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SEARCHThis month we celebrate the thousands of talented, fierce, passionate, visionary and leading women in our industry.
OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS I’ve attended dozens of stage demonstrations, keynote addresses and panel discussions at professional beauty industry events and shows. And, very often, when our industry’s top artists and experts take the stage, there’s a very soft, yet very perceptible murmur among the audience. Have you heard it?
That low mumble is the women in the audience, whispering to one another, wondering why there are no or so few women on stage before them. After all, in the words of one wise woman profiled in this issue, “This is an industry fueled by women both in revenue and in workforce.” And she’s right. According to the Professional Beauty Association, 84 percent of those in personal appearance occupations are women. And in my personal experience, most of you continue to report that 90 percent or more of your clientele are women.
With that murmur in mind last year, a cover feature from Time caught my eye. The New Sheriffs of Wall Street profiled three powerful women charged with the responsibility of cleaning up this country’s financial mess—a mess the article boldly claimed was mostly created by the men of Wall Street. I clipped the article, and brought it to one of our editorial brainstorming sessions.
After long discussions among our editors, we decided to take a new spin on October’s obligatory “pink theme,” and profile some of this industry’s great female minds, inspiring leaders and cutting-edge artists. In a Jane Austen-esque moment, we determined MODERN SALON would showcase “Women of Style,” while SALON TODAY would spotlight “Women of Substance.” In addition, as a representative of the industry’s only business-focused trade pub, I decided we should take a cold, hard look at the current status of women in business. How far have we come? What’s still holding us back? (See The Concrete Ceiling starting on page 40.)
Spotlight Shy?
Now back to the issue of inequality of women on our professional stages. Some have suggested that our female majority audiences prefer watching male artists. Others claim that as female professionals tend to put their careers on the backburner to tend to the needs of their growing families, they shy away from roles that would require multiple hours outside the traditional workweek and miles and miles of travel.
As I was interviewing our Women of Substance, I developed my own theory. Several of these strong women remarked on how uncomfortable it was to talk about themselves and their accomplishments. I found myself wondering if there was a correlation between that discomfort and the ego-baring experience of displaying your opinions and talents in front of thousands. Then our contributing writer unearthed a statistic that further supported this theory: When a job listing is posted, women will apply if they meet 100 percent of the criteria, while men will apply when they meet just 60 percent.
When it comes to shifting the spotlight to women, we know our October magazines, websites, blogs and videos are only scratching the surface. Our industry is filled with thousands of talented, fierce, passionate, visionary and leading women. This month’s stories are our love letter to all of you.
All beauty professionals should know how to identify when a client may need some health guidance. Tracy Rado discusses some common questions that clients ask in the chair, how to advise them, and when to refer them to a specialist.
In his latest blog, Leon Alexander Ph.D., challenges industry conventional thinking to help owners add more to their bottom lines.
In her latest blog, Amy Pal helps you develop your own clear guidelines around complimentary free employee services.
From managing air traffic on busy days to handling frustrated guests' complaints, your front desk team often serves as the salon's emotional shock absorber. From a customer service lesson from the DMV to a list of strategies for caring for your front line, our experts offer ideas for alleviating stress, celebrating wins, and setting goals.
According to the KIM Report, top-line salon revenue appears steady or slightly up, but that growth is driven primarily by service price increases. Beneath the surface, retail performance and client visit frequency (appointment drift) are under real pressure. In his latest blog, Alain Audet offers strategies for keeping your salon's retail sales strong.
Putting your family to work in the salon offers some real tax benefits, but you have you have to play by the rules of the tax code to claim them. Azarvand Tax Law's Leticia Skrabut, Esq., shows you how.
Discover how to create a true “WOW experience” for every client by first building a culture where your team feels engaged, empowered, and inspired. Drawing on Calvin Stovall’s Iconic Framework, this blog explores how salon, spa, and clinic leaders can strengthen culture, elevate customer experience, and build a business that stands out for the long term.
Sponsored by Phorest Salon Software
The wellness industry is growing fast, and salons and barbershops already are an important part of it. In her first blog, Tracy Rado shares where the wellness dollars are heading, and how salons can grow with this movement.
While salon sales are increasing, owners often feel they're working harder for the same or less profit. Leverage Q2 data from The KIM Report, Alain Audet reveals some of the structural changes that are dampening your growth and why your region and your salon size matters.
Weaknesses in your business are amplified during the Holiday Season. Spark Pro Global's Lucy Randall shows you five things to do now to have the strongest holiday season yet.
In Kati Whitledge's latest blog, she shares how salons have moved away from dress codes and embraced appearance standards. But by removing strict dress codes, some businesses may have unintentionally lowered their appearance standards. Whitledge helps you explain to your team why an appearance standard is important and how to smoothly implement a new appearance policy.
The Small Business Health Care Tax Credit is a non-refundable tax credit for for-profit businesses that provides a financial incentive for eligible employers who offer health insurance coverage to their employees. Leticia Skrabut, Esq., walks you through how to claim that credit.
Developing strong work habits early in one's career supports long-term success in the salon industry. Jesse Linares offers new stylists his top five tips.
Most salon owners have no idea what these numbers are. You can hit record sales and still have a profit problem. The difference comes down to four numbers almost nobody was taught to track.
Sponsored by Strata Salon Systems™
A five-area audit every owner-dependent salon needs to run. You built something that looks successful. Now find out if it can survive without you.
Sponsored by Strata Salon Systems™
Every month you put off fixing the problem, it gets bigger, more expensive, and harder to solve.
Sponsored by Strata Salon Systems™
At Janet St. Paul Studio for Hair and Beauty, Director of Operations Natasha McMillen helps bring her wife Janet St. Paul's vision to life, elevating every system from education to operations.
