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This page contains an archive of all entries posted to Hairdressers Journal Interactive - Business in the Expert Advice category. They are listed from newest to oldest.
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Promoting Your Photographic Awards Entries
Posted by
Posted by
Kate
Dated: October 8, 2008 3:37 PM
Dated: October 8, 2008 3:37 PM
Putting together a photographic entry for hairdressing awards is a huge investment, not just financially but also of time and emotions. So it goes without saying that you'll want to get maximum mileage from your investment.
An award-winning collection will give you all the satisfaction and return for your investment that you could hope for but even if you don't win or get shortlisted for the award you can still use your entry to generate positive PR.
Sharleen Hunter, founder of Unleashed Potential, a consultancy specialising in marketing and PR for the hair industry gives her top tips for making the most of your photographic awards entries - from international competitions to in-salon challenges - whatever the outcome.
Continue reading "Promoting Your Photographic Awards Entries" »
Tags: Sharleen Hunter
Managing Problem Staff in the Salon
Posted by
Posted by
Kate
Dated: October 1, 2008 10:56 AM
Dated: October 1, 2008 10:56 AM
One of the biggest challenges that faces any salon owner or manager is keeping a healthy, productive and motivated team.
And the last thing that you need is to have to deal with is mood swings in the salon, staff coming in with a hangover, or a stressed team.
Unfortunately, human nature dictates that obstacles such as these are all part of working life, so they must be dealt with swiftly and efficiently.
Professional troubleshooter and personal development specialist John Whiteman of River Management addresses some common queries from salon owners.
Continue reading "Managing Problem Staff in the Salon" »
Top Tips for Offering Afro Services in your Salon
Posted by
Kate
Dated: September 20, 2008 4:47 PM
The rapid growth of the Afro hair sector may make you considering adding services for Afro and mixed race hair to your service menu; but does your hair salon have the demand for ot and are you equipped to appeal to this new market?
Simon Russell-Roberts, franchisee of TONI&GUY, Gloucester Road, London, offers his top tips for introducing Afro services to the salon.
Continue reading "Top Tips for Offering Afro Services in your Salon" »
Beverly C's Advice For Handling 'Best Age' Clients
Posted by
Kate
Dated: September 18, 2008 10:07 AM
The UK is getting older... in fact the average age is now 39 and it is rising all the time. But while we're a nation getting older in body; we're getting younger in spirit.
And in a culture that has become obsessed with the concept of looking 10 years younger; today's women - and men - want their appearance to reflect that they feel longer without the dramatic mid-life crisis measures of yesteryear.
No aspect of the appearance can have as bigger impact on the way they look than hair; so it's little surprise that a recent survey by Mintel found that women aged between 45 and 54 were the biggest spenders in the hair salon.
However, unlike their average client, almost half of all hairdressers are under the age of 24 so can they really understand the needs of the 'best age' woman , who if treated with care will be a loyal and profitable customer?
Beverly C, Goldwell Ambassador for their new Triflective Naturals range, which promises grey coverage while offering multi-depth tonal colours, gives her top tips for helping you to offer your middle aged ladies the best possible service.
Continue reading "Beverly C's Advice For Handling 'Best Age' Clients" »
How to Deal with Customer Complaints
Posted by
Kate
Dated: September 17, 2008 4:06 PM
No matter how good you, your salon, your services and your people are, you will occasionally encounter an angry customer.
Freelance business management trainer Deiric McCann explains the best ways to deal with an angry customer
A normally reasonable, happy customer transforms into a flesh-eating beast bent on your destruction, and comes at you foaming at the mouth and demanding satisfaction. How do you talk them down from the ceiling?
Continue reading "How to Deal with Customer Complaints" »
Top Tips to Help Your Salon Beat the Credit Crunch
Posted by
Kate
Dated: September 11, 2008 4:46 PM
With a recession predicted, now is the time to tighten your belts and take a new look at what you are offering.
Managing director of TIGI European Operations, Simon Ostler, gives his 10 top tips for avoiding the credit crunch in your salon.
