Author: Hairdresser Power
Setting Up Shop – The Basics of Salon Ownership
Step 1: Plan, Plan, Plan
Business Plan The point of a solid business plan is to figure out what your business is, how it will be successful, and how you’ll troubleshoot problems. If you need a little help getting started, here are some great resources for you including free business plan templates and business planning software called LivePlan that can get you on the right track. Funding Whether you’re borrowing money through a traditional bank loan or have teamed up with investors, you need to figure out how much money you need to get started, and where it will be coming from. Find a Mentor As you’re planning your business, it’s a great time to find a business mentor. It’s best to find someone in the salon industry that can answer questions for you as you start and grow your business. Accounting To keep track of your money, inventory and project growth, you’ll want to implement an accounting and inventory program. On the accounting side, you’ll need a program to track your revenue and expenses. You’ll also need to figure out how you’ll pay Uncle Sam. You should sit down and chat with an accountant to help you get started. Location The right location makes all of the difference in the world. You want to select a spot with good traffic and high visibility that is located where your target demographic shops or lives. Enlist a realtor for help or drive around and look for vacancies in areas you are considering. Know the Area Know the demographics, the local competitors, and think about how your customers will get to your salon. How is the parking situation? Is a construction project planned on your block? You want to know everything you can about the area before you select a place.Step 2: Implement
With the planning stages complete, you’ll move on to details of actually opening your salon. Design to Your Market Before you start painting the walls and picking out furniture, make sure that your design matches the kind of clientele you want to attract. If your customer base is the younger generation, go with fun, bold colors and furniture. For a higher-end vibe, go for a modern and sophisticated look. In other words, tailor your look to your intended client base. Customer Service Standards After you’ve created an environment that your clients will love, you have to follow through by offering excellent customer service, which will make them want to come back. Marketing To be successful, you need clients. To attract clients, you need a marketing plan, so set aside a budget to promote your business. Without it, you’ll struggle. Consider hosting an event like a ribbon cutting or a small charity event to attract more customers. For example, sponsor a school play or have the staff volunteer at a local baseball game. You want to get the word out about your salon, and getting involved in your community is a great way to do that. Web Presence Before you dive into a design for your website, take a look at the sites of your competitors and try to design something that sets your salon apart. Your site should be attractive, easy to navigate, and ideally include helpful information for your customers, such as hours, location, contact info, and pricing. If you have the money, hire a professional to create your site, but if you’re tight on cash, there are plenty of DIY website platforms to consider. Get Social Social media is an important component to your marketing plan. You can use as many platforms as you’d like, but make sure you post regularly and engage with your customers. Retail As an owner, you’ll need to select products to retail. Consider one to three lines that take care of all needs for your various clients. Don’t expect it to be a big moneymaker right up front, as you’ll need to buy inventory and it will take time to sell it, let alone you’ll need to reinvest in the next batch. Now that the planning stages are over, new salon owner, it’s time to get to work….Social Media Versus Community Management
- Increase brand awareness and reach (ultimately, to acquire new customers)
- Distribute relevant marketing content and advertising
- Provide customer support
- Connect customers to one another
- Keep customers happy
- Make customers stay (retention)
The Art of Listening – The Best Tool in Your Arsenal
The Effects of the Natural Hair Movement on the Black Hair Industry
The shift from relaxers to natural hair, often referred to as the natural hair movement, is the source of many of the potentially major changes occurring in the Black hair market. The following are key changes:
- A desire for authenticity as well as efficacy: More and more products that specifically cater to natural and/or transitioning hair have entered the market. Among those new products are products from several brands who previously sold relaxers, like Naturally Silk Elements and Dr. Miracles. However, the ingredients of products from brands who have or also sell relaxers have been met with critical reception. Black women with natural hair, colloquially known as naturalistas, are wary of brands merely seeking to exploit the huge business opportunities that exist in the Black hair market, especially the natural hair segment. They’re not just looking for efficacy but also authenticity. As can be seen in this round-up of Black-owned natural hair product lines.
- Birth of “kitchen hair chemists”: There’s a growing demand for products with natural ingredients since one of the main drivers of going natural is keeping harsh chemicals out of your hair. Consequently, and in tandem with a growing DIY (do-it-yourself) Black hair culture, some women are choosing to create their own hair products using all natural ingredients. A small convenience sample of 20 YouTube videos regarding homemade hair products shows over 980,000 collective views. Women are replacing shampoos with Apple Cider Vinegar washes and deep conditioners with egg, mayo and honey mixes.
