"I got stuck one day, one of my staff was sick ... I rang Waiariki and said I need the best student you have got to shampoo, answer the phone, clean up," Mrs Mitchell said.
"They sent me Carla and she hasn't left."
That was two-and-a-half years ago and now 22-year-old Miss Bindon is just months away from completing her apprenticeship.
In February, she sits the final practical exams and, all going to plan, will become a senior hairdresser.
She loves the job and the small but busy Otonga Rd salon.
"I love our clients and getting to know them," she said, adding many had popped in to give her a hug and congratulate her on her business award win.
Mrs Mitchell nominated her apprentice for the awards, after two years of the salon itself making the finals.
"This year I wanted to backtrack and concentrate on her," Mrs Mitchell said.
In preparation for the awards' judging process, the pair had several practice interview sessions.
"I was so nervous ... I had never even had a job interview," Miss Bindon said.
"But the interview was great, most of the time we were laughing and joking."
She said the award was recognition for the hard work she'd put in, which included mentoring at Waiariki twice a week.
"I have worked really hard over the last couple of years," she said. Mrs Mitchell said Miss Bindon was determined, competitive and passionate about hairdressing, which made her easy to mentor.
Being a smaller salon, she had been able to pass on to Miss Bindon not just hairdressing but some business skills as well, she said. "If something happened to me she could walk in and take over."
Miss Bindon said one day she would like to own her own salon. Her boss, though loathe to let her go, is encouraging her to spread her wings once qualified to travel and work overseas.
Miss Bindon agrees she needs to move out of her comfort zone, but first the apprentice wants a small taste of being the boss.
"Before I leave Jo I want to train someone to take my place, make sure she's fine without me."
