SalonHero

Jump on the Loyalty Bandwagon!

2012-07-24T16:55:00.000+01:00

In previous SalonHero blogs we have harped on about the importance of customer retention. The first point of call is obviously being able to provide the best treatments, with great service at a price the customer is willing to pay. Doing this will ensure that the customer will always leave the salon happy, however may not guarantee they return.

A key strategy to keep your customers’ coming back is a loyalty system. The essential point of a loyalty scheme is to reward customers for repeat business and currently in england they are being utilised in coffee shops and fast food outlets. These industry utilises them to try and win extra customers since in many cases the product offered is similar at a similar price. Similarly and more known are supermarkets utilising it (most famously Tesco - Clubcard and Sainsbury’s - Nectar Card). Salons can also utilise the concept in order to maintain loyalty and even collect data on customers is a solid infrastructure is in place.

In this blog we are going to chat a bit about the different options for loyalty schemes and how to go about implementing them.

What do you want from a loyalty scheme?
First stage in implementing a loyalty scheme should be to plan the end result. Using a loyalty system encourages your customers to keep coming back to you, but at the same time encourages them to spend more. If used correctly, it can help you increase client retention, frequency, spending and referrals along with enhancing your salon's image. For larger companies you may want to collect data on customer preferences and use this information to enhance the customer service experience. For this you would need some salon software which is readily available on the market.

Choosing your loyalty scheme
Depending on the resources you are ready to invest and on the equipment you have, you can choose between two types of cards: the cardboard or the electronic one. The electronic one is obviously more expensive option however it means you can collect data on appointments and preference. You can also ask your customers to register the card to collect other information and then integrate this strategy with an emailing campaign. A cardboard card is simpler and cheaper however has less scope for collecting data. you merely stamp a card after each appointment and once customer reaches a certain level you give them a reward. You can still ask for information but it is a longer process.

Creating your card
One benefit of a card based loyalty system is that you gain space in a person wallet (or on a keyring). This will mean the card is seen by others and you can benfit from referral business. Now how your card looks is very important! You want it to maintain the brand standard that you have created in your salon.
If you are using a paper card then either take a description of how you expect the card to look to a printer and they will design it for you. If you are feeling creative then you can even design it yourself and either pay for someone else to print it or print it in-house.
For an electronic card you can either have a credit card sized card or a keyring card. Your software provider will tell you how to go about getting these printed but you have to make sure the card looks great. You can also try a non-conventional looking card. For instance have one designed shaped like a comb or some scissors! This will certainly stand out in people's wallets or on their keyring. See Superdrug’s Beauty Card that has a mirror on the back.

Marketing the benefits correctly
If you want your customers to play the game you have to explain the rules. Having a loyalty card is useless if your clients don’t know what they can get from it, you therefore need to make it clear what your loyalty program can bring them. To do that, answer two questions:
How does it work?
10 stamps on your card and get a reward,
10 visits and get a reward,
Get 1 point per pound spent and get a reward when reaching 100,
Get 200 more points if you recommend us to a friend...
What do you get?
A free treatment,
A discount,
A complementary product..
The possibilities are limitless but must be chosen carefully according to your budget and the structure of your loyalty program. One thing you can do with the reward is get the customer to act in the way you want them to. If you want to push a specific treatment or product (perhaps you have overstock) then that can be the reward. If you decide to only offer a different treatment then it can get customer to pay for the treatment next time. Most marketers will tell you it is rarely beneficial to give away something that the customer would probably pay for anyway!

Measuring success of the program
Marketing 101 tells you that a strategy must have a method of measuring success rates. If you have invested in software then you may be able to track whether average spending, frequency of appointments or number of customers have increased. If the benefit is a different treatment you even even monitor whether the amounts of these treatments have increased. You should give it a few months (or a set period) and then compare the data to before the strategy was implemented.
For the paper cards it is harder to monitor the success. One way is to physically count the amount of completed cards coming back to measure how often they are used. Generally if appointments are on the rise and customers are visiting more frequently then you are obviously doing something right!

Tracking your customers
If you have invested in an electronic system to track and enhance loyalty, then one thing you need to remember to do is USE IT! Current technology allows you to learn a lot about your customers. When collecting the data make sure every few months you assess it. This could meant analysing which appointments are doing well and which are declining, who is using the card compared with who you want to attract.
Use the data you will gather to get your customers to act in the way you want them to. Every so often send an email out to customers using the loyalty system to ask them what they think. Once again this concept of empowering customers will lead to your business being run more efficiently.

Top 8 foods for healthy hair

2012-07-20T18:29:00.001+01:00

We all know that an adapted shampoo and a good conditioner are essential to have beautiful hair. However, if you have an unbalanced diet, those products won't be very useful. Your hair needs its daily amount of vitamins and other minerals to stay healthy and crash diets can affect the hair cycle.

Here is a list of some foods that, when included in your diet, help maintain healthy hair.

Eggs

If you can make an egg shampoo from time to time to keep your hair shiny, eating those eggs would help too. They are rich in protein which helps to build each hair strand and keep your hair strong. They also contain great levels of biotin and vitamin B12 that you can enjoy the benefits, no matter the way you cook them.

Dark green vegetables

Broccoli and spinach are a source of vitamin A and C which are needed for the production of sebum, your natural hair conditioner. They also contain calcium and iron which are important nutrients for hair.

Carrots

Carrots not only help you see in the dark, they are also rich in vitamin A which gives you a shiny healthy scalp. Now you know how Bugs Bunny has such a glowing coat.

Bananas

The vitamin B6 is responsible for helping the body absorb the nutrients it receives from the food we eat. If your diet lacks it, it could result in hair loss. It also has an effect on the production of red cells which nurture your hair follicles so make sure you provide the daily amount of vitamin B6 your body needs by eating bananas.

Salmon

This oily variety of fish is good for your hair at many levels. It contains omega-3 fatty acids which can help slow hair loss, iron which is stored in your hair and used for other needs and vitamin B12 which ensure a healthy skin and scalp.

Poultry

Chicken and turkeys are known to be rich in protein which is essential to keep your hair strong and avoid brittle strands. Poultry also provide you with iron which plays a big role in the maintenance of hair follicles.

Oysters

Not everybody loves it and it's probably not part of your regular diet, but this sea food is great for your hair! Full of zinc, a natural antioxidant, they help your hair stay shiny longer.

Dairy products

Low-fat dairy products like skimmed milk and yoghurt are great sources of calcium, an important mineral for hair growth. They also contain whey and casein, two high-quality protein sources. It's easy to incorporate to your diet, even when you're snacking.

From The Apprentice to the Beauty Industry - Interview with Alex Epstein

2012-07-17T17:58:00.000+01:00

There are many different ways people get involved in the beauty industry, some being less conventional than others.
I recently interviewed Alex Epstein who owns Concoction, a hair product company based in Manchester. After working as a marketing executive and participating in the TV show The Apprentice, he finally started his own company in the British beauty industry.

When did you know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?
I have always loved marketing and from a young age knew that I wanted to follow that career path. If I think about it, I also feel like I've always wanted to be independent and start my own business. After participating in the Apprentice I felt spurred to take the leap into entrepreneurship and that is how Concoction was born.

Did you start your company straight after you finished studying?
No, I didn't. After getting my degree at Manchester Business School, I took one year to travel abroad and visit many countries such as Australia and Thailand. When I came back I found a job as a marketer in Leeds. It taught me a lot about marketing and really prepared me for the challenges you face when you run your own company.

What happened then?
Well, the company suffered from recession and had to reduce its workforce. After this, some of my friends suggested that I apply for The Apprentice. I passed the two auditions and was chosen out of 70,000+ applicants to participate in the show. I feel like this event stood out as a key milestone in my life thus far.

What did you learn from your experience on The Apprentice?
I feel very lucky that I’ve actually already had that opportunity of learning from a very successful entrepreneur like Lord Sugar. It was a great experience, it taught a lot about very different industries and a lot about myself too!

How did the show impact you?
If I’m being honest, this show completely changed my life. Taking part in The Apprentice was certainly the most amazing experience I have ever had, and has given me a significant profile throughout the UK. It also has allowed me to become very focused in what I want to achieve next. When it was all over I decided it was time for me to do my own thing.

Why did you choose the Beauty Industry?
I had this idea about creating Concoction a few years ago when I was at uni. I have always thought that hair products companies should offer more personalized experiences to their customers. Every salon is different so why would they all have the same standardized products? We worked with very clever scientists for 2 years devising the formulas and we finally launched a few months ago.

