Affiliate sharing. Challenging times in salon and spa

Back2myroots : A place to share thoughts and grow idea's. B2MR

For some months now i have been talking with and sharing a vision with Karen and David owners of
                                                        http://www.karendavidintl.com/
                                                            [karen David Salon success].

We have been discussing collaboration, affiliation a sharing of views thoughts and opinions. Having never met in person our relationship has developed on trust and mutual respect, learning and listening to each other views and opinions. Quite a few hours of on line Skype conversation. This all bring me to this point one of being able and ready to share with you all access to some really motivation support material.
To reach this point over the past moths as an exercise i have participated in the online program. It works it' raises questions it provides the answers to motivate it works with you to make and implement change.
The question is are you ready?

We live in a time of global shift in economy and business and consumer demands.We live in a world of instant communication net working and promotion.

We live in a time when. What used to work no longer works. What was the normal seasonal business module no longer works or can be relied on. We have clients who demand more are better informed have more choice. We all need to embrace and face these challenges we need to take action. It going to take innovative thinking staff collaboration and commitment to change. A real willingness and want to succeed.

The tools are here: The support is here:

Are ready to take them up get busy do the work reap the rewards?

GET OFF THE SALES ROLLER COASTER.
Is your first step to achieving consistently high salon sales. You have way more control than you realise when it comes to managing and retaining your clients -follow every step in this book and get off the sales rollercoaster.

From increasing sales through your appointment book to your in-salon marketing system, this step by step action plan is everything will take you a whole lot closer to having the salon you only dreamed was possible.

I'm so excited that this material and links are now added to both my website and blog so that i can share these wonderful tools with hairdresser's stylist's trainee's

This will also provide access to the mentoring consultation program provided by and Karen and her husband David. They both have such commitment to our industry they share their vision an expertise to help other succeed. With huge success in Australia and New Zealand a growing team of business coaches. It's time to share that passion and experience with everyone looking to face challenges and create change.
  

In writing Double Your Salon Succes, Karen Lynch shows she has a true understanding of the hairdressing world. She reveals the very essence of what makes for success by identifying the combination of service, consultation and sales that are needed to grow and be current. This book encapsulates so much of what we as stylists forget or take for granted. As Karen shares with us Pamela and Skye’s journey, she takes us on a roller coaster ride from start to finish. She reveals their struggle to make their dream a reality which is at times frustrating and emotionally upsetting and at other times exhilarating. As we read, we think “hey, that could be me; that is so right; what a great idea.” From start to finish, this book is a thought provoking and entertaining read that will leave you wanting to take the challenge to walk a new path to success.

Over the past three months I have participated in the online Salon success program. My reason being to understand how it worked and to fully grasp it's effectiveness in relation to being salon support tool and program for both salon owners and stylist it works
It's challenging it offers so much martial and support but it also raises question that only each participant can answer in way that works for them their vision and goals.
I really is very comprehensive  it has been created by industry professionals for industry professional both salon owners and indeed stylist. I endorse fully what this program can offer and would encourage any one feeling that they need help or that might be feeling they have wondered from their path a little lost or over whelmed to take a little time to research this salon and business support program an call the support that it offers.
As with all support programs there is work to be done it can be challenging. It certainly will question some of your old habits. Show you a new way forward it's all down to commitment and motivation. Yours!

Mike B2MR.

Mike Vallance

The Hair salon the experience Business:

Back2myroots : A place to share thoughts and grow idea's. B2MR

What is the hair salon or Spa? What business are we in? What is it we are selling or producing? Yes it's. Hair cutting or colouring or a variety of the many services we offer as a salon or spa. Consider this we are really selling or providing an experience.Oh and we are the product that makes this happen.

Lets take a look at this together:

We are in the business of pampering. Do you think your client comes to you wanting expecting the same as last time! NO! They trust you. They come to you because they like you. How easy it is to forget that we have the power the skill the knowledge to make them feel special look great.it's so easy to get complacent.