- Forgetting their hair stylist: Speaking of DIY, YouTube and the Internet in general, has played an important role in the growth of the natural hair movement, allowing more women to gain access to natural hair care information and inspiration. As a result, more women have begun foregoing hair stylists for their own self-styling and care. Natural Hair site, Black Girl Long Hair, asked their readers: “When it comes to natural hair, are you DIY (do-it-yourself) or do you depend on natural stylists?” 47% responded DIY, 23% try DIY methods but are struggling, 25% go to a stylist on occasion, and only 5% said they still use stylists regularly.
- Changing Purchase Patterns: Another consequent of the Internet and the still-evolving natural hair movement is changing purchasing patterns. Most Black women purchase hair products in Beauty Supply stores, which offer a wide range of Black hair products. But now with the wealth of information online about these products, as with products outside of the hair category, many consumers are researching and deciding about a product before they get to the store, whereas in the past a purchase decision was made in the store based on brand recognition and/or word-of-mouth. While word-of-mouth is still a major decision factor, (per Mintel, 42% of women are very or somewhat influenced by blogs/message boards/internet) many women are buying hair products online because often times the products they want, like Obia Natural Hair Care line, have limited retail distribution. Meanwhile, natural hair beauty subscription boxes like CurlBox, allow women, whether they be self-proclaimed product junkies or new naturals, to try new products on a monthly basis.
- A changing aesthete: One of the most exciting changes in the Black hair market is the notable change the natural hair movement has had on the Black beauty aesthete. As naturalistas flood social media networks like YouTube, Tumblr and Facebook, documenting their natural hair journeys, experimenting with different hairstyles and scrounging for hair inspiration from natural hair icons and sites dedicated to black hair, the kinky curly haired beauty has become a woman other women aspire to be. So much so that women are buying curls and kinks and weaving them into their own hair. A new extension hair line, The Heat Free Hair Movement, specializes in kinky, curly and coily weaves. Their aim is to offer protective hair style options through their extensions for women with or without natural hair. Daris Mathis of For Harriet wrote about the brand saying, “If enough women have embraced the natural hair aesthetic to the extent that they have created a market for Afro-textured virgin hair, the war has been won. Remember when Chris Rock did Good Hair and said that nobody is buying African-American hair? Someone tell him, ‘Thank you.’”
The Black hair industry is going through an exciting period. The changes that are occurring are leaving the market open to potentially big shifts—shifts in tastes and in market share. The market is in a state where it can potentially take a whole new direction and it’s also fertile ground for new entrants who have a genuine interest in meeting the unique beauty needs of Black women.
For the full article or for more information about trends in the Black hair industry, follow http://un-ruly.com/the-changing-business-of-black-hair/#.VZBA4e1VhBc.
Meet Generation Z – The Next Wave of Salon Pros & Clients
- By 2020 Generation Z will account for 40% of all consumers.
- Gen Zers know how to research, self-educate and find information. Thirty-three percent watch lessons online, 20% read textbooks on tablets, and 32% work with classmates online.
- The average Gen Zer has the attention span of about eight seconds. They have grown up at a time when they’re being served media and messaging from all angles, and have adapted to quickly sorting through and assessing enormous amounts of information.
- Generation Z consumers spend 7.6 hours per day on average socializing with friends and family.
- Gen Z shares the entrepreneurial spirit of Millennial innovators: About 72% of current high-schoolers want to own their own businesses, and 76% hope they can turn their hobbies into full-time jobs.
Victor Paul – Artist Spotlight
Cracking the Bro Code – Beauty for Men
Although most beauty startups of 2014 cater to a vast array of cosmetic needs for women, that doesn’t mean men are going unnoticed.