What is Concoction and how does it work?
Concoction is all about mixology technology. It’s about making a cocktail and creating your own product, the one which will represent your salon the best. To do that, you need to choose a fragrance depending on what you like and then add up to two superserums depending on your needs (curly hair, coloured hair, straight hair..etc.). Our wide range can allow you to create more than 700 combinations, making your shampoo unique.

Are you only selling in the UK?
For the moment we are focusing on extending our activity throughout the UK but we have already received orders from abroad and are confident that we’ll soon be able to penetrate new markets.

So if some of you are interested in the concept and looking for some personalized hair products to use in your salon, have a look at Concoction website.

7 tips to help your salon beat the recession

2012-07-12T17:35:00.000+01:00

We are all feeling the recession and, as much as people say the beauty industry is less affected by it, the bottom line is business ain’t what it used to be! Attracting clients is getting harder and many salons try to keep their head above the water by slashing their prices.

There are other solutions, which do not involve selling your services at a major discount but instead focus on quality, customer retention and cost control.

1. Run a tight ship
In times of recession the best first thing any company struggling to keep their head above the water should do is look to streamline their business. This means identifying where costs can be reduced and reduce them. A great way to start is reviewing indirect costs such as insurance or your energy providers to see if you can find it cheaper.
Also avoid waste. Good stock control is especially important in difficult financial times, from your stocks to any other consumables.

2. Reduce the number of "no-show" appointments
No-shows are a massive problem in this industry and cost salons a considerable amount of money every year. SMS reminder is your best option in that case. It is quite cheap and will help your clients remember their appointments, or at least call you to reschedule if they can’t make it. If you use salon software and take booking online you can also prevent this by charging customers who don’t show up.

3. Save on the cost of telephone calls
Look at reducing your phone bills every quarter by installing VoIP technology. For those of you who don’t know what I’m talking about, VoIP allows you to make your phone calls over the internet at the fraction of the cost of a normal phone call. Adopting this system will save you hundreds of pounds on your annual business phone bill.

4. Increase customer retention
In a recession period, it’s harder than ever to get new clients so you can't allow yourself to lose any of your regular ones. The best way to do this is to continue to provide an excellent customer service. Don’t hesitate to run a customer survey or introduce a brand new loyalty system to show them you care about them and reward their loyalty. If you satisfy them, they will return and spread the word!

5. Don't cut your advertising budget
Some salons, to reduce their expenses and "breathe easier", cut their marketing budget. Big mistake. Advertising helps get you known, if you stop doing it, how will you ever attract new clients and generate more revenue?
Instead of cutting these funds, invest them differently using less expensive marketing channels. You probably already have a Facebook page, but did you ever use one of the promotion tools this network offers? Create an advert for example and increase your exposure in less than a week!

6. Keep investing in training
In a recession period, it's more important than ever to invest in your staff. They are your best resource and their work drives revenue! You therefore have to make sure they are happy to grow with you to ensure your business keeps growing. Allowing them to go on training courses and expand their skill set will not only keep them motivated, but will allow you to offer more services to your clients.

7. Stay positive
Even if your salon is bearing the brunt of the recession, don't give up. Never forget that you're the boss, consequently your state of mind impacts your staff and customers. It is therefore vital to show them your confidence and motivation anytime. Moreover, the more you think about the difficulties you're facing, the bigger they will appear to be. You can't move on if you're demotivated so stay positive, success takes time but comes to those who deserve it.

Add value to your salon services!

2012-07-10T17:34:00.000+01:00

Let's imagine this situation: a new customer just moved into town and is on a hunt to find a new hair or beauty salon. If all the salons in the area have the same price range and all enjoy a good reputation, how to make sure this client will choose you? Here is your main challenge as a salon owner.

You could obviously offer an exclusive discount for these customers, cutting your cost for a first time appointment, with the confidence that you can provide such a great service that they will come back. The problem is that you will get customers willing to pay the offer price but rarely willing to pay the actual price. Moreover, it's not what customers are looking for.

If you want to be picked among all the others, you have to add value to your salon services and offer your clients a good deal. It's not complicated, won't cost you a lot and will make them feel like they are getting extra value. Something they wouldn't get if they were going to your competitor.

If you don't really know what to begin with, here are some tips for you!

1. Personalize your core treatment
You all have that one treatment that we could call a "must-have" as if you don't have it, clients won't come. It's one of your "basics" and is also offered by your competitors.
If you want to make yours more attractive than all the others, you have to make it special. Add a scalp massage to a dry and finish treatment or offer to put some moisturizing cream on your client's hands after its manicure. These little gestures could change everything.
You can also think about giving it a personalized name to make it look unique and help clients associate it with your salon.

2. Offer a sample of the product you use
Your customers come to your salon for two things: the great service and the great products. They all love the fact that you're going to take care of them with professional products which they can't find at the supermarket. Offering them a sample of the products you used for their treatment is therefore a great way to end it. It is a nice touch and will help you increase your retail sales.

3. Give them advice after their treatment
You are experts in hair and beauty. Your clients put their faith in you and value your advice above all others. Advice is something that costs you nothing to give out, helps build a relationship with your clients, and shows them that you take interest in their lifestyle. It is something personal and useful. Whether it is how to maintain their treatments, how to make it last longer or how to use a specific product, your clients will thank you for it.
You can even offer to jot it down for them after the appointment, and whilst you are at it, book them in for their next one.

4. Offer a complementary new service
From a marketing point of view, it's always good to stroll off the beaten track. It's only by acting differently that you will have the opportunity to differentiate yourself from the competition and rise above it. So, with the objective of adding value to your salon services, try to offer a complete new service to surprise and delight your client. You can for example offer to perfume them at the end of their treatment. Just buy 4 or 5 different bottles so that you can offer different scent according to the taste of the person.
This it a bit expensive but it will make the difference between you and the others.

We’re on a hunt for an online marketing intern!

2012-07-05T17:00:00.000+01:00

Are you looking for a marketing internship in the beauty industry? Well, that’s your lucky day, we have one open position in our head office in Manchester.

Responsibilities:
- Managing the social media channels the company uses to do its promotion (Facebook, Twitter, Youtube)
- Managing the blog, regularly writing blog posts and interviewing celebrities in the industry
- Helping with all online and offline marketing campaigns
- Realising competitors analysis
- Participating in corporate strategy
- Canvassing
- Administrative tasks when required

What we are looking for:
Creativity and dynamism!
Go onto www.salonhero.co.uk, if you have an idea or opinion then you’re right for the role!

Here is what you need to know about us:

1. We value your opinion,
unless you’re wrong.

2. We have a casual dress code and we love it,
if you come to the office wearing a suit, you’ll have to take it off.

3.We bring the interns their coffee,
tea drinkers only to apply.

4. We have great green credentials,
if you bring a plant for your desk we will even teach it how to fly from the 7th floor.

5. Cleanliness is very important,
and it keeps the interns busy.

6. We work in a very quiet building,
that’s why we pump anything with a bass-line as soon as we arrive.

7. We offer a very competitive salary,
there will be a lot of zeros on your paycheck.

8. And, in case you hadn’t noticed, we have a great sense of humor!

Still interested?
Please send your CV and a cover letter explaining why you would be perfect for that role to danny.jacobs@salonhero.co.uk

SalonHero has entered Race for Life

2012-07-03T08:00:00.000+01:00

We at SalonHero think that a person’s health is the most important thing on Earth and we are commited to do our best to help people preserve it. No, we are not pharmacists or scientists or doctors but we are trying to raise money for the UK Cancer Research.

We recently entered Race for Life, the biggest event to raise funds for cancer research, that will take place in Manchester on the 21st and 22nd of July.

Well, when I say we, I mean one of us. This event is women only and since SalonHero only has one female as part of its team, she will be the one running while the rest of us will be cheerleading!

Flora will be running the 5k race on Sunday and needs your help to reach her fundraising target. Don’t hesitate to sponsor her online and make other’s people life easier and healthier.

Thank you in advance from all the team at SalonHero!

The top 6 hair styles for this summer

2012-06-27T16:35:00.000+01:00

The joyous start to the UK summertime. I thought you may have missed it, and so did we!
It was somewhere in the middle of all the heavy rain we’ve been experiencing last week.

