By Molly Magennis
A female focused hub in Maidstone has been crowned Maribyrnong’s most Innovative Business of 2022.
MAMAWEST, a hair salon and collaborative space, is the brainchild of Sheridan Shaw and was given the award from Maribyrnong council during their 2022 Civic Awards on February 23.
The business venture was born during the pandemic, when Ms Shaw said she had an undeniable desire to launch a space that was not only home to a premium hair salon, but that would provide opportunities for other businesswomen to thrive as well.
“I had a desire to launch a space and get us a space double the size of what I actually needed to hold space for other women in business as well and women in business that were struggling to survive through COVID,” she said.
While the prospect of starting up such a big business venture during such a tumultuous time was scary, Ms Shaw said was determined to see her idea come to fruition.
“It was an undeniable streak of fire within me that I just could not deny. I was just like, it was greater than the fear, the belief and the faith in the concept.”
“I could see that there was a gap in the west for firstly, a premium hair salon service where you didn’t have to travel across the bridge or to the city or to Fitzroy to get a quality haircut. Just having a place down the road to be able to not only get your hair done, but also get your nails done, also get your brows done.”
Ms Shaw said winning this award felt like a dream come true, and was all the more special as it coincided with the 10 year anniversary of her sobriety.
“It was…getting clean and getting clean within a community of other people that were also getting clean that really taught me the value of community and it was thanks to that community that I learnt….. the power of actually helping others,” she said.
