Booth Rent Vs. Commision based salons
This is an often debated topic when opening a salon. I want to take a minute to disccuss some of the pros and cons of both kinds of operations.
Booth rent salons from my experience seem to lack flow. I think running a booth rent based salon takes alot of control away from the actual salon owner. If you own this type of salon you are allowing your stylist to manage a business within your business. Whatever services they provide good or bad refelects the entire establishment.
Now you can be selective in who you choose to rent to try and keep things together and to provide a common experience with each stylist.
Commission based salons in my opinion operate alot smoothly. The salon owner has total control over the salon and provide all of the tool, and marketing needs for the stylist to work and attract new clientele. All the money is handled through a register, scheduling is done to try and keep wait times to a minium and staff of stylist have standard times where they are at work.
I’ve worked with many salon owners that have strong views for and against each type of operation. I know there are issues with the way taxes are handled and overall business operation of each type of setup.
I am a firm believer in professionalism and consistency with any type of service based business. There are so many salons that lack both of these characteristics, and in my opinion I believe it’s because the salons are based on the booth rent system. I am not saying that renting booths isn’t professional; in many cases it’s just not done right.
I am very interested in feedback on this topic, it is discusses often throughout the world of hair and beauty. Share your thoughts.
Finding Talented Stylist, and Keeping Them.
It seems like lately I’ve been hearing that talented stylist are becoming hard to find, and difficult to keep.
The first step in attracting a new stylist is really having an idea of who you ideal candidate is. Lets face it every stylist will not be a perfect match for you salon. So when recruiting new stylist think about who will best fit your salon environment.
You can start your search online; here are list on online stylist job boards:
www.salongigs.com
www.behindthechair.com
www.salonjobs.com
Don’t forget to establish a close relationshop with your local cosmotology schools. Get to know the directors of these school and their curriculum. Make sure that the kind of services that you salon offers are skills that the students are learning in school.
Recruiting new stylist can be challenging, but there are tools to help make you search a bit easier.
Please share your tips on recruiting stylist, and the hiring process you use when reviewing new stylist applications.
Do Something Special For Mother’s Day In Your Salon
Holidays are a great time to be creative with your marketing. Mothers Day is May 11, 2008, are you prepared.
I don’t think there’s any mom out there that doesn’t dream of a day of beauty and pampering. So what can you do to get ready?
Let’s focus of a few areas that should get your attention:
1. Salon Decor
Spruce things up a bit; this is a perfect time to give your salon a good spring cleaning. Make sure each work station is cleaned to a shine. Don’t forget to have stylist organize their booths. Around the salon place fresh flowers, replace any worn out rugs or furniture, put any old products on sale and freshen up your retail counter.
2. Informed Stylist
When you plan a promotion make sure each on of your stylist are on board. What good is having a special if your employees aren’t spreading the word.
3. Advertise
In addition to in salon advertising, get the word out around the community. Make an event out of your promotion and post and event ad in your local city paper. Event advertising is usually free. If you start now run the add weekly until your event date.
4. Make Mom Feel Special
When moms show up for their special treatment be sure that you are ready to wine and dine. Try to include a complimentary service with your offer, have fresh refreshments to serve. Make a good impression with mom and she’ll tell her friends. Try to get each mom to sign up for a raffle of some sort to be entered to win additonal services.
5. Follow-Up
Make sure that you follow-up with each mom that takes advanatage of your promotion. If you have their email send an email thank you note and ask for feedback. Postcards are another good way to follow-up. If you have to staff, in my opinion personal phone calls are the best way to say thank you and get immediate feedback.
These are just a few tips to get your headed in the right direction this Mother’s Day. Don’t wait to late to get started. You want to have ample time to setup, advertise and promote your event or Mother’s Day Special.
If you have any other tips on how to prepare for the Holiday promotions, share it with us.
Beauty Salon Jobs Board. List Jobs and Search Free
Just launched! Salongigs.com.
Posting your open salon positions has never been easier. List your jobs for free; and get email notificatios of new applicants. Salongigs.com is fast and easy to use. Enjoy the benefits of this new online job board designed to make finding beauty careers just a click away.
- Three step job post process
- No need to register
- Receive applicant resumes via email
- Instant activation
- Post your jobs FREE
- Apply for jobs online
- Attach your resume to your job response
- RSS tools to stay up to date on new job postings
- Free search by beauty career categories
Visit www.salongigs.com to start your search or to post your employment opportunities!
Transition from Relaxed To Natural The Easy Way
Are you thinking about going natural? Dreaming of having beautiful hair, thats healthy, versatile and just plain fabulous. Many of us are finally beginning to realize the endless possibilities of wearing our natural hair. The transition can be a fun and painless journey with the right tools. We all know well enough how tricky our hair can be, so don’t start alone.
I think one questions that we would all have is: “Can I Take Care Of My Own Hair While In Transition”? The answer is yes, absolutely!
I want to share with you a very valuable e-book for anyone ready to start or even thinking about going natural. This e-book will provide you with all of the information you need to maintain your own hair at home, learn exactly what products to use for your hair type, how to start and maintain your own locs, and step by step instructions to guide your through your transition.
I think it’s very important to arm ourselves with the knowledge we need to make sure that during this process we prevent hair loss and overall damage to our hair. Going natural can be a very rewarding experience.