At SalonHero we believe in everything fresh. A fresh start to a season, a fresh you. Rummage the cupboards for those skirts, perch the sunglasses on your nose and, most importantly, change up your look with a summer hairstyle.

If you’re looking for the hair essentials this summer, then here’s your list of the top styles. Why not give them a go?

Ponytails
The ponytail ruled on the spring/summer catwalks and is a can't miss this season. From the very basic used to maintain your hair at the gym to the ultra sophisticated that will make everybody look at you in a top restaurant, this haircut is perfect for any moment or urge.
For a 90s finish, add a wrap to the ponytail and for a high fashion style, don't hesitate to create severals and wrap them into one.
The advantage: An instant face-lift if it's tied strongly.

Center part
This is a news that will delight all the casual haircuts lovers. Not only will it save you time in front of your mirror in the morning, it is also easily customizable depending on the occasion you wear it. Opt for a straight parting if you want a strict and professional look, and for a curved one if you want to adopt a cooler attitude.
The advantage: It makes the hair look longer compared to a side-part which give you width on the side.

Accessories
A must-have this summer if you want to grab attention. Look like a queen with a sparkling tiara or sophisticated with an hairband. The 70’s punk rocker with the flowers in her hair also make a great come back, for those of you who prefer an au naturale look.
Our advice: Don't hesitate to try them all!

Slicked back
This haircut dominated the spring/summer 2012 edition of the New York Fashion Week. Also called "the wet look" this style is perfect for second day hair. It is also an easy transition if you just had a cool poolside dip and are heading for some summer shopping.
The advantage: You only need a comb and some gel and hairspray.

Braids
Let's go back to school this summer!
Ranging from simple 2-strand braids to very complicated 6-strand twisted braids, the choice depends on the look you want and the time you're ready to spend on it.
After creating the braid, mess it up a bit to give it that ‘lived in’ feel for a twist on the classic.
The advantage: Girl-like-femininity is always a sure fire hit.

I love to see what you make of the summer hair trends so send your pictures to flora.adam@salonhero.co.uk, and get featured!

Do you have a website? Here are some tips for you!

2012-06-25T18:31:00.001+01:00

Did you know that there are now over 580 million websites online...and that this figure is increasing everyday? Impressive, isn't it?

I’ve noticed on Twitter that many salons and spas are now setting up their own website, and why would you hesitate?
It has now become very affordable if you’re looking for a basic and easy to use website. It is easily customizable and you can add different type of content like text, photos, videos or your Twitter feed for example.

However, there are some techniques that you should use with caution and others that really have to be avoided if you don’t want your potential customers to run away. So if some of you want to set up your own website, here are 5 things you should pay attention to.

1. Flash Animations
Millions of people now browse the net on iPhones and iPad. If you use Flash on your website you lose this entire audience! For better or worse, Apple have boycotted flash and now web developers need to deal with the consequences!
But maybe Apple have done us all a favour! How many times have you visited a site with an Flash animated intro and closed the tab after 10 seconds? It’s extremely long to load and quite painful for the eyes which makes people want to skip it. These kind of pages have been known to cut traffic by 50% so you’d better avoid them. Example

2. The animated gif
Those moving images are outdated and if you really want to show something animated, you’d better upload a proper video. Even a downmarket camera will give you good results in terms of definition and there are now many platforms where you can put your video online and then add it to your website (YouTube, Dailymotion, only to cite a few).
It looks more professional and is definitely more detailed than a gif.

3. The moving background
Your website is there to tell customers and potential customers about your business. You therefore want them to focus on the content of your site, not on the design. Not saying that the design isn’t important, it is in fact essential, but it shouldn’t catch all the reader’s attention. A moving background will distract your visitor from the core information you’re trying to communicate. Moreover, it is very hard to watch and trust me making your customers look away from the screen won't increase appointments.
To my mind, this is therefore a very bad idea but don't believe me, judge for yourself.

4. Advertisements everywhere
Allowing some advertisement is a good idea if you want your site to generate a bit of money, but it shouldn't be your main goal. Your visitors should focus on the content of the page and if there are links everywhere there are likely to be distracted and quickly annoyed - Especially pop-ups! Ensure that your core content is in the prime position on the page (top centre/left aligned) and advertising is limited to either the right column (such as Facebook) or on the bottom of the screen.

5. The background music
Having a background music on your website is a good idea if it corresponds to the image of your brand. Let’s take an example. If you own a salon and only use organic products, choose a song with some singing birds or water noise. Don’t choose the latest hit song because you like it, choose one that represents you. Another important point is to allow this music to be turned off. It can indeed become annoying if your visitor spends several minutes on the site, or just don’t like this music!
In short, use it with caution.

8 beauty facts worth knowing

2012-06-19T16:29:00.000+01:00

We are lucky enough to be in an industry full of useful little facts, but after some research, I have discovered that there are a lot of myths and old wives tales.

In this post, I have therefore compiled some beauty facts worth knowing if you want to remain healthy and beautiful. Enjoy!

1. Sugar breaks down collagen and elastin which can cause you wrinkles
If you have a sweet tooth like me, this news will make you cry! Unfortunately, we have to make a choice: look young or eat the whole cake!

2. Going to bed with your makeup can age your skin up to 7 times faster
I can’t tell you enough, you MUST remove your makeup before going to bed even if you're exhausted. Your skin needs to breathe to remain elastic and soft.

3. Exercise can combat wrinkles
Having a run or doing some stomach exercises is good for both health and skin. The boost in blood circulation strengthen blood vessels and increase the renewal of cells.

4. Cucumber doesn't reduce eye puffiness, cold does
Yes, we all heard about that magical power that cucumber is supposed to have on tired, puffy eyes. But guess what? That's a myth! In fact, it's not the vegetable itself which helps you look fresher, it's the cold. You can even put an old runny Camembert on your eyes, as long as it comes from the fridge, it will work!

5. A glass of wine is good for health and skin
The antioxidants and polyphenols contained in wine are known to prevent heart disease by protecting against artery damage. The good news is that they are also good for your skin as it helps softening it.

6. Lettuce and Spinach can reduce the appearance of wrinkles
As they are silicon-rich foods, those vegetables can help keeping a young skin for longer. (So that is why Popeye never ages!)

7. The acidity contained in lemon can help you get away from your oily hair
A lemon wedge mixed with good quality water (such as distilled water) is a great rinse for your hair. It can really help to reduce the oil on your scalp and the best thing is that it doesn't affect your natural PH.

8. Water helps fight off aging
On average, the body of an adult human being contains 60% water. The body renews it on a regular basis and it's therefore essential to stay hydrated by drinking at least 1L of water per day. Not only will it help prevent the destruction of skin cells, but it will also give your skin a healthy glow.

Unconventional marketing ideas for salons and spas (part 2)

2012-06-15T18:01:00.000+01:00

I've seen so many blog posts about how to use new technologies to attract more clients, that I'm honestly about to explode. It is always the same thing, the same advice, the same techniques with little or no adaptation.

So to summarise what advice is currently available online, we have:
- Heaps of articles giving you tips about advertising yourself on Facebook or Twitter, generally for free (just like if you didn't know how to post a status or a photo by yourself)
- Countless blogs telling you how to do it via smartphones
- And some others giving you advice to create new flyers

Boredom 1 - 0 Innovation

But the main problem for me isn't the lack of innovation, it's the lack of creativity and originality. Yes, the theme has changed and you have different things for Mothers Day, Christmas, Summer... but the techniques to attract new clients are always the same:
- The old discount trick
- The free gift
- The package

It seems like many marketers have lost their enthusiasm and only recycle old ideas on new devices. Where is the imagination? Where is that creativity which is supposed to be the foundation of this industry?

Let's dream about something new, even if it sounds crazy. I know that all my ideas are hard to put in place mainly because they require a good dose of cheek! But the truth is, there are more tens of thousands of salons in the UK - all trying to attract new clients - so if you want to distinguish yourself from the competition, it's time to act differently.

Yes, my crazy ideas are back!
This time, I have decided to come up with some ideas on how to attract people when they are walking past your salon because, let's face it, the ‘A’ board is dated! I hope these ideas will help you catch people's attention and bring in more clients.

