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I had the opportunity to help kick off the recent International SalonSpa Business Network (ISBN) Conference by doing what I do everyday—asking industry thought leaders for their opinions on a variety of topics. But, this time I did it live and in front of an audience, as I was invited to moderate the conference's State of the Industry Panel.
A few weeks after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, I interviewed about a dozen salon owners, service providers, and industry leaders who lived and worked in the region—many of whom had lost their businesses and their homes. The feature, which I wrote for MODERN SALON, focused on the positive—on how salon owners and stylists, who were typically competitors, were stepping in and helping one other out. I'll never forget any of those interviews—they were the most intense, passionate, and heartfelt conversations I've ever experienced, and I believe the resulting story exposed the true beauty of this caring industry.
When was the last time you picked up the Yellow Pages to search for the number of a local business? OK, when was the last time one of your young staff members accessed the Yellow Pages? Do they even know what they are?
It's always a pleasure to interview the Doves. Their artistry is legendary, their work is sure to inspire, they always have a marketing tip handy, and yeah, I always get swept away by those great British accents. Now you can, too, as you listen to my audio interview with Sonya and Christopher Dove, owners of the Doves Studio in Santa Monica, California, and the creative directors for the North American division of Wella.
Want a more successful salon? Borrow a page from the book of your local yoga instructor or pole dancing teacher.
For years, I've watched Robert Cromeans educate and inspire stylists from the stage. With his fabulous artistry, sexy Scottish brogue, unique rockstar sense of fashion, and 'I walk your walk' attitude, he really rocks their worlds. But, each time I sit down with this JPMS global artistic director and owner of five salons and two schools, it's his intense passion for business that really rocks mine.
Being an effective leader is crucial to the success of any business. In the salon industry, it's of paramount importance because of the differing personalities involved and the appearance that many job functions operate independently. But while stylist may have their own clients, nail techs keep their own appointment books and management has its own goals and agendas, each salon position is part of a complex interaction of communication and interdependence that must be understood for a salon to realize its full potential.
As we started gathering examples of how salon businesses should engage their customers in new and unique ways for the cover story of SALON TODAY, I started thinking about how the businesses I patronize engage with me. There's one business I feel strongly connected to and engaged by, and ironically, I've never set foot on their property, never met one of their employees, never even spoken to one of them on the phone.
Operating a green salon or spa not only is good for the environment, but it can be good for your bottom line, because conserving resources and cutting down on waste saves money! Want to make your business an eco-friendly, profitable powerhouse? Here's 10 tips:
The term 'team building' has been so misunderstood over the years that it often conjures up images of tug-of-war exercises and awkward group outings. The real concept of building a team, however, is critical to every business, especially those in the salon industry, where each member of the team must work independently—and in unison—to allow the salon to reach its full potential. The goal is to create an effective, strong team environment—without drama, disruptions or misunderstandings.
In my opinion, the best part of a business conference is the expert panel session--it's interactive, informative, and because of its spontaneous nature, it's usually highly entertaining. Simply assemble a group of experts with a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences, collect a stack of thoughtful questions from their audience of peers, and grab a notebook so you can start jotting down the great ideas and strategies that start flying around the room.
If your service menu features body treatments, massages or facials, some credit is due to Noel DiCaprio, who frequently is credited as the Mother of the day spa movement. Although the great Noel lost her battle with cancer more than a decade ago, the business she founded stands strong and celebrates 50 years this year.
Tired of watching your clients stretch their appointments further and further apart? Hate hearing how they're trimming their ends and touching up their roots at home? Wish they'd fill their counters with products off of your shelves? Well, join the rallying cry that's being voiced around the country—Take Back Our Salon Clients!
When I went to journalism school at the University of Missouri many years ago, we were required to pick a focus of study. Many of my friends chose the broadcasting sequence, but I had grown up in a newspaper family—in fact, my parents still own a community newspaper. While I wanted to do something different, I still found myself drawn to the written word, so I chose the magazine sequence. Over the years though, I enjoyed watching the careers of my broadcasting comrades blossom, first at the university-affiliated television station then at networks where they landed their first jobs.
A few months back I received a call from Susanne Warfield, the executive director of the National Coalition of Estheticians, Manufacturers/Distributors & Associations, or more easily referred to as the NCEA. Although Susanne and I had worked together on skincare-related feature stories for SALON TODAY in the past, I honestly admitted to her I knew little about the coalition, its mission or its political initiatives.
There's no doubt that today's salon and spa owners are more focused on business than ever before. As evidence, Neill Corporation's Serious Business 2010 witnessed one of its largest attendance records, with more than 1,000 owners and managers rolling up their black sleeves and diving into business topics headfirst.
FEBRUARY 1—the deadline for the SALONS OF THE YEAR for 2010 is fast approaching! Those with their fingers on the pulse of the decor market feel that renovations and remodels were down in 2009, so that may improve your chances.
