Hairdressing veteran advises on salon operations in Armenia

PORT COQUITLAM, BC – When a beauty parlour in Armenia asked for advice on introducing new techniques, the Canadian Executive Service Organization (CESO) sent Robert Mahe, of Port Coquitlam, BC.

"It was great to see stylists who were so eager to learn, and so quickly as well," recalls Robert, a barber, hairdresser, salon owner and teacher for 40 years.

He says the salon owner alerted the local TV station to the Canadian's arrival and a camera crew was in the salon while Robert was training the stylists.

This marketing gambit paid off handsomely. "We were on TV every half hour and I was told that the salon's income went up 30 per cent while I was there thanks to the TV exposure," says Robert, for whom this was his first assignment as a CESO Volunteer Adviser (VA).

A non-profit, volunteer-based organization, CESO provides economic development and governance expertise to client/partners in Africa, Asia, the Americas and the emerging market economies in Eastern Europe and to Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Canadians.

Robert is one of 3,000 VAs on CESO's Roster, a nation-wide talent bank of senior level individuals who have the ability, expertise and passion to provide business advisory services, mentorship and technical expertise to clients who could not otherwise afford a paid consultant.

The salon was established in 2003 and has a staff of six women and two men.

During his two weeks in Armenia, Robert trained the staff in modern hairstyling and colouring techniques; enhanced knowledge and skills on the part of the trainees; helped develop a marketing plan; increased the number of customers; increased customer satisfaction and, as mentioned earlier, increased the salon's income by at least 30 per cent.

"Our customers are leaving the salon in high spirits," the salon owner later told CESO. "The professionalism of VA Mahe led the stylists to enhance their own special individual skills. The hair styles introduced by the VA were an innovation in our town."

Robert says this was his first CESO assignment and he'll never forget it. "It was a great experience in Armenia and I have been keeping in touch with them by email and I'm sending them some materials such as perm rods and other things they have difficulty getting there."

As a leading Canadian international development agency, CESO's work overseas is largely supported by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) while the national program receives primary funding from Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC). Additional funding comes from client/partners, multilateral agencies, Canadian corporations, foundations and scores of interested individuals.

Does all this sound interesting? For information about donating to CESO or to learn about becoming a volunteer, please visit www.ceso-saco.com.

-30-

For more information, members of the media may contact:

Josie Marchese
Communications Manager
Tel: 416-961-2376 Ext. 253
jmarchese@ceso-saco.com

Robert Mahe
Bus: 604-443-8332
Home: 604-944-1910
Cell: 604-375-1183
mahefamily@telus.net