1. Welcome to Camden Town
If you think about it, how different is your storefront from your competitor’s down the road?
If you want to differentiate yourself, take Camden Town for example. Strongly associated with alternative culture, this London quarter is reputed for its very colourful, out of the ordinary buildings (see picture). Gigantic statues adorn the facades of every building literally grabbing pedestrians attention and telling them what is sold in that shop. It is a very cool and unmissable way to draw attention.
Now we could imagine a giant red, white and blue (British power!) comb for a hair salon or a huge pink varnish bottle for a beauty one (or use your brand colours).
Yes it's expensive but people WILL take notice and even pictures in front of the store. And to answer back to the social network, need an offer marketer! These pictures will attract more attention on Facebook than a 10% off coupon!

2. The wolf-whistle gadget
If your storefront is quite small, your potential clients may miss you. We’ve seen in the paragraph above one way to attract them visually, let’s now talk about how to catch their attention in a sonorous way, using the wolf-whistle technique.
Crazy? Don’t worry, I’m not talking about asking one your member of staff to whistle at every girl passing by your salon. In fact, I was thinking about motion sensors. Now there are many of these that look like a plant or a bird, and you can easily put one in front of your salon. The best thing is that those sensors don’t really “whistle”, they say “hello!” or make a beautiful sound which will catch people’s attention and make them look at your salon.

3. Look Down!
If you look at people walking in the street, you'll see that a high number of them are watching the ground and not what surrounds them. Is it impossible to catch their attention? No, but you'll have to advertise yourself in their field of vision... the pavement.
The pavement here is all the same, so if you put a bit of colour on it, you’ll get noticed. You can make your salon entrance as extravagant as a Cannes film premiere with the red carpet or even use power cleaning stencils (reverse graffiti) to get your message across! You can also think about using filtered lights to advertise your salon and show people you're HERE.

4. The Hollister approach
Okay this last idea is a bit cheeky but I wanted to end this post on a good note and give you a reason to smile for the rest of the day. Let's follow the Hollister example!
For those of you who have no idea of what I'm talking about, every year during summer time, Hollister hires male models to stay outside their shops only wearing shorts.
It's a dream coming true, isn't it? It's like watching Baywatch except that those "lifesavers" are younger and only a meter away from you.
So, if it works for Hollister, why wouldn't it work for you? It's quite expensive but think about the number of female clients you will attract in a single day! If you want to attract men, don't worry, this technique also works extremely well with female models. There are many modelling agencies across the UK so if you want to find out more, contact one of them.

Have a good day!

SalonHero Needs You! (Salon and Spa owners)

2012-06-12T18:01:00.001+01:00

Good evening folks,

Today we would appreciate a bit of help from our beloved regular readers.

Our Marketing Intern (and regular blogger) Flora needs to write an essay about the British Beauty Industry for University and would be ever so grateful if any salon or spa owners out there could partake in the survey.

For once let's show the French that our wonderful Beauty Industry is proactive and forward thinking! All results are anonymous and will not be sold, traded or misused! They are purely for academic research reasons!

Follow the link below and answer the 8 short questions, will only take a minute out of your day and will make you our HERO from hence on forth!

Following this post we will be back to our usual quirky and interesting selves so stay tuned!

Click here to go to the survey

A hairdresser's path to success: Interview with Nicky Oliver

2012-06-06T12:53:00.000+01:00

Have you ever wondered what gives a hairdresser a celebrity reputation?
In short, it takes three words: Creativity, Passion and Tenacity.

I recently interviewed Nicky Oliver who set up his first salon about 25 years ago and is now an established landmark for hairdressing in Manchester. During his career, Nicky has opened several salons, created his own hairdressing academy and launched his own product range. He allowed me to pick his brain about his journey to this point, and who knows, maybe his story will inspire you to do the same!

How it all started
Nicky Oliver started his career in 1976. Aged only 14, and not really enjoying studies, he left school and found a job in a hair salon in Yorkshire: "I will always remember the feeling that I had when I first entered this salon,” he recalled. “I immediately knew that this was what I wanted to do and this was where I wanted to be. I loved the salon, the clients, the staff, that creativity you could feel in the air... the whole atmosphere in fact."

After fifteen months working there, his boss took Nicky to Salon International in London. It was at this moment he found his vocation: "That first show was really amazing. I was looking everywhere, watching the professionals on stage and realized that I wanted to do the same, I wanted to be a stylist on stage". Whilst in Yorkshire Nicky organised his first photo shoot with a local photographer. The pictures of this first shoot were not only published locally, but also in the USA which allowed Nicky to plant the seeds of an international reputation.
He also felt that it was time for him to move to a bigger city and chose Manchester.

Gaining experience
Wanting to gain experience and travel at same time, Nicky found a job as a stylist and within six months became the Art Director for a company called Pierre Alexander. During this period, he enjoyed giving seminars and participating in different hair shows around the world. He was also involved in a lot of photo shoots for various magazines: "This job made me learn a lot about the industry and the new trends of the moment. It also helped me learn how to talk in front of an audience and how to spark off interest in people who are listening to you during a seminar".

His first business
After 5 years, mainly spent abroad, Nicky decided it was time for him to start on his own and set up his first salon in Manchester: "I started it with only £35 so I decided to create a partnership with another hairdresser and someone with business savvy", added Nicky.

Despite some geographic obstacles (the salon was located in the back of a building down a corridor and wasn't visible from the street), clients came and the business grew. After only one year, they even opened a second salon in the suburbs of the city.

The two hairdressers agreed on the fact they needed a better location for their salon and finally parted ways with the third partner. They therefore closed the two first salons to open another one in a more fashionable part of the city: "We gave it our two surnames and called it 'Oliver San'", says Nicky. Having already established their clientele and enjoying the new location, the salon was a big hit. Nicky and San's reputation grew fast and they were quickly known in the area for offering creative new haircuts.

Only six months after the launch, they expanded to a new, young, hip area of Manchester - The Northern Quarter. The initial thought was to have 2 separate salons, a premium one and a budget one. However, falling more and more in love with the second location and experiencing unexpected refurbishment expenses in the first salon, they actually closed it down and reinvested all their money in the second one: "It was a massive gamble as we had taken on a big 6,500 square feet building, which was really huge compared with the size of any other salon at that time".

Enter the Dragons Den (not quite)
They therefore decided they would create a total hairdressing complex with the salon on the ground floor, a school on the first floor, a photography studio on the top floor and seminars taking place in the basement. Such a project however would have cost a lot of money and banks weren't ready, at the time, to lend millions of pounds for setting up a hair salon.

"I think I sent around 200 business plans but only got negative answers,” said Nicky. “Then, one day, a bank manager called me and said he was interested. He had worked with Rainbow Room in Scotland and said he would work with me if I was passionate about hairdressing and convinced that the idea would work - which I was!"

The salon has been furnished with all furniture by Philippe Starck, a successful French designer whose reputation helped Nicky to have his salon featured in highly respected magazines like Elle and Vogue. Such promotion made the salon known nationally, attracting many clients and reinforcing the image of the founders.

The IRA Bomb
In 1991, Nicky’s partner decided to move on and the salon was renamed "Nicky Oliver". Three years after, the hairdressing academy was properly established, offering private courses to hair students. However, in 1996, the Manchester Bombing, carried out by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) seriously threatened their business:
"This period was very tough and we lost about 90% of our activity,” recalled Nicky. “People were scared to come into Manchester, particularly in the area where we were located. Moreover, a lot of damage had been caused to the salon itself. It took us about 5 years to recover but we made it!"

Today the Northern Quarter is one of the the most popular area of Manchester and known for being the "Artist’s Quarter". A lot of bands like The Smiths and Happy Mondays used to come to Nicky's salon, increasing its reputation and reviving the business. "We still have musicians and actors that use the salon, which is carrying on the tradition".

Strength to strength
Since its creation, the salon has won many awards like Styling Team of the Year, Best Manchester Salon and the Creative Team Awards to name a few. Nicky Oliver also decided to launch his own range of hair products under his name a few years ago, expanding his activity.
"I like to describe my career as a journey towards excellence. You don't arrive in this industry knowing everything; you bring your creativity and learn new things progressively. There are ups and downs but if you are able to adapt , keep the same passion you had at the beginning and stay determined, nothing will stop you".

If you had just one piece of advice to give to a young hairdresser who would like to follow your lead, what would it be?
"Always remember that sensation you feel when you first entered a salon. That passion you have at the beginning is what will drive you for the rest of your career.”

Keep Calm and celebrate the Diamond Jubilee!

