Shabby Chic Shines At The Lounge Hair and Beauty
Posted by
Kate
Dated: July 23, 2008 4:26 PM
When Michelle Gowlett chose a prime location in Brentwood, Essex, for her first salon The Lounge, she used the pages of HJ to inpire her to achieve the shabby-chic style she visualised.
"I wanted to get away from the clinical black and white lines and go for a more homely feel," says Michelle.
"I chose pink and brown because they're my favourite colours, and the combination is different from colour schemes used in many modern salons."
Michelle worked with a lighting specialist to ensure the salon had a natural feel and selected striking Harlequin wallpaper as the focal point of the salon.
"I wanted some pattern on the walls to create warmth and comfort," she adds. "It is such an interesting feature it actually attracts clients into the salon."
The Lounge takes a modern twist on classic style with statement pieces, such as a pink candelabra and a chaise longue in the reception area. Michelle describes her style as very chic, but not over the top.
"The overall design aims to create a classic and relaxed ambience appealing to the over-thirties; however, the salon retains a trendy side with its patterned wallpaper and shabby chic look, attracting younger clients too."
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Tags: salon interiors , The Lounge Hair and Beauty
The Law and Redundancy in the Salon
Posted by
Kate
Dated: July 23, 2008 2:11 PM
When times are hard redundancy can become a reality for many salons.
There is no legal requirement for salons to have a redundancy policy, but having one will give you a structured approach to managing the process, and ensure you select staff fairly and avoid claims of unfair dismissal.
If you find yourself having to cut your head count, you should obtain professional advice before you begin as employment law can be complex.
However, here are David Wright, legal advisor for habia and a variety of salons, responses to some of the most common questions on the subject.
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How to Create a Successful Brand
Posted by
Kate
Dated: July 21, 2008 4:01 PM
Thinking of branching out and launching your own product range?
Ratan Daryani, co-founder of Virgin Cosmetics and founder of Flint Edge male grooming products, gives his top tips on creating a brand.
- Make sure you research the market you intend to enter
Be clear about your product range, its price points and your unique selling points. Are you sure there is a gap in the market for your range and, just as importantly, how much potential does this gap offer? - Find a good product supplier who can provide you a complete all-in-one service
There are product development, trading standards, safety and regulatory requirements to be met to ensure your products are of a high standard and can be retailed. Much of this can be very technical, so if you are not familiar with all these issues, leave it to the experts. - Pick an appropriate name for the brand
It can be appropriate by being relevant to your products, yourself, or just a 'cool' name, but ensure you have the name checked by lawyers. You don't want to be sued for using someone else's trademark. Also, get the web domain name for your brand name. Once you have selected your brand name, visit a lawyer and get it registered. Good names go quickly. - Employ creative and experienced designers for packaging, web and marketing materials
They need to be experienced across various media as some designs may work on paper but not on screen or packaging, or vice versa. - Before you start, be clear on how you intend to market your products
You will need to build awareness of both your brand and products. This can be an expensive and a time-consuming process so be prepared for the long haul. - Good customer service is vital
Devise an operation to handle customer queries and returns, process orders quickly and deal with any general trading issues that arise on a daily basis. - Remain optimistic
It's worth remembering that there will be good days and bad days as you set up a brand and you will always be remembered by how you handle those bad days. It's important to stay upbeat and focused even when things go wrong because success is just around the
Tags: branding
A New ID for Identity UK - Salon Interiors
Posted by
Kate
Dated: July 21, 2008 12:42 PM
The launch of Identity UK was a dream come true for co-owner Tony Hegarty. "I dreamt of a salon that boasted a team of hairdressers trained to deal with all hair types and textures while treating every client as an individual," he says of the funky salon in London's Shoreditch.
Identity UK was launched seven years ago, but moved to larger premises in the area to cope with its growing client list. The aim was to give the new salon a more elegant, refined look. One of the main priorities was to incorporate a dispensary that doubled up as a feature.
"Our old dispensary was very small, so this time we wanted lots of space and somewhere to display colour tubes. We commissioned a Perspex grid that would do all this for us," adds Tony.
The result is the L'Oréal Professionnel Color Lab. It has been designed as a colour mixing bar where clients can watch their personalised colour being created.
