Hello!
Welcome to this 45th episode of the NATA PR SCHOOL podcast.
It’s my pleasure to welcome Alain Audet, General Manager, Canada of PHOREST Salon Software, an Irish company and a global leader in salon and spa management systems.
Alain Audet is, without a doubt, the most respected professional in the Canadian Professional Beauty Industry. Before returning to Canada, where he launched the Kétastase brand, he worked for major international luxury brands in Southeast Asia including Prada, Gucci, Fendi and Armani. I like to think that with his 23 years of experience with hair brands, hair salons and spas, Alain knows the names of all the hair salon owners across Canada, a country almost as big as Russia! Alain is also an enthusiast, who knows how to forge solid links with all those who cross his path.
I met Alain more than 20 years ago when he came back to Canada to work for denim brand, Parasuco Jeans, which was, at the time, looking for a professional of his caliber.
I could spend a good hour describing Alain’s impressive accomplishments, but I know it will be more interesting to let him add to this introduction what he wants to share with you.
Thank you for accepting my invitation, Alain. Here is my first question.
1- Who is Alain Audet?
2- Tell us about Phorest and what you are putting in place for them?
3- How do marketing and PR fit in at PHOREST?
4- I know that you are constantly learning and, during your years at the ABA (Allied Beauty Association), I saw how digital technology like Facebook and Instagram have become essential tools that you have learned to master. Why is that?
5- Back to the Future – at a time when the internet was not as developed, you launched Kérastase in Canada and you hired us to take care of public relations. It’s a long story, but I find it most interesting in today’s environment. Tell us about your PR / Marketing strategy for the launch of Kérastase, which was a huge success.
6- During the pandemic, reinvention, “reinventing oneself” became a trend, a buzzword. As you have always been a pioneer, you knew how to reinvent yourself long before this trend. From the luxury goods sector in Asia, to the beauty industry in Canada, how did each of these new professional experiences lead you to “pivot”?
7- Many of our clients are obsessed with the Web. Since you work for a company that offers products and services online, is your perception of the Web changing?
8- What about the future of PR and Marketing? What do you think the new trends and brand needs will be?
9- To finish, what should we hope for you?
To find out more about PHOREST SALON SOFTWARE:
www.phorest.com
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