2012-06-01T15:56:00.000+01:00

Today we just wanted to publish a short blog post about the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. After all, it's going to be a huge celebration and we all want to be part of it!

This year Queen Elisabeth 2 celebrates 60 years on the throne and we couldn't help noticing that this celebration has a big impact on the British beauty industry. Many beauty products have modified packaging to celebrate this joyous occasion. So when you hit the town this weekend don't forget to dress for the occasion!

Here's a collection of festive cosmetic products to get you in the mood for the long weekend. The sky's the limit when it comes to patriotism in the beauty industry!

English eat fish and chips, fish eat English feet!

2012-05-29T18:52:00.001+01:00

Completely new at the end of 2010, fish pedicures are now a hot trend in Britain. Last year, more than 280 fish foot spas have been listed in the UK and this number increases every week since then. This is not to mention the beauty salons that have bought a fish foot spa to accompany their usual services. They even featured in this season's hit TV series The Apprentice!
In fact, CEFAS (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science) reports that 15,000-20,000 Garra Rufa Fish are currently being imported into the UK, weekly!

However, this trend could end quicker than expected as many experts warn about the possible harmful health implications of such treatment. Banned in 14 states across the USA, this practice is gaining a reputation as unhealthy and even dangerous for people.

That kind of pedicure, officially known as "ichthyotherapy", consists of placing your feet in tanks of water containing dozens of Garra Rufa, an Eurasian river basin fish. The "Doctor Fish", as nicknamed in the UK, then feeds on your dead skin offering you exfoliative benefits. Yummy!

This concept is currently booming and one of the main reasons for this is the pure novelty. It's natural, new and exotic - in short, it's the perfect recipe to attract clients. It's true that, on the paper, everything sounds to be reunited to make you spend a relaxing moment.

After ‘fishing’ up some research, there are however some negative reviews and side-effects of seeing Doctor Fish!

Would you share a foot bath with a complete stranger, not knowing how hygienic they are or how clean their feet are? More seriously, would you rub toes with someone suffering from a verruca, fungal infection or other contagious disease? Probably not!

Dr Paul Cosford, director of health protection services at the HPA, says the risks are very low if spas follow “strict standard of cleanliness”. That is a big IF! It’s not that we are accusing anyone of purposely being following unhygienic practices but on a busy day, do you really have time to ensure that the tank is cleaned after every client? It’s the price of doing so as well as the time! Assuming there is minimal risk for a healthy individual, it is far more dangerous for those already suffering from an injury that has not fully healed. This sounds severe but could just mean a blister from wearing those very high heels!

So, those are the side-effects that can result from person to person. There is also evidence to suggest potential health issues deriving from the ‘Doctors’ themselves (the fish, not the beautician). CEFAS notes that in April 2011, 6,000 fish imported from Indonesia were affected by a disease outbreak that caused all the fish to eventually die (I won’t go into details).

If you are offering that kind of treatment in your salon I would love to hear your opinion about those reports. All the articles I have read were against that kind of pedicure. Are they only highlighting the negative effects and avoiding the positive ones? Don’t hesitate to leave a comment below.

8 tips on how to motivate your staff

2012-05-24T17:54:00.000+01:00

Your business is your baby and although you may have your good days and your bad days, you want nothing more than to make a success of it.
Now, how do you inject your staff with the same enthusiasm every day of the week?

Unfortunately, you can't force each staff member to drink a can of Redbull every morning and to be honest you shouldn’t need to. Not only is it dangerous for health, but it probably wouldn't work. Lack of motivation isn't being physically tired, it's being mentally flat - just like a tyre on a bike. If you don't fix it, that bicycle isn’t going anywhere.

I have therefore prepared you a little "cocktail" of ideas to remotivate and revitalise your staff, and help bring dynamism and happiness back into your salon!

1. Lead by example...
It’s an old cliche but being the first one in and the last one out is the perfect way to show your energy and passion to the company. Your employees may not always like the decisions you make but at least they cannot doubt your commitment. This attitude of ‘working your socks off’ will also rub off on your employees. A part of getting more out of them is putting more effort in yourself.

2. Create a dynamic working environment
What surrounds you has a strong impact on your state of mind. A working place without any color or only dark ones for example is depressing and really can affect work rate. Create a more vibrant atmosphere by introducing some flashy colors in your salon and adding some motivational pictures and images. Those little changes can make a big difference and the best thing is that it won't cost you a ton of money. Of course keep it within your brand which should be no problem at all. A good working environment is also a place where all the tools you need to do your work are working well. Provide your staff with good equipments so that it doesn't make them waste time of feel that they can't do their work properly.

3. Make them part of a team
Team building is important and can really increase motivation. We said in a previous blog “Do your members of staff get on well” that it is important to bring your team together with group activities. If you can do this effectively then peoples work environment becomes more pleasant for everyone. On the flip side, if their work environment is unpleasant people won’t want to come to work and your salon becomes like school to an 8 year old.

4. Set goals
No matter how many different clients you can have, you basically do the same things everyday and your job can quickly turn into a routine. This is one of the most common causes of demotivation. To avoid that, challenge your team. Set up weekly goals or put in place an "employee of the month" reward system to give them an objective and stimulate them. Don't make goals too easily reachable and change them often, it's the best way to keep your staff motivated.

5. Provide incentives
When a member of your staff reaches his target, don't forget to praise him and reward his achievement. People love to receive gifts and it's a good opportunity for you to show them that you value their work. The gifts don't have to be extravagant, it must just show your employees they are doing well. Cinema tickets, a chocolate box or a bottle of wine are only some examples of what you can offer as a reward.

6. Thank them
Yes they are your staff and yes they have to do what you want them to, but thanking them for that shouldn't be optional. You probably delegate tasks you are reluctant to do, and why wouldn't you? That's why you have staff after all. However, don't forget that some of those tasks aren't anyone's cup of tea (like cleaning for example) and a simple "thank you" ensures people don’t feel unappreciated.

7. Show them a future
You may find some members of your staff who are quite happy with what they are doing, don't want to change and have little ambition. However, the high majority of people want to gain new experience, stay on top in their field and take on new challenges. Always offer your staff the possibility to get trained and learn new things, it will make them feel better about themselves and increase their productivity.

8. Don't forget the fun
It doesn't have to be about work all the time. Don't hesitate to do stuff outside work together. If you don’t already, you should have an annual Christmas dinner, no matter how big or small you are. From this do more things outside of work, BBQ in summer, have a work night out and if someone is leaving you, throw them a leaving party!

Blend it all and, CHEERS!

"I started cutting hair at 15, now I own a hair product company"

2012-05-22T18:37:00.001+01:00

Whether you are the proud owner of a hair salon, beauty salon or spa, you all have something in common: you need suppliers.

I can already imagine you grimacing at the mention of this simple word.
After all, who among you never shouted at one his suppliers because one of your order arrived late or complained that the prices are “skyrocketing”? Honestly?

No, it is never easy to be dependent of someone else but, as you know, it’s vital for any business to operate with suppliers, be it product distributors, utility companies or manufacturers.
How would you run your business without them?

I recently interviewed Scott Michaels (center of the photo), founder and CEO of Hairbond, a hair styling products company based in Lancaster. After 15 years being a hairdresser, Scott decided to take on a new challenge and set up his own company a few years ago. He identified a shortcoming in the male grooming products market and decided that “men deserve better!” So he embarked on a journey which resulted in the creation of Hairbond, the all British Men’s grooming company.

This article aims to show you that, even if the core of the business is completely different, those companies actually aren’t so different from you. I hope it will help you to understand how they work and being less frustrated when your order is delayed ;)

So, what do they require to set-up, run and remain profitable?

1. Years of development
Remember the early days of your career. You were paid less than everyone else (if anything at all), you had to hit the ground running and learn fast. If you go on to open a salon and run it as a business, you will need to develop an entirely new set of skills whilst maintaining those you learnt early on.
Well it's basically the same for a hair product company, it takes time before being able to start on your own: "I created Hairbond in 2008 and finally launched in 2010. It took us two years of development to create our range of hair styling products but that's what you have to do if you want to create a product you can be proud of", says Scott. "Some products took us more time to develop than others, like shampoos, but it is imperative to create products that meet our customers expectations".

