
Are Your Stylists Doing Free Hair on Your Time? Introducing the 'Win-Win' Staff Services Playbook
In her latest blog, Amy Pal helps you develop your own clear guidelines around complimentary free employee services.
When it comes to social networking, no one understands its marketing power better than your junior staff members. In order to recognize and celebrate his salon's 3rd anniversary, Richard Daly, owner of Richard Salon of Smithtown, found himself ...

When it comes to social networking, no one understands its marketing power better than your junior staff members. In order to recognize and celebrate his salon's 3rd anniversary, Richard Daly, owner of Richard Salon of Smithtown, found himself brainstorming marketing concepts with his staff of seven. Samatha Whittaker, the salon's youngest stylist, suggested designing a treasure hunt by posting clues on social networking sites and hiding gift cards in public areas around their town of Smithtown, New York.
The tongue-in-cheek viral campaign ended up being one of the young salon's most popular and fun marketing ideas. Two or three times a day during that anniversary week, salon staff members would hide gift cards around town-taped on the back of park benches, inside a shopping center's flower boxes, even under the salon's doormat. Then staff members would post clues via Twitter and Facebook to salon clients. "All in all, we gave away about $400 in gift cards--in increments from $20 to $50," says Daly. "The harder we thought a card was to find, the higher its value."
Clients enthusiastically responded, checking social networking sites constantly and running around town in an attempt to collect the treasure. "In addition to the people who won, we received numerous messages from clients who just missed collecting a card, and others from clients in other parts of the country wishing they could take part also," says Daly.
"Samantha just threw out this idea and we went with it," Daly continued. "The excitement it created was an incredible amount of fun. It turned out to be an inexpensive way to market ourselves. and the success could be directly monitored with the online feedback."

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 salon's 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.

Expand your color service menu with the Pinstripe technique. Brooks and Brooks' Marlon Hawkins walks you through the technique.
The strongest salons, spas, and med spas know which numbers tell the real story of their business. In this practical guide, Phorest breaks down the five essential KPIs every business should track to improve retention, boost revenue, and make smarter decisions with confidence.
Sponsored by Phorest