Trade Publication of the Year

Open to independent trade publications, digital media platforms or industry magazines operating within the UK, Europe, USA or APAC regions. Publications entered must demonstrate active professional readership, consistent industry coverage and relevance within the professional hair industry during the eligibility period.

Winning this award positions your publication among the most respected industry platforms within your region, reinforcing credibility, visibility and professional influence. It provides a powerful platform to strengthen audience trust, attract future partnerships and highlight the role your publication plays in shaping conversation across the professional hair industry. Winners will also be invited to join the judging panel for The Indies - Salon & Stylist Awards UK.

• A written submission outlining the publication’s positioning, audience and industry impact

• Evidence of readership, engagement, circulation or professional industry reach

• Supporting materials including editorials, campaigns, features, partnerships or publication activity relevant to the eligibility period. Future direction and plans for continued growth or platform development may also be included

• All activity must relate to the period 1 May 2025 – 30 April 2026.

How This Category Will Be Judged

Entries will first be reviewed based on the written submission, supporting evidence and overall impact within the professional hair industry. Judges will consider industry relevance, consistency, audience engagement, quality of content and the way the publication supports and connects with the professional salon community.

As this is a regional award, entries will be judged against others within their selected market across the UK, Europe, USA or APAC, with an individual winner recognised within each region.

Judges may also consider editorial quality, digital presence, industry influence, partnerships, educational value and the overall role the publication plays within the professional hair industry.

To keep the process fair and independent, entries may be reviewed across multiple judging stages by different members of the judging panel.

Submission Requirements

Entrants need to submit the last 3 copies of the publication in either a physical or digital format.

This category is not open to consumer-only publications without professional industry relevance. Publications without active professional readership or consistent industry-focused content will not be considered.

To protect the integrity of the awards, all judges are required to declare any professional, commercial or personal relationships with entrants prior to scoring. Any judge with a declared conflict of interest will not be permitted to review, discuss or score the relevant entry or category.

Entry Recommendations

Strong entries should clearly demonstrate the publication’s impact, relevance and connection within the professional hair industry. Judges are looking for publications consistently delivering valuable industry content, supporting professional conversations and creating genuine engagement with the salon and stylist community.

Supporting editorials, campaigns, readership information, digital platforms, partnerships, social content and examples of professional industry impact are strongly encouraged.

Entry Deadline

Final entry deadline for this category is 6 September 2026.

As this is a regional award, entries will be judged within their selected market across the UK, Europe, USA or APAC. Shortlisted entrants may be contacted directly regarding additional judging stages or further supporting information where applicable.