We have so much to learn!

We have so much to learn in this industry (even the ones who are turning over a million dollars a year) That I think it would be great if we could get some conversation going on in this forum, I do everything I can to learn about the business, and to get help & offer help where ever I can I'm a member of the chamber of comerce I visit all the businesses in the area so people get to know me, I hand out $10.00 gift vouchers randomly to build our business.....I'd love to share idea's etc with others...even to vent when you've had a bad day, or the salon has had a bad takeing's day (I know I get depressed when rates time comes around and a few times our daily taking's have dropped to $500. or $600...thank god it dosn't happen to often). We need to get some energy & excitement into this....How about every one starts by just doing one post a day to start with......you never know how it may even help build your business.

P.S ...........I might even let you know who I'v secured as a business mentor and coach. (very well known in the industry) but you'll have to wait.

Great idea Murray

I'll try to post one business tip and one hair tip per day as well.

Like you i have a great passion for learning and for our industry.

I also have a teaser that will have to wait a wee while for full details but....
we've just bought a new salon in Chapel St - Chumba 3 will open on May 1st

__________________
"If you beleve you can, or if you believe you can't. You're absolutely right."

Chumba Concept Salon
Pro Hairstylist (main website)

Tip of the day: Those that have vacant seats during the day should be phoneing clients that have not visited for six weeks and offer them a 20% on a new Autum colour make over...something nice and warm...then up sell with product,also ask them to supply refurals for future vists this can be done by offering $10. refural vouchers for your cliens friends.

......remember 20% off a sale is more than nosale at all!....

__________________
There's no such thing as alittle off the top,we're talking full make over here!

We have a policy of no discounting as our marketing plan.

Think of the client you are trying to attract, I know for us it is not the discount shopper. The discount clients jump form promo to promo, salon to salon. They tend not to be loyal and not nice to deal with. Discounts confuse the client and belittle the worth of the salon not to mention eat into the profits!

If you do the maths the profit per client would be lucky to be 20%, rent, utilities, wages, etc. I sometimes look at other salons discount wars and if you do the maths you may as well just give the client $20 bux and send them on their way and you would be more in front.

We do Reward good client behavior! Rebooking rewards, friend referral rewards etc. This is different.

Example
If you give a 10% discount across the board, you need to increase your total business by 50% just to maintain your original origional profit margin! (complicated maths, but work it out)

I like this thread idea and will try to contribute every day

Cheers

__________________
Smile, we have the greatest job in the world!

Yeah don't get me wrong, the best thing we did was increase our prices to above our rival salon's (now we are swamped) I'm talking mainly about the new or slower salons that alway's seem to be running minimal client's and have vacant seats, a one off discount for selected clients may actualy help increase trade .

regards
Murray.

__________________
There's no such thing as alittle off the top,we're talking full make over here!

Good morning all,
Had some fun over the last couple of day's, our new stylist (2 weeks) is having personal issues and didn't come to work, pluss our phones were down for several day's no phone booking's, but on one day we only had 1 stylist and one booking in the book, I'm glad to say we took over $1,000 still that day. Funny though this week our client booking's have been down but client average spend is actualy a lot higher ( I wonder if this is because our staff have more time to up sell per client, than be in a rush to get through the client list booked in on a busy day?)
I have even had time to do product sales up sell training, without feeling I've only got 1/2 hour to squeez this in and wonder if staff are taking it all in.

....over all a good week so far, saved on wages and made more profit!...



...You Guy's arn't up holding your end of the bargain...Daily post's...

__________________
There's no such thing as alittle off the top,we're talking full make over here!

About 5 weeks ago we lost 2 high producers in the same week. High producers, high pay!
It has only taken till now to recover.
The younger staff have steped it up and a new fresh dinamic has emurged!
losing staff is not easy, but there is always a positive twist if you look for it.
Murry, as for your personal issues staff member, this is a hard 1, well not really GET RID OF THEM! just kidding, in my experience staff with issues always have issues and dramas, they never end. We all have issues and dramas in life but only a true profecional hairdresser can leave it all at the door.
chat soon
belle

__________________
Smile, we have the greatest job in the world!

Hi all
Just like to say we have started the week off with high dollar turn over I'm very happy, considering we have had some of the worst rain and flooding for a long time personaly I don't know why people left there nice warm dry homes for any reason, but we kept 9 stations busy and 2 waiting up till 9.30 pm tonight, and the rest of the week is booked solid.

I getting excited about the Goldwell MBE (marketing,business & education) conference coming up next month.

enough from me hope you are all doing well this week & hope profits are up.

Regards
Murray
Dyenamic Hair & beauty studio

__________________
There's no such thing as alittle off the top,we're talking full make over here!

I am sure if you ask any stylist or owner here the bane of their life is getting clients to rebook. Yet some of us can seem to do it with ease.

A couple of things we find helpful is to have the stylist discuss the need to rebook while the client is still in the chair preferably with the cape still on them.

If the stylist does this then the client is prepared for when they get to the reception to be asked, "When did Anthony want you to book in for your next appointment?"

Now my reception staff know, it's 6 weeks for a cut, unless its a heavy textured long style then it is 12 weeks. Colours are every 6 weeks and foils are every 12 weeks, men IF they can get them to rebook is every 4 weeks unless it is a longer style then its every 6 weeks. I point this out to illustrate that the staff need not ask the question..... But they do anyway! They always ask for the rebook BEFORE they even start talking about money, or take home products, especially before the MONEY.

You see once the client has paid, their mind is out the door and on to the next appointment or place they need to be. They know once they paid they have done their bit.....


Having the stylist discuss the rebook is just like your Doctor or Dentist telling you when you need to come back again, lets face it, you go to the Doctor you don't ask the receptionist when you should come back, and if you do they ask the doctor.... Be the professional and let your guest know when you NEED to see them. Robert Cromeans makes a joke on one of his CD's that their hair will self destruct in 6 weeks so they need to come back.

We know that this is true especially with shorter styles, the hair grows loses its shape, and needs re-tuning.

Now the magic cape...... Micheal Cole talks about the 10,000 lbs magic cape in his "A little off the top" series. The essence of it is, whatever you need to discuss with your guest do it BEFORE you remove the cape. You see just as the guest has lost focus on the receptionist once they have paid, they have lost focus on you, the stylist once the cape is gone. To them the service is over, you have done your bit, and they have to go pay.
So if you need to talk about re-booking, take home products, whatever it is do it before removing that 10,000 lbs cape!

__________________

Good tips, client education under the wrap is the go!
thanx
On the re-booking front we find the wording Re-schedual works better!
We had a good day, need to put in a huge effort as Anzac day we are closed! Bloddy public holidays, I have had enough of them this year! $$$$$$ (no disrespect to the anzacs)
Cheers
belle

__________________
Smile, we have the greatest job in the world!