If you are interested in going natural or want some tips on maintaining your own locs or natural hair care check this book out.
Black Womens Health Conference
The National Black Women’s Health Conference
The 2008 National Black Women’s Health Conference titled, “I Am Every Woman” will be held in Atlanta, Georgia May 1-3, 2008 at the Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel downtown. Be a part of this opportunity for dynamic African American women from all across the United States and beyond to come together to discuss issues affecting our community.
Conference Highlights :
- Breast Cancer
- Cervical Cancer
- Ovarian Cancer
- Finances
- Motherhood/Pregnancy
- Hair Care
- Beauty & Make-Up
- Health care
- Pharmaceutical
- Nutrition
- Obesity
- Stress/Anxiety
- HIV/AIDS
- Technology
For full details on sponsorship or to register visit:
Black Womens Health Conference Web Site
Blackfolkshair.com Online Members Community for Salons, Stylist and You
Just launched Blackfolkshair.com Online Community.
Get involved!
Share your stories!
Post your photos!
Upload Video.
Featuring top stylist and your consumers in search of hair care, hair how tos and tips.
Join now and don’t be left out of what’s going on now.
To join visit www.blackfolkshair.com and click the community link Or Just Click Here
The Baltimore Natural Hair Care Expo - Fashion Show - Hairstyle Competition - Hair Show
“A Happy Nappy Nation” 2008
The Baltimore Natural Hair Care Expo
Presented By: Dreadz N Headz
Natural Hair Care Center & Zeta Phi Beta Sorority
The 5th annual Baltimore Natural Hair Care Expo will take place on April 5,6th 2008 at the Pikesville Armory located 610 Riesterstown Road Pikesville MD 21208. This event promises you another exclusive experience with a number of improvements for both exhibitors and visitors, so be ready to be impressed.
The Expo has successfully raised and continues to raise the profile of creative entrepreneurs within the Baltimore’s community and stimulated an ongoing conversation about issues which impact on the well-being of Africans across the Diaspora; heritage & legacy, creativity, innovation, ownership, entitlement, co-operation across language/geographical/philosophical/political boundaries, self-reliance, self-belief, collective confidence, and ethics in business.
This is much more than just an average Expo.
Visit the Web Site for full details, vendor space, and sponsorship information >>
5 Fun Salon Spring Marketing Ideas
As the weather starts to break this is the perfect time to start thinking about new marketing and advertising ideas. The spring seasons brings the holidays, spring weddings, spring break, vacations, and prom. So why not capitalize on the opportunity.
Here are just a few free and low cost ideas to get your marketing mind going this season.
1. Spring cleaning
I’m sure some of you have had your the same shampoo and conditioners on display all winter long, or not for some of you who do well with you product sales. Either way, get rid of old products by putting some items on sale; or have a two for one special. Or if you really want to get creative create a cute little gift basket with just a few items you’ve had on display a while and do a giveaway with your customers.
2. Spring Savings
We are all for saving money. How about this 2 for one approach. Give out coupons to your clients to give to their best friend, mother, sister or who ever. The coupon can offer a free deep condition, free cut or you choose the offer. Also give you client a free gift to for bringing in the referral. I am always talking about my stylist to my friends, and it feels good when I know my referral is appreciated. This can be an ongoing practice to keep positive word of mouth advertising going.
3. Spring Renewal
Get inspired by the many themes of spring and freshen up your business cards, spruce up your website with a spring inspired design. Post all your spring promotions on your website and put your referral coupons on the back of your business cards. It is always a good idea to continue to revamp all of your print and online marketing pieces. The changing seasons and holidays are prefect for getting inspiration. Have fun and be very creative with your ideas. These fun changes will let you clients interested and anticipating what you will come up with next.
4. Spring Into Action
Plan to get out and participate in an industry related event this season. For a small investment you can gain immediate exposure to other industry professionals and your consumers that come out and enjoy the show. Check into the next hair show, bridal show, or any place that can get your name in front of hundreds or even thousands of new prospective clients. Make sure when you go you are stocked with your best collateral materials, free samples and contest ideas.
5. Spring Bundles
A great to introduce clients to other services is to bundle them with services that they get on a regular basis. If you salon offers spa services, manicures and pedicures offer these services with their usual hair style at a discounted rate. Your client will love the discounted mani/pedi and you could possible have a client that now gets hare hair and nails done on every visit. You can do this as a one time savings deal, or offer this discount on a permanent basis.
Please feel free to share your own ideas or your thoughts on some of our spring marketing ideas. If you do decide to dive into your spring marketing campaigns please come back and share your experience.
5 Ways To Boost Your Body Image
1. Plan a trip to the spa and undergo a head-to-toe grooming session. This includes getting a mani, pedi, bikini wax (yes ladies it isn’t so bad trust me), leg and underarm shave. Trust me, getting it all done at once will leave you feeling so fresh and new.
2. Put on your best lingerie set; and if you don’t have a matching set buy yourself one. It makes a big difference knowing that you have on cute underwear, even though no one else knows.
3. Go shopping for shoes! Like they say you will always wear the same size shoes.
4. Take a fitness class; I recommend Pilates or Yoga. Sign up for a class in a studio with no mirrors and focus on the inner you. It’ll make you focus on your body from the inside out, not the outside in.
5. Treat yourself for a massage. Having a massage is a great way to free your mind and just get in tune with your body.