Continue reading "Top Tips to Help Your Salon Beat the Credit Crunch" »
Using The Right Media to Market Your Hair Salon
Posted by
Kate
Dated: August 26, 2008 11:43 AM
Once you have developed your salon's image and know who your potential customers are, you need to find a way to make contact with them.
Freelance business writer Adam Bernstein looks at some of the most effective ways you can market your hair salon to your target audience.
Continue reading "Using The Right Media to Market Your Hair Salon" »
Simple Steps to Market Your Hair Salon
Posted by
Kate
Dated: August 22, 2008 3:43 PM
Marketing is something all businesses do, but it isn't always formally structured.
You might view marketing as the occasional handwritten flyer, but the best way to give your business a boost is with a structured marketing plan.
Adam Bernstein looks at some of the best ways to market your hair salon business.
Continue reading "Simple Steps to Market Your Hair Salon" »
Getting the Best Out of New Salon Staff
Posted by
Kate
Dated: August 22, 2008 3:24 PM
There is an art to getting the most out of your staff, particularly new starters.
Management consulatant Karrin Lawrence, managing director of Pure Clarity, gives her advice on welcoming new members to the team.
Continue reading "Getting the Best Out of New Salon Staff " »
The Art of Body Language in the Hair Salon
Posted by
Kate
Dated: August 14, 2008 10:57 AM
Both you and your clients' body language can speak volumes, but too many people let those unspoken signals pass them by unnoticed.
We caught up with Scott Smurthwaite, founder and director of Cream, which has salons in Cheltenham and Gloucester, who has grown to appreciate the power of body language in his 22 years of running a successful salon business and training academy.
As part of his staff training programme, Scott encourages team members to use body language to improve the client experience and to recognise when clients are using their own body to communicate. Here are his top tips.
Continue reading "The Art of Body Language in the Hair Salon" »
How to Run a Hair Salon Business
Posted by
Kate
Dated: August 13, 2008 1:39 PM
Whether you've been working as a freelancer or mobile hairdresser; renting a chair or working in an independent salon or as part of a franchise; there may come a time when you decide you want to run your own salon.
Being the boss enables you to offer the products and services that are important to you and that you think there is a market for. You can have your choice of name and location and you can reap the rewards from a successful salon.
But being the salon owner also carries all the risk. It is your finances and your reputation at stake and there is far more to the day-to-day running of a hair salon than offering great hair cuts.
However if you do decide that the time is right and you are ready to run your own hair salon then it's time to get your business brain on and start to put the process in motion.
Continue reading "How to Run a Hair Salon Business" »
Holding One-to-One Meetings with your Salon Staff
Posted by
Kate
Dated: July 28, 2008 1:28 PM
One-to-one meetings with team members are essential to effective management.
Karrin Lawrence, managing director of Pure Clarity, a consultancy specialising in management coaching, offers her top tips for getting optimum results from yours.
Continue reading "Holding One-to-One Meetings with your Salon Staff " »
Business Coaching for the Hairdressing Business
Posted by
Kate
Dated: July 28, 2008 1:11 PM
As a salon owner, are there days when you feel sick of it all?
Then perhaps it's time to rediscover the vision and passion you had when you first started and fall in love with your business all over again.
Peter Lunn, the hair industry's business coach, explains how a coach will help give you motivation and direction, which is essential for a profitable salon.
Continue reading "Business Coaching for the Hairdressing Business" »
Launching Own Brand Product Ranges
Posted by
Kate
Dated: July 28, 2008 12:38 PM
With manufacturers spending billions of pounds each year promoting their products and brands, the message is clear - branding is big business, and if you can create a brand people trust you are on to a winner.
One way of raising brand awareness is by stocking your own line of products with your salon name splashed across the packaging, which might not be as pricey as it sounds.
Martin Unerman, director of personalised branding company, Brand-ID, believes salons have nothing to lose and everything to gain by retailing their own branded products.
"Stocking your own-brand products means a salon will be truly independent, and not merely a clone of many other salons in its area," he says.
Having your salon name on your retail products, means that when clients are washing or styling their hair at home, your salon's name will be on display, which reminds them to make an appointment to visit your salon and reinforces the message that yours is a professional business with its own product line.
