7 Canadian Launch 1980
Helen Oppenheim with Vidal Sassoon
in Toronto at the Canadian launch of the Vidal Sassoon hair care line and designer jeans and tops.
It took me a long time to recover from planning this major 3-day PR effort which included
all media, from papers to magazines, to tv, radio and more – in 3 cities. It was hugely
successful but totally exhausting. Vidal had wanted to approve all interviews,
in advance, no spaces between interviews, either for the 1 day in Montreal,
a Sunday, or for the 2 days in Toronto. Interviews continued throughout meals,
Vidal did yoga as he talked about his event on TV, very early in the morning and he
ended the 2 day promotional tour with a massage, something I should have done!
Radio interviews were done later. And I remember flying in to Toronto for a major
interview to join Vidal and the interviewer just for lunch one day.
Recently I found that schedule I gave Vidal Sassoon in advance, and I can’t
believe I did all that – from New York too. But I do know that one of the major reasons that
Vidal Sassoon became a legend is because he knew the value of the media and
public relations promotions, he wanted and expected more than anyone,
and he knew how to get it.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © COPYRIGHT HELEN OPPENHEIM 2012
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8 Canadian Launch 1980

Vidal Sassoon Models, Canadian Launch, 1980 with art directors Ingrid, left, Helen Chudoba, far right.
Vidal Sassoon Toronto Artistic Directors, left, Ingrid, and Helen Chudoba, far right,
with models from International Top Models, Toronto, at the Canadian launch of the hair care products,
designer jeans and tops. The next night, I art directed a photo shoot with Helen and Ingrid for which
they did a really good version of HighHair, on a man. Must find a photo…
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © COPYRIGHT HELEN OPPENHEIM 2012
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9 Canadian Launch 1980
The Million $ Jeans in Spain
Here is Fernando Romero, President of Vidal Sassoon Salons USA and Canada
with the Vidal Sassoon Million $ jeans in Barcelona, Spain,
during a hair show we did in front of 2,000 people at the Palacio de Congresos
for the annual Luis Llongueras Journadas, November 1980.
Model: Kathy Davis
Photo: Courtesy: Pelulquerias Magazine
ANECDOTE: Helen with Vidal Sassoon USA in Barcelona, another saga to be told one day….
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © COPYRIGHT HELEN OPPENHEIM 2012
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