Where does this all stem from the Consultation. Our time to review past styles and looks and suggest the new! The upgrade! That shared suggestion of a new colour a new look. It shows you care ! It's not selling. It advising it's what you me we are paid for 'expertise'.

This process of taking the time to talk and assess with your client should happen every time they come for an appointment. Not only with new clients and then on odd times there after. We are constantly looking for and indeed advertise for new clients: Did you know that on average over 50% of new clients to a salon never return for a second visit! Maybe just maybe we need to look at this! Maybe we need to do something differently or make some changes.

For change to happen:

How do we make change happen, what do we need? Firstly we need to know that if nothing changes if we keep doing the same old thing we get the same old results! Change is scary change is challenging! How about change is exciting. No one likes change it takes us out side our comfort zone. However scary it is such a positive move to make to reassess goals and vision to take control. To honestly look at what you can do differently where those weaknesses might be.

Have a goal as a salon to keep as many new clients as possible  look at what you do what you offer and how you perform. The service.That consultation. The salon and indeed staff image the atmosphere. The right team with the same vision on the right tracks!

An example of change.

Last week i gave my wife a new cut and colour. I gave her a lesson in styling the new look. I gave her  a brush. Today she was doing her hair ad i suggested that for the new look to work she had to make  a change! If she intended on styling her hair the way it was before then it would not look any different. For change to happen she had to change the way she was styling her hair! She laughed and agreed but it's not easy she said! True but nothing is unless you practice you get out what you put in! I re did her hair for her and suggested she practice doing things differently! Thus making change happen. Lesson change is not easy!

Asking for help. Doing research.

It takes a bigger person to ask for help than to just muddle along. Expecting different results without making any change. Admitting to ones self that change is needed and that it might well take some time commitment and work. But know this every thing is possible. With time patients and willingness for change to happen.

The key's:

Creative thinking:

Innovative thinking:

Collaboration with staff and or team mates:

Communication:

Commitment to the process:

Some useful tools and assistance links:

The First Piece of the Jigsaw eBook

Get Off the Sales Roller-coaster eBook

Below a great read to get you and your team ting about your salon vision and goals!

Double Your Salon Sales - or else

For support mentoring a challenge to you and your business Away forward check out all the online group resourses this great program has to offer.

The Salon Success Club

Salon discounting is it good for business?

Back2myroots : A place to share thoughts and grow idea's. B2MR

                      Salon Discounting is it good for business?
                                                Does it pay?

How much discounting goes on in your salon?  Have you ever considered what this might be costing you and your business?  Be honest! The answers is a lot!

How this happens.
How does this discount come about. Stylist like to reward their clients make them feel special,but at who's expense?. This happens all to often in fact i have been guilty of it when work in a salon it's such a easy trap to fall into.
A regular client comes in for a full head of foils. You like and enjoy time spent with this client. maybe she tips well? When the service if done and it's time to pay you say 'I have just charged you for a half head today' Da! Why. She came to get her hair done. She expected great service. She expected a great job. Did you short change her with the foils? Did you rush her through? Then why give the discount, are you not worth your fee? Where do you draw the line?
Another great one is a client is have a tuff time money is tight, [well it is for us all]  but you feel sorry for her. After the service you say i've take £10.00 or $10.00 off your bill today hope things get better for you. A great gesture but what ever she is going through she chose to get her hair done she knew the cost.
Who's money are you giving away by no charing the full amount? The salon's yes certainly and your own as your commission will be less.
In both the above cases you are putting out messages . One price is subject to change if we or I so chose.
I know we over charge or are slightly expensive but i can be flexible!!! NO NO NO

                  What we need to see at the end of the day good days work good days takings!

It's not me not being caring or understanding it's business it's drawing a line.If your a member of staff paid on commission your short changing your self and the salon.
If your an owner what do you think this might be costing you weekly or monthly?
Making clients feel special is what we should be doing every day every visit. Doing an exceptional job each and every time. We are in the business of service we offer skill and expertise. We you don't need to cheapen you self with discounts.
Consider both as management and indeed a staff team if you did not discount and put all the money aside, what could it be used for? In house training, going to an education event or seminar, new pice of equipment. Things that both you as owners or stylists team members can and will benefit from.
These newly learned skills or new equipment will in the end add to your skill level and improve the service you offer. Ultimately the client benefits.

