Category Archives: Business Plan

Aug 27 NO comments
Business Plan

Are You Keeping Your Hair Salon Clients Waiting?

The client experience when using services which are usually appointment based such as those provided by a hair salon almost invariably includes waiting. Even though your clients will expect to wait to some extent, how long they wait and what their experience of waiting is like can make all the difference in how your salon is perceived.

What The Waiting Experience Should Be Like For Your Clients

You can begin making your plans for handling waiting by putting yourself into your client’s shoes. Think about how you feel about waiting at a salon and look at what the competition is doing – assess what they’re doing right as well as what you think could be done better. Your location can make a difference; if your salon is located in a mall or on a shopping street, then your clients can shop elsewhere while they wait for their appointment. However, this also means that you can potentially losing out on sales by having waiting clients look at the products you sell or magazines which feature hairstyles that your salon can offer. Additionally, there is the chance of the client simply wandering off while they wait for you to be ready.

You can significantly improve the waiting experience for your clients through investing in TVs, magazine subscriptions, product displays and other features to keep your clients entertained while they wait. You may also want to invest in a water cooler, coffee maker or other refreshments for your clients and if your salon also provides services for children, then you’ll definitely want to include activities to keep children entertained in order to keep them from becoming restless and disruptive as they wait for their appointments.

Your staff definitely need to provide clients with estimates of their wait times which are as accurate as possible and then to deliver on these promises. Your clients don’t mind waiting as much as they’ll mind being given a wait time only to have it change again and again. This gives your clients the impression that you’re either being less than honest with them or that your salon is poorly run – either of which is not something you want people thinking about your business.

Conclusion

The services your salon provides to its clients includes the entire experience. This means everything from when they set an appointment to the wait time to the services themselves. How you manage waiting makes a difference to your business and how you plan for this will affect your business plan and as such needs to be considered in your finances.

Author: Fred R Andrews
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Aug 13 NO comments
Business Plan

How to Start Your Own Hair Salon

Just like any business, it is important that you have your plans when you put up a business like this. You have to consult people who are adept to this kind of business, and who have been in the business for some time. Get some tips before you start your own.

After all, you want to be proud of it right? Do not fear if you do not know anything about it. Everyone has its first time. People who put up their own business too started from scratch, started from not knowing anything. They just happen to be eager to put it up, not afraid to ask experts and are keen when they shell out money for this investment.

It is important that before you start your own hair salon, you should work for a well-known hair salon first for a certain period of time. This will definitely give you a hands-on experience and help you deal with clients easily. It will give you the experience of knowing the ins and outs of the business.

But most importantly, guard your finances too. Yes, you want to buy a franchise outlet, or start a unique one but you should be aware of the amount of money you want to put out. You just don’t spend for the sake of spending.

This is not the idea that one day when you wake up, you just wanted a salon. Of course, you have certain considerations such as the location. After all, you need all the paying customers who will be regular clients of your business. And these clients should really enjoy the service you are offering. Remember, you cannot afford to compromise quality.

Apart from it, you also need to invest in furniture. You want to ensure that they are satisfied when you welcome them to your shop. So give them the luxurious rest areas!

Author: Charlotte Howard
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Jul 30 NO comments
Business Plan

Why Hair Salon Marketing is Critical to Your Success

Marketing is something which many spa or salon owners neglect. There are a lot of people who look at marketing as an expense rather than as a means of generating revenue, which is exactly what an effective marketing campaign is. In order to make the most of your marketing, you’ll need to keep on top of things and review what kind of results you’re getting in order to keep up with or better yet, ahead of your competition.

Look carefully at what you’re doing to market your salon now and see what’s getting results for you and what isn’t. Look at the cost for each marketing campaign in terms of the return on investment. For instance, are your radio ads generating new business for your salon or are your direct mail efforts having more of an impact? It’s all too easy to fall into the habit of using just one type of advertising – which often means losing out on opportunities to reach your target market. The idea is to stick with what works and scale back on what doesn’t.

Email Marketing

Ask your clients for their contact information – including their email address. Many businesses find that a monthly newsletter delivered by email can be an effective tool for generating repeat business. You can use your newsletter to remind your clients about new services you offer, remind them about seasonally popular procedures like hair removal and the like. You can also send the people on your email list occasional messages about specials, open appointments and the like.

