Cultivating and Harnessing Creativity
LET’S FACE IT, sometimes when guests come in asking for “just a trim,” your über-creative and forward-thinking styling staff lose it a little bit, at least internally while they continue smiling into the mirror. It’s not that they don’t want to make clients happy—in this economy, who can afford not to give a client what they want—but doing the same basic cuts day after day can defeat artistic imaginations.
March 2011 Editor's Note: Snow Day
IN CHILDHOOD, the proclamation of a “snow day” brought shouts of joy. But for too many salon owners across the country, Blizzaster 2011 ushered in client cancellations, staff absenteeism and forced closings. While sales are typically sluggish post-holiday, this extra wintery hiccup caused a ripple of panic, as owners studied their monthly projections.
by Stacey Soble
Balance is Good for Your Business
At “Smart Thinking, Straight Talk: A Salon and Spa Owner Dialogue,” the smart, new business forum at America’s Beauty Show, most of the speakers will help attendees understand their target clients, hone their business skills, and boost their profit potential. But the final speaker, Jim Lafferty, will help attendees focus on themselves.
One on One with Suze Orman
SUZE ORMAN, expert in all personal money matters, will be appearing onstage at International Salon and Spa Expo/ Midwest (ISSE/MW) on March 27, 2011 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois. She recently took time from her hectic schedule to chat on the phone, but she gave away no hints about her ISSE/MW presentation. That’s because Orman shoots from the hip—no notes, no prompter, no canned message. She reads the audience and intuits what they need and if you’ve seen her on her CNN show, or on countless other venues, you know she delivers. All she’ll say is that she wants the audience at The Style of Money—Making it Work for You to leave “feeling and looking financially stunning.” But she did take a moment to field a few questions for SALON TODAY:
The Light at the Tunnel's End
FINALLY, THERE’S SOME SOLID EVIDENCE that the economy is recovering for the professional beauty industry. Professional Consultants & Resources, the leading strategic consultant and industry data source in the beauty industry, recently released its 2010 Professional Salon Industry Study, which reports overall salon industry growth at 4.5% and salon hair care growth at 4% in 2010.
by Stacey Soble
Florida Salon Hosts Photography Competition
Michael Angelo Hair Studio has been selected to host a special two-day series of professional Passion Stylebooks Hair color & Men’s photography competition sessions on Sunday & Monday, March 20 & 21. Numerous hair designers and make-up artists will create fashion forward hair cuts, hair color and hair design artistry on almost 100 local and out-of-state models.
Exploring Shopper-Based Design
The traditional salon retail areas don’t sell product the way they used to because the beauty shopper has changed, says Mark Komanecky, manager of shopper-based design for P&G Salon Professsional. “Today’s beauty shopper has more choices in where and how to buy beauty. More than 200 beauty brands have launched in the last decade, so shopper are more confused. But they’re also savvier—they’re researching products online, studying magazines and discussing with friends.”
by Stacey Soble
Jerseylicious Stars Next to Back the Be-Cause Event
Jerseylicious stars Gayle Giacomo and daughter Christy Pereire are the newest industry celebs to back the Millennium Be-Cause.
Digging Out from Blizzaster 2011!
As the Blizzaster of 2011 swept through the country, it left salon closings, client cancellations, staff absenteeism and even broken water pipes in its wake. While salon and spa sales are typically sluggish in January and February anyway, this wintery hiccup is causing a ripple of panic as owners study their monthly sales projections. But we've found many owners won't take it while sitting buried in the snow, and they're actively communicating with clients and extending hours and days to keep guests on schedule, developing special winter promotions and even helping guests dig out their cars out. Follow this running blog, as owners share their stories, and owners and salon coaches offer suggestions for recouping lost sales.
by Stacey Soble
PBA's Salon/Spa Performance Index
Driven by stronger service and retail sales, the Professional Beauty Association’s (PBA) Salon & Spa Performance Index (SSPI) rose to 103.5 in the fourth quarter, up 0.2 percent from the third quarter and the second highest level on record. The SSPI is a quarterly composite index that tracks the health and outlook of the U.S. salon/spa industry.Following a modest decline in the third quarter of 2010, salon/spa owners are now becoming more optimistic with the future outlook of the beauty industry.
Transform Your Business With Coaching
Inspiring Champions is a business training and coaching company working in the professional salon and beauty industry. Founded by Lauren Gartland, Inspiring Champions has a team of coaches who have worked with thousands of beauty professionals over the years to literally transform their businesses and their lives.
Digital Coupons on a New App
Now there is a free Smartphone app called Peekaboo Mobile that can allow your salon to offer deals on everything from hair cuts to manicures.
Milano Exchange
Milano Software has announced that they will be presenting business education at Allied Beauty Association (ABA) and Professional Beauty Association (PBA) Shows across North America under their "Milano Exchange" division.
Embracing Adversity at Serious Business
by Stacey Soble
John Paul DeJoria's Motivational Be-Cause Video
In a short motivational video from John Paul Dejoria, CEO and Founder of John Paul Mitchell Systems, he calls out to current beauty professionals asking them to help future beauty professionals with scholarships by donating $5 to Be-Cause's first charity event.
Smart Thinking, Straight Talk
Last year’s ABS Business Forum led salon and spa owners into a deep understanding of the beauty client’s mind. The journey continues Sunday, March 13, with “Smart Thinking-Straight Talk, A Salon and Spa Owner Dialog.” Presented by America’s Beauty Show and P&G Salon Professional, and powered by multi-media partner SALON TODAY, the forum includes three separate sessions to share information and ideas on how to get back your clients, grow your business, gain more of clients’ beauty dollars and retain new clients.
by Stacey Soble
The 14th Annual Salon Today 200: Honoring Salon Growth and Best Business Practices
If you were to pick a theme word for 2011’s SALON TODAY 200, it would be VALIDATION. This year’s competition measured all areas of salon business in calendar years 2008 and 2009—two of the toughest years for all businesses. For a salon to not only survive, but thrive during these years, strong leadership, solid systems, motivated employees and loyal customers were mandatory.