Re-charged and raring to go - andrew

I'm now back from my summer holidays and straight back in at the deep end with lots of creative meetings ahead of Salon International. The holiday was lovely and a very welcome break. We stayed in a gorgeous, rickety old farmhouse in Ibiza, and friends and family came out to visit. There is a stereotype that Ibiza is a wild, party haven and bits of it are like that, but we go to a different part of the island that is really beautiful and idyllic.

We pack very little, spend the whole time barefoot and do our best to completely chill out. I think it is really important to take time out and come back re-energised and that is what I try to do - although work never completely leaves my mind. That's why I have a little notepad that is always at my side - day and night! - and a very tiny one with a little pencil that can fit into a jacket pocket so I can take notes on special occasions. Recently I was at a Budhist wedding and the couple were getting married on a bed of marigolds. The colour inspired me so I took my notepad out and jotted down my ideas during the service while they were fresh in my mind!We pack very little, spend the whole time barefoot and do our best to completely chill out. I think it is really important to take time out and come back re-energised and that is what I try to do - although work never completely leaves my mind. That's why I have a little notepad that is always at my side - day and night! - and a very tiny one with a little pencil that can fit into a jacket pocket so I can take notes on special occasions. Recently I was at a Budhist wedding and the couple were getting married on a bed of marigolds. The colour inspired me so I took my notepad out and jotted down my ideas during the service while they were fresh in my mind!As I said, now that I am back, the focus is on working with the team to put together all the elements of what is going to be a great show in the Salon Live theatre.

Salon will be the first time we unveil our 2008 collection and I am so excited about it because I'm really chuffed with the way it has turned out. It is a new image for Saks: a young, fresh, trendy approach that represents our brand as we move into our 35th year. After Salon, we go on a one week road-show tour to demonstrate the collection to audiences of about 500 people a night.Presenting on stage is one of the aspects of the job that gives me the biggest buzz. Actors always say there is nothing like getting up there on a stage and performing to a live audience and it's the same for me. I still get nervous before we go on stage, but I think that's healthy. When you start to lose the butterflies you lose some of the adrenalin rush and the passion and start to get complacent. But my nerves have changed over the years: I'm no longer worried about getting it wrong, I just want to do a fantastic job and touch every member of the audience - and that is very nerve wracking.