This is a hard nut to crack in any salon. For owners when you have a staff meeting it may not go down very well. You might be thought of as being mean penny pinching. Stylist's you have to think about the business side of this if it were your salon would you want hundreds of pounds or dollars a month just not coming into the business?

To end this starts with a group meeting draw aline no more as of now! If you have a receptionist then she will be key to stopping this. If not then careful monitoring of the day book the services being done and fee;s charged will be required, a little re education. You will notice a difference over avery short time it adds up!! Consider this when an existing client recommends you to a friend or work mate  do you want to be recommended for.
A. the great service and job done!
B. the great discount that the friend will now expect?

                                                     
                                                        Discounting is money floating away!

1. Discounting .

This is taking off either a pound or dollar value or a percentage of the clients service bill total. This is relatively easy to find and stop from happening.

2. Undercharging.
 Often occurs when discounting is trying to be covered up. It can happen as full head of foils charged as half head or T section, Cut blow dry charged as wet cut, it goes on not always easy to find, not always easy to stop 

3.Discriminating Discounting.

This is a really odd kind form of discounting because in this instance you discriminate against your good clients that pay you full price for their services and they visit regularly. While other clients that only have some of the salons services and visit irregularly are discounted every single visit. You know the students, the senior citizens, the children and so on. You have a consistent policy across the board.


4 A Welcome or incentive discount.
Another one that I see a great deal of. Special opening offer 30% off any one service on first visit. What does this say? We are expensive.We over charge, but come in a for a one off cheap job!!! your new your exciting your professional your offering something new and exciting why cheapen this with an opening discount!!!  

                                           Front of service friendly, efficient, professional, receptionist!


When you discount or undercharge where do you think this money come from?

It doesn‟t come from the money you would have paid for the salon rent, it doesn‟t come from the money you pay for your professional products and it certainly doesn‟t come off the wages you pay your team.

The discounted money comes out of your profit. That‟s the only place it can come from. And the profit is essentially what you‟re in business for, isn‟t it? The discount that‟s given to your clients is taken from the money needed to grow your. If you feel that you need to appeal to all markets and so wallets then this is why or when you have a structure of fee's based on experience.
An example of this that works well would be.
A newly qualified stylist might get all the students Why? Well one newly qualified the charges might be more affordable to a student, students have friends , students will not always be students. The goal being build up trust respect grow together as one gains more experience the fee's go up as the student becomes qualified she they can afford a little more.win win no discount!

Make you staff aware that when discounting they are not only reducing their fee so their commission but they are giving away your profits.

The profit you need to grow and support your business.

           
                                        A happy client happy to happy happy with the service

I have started working with Karen and David and their team at salon success. It's a relationship we have been building for well over a year now one built on mutual respect and trust. 
The support material they have and offer is first class and comes from. Salon knowledge and professional experience gained from years in our industry.
For me to life is a journey one of learning and growing an adventure. To fully understand the 'Salon success' Philosophy and program. I have for the last three weeks embarked on being a member of the online line business support and mentoring program. 
This has involved committing to actively using both reading material, listening to the audio support material. All supplied and doing the suggested exercises eye opening even to me a seasoned professional. it's easy to read and listen to but guess what. Like every thing the work has to be done to succeed so it's a challenge. Worth while yes it has been. It motivated me to write this !!!
This is what has inspired me to talk about Salon success and the KarenDavid support program.    

for more information go to.

