tRacKing December 2000

Suki's, founded by Vancouver's Tsuki Takagi, offers a wide variety of courses for licensed hairdressers, from workshops on "Creative Classics" and "Colour Cornerstones," to a 12-week in-depth program on advanced cutting.

The school also offers "Awakenings & Inspirations" for already-accomplished hairdressers who want to prepare for stage or photographic work. In this course, students learn advanced cutting and colouring techniques as well as makeup. They also learn how to prepare a photo shoot and work with professional photographers and models.

The school's Director of Education is Graham Ogelsby, formerly Principal Educator with Vidal Sassoon and responsible for instructor training worldwide. His experience adds to Suki's international reputation for original and daring work, which draws students from around the world to Vancouver.

About 65% of Suki's students come from outside Canada-mostly from the U.S., but also from Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Europe. Most of the Canadians are from BC, says Jammie Lai, Director of Admissions.

How do they find out about the school? "Word of mouth, mostly. But Suki's is internationally recognized because of our Artistic Team performances," says Lai. Suki's Artistic Team regularly appears at major trade shows around the world.

"Our courses are unique in BC, and different from the majority of schools in North America," says Lai. "We are truly an advanced school, teaching advanced cutting and colouring techniques. We try to ensure that our students understand the theory as well as the techniques. Our most direct competition comes from Vidal Sassoon, in London, England."

The school grew out of Suki's successful salon business, which now comprises five high-end salons in Greater Vancouver. It's located beneath the flagship salon on South Granville Street which employs 40 stylists, ten colour specialists, four estheticians, and two makeup artists.

All of the company's stylists are encouraged to refresh their skills and creativity annually at the school. Many other students also return once or twice a year.

The school is in the process of renewing its accreditation with the Private Post-Secondary Education Commission of British Columbia (PPSEC). With a maximum of only eight students accepted at any given time, meeting accreditation requirements is a significant undertaking. "We do it for our students," says Lai. "Accreditation provides those long-term students who need financing with access to student loans."

Participation in On Track provides other benefits too.

"We do a lot of market research, and On Track is yet another view," says Lai. "On Track gives us great feedback from our students. It helps us understand how to improve our work and learning environment."

Two of Suki's current courses, "Colour Cornerstones" and "Awakenings & Inspirations," were created because students told On Track that they wanted to learn more about colouring, and wanted an avant garde course focused on presentation skills.

"Our students are already working on the floors of salons. They come here to upgrade their skills and to inject new creativity into their work," says Lai. "Our stylists are going to be in the top one percent in the world."