2. Marketing, marketing and more marketing
You probably remember your first year in the industry, when you had just established and had to create yourself a clientele. You have to gain peoples’ trust whereas they didn't even know you. The hardest but most exciting part!
To do that, Scott invested a lot of time using social media marketing and online marketing. He first created his website and then accounts on the two most powerful social networks existing: Facebook and Twitter. "Facebook is a very useful tool to do your promotion and introduce your products to people. Twitter is a bit different but you can create a bigger database quicker. We run several promotional campaigns which made us gain hundreds of followers in few days".

3. People saying nice things
Just like for your salon, Scott found recommendation to be the key factor for Hairbond’s growth. In short, if you like their products, those companies will ask you to spread the word! Hairbonds products have already been endorsed by several celebrities, like the Manchester United footballer Michael Owen, Phil Jones and TV Presenters Dick and Dom, giving them more credibility: “It’s all about the network you’re able to create. There is always someone who knows someone who might be able to help you. Don’t miss any opportunity”.
It is also vital for that kind of company to pay attention to their clients feedback, above all when they are raising the alarm: "If one of my client tell me he doesn't like my product and that it won't work, I won’t keep it in my range. That kind of ‘missed’ product could destroy a reputation”.

4. A well-oiled machine
Today the cosmetic product market is saturated with big multinational companies: L’Oreal, Schwarzkopf and Fudge to name a few. Even if smaller companies like Hairbond don’t have the same financial resources and infrastructures, they still have to provide their customers with the best service and therefore need a good working system.
Hairbond uses online retailers like LookMantastic to sell its products online in more than 13 countries including Europe, Scandinavia and Australasia. Once ordered, the boxes containing the products are sent via Despatch Bay.
It also sells directly to salons in the hope that they use the product on their clients hair and sell directly to clients. This way he avoids scrambling for shelf space on the crowded aisles of Boots, Superdrug and Tesco. With his limited financial resources he has to implement a lean logistical approach: “The most complicated thing is to have enough products to be dispatched” Scott told me. "The problem is to avoid overbuying whilst having enough in stock to meet demand".

5. Constant innovation
Fashion changes all the time, it stands for clothes and for beauty products too - Innovation is therefore vital in this industry. Just like you keep on training throughout your career to remain on top, product companies need to release new ranges regularly. “People love new things and change, it’s a fact. So we are always expanding our range of products to offer them our latest creations”, says Scott. Hairbond is now about to launch two new hair styling products to complete its already existing range.
The company also works on its brand as well as product innovation. I am sure you would slap anyone who called your salon “standard” or “just like everyone else”. Scott has tried to make Hairbond stand out by changing the type of packaging he uses and the smell of his products. "Your business is a reflection of your personality or the personality you create for it, it must therefore evolve with you".

Thank you Scott for the interview. If you want to contact Hairbond, don't hesitate to tweet them or check out their website.

How do you deal with your highly connected clients?

2012-05-18T18:23:00.000+01:00

I was walking by a local hair salon this morning when something caught my attention: clients using their phones while having their haircut.
Crazy? Normal? Antisocial? The 21th Century?

I guess one of these words came straight to your mind while reading this sentence and you already have your own opinion about the subject.

Nowadays, and above all since the uptake of smartphones, being reachable everywhere and all the time has become the norm. People are always on the move, clients are more demanding, you gets text messages, emails and tweets at all hours - here are the reasons why people stay connected even when they are taking time for themselves. Mobile phones, touchscreen tablets and even computers are now so portable that your customers can easily bring them to your salon with them.

It is probably more likely to happen in hair salons than in beauty salons or spas as the treatments provided in those places offer less possibilities to use these devices. It's pretty hard to use your iPhone when you're having a manicure for example. But I guess this must happen from time to time anyway (as the photo proves it) and that some of you would have stories to tell!

In absolute terms, I am not against the idea to be reachable "everywhere" as some situations require it. Let's imagine that, in the worst case, one of your close relative is in trouble and needs help. Well you probably want to be informed immediately and be able to help rather than learn it 6 hours after!
However, there are some moments you need to relax and escape your daily stressful, busy life. It is therefore good to "disconnect" and veg for an hour whilst getting a treatment.

The truth is that the use of a phone, for example, in a salon isn't only affecting the person that owns it, but also the staff and other customers.
It is never nice to be delivering a treatment to a client who is texting, it’s degrading. Not only that, but if you have a question such as: “is that length okay?”, you feel like you’re interrupting the client from his conversation. Let’s face it, you decided to work in the beauty industry because of the appeal of meeting interesting people and really getting to know your clients, not be disregarded.
You can also forget about the relaxing atmosphere when a mobile phone rings every five minutes. Your other customers, those who aren’t on their phones, could therefore quickly become annoyed and never come back to your salon as it ruins their experience.

A quick look on the Internet showed me that many salons are already equipped with free wifi. For a high majority of them, it's just seen as another service provided that can influence people in their choice and bring in more clients.
However, I spoke to some beauty professionals I know, and they told me that they would prefer to cut their own arm off than to have that kind of equipment! For them, the presence of such wifi connection would change the atmosphere in the salon and go against their principles.

Conclusion? Well, as in any situation like that, there are pros and cons.
Choose your side of the fence depending on the atmosphere you want to create in your salon and the kind of customers you want to attract. You can then create an environment which will communicate this to the customer.

If you welcome the use of electronic devices then invest in wifi and some plugs so that they can charge their phones or tablets. Don't forget to add a "free wifi connection available" sign in the front window! A decoration resolutely modern will also help them to understand that you follow the latest trends and offer that kind of additional service.
Unfortunately, it is a bit difficult to prevent clients from using their phone and sometimes the best you can do is put a password on the wifi (if you have it). If it's not enough, just tell them that some of the products used could damage the phone and watch how quickly peoples iPhones will go straight back into their pockets ;)

As it's not an easy topic to deal with, do not hesitate to share any good, bad or surprising experience you may have had with some of yours "highly connected" customers below. This could greatly benefit other professionals.

How far are you willing to go to look perfect?

2012-05-15T17:37:00.000+01:00

Whilst skimming through the Metro newspaper, an article caught my eye which I thought was worth blogging about - “I’ll go under the knife before I’ll be your wife”. The article outlined that wives-to-be are splurging on pre-wedding cosmetic surgery so that they look “perfect” on their wedding day. This coincided with the world buzzing about Valeria Lukyanova (as seen on the left) - aka the Barbie Model. So I figured I would weigh in with my 2 cents on cosmetic surgery, alternatives to going under the knife and 21st century concept of Beauty!

First and foremost let me make perfectly clear that, in my opinion, cosmetic surgery is a good thing. There have been countless cases where tragedy has struck and victims of fires, car crashes and other dreadful accidents have been left deformed. There is no argument that advances in cosmetic surgery have enabled these people to live a “normal” life. There are other cases where people have been born with a feature which drains them of any self confidence. It can be argued that in some cases it will be beneficial to these people to get plastic surgery in the same way people without hair can buy a wig.
However, what this blog refers to is the cosmetic surgery for the sake of vanity. The botox, the boob jobs, the tummy tucks and the odd lift here and there. Is this necessary? Are there alternative ways to look your best on your big day without invasive procedures? Is it safe?

Double Dip Recession or DD Bra size?
‘1 in 10 brides to be (Metro Survey) spent on botox and breast enlargements prior to their wedding day, whilst 50 percent have paid for tooth veneers (at £750 per tooth)’. This is staggering! The powers that be are announcing that we are on the verge of entering a double dip recession and even so people are still lavishly spending on cosmetic surgery. Nothing makes me happier than people saving up so that they can have the wedding of their dreams, in fact, we all need something to look forward to in this turbulent economic state. But do you really want to be spending it on plastic surgery rather than wedding dresses, make-up artists, photographers and let’s see...the actual wedding itself! What happened to the good old days where people started their diet the day they got engaged?

Safety Implications?
I am fortunate. The only time I have ever had general anaesthetic is to get two wisdom teeth removed and let me tell you, I am not looking forward to getting my uppers removed! My massive question is why would you voluntarily go under the knife and have foreign substance injected into you?
The latest scandal of the French PIP prostheses is prevailing evidence that cosmetic surgery is not without its complications. Granted, much progress has been made in this field, but there is no such thing as zero risk and you could pay a higher than what you thought by having this kind of surgery. Also, due to the speed of development in this field (mainly induced by the bags of cash being thrown at it), we cannot be sure of the long term ramifications of having these foreign substances injected, implanted or inserted into your body.
I am not trying to put you off, just making you aware of the risk.

