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ORBE looks to the future after Hall of Fame induction

07/05/2020

When ORBE won Best Hair/ Beauty Salon at the 2020 Eastside Business Awards it was a vindication of the salon’s business philosophy. “We have always supported our community,” says co-owner Ida. “Whether it’s a school fair, or the local netball team raising funds for their club, I think its imperative to support the community”.

And The Parade has returned the favour, embracing Ida wholeheartedly since she first arrived as an apprentice in 1984. Since then, she has worked in TV, music and fashion but says the salon environment is irreplaceable. “The relationships that I have built through clients supporting me from the very beginning are absolutely priceless.”

Ten years after landing on The Parade, Ida and co-owner Joe Cimmino opened their own salon in the same location she first started. Now, as well as being voted Best Hair/ Beauty Salon for the second year in a row, ORBE has just been inducted into the Eastside Business Awards Hall Of Fame.

Ida describes the award as “humbling”, and acknowledges that it comes at a very strange time for ORBE. “It’s unlike anything we’ve faced before,” she says of the COVID-19 crisis. But she has faced it in the same way she approaches every other challenge; by staying positive and making sure the business can continue to thrive.

Her efforts have helped to keep the salon’s 22 staff members employed. They’re understandably delighted, and her customers are just as happy. “We’ve had lots of feedback from clients and it’s really lovely to have received excellent reviews on our social media and emails saying thank you.”

Ida and Joe have remained favourites on The Parade thanks to their ability to adapt to trends in the hair and beauty industry as well as a changing business climate. But she puts ORBE’s sustained success down to the things that have stayed the same. “What hasn’t changed is our constant commitment to training and employing young people, believing in our industry, and embracing the importance of making people look and feel great.”

And it’s just not ORBE that has been recognised by the local community; six of the twelve winners at the Eastside Business Awards are located on The Parade. Other local businesses recognised include Shouz (Best Fashion Retailer for the second year running), Pavé Cafe (Best Coffee), HOYTS Norwood (Best Entertainment Venue) and GR Phones (Best Emerging/ Startup Business).

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