"Another important advantage of a salon stocking its own-brand products is profit," adds Martin. "The profit margin made in selling own-brand products is typically much larger than traditional suppliers. The larger profit margin is not achieved by sacrificing quality, but by having a much shorter supply chain with fewer people involved."
Stocking personalised products doesn't mean you should stop supplying popular brands, it can be an additional range which gives your clients more choice.
If you are considering stocking own-branded products it's essential to do some research and make sure the product is of superior quality; putting your name to something that doesn't work or isn't good value for money will be detrimental to your business.
"The most important consideration for the salon owner should be the quality of their own-brand products. It must be as good as, if not better than, other comparable products and must be a true reflection of the salon's goals and values," concludes Martin.
Continue reading "Launching Own Brand Product Ranges" »
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
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.
Continue reading "Creating a Luxury Experience in the Salon" »
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.
Continue reading "Making the Most of Team Meetings" »
Peter Lunn Reveals the Art of Presenting
Posted by
Kate
Dated: July 7, 2008 1:50 PM
Most of us will have to get up and make a speech at some time in our career - whether it's saying goodbye to a departing team member, holding a training seminar or making a presentation - and yet appearing in front of an audience isn't a skill that comes naturally to everyone.
There are, however, techniques that can help overcome the fear of public speaking. Peter Lunn, the hair industry's inspirational business coach, gives some pointers which can help improve your public speaking.
Continue reading "Peter Lunn Reveals the Art of Presenting" »
Tags: Peter Lunn
Enticing Male Clients into the Salon
Posted by
Kate
Dated: June 9, 2008 5:14 PM
Forget the wash-and-go culture of yesteryear; the noughties man is prepared to invest serious time, effort and money on making himself stand out from the crowd.
In fact, Professional Men's Grooming Research carried out last year found that the male grooming market is growing at a rate of 10 per cent a year.
Despite the change of attitude, men still aren't flocking through salon doors, with as little as 20% of revenue coming from male clientele.
So what can you do to increase the number of men coming into your salon? Award winning barber Chris Foster from Gentlemen's Tonic, Mayfair, shares his suggestions:
Continue reading "Enticing Male Clients into the Salon" »
Tags: Gentlemen's Tonic , male grooming
Kevin Murphy's Tips For Becoming a Session Stylist
Posted by
Kate
Dated: May 28, 2008 11:49 AM
Kevin Murphy has been an editorial and session stylist for over two decades since having his first work published in Australian Vogue in 1984.
After training at Vidal Sassoon in the UK, Kevin has made a real impact in his native Australia where he has worked with major fashion houses and graced the covers of all the major global print publications, often with his trademark unstructured, beach-hair look.
We caught up with Kevin, winner of the 2008 Australian Master Award at the Australian Hair Fashion Awards to find out his secrets for people wanting to follow in his footsteps and make it as a session stylist.
Continue reading "Kevin Murphy's Tips For Becoming a Session Stylist" »
Tags: Kevin Murphy , session styling
Giving Quality Customer Service in the Salon
Posted by
Kate
Dated: May 19, 2008 5:26 PM
A great haircut just isn't enough to keep a client any more. The country is saturated with salons and, for most, there's a competitor only yards away who is also well equipped to offer a technically accurate and fashionable haircut. So, why would anyone visit your salon above anyone else's?
The answer is simple, if somewhat old-fashioned. It all goes back to customer service that's not just good, but is so impressive, your customer will stick by your side for life.
Continue reading "Giving Quality Customer Service in the Salon" »
How Mystery Shoppers Can Help Your Salon
Posted by
Kate
Dated: May 19, 2008 2:34 PM
Today, the real battle for clients is being fought over the client experience.
Salons that can create an emotional connection with their clients will benefit from higher retention rates, increased profit margins, and improved revenue.
So can you really afford not to audit your client's journey?
Industry business coach Peter Lunn, who specialises in CRM programmes, looks at the importance of using mystery shoppers to stay in touch with your business.
Continue reading "How Mystery Shoppers Can Help Your Salon" »
Tags: mystery shoppers , Peter Lunn