Another main feature is the Mizani Consultation Area. "This is a UK first. It's a dedicated space which allows clients to relax on deluxe sofas and have a personal consultation with their stylist," says Tony.
Two elements of the refit that didn't go to plan were the budget and time schedule. Not only did the original budget escalate from £45,000 to £83,000, but the refurbishment, originally scheduled to take four months, took six months.
However, Tony is not too disappointed by these issues. "There are aspects I would do differently.
"I wouldn't choose the same builders because they over-ran, and I wouldn't use a client as an architect because when work went wrong I couldn't shout as much as I would with a stranger!" he adds.
More pictures of Identity UK >>
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Tags: Identity UK , salon interiors
Creating a Luxury Experience in the Salon
Posted by
Kate
Dated: July 21, 2008 12:10 PM
In the current economic climate, with interest rates soaring and the housing market in a slump, it's more important than ever that your salon stands out from the crowd if you're to win a cut of your clients' income.
Far from slashing their prices and trimming their overheads, an exclusive and successful set of salon owners are specialising in offering their clients unbridled opulence and the opportunity of unrivalled pampering. And their investment in indulgence is paying off.
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Hairdressing Innovations: Roo Pouches
Posted by
Kate
Dated: July 21, 2008 11:39 AM
Directors Ashley Howard and Kevin Nicholls are the brains behind Roo Salon Limited, a fast-growing brand that specialises in tools of the hairdressing trade, including belt pouches and professional scissors.
Ashley explains how the business began.
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Tantrum Salon - Doing it for the Kids
Posted by
Kate
Dated: July 8, 2008 5:05 PM
For many mums and dads, one of their biggest nightmares can be taking a young child to the hairdressers, but at the ironically named Tantrum it should be a dream experience - for parents and children.
Every element of the salon in King's Road, London, has been designed to ensure young clients are entertained while their hair is cut, and parents get to chill out while it's happening.
Tantrum co-owner Latasha Malik says: "We wanted Tantrum to be more than just a hairdressing salon - we wanted it to be a place where kids enjoyed hanging out and parents could have a fantastic experience too.
"We knew exactly what we wanted and our designer brought it together in a very special way. We knew we needed to create something unique. When you walk into Tantrum the experience is quite different - the look and feel was thoroughly thought through."
Tantrum children's salon pictures>>
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Tags: salon interiors , Tantrum
Tax Penalties and Your Business
Posted by
Kate
Dated: July 8, 2008 11:43 AM
If you submit an incorrect tax return to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and as a result your tax liability is understated, you may be charged a penalty and interest, as well as the additional tax that becomes payable when the error is corrected.
Nothing new there, but what is new is that the penalty system has been entirely revamped, and a new unified regime will apply to incorrect tax returns or other documents submitted by individuals and businesses in relation to income tax, capital gains tax, corporation tax, PAYE, National Insurance contributions and VAT.
Paul Howard, associate director of Chiltern Tax Support for Professionals, looks at what these new penalties could mean to you and your business.
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Making the Most of Team Meetings
Posted by
Kate
Dated: July 8, 2008 9:00 AM
Team meetings are an ideal opportunity for you to get together share ideas, give constructive criticism and make sure that everyone has a clear idea of your objectives and is pulling in the same direction.
But for too many salon owners and managers team meetings are a wasted opportunity. Karrin Lawrence, managing director of Pure Clarity, a consultancy specialising in management coaching, offers her top five tips for how to make the most out of yours.
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Cool, Sleek US Style - The Doves Studio
Posted by
Kate
Dated: July 7, 2008 4:43 PM
The perception of a salon that's situated just minutes away from the beach in Santa Monica, California, is that it will be cool, sleek and oozing with style - and The Doves Studio is exactly that.
Owned by Sonya and Christopher Dove, creative directors for Wella Professionals in the US, The Dove Studio is their first US salon, but the pair had a clear idea of what they wanted to achieve.
"We wanted to create a studio that reflected our strong culture of education and style," says Sonya.
And style is something it's dripping in, with a combination of fresh white walls, a high, black ceiling with various suspended levels and bold blasts of colour throughout, to complete the look.
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Tags: salon interiors , The Doves Hair Salon