It should come as no surprise that Ultimate Care Skin and Body has been listed as a finalist in the Australian Beauty Industry Award (ABIA) with the salon host to an exceedingly impressive reputation.
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After a lengthy submission, the news came on August 3 that Ultimate Care was listed as an ABIA finalist via social media and owner, Marg Ottley couldn't be more thrilled.
"We've been in business for 16 years and I have always wanted to do it but I was a bit nervous because we're a little salon in country NSW," she said.
"I've never done a submission as hard and as exhaustive as this was because they're really targeting your marketing, standards, your training of staff.
"Through the encouragement of other people in the industry who just kept saying 'Marg, you've got to do it' I have finally done it."
The award is judged by industry leaders with the Mudgee contender up against Bella Spazio (Orange), Cronulla Skin Sanctuary, Laser Sydney, The Day Spa (Sydney) and The Skin Clinic (Concord) in the NSW/ACT State Beauty Salon/Sap of the Year four treatment rooms or less.
On the back of previously being listed as a finalist in the 2019 NSW Business Chamber Awards for Outstanding Employer of Choice, Marg said to potentially bring such a prestigious award home would be 'really exciting'.
"Even if we don't go any further, to be recognised as an ABIA finalist is a really big thing," she said.
"For me personally, it would be a reward for a lifetime of dedication to this profession and the passion I have that I hope to instill in my girls. And for the girls, it's a reward for the really hard work they put in each day.
It just goes to show that our quality of service that we're providing in a small country town is really up there.
- Ultimate Care Skin and Body owner, Marg Ottley
An Ultimate Care beauty therapist is also in the running for a separate award with Emma Kurtz nominated as a finalist for the Tafe NSW Apprentice of the Year.
"It's a huge honor for her to be nominated, I've heard the maturity of her submission was beyond her years," Marg said.
"She has been with us for nearly three years and she's just one of our most valuable employees. Our clients love her, she's passionate about her work, she just wants to lift the bar with everything.
"The winner was supposed to be announced in March but didn't go ahead due to COVID-19, so we're waiting for Tafe NSW to get back to us with how the awards will be announced."
Winners of the ABIA awards will be announced at a Gala event on December 6, 2020.