I just don’t want wrinkles!
I completely understand that you want to look your best for the wedding day and there is nothing more beautiful than a radiant bride. You want to fill 3 photo albums with pictures of your special day to show your children and grandchildren. Since starting SalonHero I have spoken to beauticians, hairdressers and makeup artists and I have seen first hand that they can completely transform the way you look for your special day. Do you really think models look the way they do without a good makeup artist. Even burns and wound affects for films are done using makeup (as well as cgi graphics). Finding a great makeup artist is likely to be cheaper and is definitely safer than plastic surgery.

So, am I way off the mark in thinking it is crazy that women are spending so much money on cosmetic surgery just for wedding pictures?! If I am, please don’t hesitate to comment.

RIP Vidal Sassoon CBE 17.01.1928 - 09.05.2012

2012-05-11T16:52:00.002+01:00

In the past we have blogged about different aspect of owning a salon, starting a business and individual perspectives on beauty. This blog is about a man who changed the industry, the man who is credited with creating the 'bob' hairstyle -Vidal Sassoon.

The BBC notes 5 ways that Vidal Sassoon changed the industry and if you have time it is worth a read:

See the article @ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18017636

This morning I was getting my haircut and I mentioned it to my hairdresser. He told me how he had met Vidal on several occasions after being trained at a Sassoon academy. Vidal is not only responsible for setting up the Vidal Sassoon academy infrastructure allowing thousand of people to learn the trade, but he embedded some of his own techniques in every single alumni. A lot of these people will have taught other people the trade and so on, making it impossible to attribute how many people to date have indirectly been influenced by the great man or will be in the future.

Vidal Sassoon has set the benchmark for the every young, old, celebrity and trainee hair stylist to aim to achieve, showing the heights that are achievable.

This post is SalonHero paying our respect. I am not going to write anymore as I never knew or met the man but would like to personally thank him for his great contributions he made to the industry and for being a huge inspiration.

I invite and request that anyone who would like to share a fact, anecdote or sentiment about Vidal Sassoon to post it in the comments section.

Thank you Vidal.

Today we just want to say "Thank You"

2012-05-08T12:26:00.001+01:00

Today is a very special day for us: we just hit 3000 visitors to the blog! Having started it only a month and a half ago, we find that pretty amazing and would like to thank you all for making this possible.
It is very nice to see people take time to read our articles and appreciate them. Seeing them highlighted on Facebook and Twitter everyday make us feel good about what we are doing and give us motivation to continue.

As the saying goes, what goes around comes around. So today we wanted to switch the roles and bring to light our most active readers by publishing some of the feedback they sent us.
Thank you guys, those comments really make our days!

Hope Hairdressing

"Your articles are fab.

You give good, up to date practical advice.

Salons should make your blog a must read"

Goodie Yum Yum

"I love your fresh thinking"

Seen On Screen

"Fantastic article as always guys, really like it! x"

Malcolm Murphy Hair

"Good post.

Agree with every word"

Saloca

"Their amazing blogs give invaluable advice to salons and spas"

"Fantastic blog and a wealth of fab information on the salon industry"

SunJunkie

"Great article, really helpful"

Nicky Oliver

"Those guys have some cool blogs"

Face The World Massage

"As a brand new Tweeter, this was extremely valuable information!

Thanks for making it freely available! x"

Karma Beauty

"Interesting blogs and lovely peeps"

Sahara Sun Beauty

"Very helpful. Might just try one of your ideas now!"

We also wanted to highlight those who often retweet our blogs and you might want to follow:

Kirsty Pearce - Owner of Eleven Hair, a hair salon based in Banbury

Ronan Perceval - Founder and CEO of the salon software company Phorest

Serendipity Beauty - A beauty salon based in Yateley

Again, thank you everyone for following our posts and giving us such great feedback. We reallly appreciate your support and will do our best to keep you interested in the next blog posts.

6 tips to make organising a launch party a piece of cake

2012-05-04T17:31:00.000+01:00

Do you remember Claire from Seen On Screen? She was the main subject of our second blog post in which she shared her tips to make yourself known when you're newly established. Well, Claire just put into practice one of those tipped and yesterday I was lucky enough to attend the Seeen On Screen Beauty & Nails launch party!

If you are also planning to do one yourslef, better to warn you now: even if the term "launch party" sounds fun and exciting, organising one can be a daunting task. You will have to deal with the guests list, the food, the drinks, the photographers, the DJ.. and so much more, from the smallest particulars to the major details!
When chatting to Claire, she told me about some problems with one of her suppliers and that all the goodies to be offered to her guests during the party weren't even ordered. This was a few weeks before the deadline! And this is just one example of what can happen. No need to tell you then that you'll need nerves of steel and some bottles of Redbull to finish everything on time (yes, there are always "last minute" things to do!)

Still motivated? Great!
If you don't really know what to begin with, here are some useful tips to help you prepare and make the most of this special event without tearing your hair out.

1. Plan ahead
As I said before, there are plenty of things to deal with when organising your launch party and planning is the key to avoid being overloaded with work 24 hours before the event. Start at least three months in advance and create a list with all you need for your party and then find all the suppliers for that. Place your orders as soon as you've found what you really want as it will leave you a leeway in case of delivery delays for example. Not only will this save you shed loads of stress but it will also save you cash as buying last minute is always more expensive.

2. Establish a relevant guests list
What's a launch party main objective? Well, apart from having fun and enjoying some glasses of champagne, it is your chance to establish industry contacts and hopefully forge some useful relationships. The press and beauty bloggers are those you have to invite if you want people to talk about you and full your appointment book for the weeks to come. A good review in a reputed magazine, like Viva Magazine in the case of Claire, has a strong impact on your image and can propel you far.
Inviting some celebrities is a great way to create a buzz around your launch party and make people remember you. If you happen to know some leading experts in the industry, invite them straight away!
Don't forget to invite your regular clients. As good as new business is, the core attendees should be people who know you already and are willing to promote your service. It is a very nice way to reward their loyalty and strengthen your relationship.

3. Delegate!
Yes, you are strong. The fact that you built your own business and successfully run it alone proves it. But sometimes asking for a little help is the best thing you can do and avoid the overburn. Ask your friends and family for help and favours. It is without a doubt going to be one of the busiest days of your life and, if you're not a robot, you will need some help to finish on time. Decoration, food, drinks, cleaning, music.. everything has to be set up on the day and who can help you with this better than your family and friends?
The point of the party is for you to market yourself and ensure everyone leaves knowing what you're all about. You cannot do this if you are running around taking care of small details on the night. Therefore ensure you have friends to help you with your guests during the party filling up drinks and taking pictures of the event.

4. Promote your work
Obviously, I am not talking about giving one of your guests a haircut or manicure during your launch party. But this is definitely something you have to plan ahead. If you want to show your know-how, then offer free treatments to some of your guests two or three days before the party so that people can see them at this moment.

5. Offer little treats
What do people like a lot? Receiving presents! It’s as nice to get one as an adult as it was to get one as kid.
Like Claire, offer your guests a goodie bag when they are leaving with some of the products you currently use in your salon like fake tan or nail polish. It is a great way to finish the party and ensure you're not forgotten about straight after the event.

6. Stay in touch after the event
It can sound obvious but don't forget to thank all the people who came to your launch by using social networks or emails for example. People are very likely to give you great feedback if you do that.
In the same way, all the new relationships you've built during this party have to be kept alive so it's important to stay in touch with all your potential new partners regularly, even months after the event.

The importance of being earnest

2012-05-01T13:14:00.000+01:00

I'm sat there comfy, I'm distanced from my thoughts, in the background is the familiar sound of the voice of my hair girl, we amble through conversations for near an hour.

When was the last time you sat down for an uninterrupted chat with any of your close friends for an hour? There were probably awkward gaps, distractions, phone calls, a screen of one kind or another to divert mutual attention. When we sit down in the chair in a salon, you have nothing but a set of blades and conversation and that's why being a good a hair professional is no easy feat. The real question though is what makes a great one?

Good hair professionals all share a key characteristic: they are interesting characters.
They may have the reputation of being air-heads, but I couldn't tell you how untrue and unjust that is. These are people who's careers are built on empathy with the people who sit in front of them on a daily basis.

Selection of a stylist is too much like going into selfridges. There's an unfortunate truth in how brand effects us, I'd like to say I don't go into selfridges, pick the brand I most associate with and then look at the clothes but unfortunately I do. If the garments were all catergorised by fit or colour in the stores we would likely come out dressed completely differently.