                                                         http://www.karendavidintl.com/ 


Much of what i write and indeed what Karen and David at salon success talk about is common sense and yet it so easily gets lots or forgotten about.We all need little reminders from time to time some of my suggestions might sound harsh even uncaring not the case.
I love this profession and industry and indeed respect greatly all the clients i have worked with over the years some who still remain friends however much distance is between us. That respect is built on me offering sound honest advise caring and charging a fair price for my time and skill.
If it's built on being cheap affordable or discounted then it will fail as a relationship.
I used to work doing education on the road a great deal but i also had for down time a home based salon it was a great business specialising in colour and colour correction. I charged an hourly rate occasionally a new recommended client would book for an a consultation prior to booking an appointment. this was how i worked.
Moving on hourly rate and not having the huge running cost of a traditional salon made what i did great value for client kept me fully booked weeks in advance.
However if a client ever said i was recommended  to you by ****** she said you great really know your stuff and your sound so much cheaper than the salons in town!! Hum I would say really thank you for coming but this is not going to work for me! If your only hear because it sounds cheap then i'm not the guy for you!!  I built up a business and a reputation of on not being cheap! it works it really works.  


Mike B2MR:    

Chair or booth rental Mobile freelance.The challenges

Welcome to BACK2MYROOTS B2MR:

Created as a source of advise education knowledge skill experience a place to share thoughts post comments and idea's on matters relating to hair colouring skill and techniques and anything industry related.

Salon ownership Chair rental mobile freelance.

Do you own a salon? Do you employ your staff? Maybe have chair renters are you the manager of such an establishment? Are you an employee? Do you rent a chair. So many question so many options!  I raise this topic as platform to discussion.

Still focusing on service the salon experience but looking at it from a different angle I would like to do this in the order as above.

As a salon owner and employer how do you set a good example? How do you employ the right staff? How do you create the environment that projects ambiance,one that looks amazing yet has the right level of efficient offering professional service. A place that is welcoming creative filled with highly skilled passionate caring stylists. The only way this is possible is to be  hands on with your team leading managing running your salon. From a point of view of having retaining and attracting the right staff in this instance the only way forward for you is to have Salon control.

This includes employing staff paying commission rewarding those who succeed.

As an owner you have very little control over the stylist hours. How they operate if you choose the chair rental route then the stylist renting space from you  running a mini business within  your salon. This can cause issues over pricing hours worked commitment to the salon the greater good!

Some times short term gain is long term agony.Commission creates motivation employing and rewarding staff creates team spirt and friendly competition with in the salon. Greater staff incentive to succeed be the best you can and reap the rewards.

So like so many aspects of business it's about choices making a decision and making it work the instant knowledge of regular rent or the challenges and rewards of truly running and building a successful business with loyal staff and clients.

So moving on. Do you have a manager?

If so this has to be a partnership that works give and take listen support each other. As a manager you get to not only over see many aspects of the running of the salon but you are also directly responsible for staff employment moral and most importantly service standards knowledge and education.

You get to help to creating the atmosphere the image. you get to grow the salon help it watch it succeed and grow and should be rewarded accordingly. Salon owners that take advantage of hard working managers will lose them along with clients and staff if they don't respect the role they play and what they contribute.

If you allow Chair rental. How do you control theses stylists when they are paying you rent? How many do you want on a rental agreement. how do you attract them? What hours will be covered by them? How do you manage this when they are in business of running a mini business within your business? Do you provide the receptionist ?

Who keeps the books and takes care of the financial side of things from. Taking clients payment to invoices? Ordering managing stock. Dealing with all tax records and making payment of said taxes?

What support service do you offer them? How do you have an influence on the standard the service they offer? To have a business totally reliant on Chair rental especially if you are not active as a stylist in your own salon or have an understanding of our industry the salon dynamics is quite a risk.

As someone renting a chair. What do you get for your monthly fee? What are your expectations? you and you alone are your business, no owner or manger to blame if things are not going well! if your clients switch to a different stylist or move salon. how to you cope when wanting holidays?

Most stylist who go into a chair rental situation are well established in many cases resent the salon owner who they feel are making a mint out of their work! From you and your client's Chair renters are not typically team players nor do they want to start their own business. They are not always the best organised in many cases don't think the what being self employed means or what the ramification might be.