Hair Care Affair
After seeing growth in the overall men’s haircare market, Dollar Shave Club co-founder and CEO Michael Dubin dug deeper into feedback from subscribers and found that three-quarters of them used hair-styling products. “This alone made a compelling reason to enter the market,” he says. Dollar Shave Club is betting Boogie’s will give it a big boost: it projects revenue for 2015 to top $150 million, more than double the $65 million it saw last year. But it will have to lather up against major contenders. At present Procter & Gamble commands 40 percent of U.S. men’s grooming sales through longstanding brands like Gillette, Old Spice, and Clairol for Men. Dubin isn’t afraid. “Generally, men agree that bigger brands don’t understand them,” he says, adding that many affordable products fail to address men’s needs for hair fortification and scalp health. He also believes men are frustrated by the lack of guidance they have in choosing the right products and need someone to “hold their hand.” To that end, Dollar Shave Club is also unveiling “Boogie’s Match,” a personalized product finder that ask members a series of hair-styling questions to customize product recommendations.Skin in the Game
Men’s skincare and anti-aging is another frontier for beauty. Dr. Paul Jarrod Frank, a New York City-based dermatologist is product technology advisor to Estee Lauder’s Lab Series for Men, part of the cosmetics giant’s standalone skincare group for men. As The New York Times reports, Estee Lauder launched it last year with potential plans for growth acquisitions in 2015 and 2016. Dr. Frank says a little over three years ago he informed the company that his website’s info-videos for male cosmetic treatments — like specialized liposuction for male abs and non-surgical neck-lifts for sharper jawlines — saw a spike in activity between 12 a.m. and 2 a.m. He concluded that men researched cosmetic options during these witching hours because many still think it’s taboo to have beauty regimens or use personal care products, let alone undergo aesthetic procedures. Another brand focused on simplifying men’s beauty regimens is Turo Skin, a niche men’s line that makes multi-beneficial products. With their customers’ stuffed gym bags in mind, the Michigan brand has created a 3-in-1 product that rolls a high-performance shampoo, cleanser and moisturizer into a single formula. Not all brands believe in the all-in-one philosophy. Miami-based Luxury Brand Partners, the makers of Oribe and other top-rated products for women, also entered the male market last year with its V76 by Vaughn line. Instead of multi-purpose products, V76 by Vaughn sells skincare, haircare and shaving with more nuanced options, such as styling gels that come in ultralight, medium and strong. It even sells a hydrating face mist and brightening shampoo for silvering hair, hoping to unearth male beauty junkies of all ages. Click here to view the original article by Tanya Benedicto Klich on http://www.entrepreneur.com/.Nail Salon Crackdown in NYC
Premiere Orlando 2015 – International Beauty Event
A Revitalized Color Business
The Art of Promotion
Carrying the Torch – Artist Spotlight
Tragedy Sparks Inspiration
Fast-forward to 2015 and a bustling salon environment is the backdrop for a class of future salon professionals ready to make their mark on the industry. In the mix at Paul Mitchell The School San Diego is Kyla Rose, an eager young blonde with a recognizable spark. Proud to be Nicki’s daughter and Nick and Ramona’s granddaughter, Kyla enrolled in the school and devoted her time and energy to her education. She even won a partial Paul Mitchell scholarship with an essay she wrote about her mom. Now set to graduate late June 2015, Kyla is looking forward to carrying on the family tradition in her own signature way. Described as a joyful ray of light much like her mom, this extroverted social butterfly considers herself to be a new age alchemist, as she sees it as her calling to help make others feel confident. “Building an artistic, healthy presence and unique impression is important to me. By focusing on a person’s inner essence, I am able to bring out into the open who they truly are,” said the rising star. Kyla specifically loves the cutting aspect of her craft and is excited to see men paying more attention to appearance and grooming. She is also drawn to makeup and sees it as a way of creating an artistic expression on a human canvas. In addition to the required hours at the academy, Kyla participated in many outside activities during her time in beauty school. She modeled for NAHA, did makeup for a designer fashion show in Los Angeles, and did hair and makeup on her own models for a BEACON photo shoot. When asked about how her family influenced her decision to enter the beauty industry, Kyla said, “Mom influenced me by pushing, guiding, and loving me and I learned by seeing her be successful in this business. She had a big personality and I loved seeing how happy and uplifted people were after she came around.” She continued, “I grew up around the beauty industry so I watched Grandpa and Gramona (Grandma Ramona), who is also a wonderful mentor, work hard at the family business. They are both independent and successful, and support our whole family through their hard work.” Kyla is ready to roll up her sleeves and dive into her future headfirst. She clearly wants to make a difference in the world and the industry she grew up in, and above it all, to make her family proud. “The universe is on my side,” Kyla said, continuing, “and so is my family!” Keep up with Kyla and watch her career blossom by following her at kylarosestyle.com. Photo captions top-bottom:1. Kyla touching up her models on set with her mentor, Reno Prezio, looking on. Photo by Natasha Gerschon.2. Results of editorial shoot with photographer Natasha Gerschon. Hair and Makeup by Kyla Rose.3. Nick Cutter and Kyla Rose – photo by Gramona.Balance in the Workplace
