HAIRDRESSER Dan James has been voted the West Somerset Free Press Business Person of the Year with an overwhelming vote of confidence from his supporters. Dan, pictured, took over the Something Else salon in Minehead just over a year ago at the age of 21, after having trained under the previous owner Simon Antonelli. And after winning a string of accolades in his profession, he now knows that his clients also think he is the tops. Always cheerful, caring, considerate and a great stylist were just some of the comments from the dozens and dozens of nominations received that made Dan the easy winner of the 2005 title. A local lad who deserves to succeed and an excellent role model for aspiring young business people were among other views expressed. Dan, who received the Business Person of the Year trophy from Free Press advertising staff Jess Elder, pictured left, and Dee Rickward this week, said he was delighted and very surprised to have won the award. "Although I had many clients of my own when I took over the business, those who had been with the previous owner did not have to stay with the salon. "But in fact I have not lost one customer and business is just getting better and better. "I'm really pleased to have won this title. I've no regrets about taking over the business - it was the best move I've ever made." Dan puts his success down to the fact that he stays open as late as possible and always puts his clients first. "We have a real mixed client base - men and women of all ages, which makes the work very varied." Dan completed with distinction and recognition an advanced cutting and colouring course at the L'Oreal Technical Centre in London with top international stylist Guy Kremer, where he achieved a diploma. And he counts cutting and colouring as his favourite part of a job he loves. Photo: Steve Guscott.