As a renter you still need to be able to have a relationship with the salon owner  you are also responsible for retaining maintaining and bringing in new business providing your working stock, being on time, offering that personal service

Then the things that cross over come to mind does salon owner provide any services in the form of help assistance? Do they keep a level of retail products? Do they provide a receptionist to book greet clients? Do they offer any help with regard to book keeping your personal business management! a repeat from the salon owners point of view but as i said it's a to way street many aspects will cross over eacht other.

These are all things to consider things that cut into that i just want to do hair and keep 100% of the take it can be quite complex.

Insurance both personal third party liability who is responsible for this? It would be my  suggestion both parties are responsible why? One as owner  providing the salon a place for clients to come to the stylist as the one performing the tasks applying the products taking a fee, both should be covered how is this dealt with?  much to consider.

With all these different examples of in salon situations one thing is inherent the need to communicate the need to work together the need to create the best environment and standard of service to retain clients. a  healthy codependent relationship built on trust understanding and striving for a common goal stability and business success.

In my book it's a no brainer the challenge and having the control being master of my own ship and destiny wins every time. Find and work with the right team the success and reward will follow.Nothing good in life is ever free or easy. If it is if it seem's to good to be true if it's a business plan that offer's instant gratification.

Whilst Chair rental works for many on both sides think about what as a salon owner or some one about to start a salon it is you really want.Don't lose sight of your dream your vision your goal. How do you want the service's you offer delivered.

I do not suggest that stylist renting chairs are all unprofessional i know from experience this is not the case. However for both side it is a union that should not be entered into lightly.

Maybe as a stylist your the owner of your own small freelance business maybe your home based or make house calls, maybe your a booth renter and freelance.

In many ways some of the above does and will relate to you. the main thing here is you often work alone,yes you are very busy,but how often do you really interact with other stylist's and industry professional? how current are you really be honest? How often do you take the time find the time and say ,Time for a tune up ! I need to step things up? I need a refresher i'm feeling a little stale ! well? it happens to the best of us. My bet would be not very often if ever? your either to busy or convince your self that it's not important! ego talking you know it all!!!

Be warned not addressing this visiting it can in the long term effect your business and so be something you will regret! 

We all need to look in the mirror from time to time a little one on one, so often the demands on day to day life make this impossible. Make that time find that time to reflect on your goals be honest about how current you are is your vision still on track! How up to date are your skills, techniques, even product knowledge. 

However much the rewards are working alone is very isolating even if your booth or chair renting unless you make  a point of having interaction with others. We need to share and interact with other like minded professional it's how we grow and learn and develop.

WHY IS THIS?

The skill the techniques the standard of service should not change or be effected because we work alone or in a small team, yet in so many cases the need the want to stay updated and current gets pushed aside priorities !!

The key contributors to this is ourselves our own 'EGO' and fears we can so easily convince our selves that we know everything,We did our training got qualified we know it all.HUM to that! talking with others asking or seeking help or advise form others,indeed just sharing thoughts can give a whole new focus and out look on things. Remember it's about you your vision of what really is success.

These days we have so many ways to connect with others,through internet groups and forums,get informed read reviews on shows and education events, no more excuses!

hang out for  awhile at your local distributor ,It's a great way to meet stylist just like your self,chat about colour lines and products.With so many products available to us and so many coming to the market all the time it's no wonder we could do with a little refresher form time to time. i know i do !

Be it technical work,cutting techniques, salon service and consultation skills. aspects of running a small or independent business. communicating with other industry professional .it's all these things that we need to address keep up to date with and be honest about.

We need to put 'EGO' aside seek out the right source of help and be prepared to take constructive advise,Critical comments on how to improve.work with some one you respect who can work with you on the key investment in self.

Are you ready to walk a new path? invest in your won future,Market that product that is you? no matter what your current situation is be it Mobile,freelance booth or chair renter, Be and stay current take those steps to shine and excel.Be in demand fully booked successful and happy all possible.

lots to consider what are your thoughts and views? 

http://back2myroots.co.uk/ 

   

Mike B2MR

looking for some business support then check out http://www.karendavidintl.com/  a great place for help and support.