Cross Marketing

You may want to do cross marketing with other local businesses; it’s better to do some marketing along with businesses which do not offer exactly the same services as your spa does. If you know some local hairstylists, this can be a particularly rewarding cross promotion for both their business and your own.

Take Advantage Of Technology

Your salon very likely uses a computerized system to manage bookings. You can actually use these systems to take your marketing efforts to the next level by using their ability to produce reports; these can tell you if there are facilities which aren’t being used to their full potential as well as which of your clients haven’t been in for some time and should be followed up with.

Networking

Getting out and making a name for yourself is incredibly important. Participate in your community, especially in areas where you’ll meet people who are in your target market. People tend to choose to go to people they know for services like yours – when you network with people in your city, you’ll be able to make business contacts, get the word out about your business and even bring in some new clients.

Remember, it’s not enough to just put a sign out front; you need to put some effort into marketing your salon business and you have to keep up with how your marketing and advertising efforts are working for you. Make your marketing accountable and keep it constantly evolving in order to create a foundation for the continued growth of your spa or salon.

Author: Fred R Andrews
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Jul 16 NO comments
Business Plan

Is Your Hair Salon Or Spa Safe?

Being a stylist can be a very rewarding profession; however, there are some health risks which salon workers need to be aware of. The following are the three most common health hazards which may affect people who work in hair salons (spa) – every salon owner should be aware of these risks and do everything possible to prevent them from becoming a problem.

1) Chemicals

There are chemicals in many of the products used in salons; the chemical ingredients of hairsprays, dyes, shampoos, highlighters and other products can affect the quality of the air, making it unhealthy for those who spend their days in a salon.

There are also chemicals in nail polishes, adhesives and other products used for manicures and pedicures which can also pollute the air in your salon. Some salons try to allow these fumes to dissipate by opening the doors, though this rarely does nearly enough on its own.

2) Smoke

For most salons, cigarette smoke isn’t a concern since smoking is not allowed. However, this can be an air quality concern in the small number of establishments who do permit their clients or staff to smoke in the salon. Of more concern for most salons is the smoke generated by curling and straightening irons.

3) Bacteria, Viruses And Other Pathogens

As with any profession which involves working with the public, salon workers are exposed to people all day, every day and with all of these people come a wide variety of bacteria, viruses and other disease causing organisms. When the winter cold and flu season rolls around, it can be harder to stay healthy than it is to catch one of the many bugs going around.

If you operate a busy salon which offers a full range of services, then there may be a number of different pollutants, toxins and pathogenic organisms in the air; these are the health hazards specific to the profession. The challenge for salon owners is to keep these problems under control in order to look out for the health of their staff and clients.

Salons need to install equipment to ensure that the air in their salon is constantly filtered to remove the airborne pollutants, smoke and disease causing microorganisms. The best choice for the salon environment is to install a HEPA air purifier with an extra filter which is designed to remove the harmful materials which are often in the air at a hair salon. This air filtration system should be in operation around the clock to keep the air in the salon clean and safe for yourself, your clients and your staff.

Author: Fred R Andrews
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Jul 02 NO comments
Business Plan

Success Tips For a Hair Salon

People are becoming more and more fashion conscious these days and are actively in search of good beauty salons that can enhance their overall beauty. Hairstyle is an integral part of any individual’s personality and nowadays both men and women are constantly looking to improve their looks by adopting stunning haircuts. Thus, starting a hair salon is most lucrative as a business opportunity.

A hair salon can be started with stern determination and moderate capitalization. Moderate amount is required to set up the business, find an appropriate location, and buy the necessary equipments, and embellish the interior. With this basic expenditure and minimal number of employees, a successful venture can be started.

There are various factors that define the success of a hair salon. The most significant and key factor is high level of customer satisfaction. In case of a salon there is no better marketing tool than word-of-mouth. Any client will happily pay a heavy price for a better and stunning look. The inner quest of achieving improved physical appearance and an incredibly outstanding personality should be deeply satisfied. The clients should be so satisfied and happy with the quality of services offered that they move out and appreciate the outstanding personal services offered in their own respective circles. This word-of-mouth spread like virus and the number of clients approaching the specific salon keeps on increasing. The number of clients will definitely increase with this powerful marketing tool but do remember to maintain the quality of services and the reputation of the salon throughout.

