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As part of "National Small Business Week," Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) introduced the Small Business Tax Equalization and Compliance Act, which would allow the salon industry to enjoy the same tax rules on tips paid to employees as is ...
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.
This year the National American Hairstyling Awards introduces a totally new competition category, the Salon Master of Business Award. Designed to allow business-savvy salon owners show off their labors of love, the Salon MBA Award encouraged owners to submit information on their salon's demographics, existing and new business strategies, retail promotions and sales, marketing and community service strategies, and current financials and future plans.
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.
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.
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.
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.
If you're already wooing men into your salon and spa, you're one step ahead of making Father's Day a success. If not, leverage the upcoming holiday to learn how to best attract men and keep them coming back. Dan Kliska, president of JOE Grooming, a leading manufacturer of professional men's grooming products, offers the following promotional tips to help attract men for Father's Day and beyond:
Splish Salon in Confier, Colorado, uses American clay on the walls instead of plaster. This clay emits negative ions that create good feelings in people.Download the Splish Salon Eco-Report (PDF)Splish Salon, in Conifer, Colorado, ...
Kelly Markson, Ph.D, an economic professor at Wake Technical Community College, a wife and mother of two, had long, thick hair for most of her adult life. Then she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and within two days of receiving her first chemotherapy treatment, her hair began to fall out in clumps.
Client loyalty at Valentino's Grand Salon in Whitby, Ontario, is rewarded with the simple pull of a slot machine's handle and the chance to win big prizes. Year after year, Casino Month is one of the most successful marketing campaigns at the salon owned by George and Vasile Tsinokas.
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.
Upselling has gone mainstream and you too can easily learn this simple business technique. McDonald's made upselling an everyday occurrence in the 1970s by asking every customer, "Would you like fries with that?" Starbuck's will upgrade your 'tall' soy latte to a 'grande' for only a small price increase. You may be going solo to the movies and have no intention of eating a large popcorn all by yourself, yet it seems only logical to say yes when offered an upgrade!
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.
At ISSE last month, we introduced a marketing workshop called, "Grow Your Business from the Inside Out." There's been a lot of interest around this subject, and we will carry it in these blogs for awhile.
