
The Constant
Starting at Impressions front desk in 2006 when he was 19 years old, General Manager Paul Petrowsky is a seasoned professional who owner Sarah Taylor says is responsible for much of her own success.
EVER FEEL LIKE YOUR JOB AS A SALON OWNER AND LEADER IS NEVER DONE? WELL ACCORDING TO A RECENT SURVEY CONDUCTED BY SALON TODAY, YOU CERTAINLY PUT IN THE HOURS. FIFTY-TWO OWNERS FROM OUR PROVIEW PANEL RECENTLY RESPONDED TO A BRIEF ONLINE SURVEY, AND THIS IS WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY:
Putting in the time
You may be leading your team, but you’re still putting in the hours servicing the clients. Eight-eight percent of the salon owners surveyed still perform services. How many hours? Of the 88 percent who still perform services, 56 percent book 30-40 service hours per week and 11 percent booked more than 40 hours per week. That doesn’t mean they shirked their duties on their business—almost 50 percent spend 30 or more hours working on their business each week.
Owners performing salon services
88% perform salon or spa services
12% do not perform services
Hours behind the chair
6% Less than 10 hours
4% Between 10 and 20 hours
12% Between 20 and 30 hours
56% Between 30 and 40 hours
22% More than 40 hours
Hours on the business
11% Less than 10 hours
26% Between 10 and 20 hours
16% Between 20 and 30 hours
23% Between 30 and 40 hours
24% More than 40 hours
Helping Hands
Next, we asked our panel if they had any managerial help. The majority (72%) of our respondents reported they do not employ a salon or spa manager, and 87% say they do not employ a retail manager.
Where’s your focus?
The four business areas that command the most of attention from these owners are salon marketing/advertising/PR, customer service; retention and referral programs, and salon and spa operations. Here’s how they broke out their priorities.
When focusing on salon business, name the areas that command the most of your attention?
67% Salon marketing/advertising/PR
54% Strengthening customer service
37% Working on retention and referral systems
37% Improving salon/spa operations
33% Measuring and managing staff performance
28% Training and developing new staff
16% Organizing and teaching advanced education
7% Recruiting and hiring new staff
7% Working on charitable events

Starting at Impressions front desk in 2006 when he was 19 years old, General Manager Paul Petrowsky is a seasoned professional who owner Sarah Taylor says is responsible for much of her own success.

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