Other important factors that drive this successful venture are the right location and skilled professional. It is very important to select the best possible location that is easily accessible for a good number of people. If the salon is situated in a lonely place then hardly anyone will notice it. Try and search a place in the busiest place where there are people wandering almost the whole day or places where there are many residential properties. The staff appointed should also be skilled and talented in the field. They should be adequately trained and should have in-depth knowledge of all the procedures and processes. The salon should have stylists who have the magical art of transforming one’s look into a charming and elegant appearance.

Apart from that the hair salon should be well-cleaned and offer a safe and warm ambience. People come to parlors to change their appearance and also have some kind of mental relaxation. Cleanliness is something that every client will look for. Even if the services are qualitative no client will be attracted if the ambience is not clean and safe. All the equipments and materials used should be cleaned and sterilized to avoid any kind of health issue with respect to skin disease or hair problems.

If these success tips are followed wisely then any hair salon will definitely be a successful venture and a profitable business.

Author: Jennie Gandhi
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Jun 18 NO comments
Business Plan

Hair Scissors – Every Hair Salon Business Must Know

As we can probably observe, hair salons are a big part of the market for services today. It is actually no wonder why it has big market share nowadays because the rationale is simple: a lot of people want to be pampered, and one of the ways to be pampered is through ones hair. As funny as the thought may seem, but a lot of people do want to pamper their selves, relieve their stress and build their confidence through their hair. There is no universal reason that I can see, so perhaps the reason is relative for every person.

The hair is ones crowning glory. I have heard this being said in more times than I can remember. This is particularly true for women, since there are more styles available for a womans hair than a mans. Because the hair is said to be the crowning glory, this is probably why we see a lot of celebrities and personalities having different hair styles as they see fit for different events in glossy magazines. Indeed, I have seen a different hair style do wonders to a persons face. The right hair style can enhance the shape of ones face; soften, harden or emphasize it. If one thinks about it, getting into a hair salon business is a practical endeavor.

What is something that every hair salon never does without? The very first answer that comes to mind is the hair scissors. The hair scissors is the integral tool of every hair salon business, for it is the one used to style, cut and gives the look customers want for their hair. Indeed, it is a small tool that makes big wonders and great praises.

Hair scissors: making wonders

The right use, the right care and the right type of hair scissors will ensure you business profits. Why? Because people love style, and wonderingly, this little tool will give them style. The right scissors will enable you to give customers the style that they want, leaving them satisfied and planning to go back for more of another next time. This will give you customer camaraderie and trust, as well as more customers from word of mouth praises you will probably receive. Profits are then a definite part of your daily business. Hair scissors are indeed tools of style, and you need to be able to buy the right one to make sure it gives the style that satisfies.

Hair Scissors: how to find the right one

The most important thing you need to take note of when buying hair scissors is to keep in mind what you know of your business. If you know your business, your goals and your specific target market, you will know your scissors. The right hair scissors is the one that will be able to cater to what you want, so in looking for one, make sure that its type and structure can do just that.

Hair Scissors: the proper use and care

Just like with every tool, hair scissors are not indestructible. They need to be cared for properly in order to work the best that they can and in the way that you want them to work. When you buy one, maintenance of hair scissor care is crucial. They need to be regularly cleaned, at possibly hourly, not daily, intervals.

With the proper care, it is a given that you also use them properly. Trying to cut a hard board with hair scissors is a sure way to its diminished functionality.

Hair scissors, are the tool for every hair salon business. That is why one needs to understand why it is the force behind the big market for hair salon services, and how to care and use one properly when you have found the right one for you.

Author: Matthew Stanton
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Jun 04 NO comments
Business Plan

Stylish Hair Salons

Hair is one of the most important aspects or attributes of a woman’s beauty and personality. No wonder hair has been described as the crowning glory of a woman. Thus it is quite understood that women are always after styling their tresses and taking care of their mane. Indeed beautiful, shining and lustrous hair is always the result of a lot of loving care and nourishment. In the present time there are many hair care products that concentrate on different hair types of textures of hair.

