The hair Industry is multi dynamic in it's many branches that come together under the heading.
'Hair industry'
From: The salon to manufacturing from manufacturing to education skill training, personal development. Career path and challenges.
Educator, artistic team member, platform artist, salon owner, manager, freelance/chair or booth renter.
distributor or sales representative.
Change happens it's constant from the products that are available to us. This new must have technology we have to have. However we also need to question how and why they work understand any side effects Are they safe ! We must be educated on these products feel confident they are safe for us and our clients.
What dives the invention and investment into research of new product technology? Is it sales and profit yes of course. First and foremost it's driven by Media demand from promotion and advertising. Now with the internet with the tablet with the android more than ever, clients can see it see instantly the results see the look they are hooked they want it!
Of course it's our job to deliver but it's also our professional duty to be the moral compass. We have to have the knowledge and the skill to inform advise and educate our clients on the products it's pro's and con's for there will always be both!
Influences.
This economy this global shift has been a wake up call to any one in business and we in the hair industry are not and have not been immune to this. The seasonal spikes that we could rely on no longer exist that Christmas rush that spring make over that pre holiday do!
Staying in touch with discussion groups and forums shows me that many salons are struggling, many are looking for a way to turn things around. Many are relying to discounting, some are taking short cuts maybe compromising on product quality. Just treading water trying to survive.
We all need to take a deep breath evaluate where we are what we want. Re visits those goals that vision and re focus. We have to embrace new technology. We have to collaborate more with staff or team members. Learn to use the power of the media social net works collaborate with staff to promote the salon it's services in a positive way.
Be strong enough to seek out professional help and advise. Maybe we need to think of this shift as a new beginning, a time for reinvention, a time to revaluate and start with over with a new rekindled energy and out look, Change and indeed challenges can and do seem so daunting because it forces us to look at things in different light encourages us to think out the the box.
We can all make difference in so many ways. Start with that vision build your team have an ongoing in house training program. Develop your team have apprentices train then share your skills investing them they are the future become the teachers develop your an their future, use the colleges for the theory for you trainees to get certified work with the colleges and collaborate on training for they certainly don't have all the answers they need also to adapt to the industry changes and salon demands.
Work to develop these young enthusiastic creative stylists grow with them, grow develop and learn together.
Products source what works for you both for salon use and retail don't carry to much stock. Address the skills and passions of each and every salon member, encourage courses and extra training both in salon and external. work with your manufacturer and supplier on education up date and in houses training events. . The salon as a whole has to have the highest standards of training and expertise, individually encourage specialisation become unique a destination location a place of excellence in even field. The palace that is talked about a place that people want to be associated with. Community involvement, be it linked to the gym healthy centre or supporting local events collaboration innovative thinking.
How do we get beyond thinking of 'clients as one time walk in's' and consider them as long term potentials?
When will we start to consider all those clients who 'come once never to return' ! Those lost opportunities to make a first and last impression. When will we take the time to think. 'In fixing someone else's mistakes' will it could it cost me potential 'Clients'. Part of this new thinking is. 'We are in the service industry'. 'We are not in the server industry'. Professional boundaries and mutual respect must exist. The client is not always right neither are we balance and being open to change and the unexpected and dealing with and addressing issues solving problems.
That first impression the personal image we present. How we communicate and articulate our suggestions the art of listening. Being a professional in your field of expertise thus giving sound advise. Executing and delivering the service advise in highly skilled professional way with the highest expertise and skill offering a wonderful experience. Charging for your time and expertise. No discounting. No little bit off at the cash register. Being paid for a job well done. This is what a client expects and wants nothing more nothing less. Discounting could suggest that 'you did not do your job as well as you could have'. 'It will be better next time'. 'Thank you for letting me try'. 'Sorry i could have tried harder'. Do any of these a good message? a message of professional confidence and assertiveness.
Yes things have changed they will continue to change to challenge us so we have to learn to embrace adapt and be ready so that we can keep up with the every changing demands and wants that our industry dictates as it grows and developed. We all have the strength to do this .We can also connect with other professional share experience seek advise offer advise competition is not always a good thing it can become so distractive and negative both within the salon and if competing with business around you. Discounting is competition sadly it's not he who gives the biggest discount who wins.
We all have new technology new products new tools. Constantly changing techniques and demands to sill levels. We have an industry in a state of flux. We have change and challenges to face. We have social media devices and we all have to embrace all the changes and the challenges they pose. Exciting times is the only way to look at it.
Mike B2MR
