Human interaction trumps technology in the minds of customers. About 83% of U.S. consumers prefer dealing with human beings over digital channels to solve customer service issues, according to new research from Accenture. The report also found that 52% of consumers have switched providers in the past year due to poor customer service, with banks, retailers and cable and satellite television providers being the worst offenders. In the United States, the estimated cost of customer switching due to poor service is $1.6 trillion. Reach the full report at Accenture.com/GlobalConsumerPulseResearch.
Soomi Park has re-joined The Kirschner Group, Inc.’s international sales team as sales representative for Korea, and Mary Quinn joins The Kirschner Group as sales support and customer service specialist, focusing on business in the Midwest, Northeast and Southwest territories. Soomi has spent more than 25 years in the beauty industry. Mary has more than 15 years’ experience within office administrative roles.
Even beauty tools can benefit from strengthening their cores, 
according to Fromm, which has given its round brushes a metal makeover. The new Edge Ahead by Fromm copper core thermal round brushes feature a copper core barrel for even heat distribution. As a result, hair dries faster. Each brush also features an insert bar, which infuses two-in-one technology to blow-dry with ionic benefits, while the 100% pure boar bristle strip grips hair and adds shine. Visit frommbeauty.com.
Beauty Pitch, scheduled for Saturday, July 23, during PBA Beauty Week, is a beauty competition that provides companies the opportunity to pitch their businesses to a live audience and an esteemed panel of judges, including celebrity guests, national retailers and consumer editors. Marking his return after the inaugural event, John Paul Mitchell System’s co-founder and CEO John Paul DeJoria is confirmed as a celebrity judge, along with Deanne Kaczerski, editorial director at Time Inc. Visit beautypitch.com for more details.
The 2016 WellaCares Challenge kicked off March 1. Through an online competition, a total of $15,000 in grants will be awarded to hairdressers and salon owners who demonstrate compelling dedication to community outreach programs. Since 2013, Wella’s Hairdressers at Heart has awarded a total of $116,000 in grants to salons whose fundraising efforts support causes such as heart disease research, domestic abuse shelters and autism awareness. This year’s prizes range from $7,500 to $2,500 and will help winners put on fundraisers, produce cut-a-thons or benefit a charity in their local communities. Winners will be announced in June 2016. Visit hairdressersatheart.com.
Tony Award-winning actor Alan Cummings will host the 2016 North American Hairstyling Awards. The 27th annual NAHA takes place July 24 at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas during PBA Beauty Week. Winners will be announced on PBA’s Facebook page at facebook.com/professionalbeautyassociation, on May 18 at 10 a.m. Visit probeauty.org/naha.