The obsession of women with their hair and its beauty has given rise to the hair salons that take care of hair and styles it up. The attention and tending that one gets at these salons have increased its popularity to the extent that in the present time there are innumerable hair salons in each city. Indeed there are hair salons at almost every street corner promising the best of services and products.

Indeed hair salons are opening up at a huge extent nowadays. However with so many salons at almost every street it becomes highly confusing for women to choose which salon to go to. With all salons offering the same services and products it becomes difficult to make a correct choice. And making a wrong choice means destroying the beauty of the hair as well as the beauty of the individual.

The first and most important factor that speaks in favor of a hair salon is its cleanliness and hygienic dealing with their customers. After all these are the places from which one tends to get some infection or other ailments of skin. Apart from this the ambience of the salon should also be comfortable and pleasing. The stylists at the salon should make the customer feel at ease and be conversational. It has been noted that a slightly friendly atmosphere have always make a salon more popular than the others provided the stylist is good at the job.

Apart from being conversational the stylist should also be perceptive and have a flair for creative thinking. A good stylist can make the hair salon business thrive in this age of cut-throat competition. A happy and satisfied customer would not only re-visit the place but would also recommend others at the place. After all the best form of publicity is still the word-of-the-mouth publicity.

Though it is true that all the hair salons are not same in their mode of operations yet there is one thing which is almost same are the equipments that are used at a hair salon like that of the workstations, chairs, washing sink, large blow dryers with chairs and similar others. In a typical workstation what one generally gets to see are a glass jar of disinfectant which holds combs and scissors; brushes of all shapes and sizes; sprays, gels, and powder; blow dryer; electric cutters; large mirror over the workstation as well as hand-held mirrors so one could view the back of the head; curling irons; irons to straighten hair; hair dyes of all colors and bleaching agents; shampoos and conditioners; and capes for washing and cutting.

Visit Federico’s site at http://www.federicosalon.com to get a view of numerous wonderful hair styles and get an idea.

Author: Federico Calce
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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May 21 NO comments
Business Plan

A Great Hair Salon Business

Did you just receive your cosmetology license and are eager to learn how to start a hair salon business? If your answer is yes then we have just what you need to educate yourself on the finer aspects of salon ownership and management. The necessity that comes from everyone who has hair needing to have their hair done and done right is the core driving-force behind any successful salon endeavor. The process of owning a salon or studio may be first encountered behind a chair that you rent from an existing salon. That is a common route that many hair stylists take each and everyday. The experience that you can learn from renting a chair for the week and learning the nuts and bolts of the business will be an invaluable lesson indeed.

Select a Very Busy Location

As noted above it is the best aspect to pick a location to open your hair salon business that is right in the thick of it all. Of course you want the location of your salon to be one that will attract visitors and thusly make you money. A great hair salon location will be in an area that has high traffic and is close to an anchor store such as a grocery store or large retail clothing outlet. The bottom-line is that you pick a location that you feel comfortable with and one that you can afford the rent or lease on. You want to make sure that you have enough cash set-aside that you can float yourself the first 3 to 6 months of opening the doors to the business.

Great Source of Inventory

Another valid point to make is that you need to have a great source of inventory so that you can stock the shelves and supply your hairdressers with only the best products. Since you are now a licensed cosmetologist holder you will have available to you great discounts on hair products that you will use at your salon business. You can even sell some of these products at a retail price such as shampoos and conditioners to the walk-in customers that will definitely pad your bottom-line.

Open for Business!

The marketing aspect will come into play from the very start and it is a good idea to run a special promotion advertising that you are open for business. A salon either lives or dies on the strength of its service to the community and also the word-of-mouth advertising that is so important and valuable. Good luck with your hair salon and happy cutting!

Author: Rachel Frost
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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May 07 NO comments
Business Plan

Opening Your New Hair Salon Or Spa

If you’re interested in opening your own hair salon or spa, a business plan may not be the first thing on your mind. There is a seemingly endless number of details to consider, including all of the different services you may want to provide to your clients, the products you’ll stock and so on. In the midst of all this, a hair salon business plan might not seem so important. However, a business plan is something which you need when starting any business and a hair salon is no exception.

