What is it that makes the difference between a good supplier and a really excellent one? It could be great service, attention to detail, understanding your needs, going the extra mile, or something else which makes you want to carry on placing your business with that supplier. That is why we have launched the Guild Awards of Excellence 2009, to help us find the suppliers who go that extra mile.

We are looking for suppliers and trainers in the beauty, holistic, and nails industry who have really impressed you. Whether it was a great website, fast service, or that extra help when you had a problem, we want to know.

We would like you, the therapists and technicians, to nominate the companies that you feel serve you best. We will put the nominations together and compile a shortlist for you to vote on. The best in each category will then receive a Guild Award of Excellence.

The categories available for nomination are:

• Best Customer Service
• Best Web Services
• Best Skincare Supplier
• Best Nails Supplier
• Best Tanning Supplier
• Best Uniform Supplier
• Best Equipment & Furniture Supplier
• Best Hair Removal Supplier
• Best Wholesaler
• Best Training School
• Best Supplier Specific Training

You can nominate as many companies as you like, in as many categories as you like, and anyone can make a nomination for any company. As an extra incentive, the names of all those who put forward a nomination will be put into a hat, and one will win a 1GB iPod Shuffle!

The last day for nomination is 17th July 2009. You nomination will need your details (so that you can win the iPod), the name of the company you are nominating, the category you are nominating them for, and the reason you are nominating them. You can place a nomination by clicking here, or, email the above details to louisa@beautyguild.com.

The shortlist for voting will be published on 1st August, and the winners will be announced on 10th November.

my nominations are in

Great, thank you!

Can we nominate a external supplier ? Anyway, i will have a great interest in the final results.

I'm not sure what you mean by an 'external supplier'. You can nominate any supplier to the beuty, nails and holistic industry.

does that mean I cant vote for B&Q then

Sorry Collin, their fence spray guns are too much competition, we thought it wouldn't be fair to the rest of you to include them.

That's a shame IMO they would win hands down ticking all the right boxes in the right places for me

My nominations are in

When is the closing date for nominations and how's the counting coming on Louisa

The nominations have closed and the short list for people to vote on will be announced next week.

If you have a chat with Britta, you might find you have a little insider knowledge

OMG OMG OMG...does that mean B&Q have actually managed to get through or is it that Chinese supplier

Yep, it's that B&Q fence sprayer again!

I somehow just new they would get there...which branch has been nominated..is it the one at Newport Pagnell...ive heard the staff there are very helpful...especially Edith on the tile section...she has been on the telly you know and gave me her autograph the other week when I drove 876 miles round trip just to save 10% at their branch on some grout for the shower cubicle..and the trolleys are free so no need to go foraging about for a quid...shows how much they trust their customers...gotta be worth an award I say