Visions of success: there are some not-so-secret ingredients in Grund Hair Care's formula for success in the professional beauty industry. Among them are the natural assets of Saskatchewan's lifestyle which brings people to the company's offices in Saskatoon, and president Wayne Grund's "passion for people.".

Wayne Grund knows how to inspire people. Grund is owner of Visions Salon and Spa in Saskatoon and president of Grund Hair Care. He is also in demand as a professional development speaker and coach for women's hockey.

Grund Hair Care is an international company, with head office in California and sales, education and marketing run out of Saskatoon. Although its markets are predominantly in Canada and the United States, the company sells to salons around the world. Grund hair care products are sold only through professional salons.

Born in Regina, Grund grew up in Watson, Saskatchewan, where by age 13 he helped his father in the local barber shop. After graduating from Kelsey Institute he opened his first hair salon in Humboldt in 1978 and by 1982 had established himself in Saskatoon.

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"In the fashion world, I've been able to develop a strong following worldwide," he says. "We do major shows in Japan, Europe, throughout the U.S., South Africa and elsewhere.

"Success really is a culture," he says. "We've done a really good job of surrounding ourselves and our company with really good people."

"Our company is a 'sales through education' based company," says Grund, explaining that "education-driven" means teaching the person doing the selling to be client focussed.

The professional beauty industry over the last 15 to 20 years has become advertising driven, he says, yet the biggest growth years occurred when the industry was education driven.

"That's where our company has really stood fast. Right now our growth rate in the U.S. and Canada has been extremely strong, especially in the U.S., where we're developing our own distribution network as well."

"Ninety-seven percent of sales in a salon happen through stylist recommendation," he says. "We spend our money as a company educating the stylist about the product and how to speak about it, so they can best meet that consumer's needs."

"I have a real passion for people," he says, a passion that expresses itself in conducting training programs, delivering keynote addresses and coaching the University of Saskatchewan Huskies women's hockey team.

Grund travels throughout the world attending trade shows and conducting training in hair care, sales and professional development, yet the two most intensive programs are held in Saskatoon. The Cutting Edge, held each June, is a five-day symposium split between industry-specific training and life skills training that attracts participants from beyond the salon industry. Ovations, held each November, trains professional speakers.

"People absolutely love Saskatoon," says Grund.

More than likely, those visitors discover the qualities that have kept Grund and his family in Saskatchewan.

"We love the quality of life," he says.

"For the majority of what I do, no matter where I lived, I would have to get on an airplane. Our work is predominantly in North America. Saskatoon is central. I can be anywhere in the United States before supper."

"Having seen the rest of the world around us at an early age, there's not a place that I would choose differently," he says.