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SEARCHBefore you grab your glass of champagne to toast 2012, make sure you set your business goals for the coming year. Salon today invited Strategies’ Eric Ducoff to help you get started by recommending 12 resolutions for the new year:
Have a Plan.
Is 2012 the year you make more money, work smarter and take the business to the heights you dreamed of when you opened the doors? If you don’t have a detailed plan of how you’re going to get there (right now), next year isn’t going to look any different from years past.
Lead by Example.
Getting to work on time, pre-booking clients, offering your help in whatever way is needed, limiting your cell phone usage—you can’t expect your team members to follow guidelines if you don’t follow them yourself.
Celebrate Wins.
One of the easiest and most rewarding ways to improve team morale is to celebrate wins. Did Sally hit her client-retention rate goal? Did Sam upsell more than anyone this week? Let them know it’s appreciated!
Set the Systems.
Systems are the backbone of consistency. Get yours in place today. Systems will increase your levels of productivity, efficiency and client loyalty, everything that’s part of the plan.
Think Outside the Box.
The recent “blowout” success of blow-dry bars wasn’t spurred by an idea to open a business just like every other salon on the block. What made it a success was that it was different, but it still filled a need in the marketplace. What can you do differently in your business? How can you market it?
If It’s Not Working, Stop It!
Not making money on nail services? Not putting any money on the bottom line because your payroll is too high? Not getting results from a long-time manager? Then it’s time for a change! Your business cannot wait. No compromise.
Get Social.
If your business isn’t actively embracing the juggernaut that is social media marketing (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.) then you are drastically behind your competition. It’s free, it’s powerful and it’s a necessity.
Stop Using the Economyas an Excuse.
The economy continues to weed out poorly managed and over-extended businesses. If your company has what it takes to compete, stop making excuses, buckle down, and prove why you deserve to be here.
Get to Know Your Numbers.
You can’t play the game if you don’t know the score. If you and your team don’t have a firm understanding of where you are and where you need to go, you’re driving blind. Remember what we said about the economy eating up the poorly managed? Learn to read and understand your numbers. It’s easier than you think.
Increase Pre-booking Rates.
Before you start dishing out huge advertising dollars to bring new clients in the door, run a report to find out how many existing clients are walking out without another appointment on the books. Get systems in place to ensure that no one leaves without a future appointment. If you increase their frequency of return, you’ll watch your revenues skyrocket—with no advertising costs.
Know Your “It.”
What makes your business better than the rest? Once you’ve determined your “it” factor—it shouldn’t take you long to figure out what it is—then it’s time to take a step back and ask yourself whether or not you’re giving your “it” the time, attention and promotion that it deserves.
Keep Staff“In the Know.”
When a football team takes the field, there’s no mystery to the goal (put more points on the scoreboard than the opponent) or destination (the end zone). Your business should be no different. The only way your staff can reach goals or complete a project is through communication. Huddles and scoreboards are the best place to start.
After moving to Colorado and teaching at a cosmetology school, Allison Stock joined Zandi K as a stylist, eventually becoming part of the Leadership Team, Education Team and Master Bridal Team. Today, as Director of Operation, Stock is Owner Nicki Wenz's right hand, managing human resources and operations, education and career development, and coaching and culture.
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Sponsored by Millennium Systems International
AI is transforming the beauty and wellness industry, and the future is about empowering people, not replacing them. Discover how Phorest AI helps salons, spas, and med spas across North America respond faster, personalize every visit, and keep human connection at the heart of the client experience.
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Owner Michaella Blissett-Williams credits her General Manager Gloria Hortua with [salon] 718's year-over-year, double-digit growth and says she's been able to scale the company to eight locations because she can rely on Hortua to manage daily operations.
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Sponsored by Aluram
Elyse Rogers is an uplifting presence at The Headroom who makes the team feel heard even in stressful situations. Owner Danielle Cherewyk sings her praises in this installment of Meet the Manager.
Despite a slight and predictable decline in client traffic for Q1, resilient pricing power is driving year-over-year revenue growth in salons. The KIM Report's Alain Audet reviews the data and what it's telling us about the state of professional beauty.
Same-store revenue grew just 2% for the second straight year—and new guest visits declined across every segment of the industry. The 2026 Benchmark Report reveals where growth is actually happening, which verticals are pulling ahead, and what the data says about where your business stands right now.
Sponsored by Zenoti
Hair restoration is entering a new era driven by regenerative science. This paper explores how Exosome technology is transforming treatment outcomes by targeting hair loss at a cellular level. Discover why EXOGROW is leading this shift.
Sponsored by Dermapenworld
A salon brand is much more than a logo. In this thought-provoking blog, Leon Alexander, Ph.D., walks you through the difference. SALON TODAY suggests sharing this article with your team and leading a discussion at your next huddle, asking the team to define your business's brand.
