Skiing, boarding, sledging…
After pulling out all the stops for last year’s apprentice-style event in Lisbon for Saks’ 40th, the word on everyone’s lips was how could we surpass or even equal such an amazing experience for this year’s franchisee conference?
EASILY, OF COURSE!
With months of intense planning by our amazing Saks HQ team, 60 Saks salon owners, HQ people and leading suppliers were treated to an action-packed four-day event in Granada in March.
Saks does the Big Outdoors
The stunning Hotel Carmen, noted for its ideal location and spectacular panoramic terrace, became the base for this year’s event, in the breath-taking Spanish city that is Granada.
Main activities were designed to push boundaries including a ‘crazy canyoning adventure’ in the Rio Verde River. Assigned to teams, in the name of embracing new experiences (and winning too of course), delegates jumped, slid, slithered, splashed and abseiled down a series of pools linked by small rivers, waterfalls and chutes. Everyone was wet, wet, wet and much hilarity ensued.
We actually did this!
Visiting Granada goes hand in hand with experiencing Sierra Nevada. The next day was all about competing in a morning of snow games activities and an afternoon of fun skiing, boarding and/or sledging.
The girls are looking glam… and the Art Team boys are looking lost!
Oh, and there was rather a lot of après ski relaxation!
Those who were slightly out of their comfort zones were encouraged along the way by friends in the network and became empowered achieving new things.
Huge congratulations to the winning team for nailing the most challenges across both events, led by Jezz Ellis (Business Development Manager): Luke Pluckrose (Saks Art Team), Tina Ockerby-Rook (Saks Apprenticeships), Mannie DiGesaro (Saks Hertford), Claire Denyer (Saks Kings Hill), Vicki Barnett (Saks Hull) and Douglas Frost (I-Salon).
Our winning team. This is how we roll.
Our Managing Director Stephen Kee says: “After last year’s 40th we knew this one had to exceed expectations. This year we’re celebrating 20 years of bringing Saks Beauty to the high-street so being 41 is special for us too.
Stephen continues: “We wanted to see if our people were prepared to push their boundaries this year. With varying levels of daring required, activities were cleverly planned so there was something for everyone. Well done to our Saks HQ team for organising this one!”
There was plenty of time to dry off, glam-up and spend time with friends new and old in the Saks family plus bonding with our lovely suppliers who thoroughly enjoyed themselves too.
After an action-packed day… we made it to dinner!
Dinners in authentic Spanish restaurants – including a flamenco show at Jardines de Zoraya in the old Arab quarter – added sparkle to an otherwise waterlogged event.
As usual, everyone agreed… there ain’t no party like a Saks party!
We’d like to say a massive thank you to our lovely suppliers, and main sponsors, that helped make this amazing event happen:
