and help the Australian industry which has an acute shortage of enthusiastic trainee candidates.

“Hairdressing is one of the best, most fun jobs for creative, hands on people,” he said. “It’s time to head out and tell kids making career decisions just how good it is.”

The Joey Scandizzo Salon officially opened with a stellar celebration hosted by Ruby Rose on September 13.