Solving the Salon Insurance Quandary
NAHA Nominees for 2015 Announced
Communication – 6 Things Every Salon Owner or Manager Should Know
Beacon 2015 Student Winners Announced
The Professional Beauty Association (PBA) is pleased to announce the winning students and honorable mentions chosen to attend Beacon 2015. These students were selected from more than a thousand applicants based on the creativity, presentation and content of their resume, professional portfolio, and creative marketing pieces. All Beacon applications were judged by PBA members, including top manufacturers, distributors and licensed professionals from across the country. Meet these exceptional students at PBA Beauty Week in Las Vegas July 11-14, 2015. Held annually as part of PBA Beauty Week, Beacon accepts around 100 winners and invites 200 additional honorable mentions to be a part of this career-building event. Attendees are comprised of the nation’s top cosmetology students and PBA strives to help provide them with a foundation to build a successful future in the industry. Designed to educate students on the various components needed to manage an accomplished career, Beacon introduces students to the business side of the industry and provides valuable insight on marketing, business operations, networking and leadership training. Beacon winners receive free tuition, and honorable mentions pay a small fee to attend PBA Beauty Week in Las Vegas, which includes a full line up of education tailored specifically to them. The Beacon program is long renowned for hosting the industry’s most accomplished speakers and this year’s program features leading educators including Geno Stampora, Vivienne Mackinder, Stephanie Kocielski. In addition to attending their specialty classes, students tour the Cosmoprof North America trade show floor to meet beauty business leaders and attend PBA’s annual Business Forum, featuring the Beauty Pitch, where they learn the role global distributors and manufacturers play in the industry. As part of this year’s Beauty Week, PBA is encouraging Beacon winners and honorable mentions to post the “I am a 2015 Beacon Winner!” and “I am a 2015 Beacon Honorable Mention!” graphics on their social media pages, along with #BEACON2015, as a way for their followers to support them on their journey to Beauty Week. For a full list of the winners and the schools they currently attend, please visit probeauty.org/beaconwinners. If you would like to sponsor the 2015 Beacon program, please visit probeauty.org/beacon. Photo courtesy of the PBA |
Turning Problem Solving Into Retail Sales
Measuring the Success of Your Business
Salon Social Media Strategizing
Amazing Hair
Any time a client makes a major change, show it off with a before and after post. Same thing for really great cuts, color, special occasion styles, first haircuts, etc. If you find it of interest, your clients likely will too! Shoot it, brand it (your salon logo), tag it, post it!
Events and Happenings
Document events, happenings, classes, parties, etc. at your salon – Everything from your grand opening to any special occasion. Snap away and post accordingly, making sure to use appropriate hashtags, captions and tags.
Product Information
If your salon sells retail, consider posting highlight products. Pick a specific product and create a quick post about how to use it, what hair types it’s best for, etc. You can pull imagery and information from the manufacturer’s website and create your own customized artwork and post. Also, be sure you are following any brand that your salon carries on the manufacturer’s social media. That way you can share posts from their site: Product info, styling tips, collections, videos, etc. There’s a wealth of knowledge on these sites, so take advantage of what’s available.
Promotions and Special Offers
Always have some sort of promotion going on, that way you not only have something to talk about but it also helps sell through slower moving product or introduce new ones. The promotion can also be for services, either to help build newer stylists, or to increase add-on services, which is always good for the salon’s bottom line.
Giveaways
Nothing gains followers and engagement quite like giveaways. Consider offering an occasional giveaway for salon products or services or even assemble a gift basket for special occasions (Mother’s Day, Easter, Valentine’s Day, etc) and raffle them off for the highest amount of online referrals, etc.
Seasonal and other Trends
Since your salon is in the business of making others beautiful, your staff needs to always be on the forefront of trends. And as trendsetters, make occasional statements about what’s coming next with all asspects of cuts, color and styling. Show off the latest trends in fringes, layers for long hair, curling techniques, or even color and color placement for the season. The options really are endless!
Reviews
There are plug-ins and apps that can be added to some social media platforms that allow users to do reviews. Be sure you are taking advantage of these features. Also, be sure you have a Yelp presence, as you can post links to any of your salon’s reviews on social. It makes for highly credible content!
Here are some more ideas:
Show off how the salon is decorated for any holiday Announce new hires or new salon services Ask for referrals / Ask followers to invite others Offer quick styling tips and techniques Give seasonal hair care advice (moisturizing in the winter, etc)
Have any social media strategies that have worked well for you? Do tell!