BEAUTICIANS and stylists will be hoping to highlight their success after a number of recommendations for this year's Reading Retail Awards.

The team at Cocoon Hair and Beauty are familiar with the business competition and are hoping to return to winning ways.

Established in 2009, Cocoon celebrated after winning the Independent Retailer Award back in 2011 and the 2017 contest could hold a double victory for the salon.

Tamara Knipe, manager, explained how her talented team have been nominated in the Service with a Smile and the Health, Beauty and Wellbeing categories.

She said: "Every customer is sent a text survey after they visit and we always get good feedback. We then pass that onto the staff.

"It was a nice feeling to get the award so soon after we opened, but it would be a massive morale boost for the team if we could win this year.

"Everyone works incredibly hard and we have a lot of loyal customers. I have only been here for a couple of years, but the business has really grown in that time."

Tamara believes her business is better than the rest because Cocoon offers hair and beauty all under one roof, but she also believes there is a healthy relationship with other salons.

They are also keen fundraisers and organise a Pink Day to donate money to Cancer Research every year.

She added: "We actually work well with all the salons nearby. We are contacted by John Lewis when they are overbooked and we take on their clients.

"Everyone offers something completely different so it is useful to have other salons nearby. We can exchange advice and we try to help each other rather than see it as a competition.

"We offer a terrific career path for all of our stylists. Many of the people who are with us now started as apprentices and they can work their way up or move onto somewhere else when they graduate.

Entry forms for the Reading Retail Awards are available at Broad Street Mall and The Oracle. Nominations close on Monday, July 10.

Visit: readingretailawards.co.uk for more information.