Many of us dream of going to work for ourselves and starting our own businesses. Being a business owner can be incredibly rewarding, but it’s also a very challenging thing to do. You need to be conscious of each and every penny as you plan to open your new business. This is something which needs to be part of your business plan and whether you’re purchasing an existing business or opening an entirely new one, this article is for you; keep reading for a rundown of the basics.

Your new hair salon could be a business which you operate out of your home or one which you rent or even purchase a separate facility for. It’s up to what you think will work best for you as a newly minted entrepreneur and there are people who have started a salon both ways and met with great success. One thing you may want to keep an eye out for is if there are any existing salons for sale; if you’re a first time business owner, it’s often easier to buy a business then to start one from the ground up.

Whether you buy a salon or start your own, the most important thing is to be prepared. You may need to take out small business loans, something which is common with new business owners. Many people who want to start a business simply don’t have the necessary startup capital, so this is something which you’ll probably find yourself looking at.

Remember that as an entrepreneur, it’s up to you and you alone to plan responsibly for your new salon. Before you drive ahead with your new idea, examine whether your concept is marketable; after all, it does you no good to open a business which is not in demand. Look at your location, the state of your local economy, culture, demographics and consumer trends in your area. This is the kind of information which a solid business plan and a successful new business is built on.

If you currently work in a salon and have wanted to start your own salon, there’s no time like the present to begin planning your new venture. While you will have a leg up on newcomers to the industry thanks to your previous experience, don’t think that this alone means your new salon will be successful. You need a sound plan and a source of startup capital before you can open your own hair salon. You’ll need to do some careful research and planning in order to build a foundation for success in the hair/beauty/spa industry.

You’ll need to take some time to talk to industry veterans; ask for advice on getting started with a new salon. You’ll be able to do things your own way when you begin your new business, but it’s a good idea to get the insight of people who have been there – listen to what they tell you and incorporate their suggestions into your business plan as appropriate.

As a field which is somewhat insulated from the effects of economic downturns, there has been significant growth in hair salons in the last couple of years. While owning your own salon can indeed be both financially and personally rewarding, you need to be well prepared ahead of time or it may be neither.

Author: Fred R Andrews
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Apr 23 NO comments
Business Plan

Opening a Hair Salon Business – Waiting Line Management

For customers, using an appointment-driven service like a hair salon means waiting. While waiting is the expectation of customers, the nature of the waiting experience can make a major difference in what they think about your salon and even overshadow the services you offer.
 
The Waiting Experience You Want For Customers
 
Start your planning of waiting line management by considering how you would like to be treated when waiting. Look also at what competitors in your local market, both for ideas and for mistakes. If you have a location in a mall or shopping center, it can be easy for customers to shop or take care of errands elsewhere while they wait their turn. The downside of this for your business is that you can lose out on further engaging your customers during that time, whether by having them look at hair style options in magazines or brochures or consider the products you have for sale. Also, you run the risk of waiting for the customer if they have wandered too far when you are finally ready for them.
 
Having a comfortable and even entertaining waiting room does require investment and upkeep, but it can be a valuable tool to improve the customer waiting experience. Product displays, TV screens, magazines, and other items can improve this space, as can a water dispenser or other refreshment options. If you serve children at your salon, the needs of a waiting room take on a whole new character. Parents will be extremely appreciative if you take care to provide activities and entertainment to occupy their kids as they wait, and may not mind a longer than average wait as it will by more quickly for them.
 
In any case, it is important to have your staff set clear expectations for customers as to how long their wait will be and then deliver on those expectations. Customers hate not knowing how long they will have to wait and being told one wait time and then another. They may leave feeling your staff either don’t know what they are doing or are deliberately misleading them. Either possibility is very dangerous to your salon’s reputation.
 
Conclusion
 
The service you offer to customers includes every interaction, from the setting of the appointment to all of the time the customer spends at your salon, including the wait. Your plan for the waiting experience will influence your operations plan and financial assumptions and should not be neglected as part of your salon’s business plan.

Author: Eric Powers
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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