Communication Is Key!

Just as in any relationship, communication between a leader and his or her staff is key. Make sure your staff meetings run smoothly on a set agenda and don't routinely transform into gripe sessions. Earn your employees' buy-in by assigning them responsibility for developing different components of each meeting. And, end each session on a positive note by acknowledging stylists who have gone above and beyond to help a guest or one another.

Stacey Soble - Editor in Chief
SALON TODAY Salontoday.com

Shelving Strategy

Ever wonder why every single store in the mall has a focal table right at the front of the store? Tables sell 3 times more product than a shelving unit does. We are trained to shop the tables in a store because we think that is where the deals are. In a salon, we tend to put all of the product on a shelving unit, out of the way where a client may just walk past it. Set up a table with one single promotion on it; make sure the table is at least 30"-36" high. Smart Fixtures® offers great affordable retail tables to display promotions – check them out at www.smartfixtures.com


Cheryl Fernandes, Retail MD Manager SalonCentric

Who Are You?

The most basic thing to know for every stylist and salon owner is what makes them a better choice to visit than anyone else. When I meet hairdressers, I ask them "Why would someone come to you and not the salon down the street?" Most cannot answer quickly and clearly. My advice: create an "elevator pitch" - a 10-word or less explanation of what makes you or your salon the perfect fit for your clients. When asked by anyone, you’ll be ready!

Cory Couts – Founder – salonfixer.com

Weed Out Your Inventory!

OPERATIONS:

Inventory is expensive to carry, especially with credit as tight as it is now. Identify those products that are not selling and concentrate your inventory investment in fast-moving items. As you “weed the garden”, consider adding new items to your product mix that can boost your take-home product sales. Look at your take-home product sales as a percentage of total sales as well as total sales….this percentage should be increasing as you trim slow movers and add newer faster-selling items.

Gordon Logan, Sport Clips

Top Tips - Education is Critical

Continuing to learn and grow, from classes, seminars, and workshops, keeps me from getting in a rut or worse getting stuck. Gaining more knowledge, keeps me flexible, open minded, and gives me an edge. This matters from the creative aspect and keeping on top of my craft as well as on top of my game for business with ongoing education for topics relating to growing my bottom line.

Rusty Phillips, Owner, Belle Epoque

Top Tips - The Journey

We believe that every new salon guest needs to know who we are and what we do as a "brand." After filling out their New Guest Profile Card, we take them on a "journey" of our salon. Salon team members recite the same script and emphasize certain key points with their dynamic personalities. We use comments like, "delighted" or "my pleasure" instead of "thank you" or "no problem". Get your salon team together and change the dialogue, it makes your environment fun. Take a virtual journey of Mikel's The Paul Mitchell Experience at http://www.mikel.us/

Mikel Sandoval, Art Director and Owner of Mikel's The Paul Mitchell Experience

Pricing, pricing, pricing

Do all of your haircare and spa products that are for sale in your salon/spa have a price on them? If you answered no, ask yourself this... When you are shopping in a store, for example Bath & Body Works®, and you pick up a product and it does not have a price on it, what do you do? That's right, you put it right back where you found it! If you have salon software, you may have the ability to print labels for your products with the quick click of a button. Another option is that office supply stores sell pricing guns for about $20. The pricing gun allows you to price your items effectively and efficiently. Do not hand-write your price tags, consumers expect to see handwritten tags at a flea market or garage sale. Remember EVERYTHING in your four walls is branding your business.

Cheryl Fernandes, Retail MD Manager SalonCentric