The same goes for a haircut. We currently look at the salon then get told, based on our price bracket, which of their employees will service our cosmetic need. You have no idea before you walk in whether Alison is going to be dolled up to the hilt and banging on about her latest trip to Ibiza or whether she's going to be sporting a purple Mohawk. That's important and nigh impossible to get an insight into.
Stylists can't do much to combat this, unfortunately the jobs they want are in the top salons where they become a segmented price bracket, if they engage well, they get promoted. To me, it's a mismatch. Why can't we all afford the luxury of having someone we share interest with for those all important hours every month? This is most likely the reason why we spend so much of our lives flittering through stylists and constantly re-evaluating that person we spend so much time with.

The title of this post is 'the importance of being earnest' and it spans both sides of the fence.

For a stylist, don't be afraid to promote yourself, be yourself and sell yourself. A stylist with great clients, who they find it easier to converse with, will be much happier in their job than one who cycles clients like the Tour de France.
There is nothing more difficult than keeping up hours of conversation with people so have a couple of go to topics and don't be afraid to ask peoples opinions on things. What's the worst that's going to happen? Even if you disagree on a point, you can take it tongue in cheek and use it as a point of amicable dispute. There's nothing more bland than the standard set of questions about 'where I'm going on holiday' and 'what I'm doing today'. These are your staples, just don't be afraid to mix it up. Keep up with the hot topics of the day and most importantly, share your interests, everyone loves passion and enthusiasm.
Although beware: some people just DON'T like to chat - try and keep it 50-50, if it's creeping above that then consider that the person may be in a bad mood or they're just there for the cut.

For everyone else, listen to your friends. Likelihood is that you share some interests with those you spend most of your time with. Don't know who to go to? Then ask them. We're constantly told that personal recommendation are the most successful, the reason for that being is they're the most meaningful because you share more with these people than anyone. You'll find your monthly hourglass shrinking in no time.

Do your members of staff get on well?

2012-04-25T17:27:00.000+01:00

When you’re part of a team, harmony between the members is crucial. Without it, tasks are less likely to be performed efficiently and effectively.
Just like in any team or social circle (sports, friends, societies), working together will usually achieve better results than working against each other. When is the last time you saw a job description that didn’t require “Applicants to be good team players”?

The difference between a working relationship and a social one is that the best person for the job is not always going to be the person you like the most personally or the person who is most similar to you. Similarly the person you work with will not be the person you enjoy spending most of your time with. It's a difficulty but if everyone would be the same how would new ideas come about?

Here at SalonHero, I'm happy to say I've never had to throw a binder at one of my colleagues, and fortunately I haven’t received any, which probably means we get on quite well. It doesn't however mean that there are never disagreements. Conflicts are normal as everyone has an opinion on everything, and these opinions don't always match. What's important is to solve them as soon as possible or it will get worse and you'll soon lose control of the situation.

Poor cohesion between staff members can seriously damage the salon’s atmosphere, resulting in a negative way on your business (beyond the simple unpleasant working environment).
Your customers hope to relax and don't expect to enter a hostile environment. Just imagine you walk into a shop (small open plan shop) where there is clear tensions between staff members. It makes you feel uncomfortable and you have only one idea in mind: run as far as you can from here. Now in an atmosphere where there is suppose to be pleasant conversation in the air but instead there is awkward silence or a general sense of disdain, customers will notice and it will tarnish their overall customer experience – A sure fire way to lose customers!
The worse thing is that you are not only risking client loyalties, but you also risk to lose other members of your staff. An uneasy work environment affects everyone around in terms of productivity, motivation and general satisfaction. After some time it is very likely that some of them leave to find a better job they feel will be more pleasurable. If solving the problems is a good attitude, avoiding them is even better.

Tensions are generally created because people don't know each other very well and can't therefore anticipate reaction or even humour. We are all like this. We are all sensitive on some subjects and can get offended very quickly if someone hits a nerve.

So here are a few suggestions on how to avoid and pre-empt problems:

- Team Building Activities: From a night out to a weekend away (depending on the size of the company) getting to know your colleagues, sharing out of work experiences and having a laugh is a great way to create harmony. Since joining SalonHero the team have played Crazy Golf, gone bowling, been out for dinner and frequently we go to a local bar to get a drink after work

- Hold meetings: Holding regular meetings (let's say one per week) is important because it enables you to plan and coordinate your weekly activities and tasks. If you can create an environment where people can talk about issues they are having in a “safe zone” then issues can be avoided and nipped in the bud

- Teamwork: No don’t tell 2 people to cut one persons hair (no matter how funny the result could be it may result in a lost customer). There are always odd jobs that staff do like organizing or attending trade shows. Get people to do these together. Like when you were at school and the teacher always paired you up with someone who wasn’t your best friend, forcing people to get to know each other is a good way to force people to get to know each other

Harmony is essential, so if a person can't get on with its coworkers and constantly create problems, don't be afraid to get rid off the black sheep. It may be a tough decision but it's the future of your salon at stake.

I would love to hear your opinion on the matter and some stories about team building activities in the comments section below :)

Beauty through the eyes of a man

2012-04-23T13:55:00.000+01:00

Thinking about it, I would consider myself an anomaly. Why? Because I ask questions, spark conversations, give feedback unprompted and take interest in minute details. I'm not claiming to be more diligent than anyone else, but I simply like hearing people's opinions and letting them know mine to constantly improve what already exists. I'm also not afraid to share my cosmetic, health and hair tips.

I get my hair cut on average every three weeks and trimmed whenever on a photoshoot and someone has scissors, I used to sunbed once every six weeks for £2/time (bargain), I had my eyebrows done monthly,I had a chest and stomach wax once, I have also touched the tip of the mani-pedi iceberg before with worryingly positive outcomes. In total, I would say I spend around 50 pounds per month in beauty and hair treatments.

Those who know me have finished giggling with an orchestra of "but of course he does" and those who don't are probably asking themselves: Why is he sharing this? What I struggle to understand is why more men don't. Needless to say when conversing, men are not really forthcoming nor interested in this topic. We are sheltered when it comes to our beauty routines and methods, I personally don't understand why.

My first theory is that you use your stylist/products as a slice of individuality, like clothing, you wouldn't want one of your friends with exactly the same style. If one of your friends had a carbon copy of your routine, visited all the same professionals with the same frequency, would you feel like they had stolen a little bit of your exterior?

My second is perhaps down to human nature and draws us back to our first point. We value our friendships and hold them close to heart. The business relationships we share are functional, but these relationships with the salon professional aren't business relationships - it's the personal touch we value and hold close. Not everyone will introduce one of their friends to the rest of them, there is the element of jealousy when one of your friends get closer acquainted with another friend than you and there is good reasoning for the term third wheel.

Maybe we should all view this relationship with the person cutting your hair or filing your nails as a more of a pure commodity. What I'm saying is, they don't just have one product of importance - they have two: their treatment and themselves and what we don’t give credence to is that they are just that; both products.

The qualities mentioned earlier on: curiosity, a desire to share, the willingness to give feedback - I'm a maven without the expertise. I push the word, not because they ask but because I enjoy. Other people aren't so simple. They need asking. You're a stylist and you want repeat business, unfortunately, you're not going to be so lucky as to get me fall in your lap 5 times a day, therefore you have to ask the questions. We all know recommendation is key but without prompt, it won't happen. and you're relying on a service that is very difficult to judge for true value (I, for one, couldn't tell you if my £50 a time haircut is genuinely any better than a £6 barber job). Understandably adding layers to the job is tough but you have to be a salesperson, skilled practitioner and a customer service expert.

So what should you do? It really is simple, just tell me to re-book! Don't rely on the salon, tell me to recommend my friends. Simple. Easy.

Secondly and finally, to the people in the seat, like me: share. Tell your friends about your treatments, products and routines. Don't wait for David Beckham to do something before you might think it possibly, could, might be ok, I suppose. They are running themselves as a business and if you value their service then shout it from the hilltops.

I am an anomaly but I really shouldn't be. Never be afraid to give your opinion and we will see the progression quicker and, of course, if you’ve ever been on a sales course you’ll know that your salon professional will be overwhelmed with thanks that they don’t have to do the same.

I would be more than happy to read your feedback and get your opinion on this article so do not hesitate to leave a comment below or to drop me an email to danny.jacobs@salonhero.co.uk