I'm Raymond, Co-Director at MySalonManager, a salon owner, and a hairdresser. For over 15 years, I've been through the highs and lows of running a salon, so I know how tough it can be. From leading a motivated team to ensuring clients feel valued and keeping a close eye on the finances, it sometimes feels like there's no end to the challenges, and where does the time go!
Over the years, I’ve learned a few things that helped me not only steer me out of the tough times but grow my business. Now, I want to share some of those tips with you, because if I can do it, so can you.
Running a successful salon isn’t easy. I know from personal experience that it can feel like you’re constantly juggling a thousand different things—from marketing and customer service to managing your finances. But I’ve learned over time that focusing on a few key areas can make a huge difference in your salon business. So, I’m sharing a few tips that have helped me.
Leverage Social Media for Marketing
Social media has completely changed the way we market our salons. You're missing out on a huge opportunity if you’re not using Instagram or Facebook consistently to showcase your work. Here are some quick tips:
Show your work
People want to see what you can do. Post those before-and-after photos to display your skills. Before and afters always seem to have the most impact; after all, doesn't everyone want to look like an 'after'?
Client testimonials
Word of mouth is powerful, so let your clients do the talking by sharing their feedback. Perhaps ask your clients if you could bring their great reviews over from Google; it doesn’t take a moment to turn a Google review into a branded post or reel on Instagram.
Take them behind the scenes
Nothing beats a bit of employee branding! Show what’s happening in the salon, and give a peek into your team’s personality and the culture of the salon. A tour of your space wouldn’t go a miss (make sure the salon is super tidy!).
Don’t forget to engage
Ensure you’re replying to comments, asking questions, and engaging in conversations with your followers.
Now these marketing ideas are all in the spirit of getting, as hair salon bosses like to put it ‘Bums on seats’, but we’re not marketing experts, but we are delighted to recommend Salon Social Club, a cost-effective (not to mention time efficient) marketing resource for salon owners that are struggling to be strategic with their salon marketing and socials. Salon Social Club provides ideas for content, relevant blogs and seasonal ideas for marketing solutions to help get those bums firmly seated in your salon! Click here to find out more about Salon Social Club.
Focus on Exceptional Customer Service
You could be the best hair stylist in the world, but if your customer service could be improved, it will affect your business. I’ve found that making your clients feel valued is key.
Here’s how we like to do it:
Make it personal
Try to remember little things about your regular clients—how they like their coffee, their favourite products, etc. Remembering the small details will boost your hospitality and help you build authentic relationships with your clients. Struggling to remember how clients like their cuppa? Some salon software has a notes section (some even have a specific data form)—write it down and treat it with as much importance as your colour notes!
Stick to time
No one likes waiting around, so make sure you’re staying on schedule and respecting your client’s time, and guess what, clients tend to reciprocate your respect for their time. The same goes for changing appointments, give clients plenty of notice if there’s been a change! Oh, and salon managers, if your team's absence is causing issues with client retention, it might be time to chat with the team members and make sure their ok and taking steps to look after themselves.
Follow up
Sending a quick message to thank clients for visiting or checking in and asking how they like their new style can make a big difference. It shows that you care. If you think it's too much to message everyone, at least follow up with new clients to see how they liked their first visit. This will help you understand how clients truly feel about your salon, as new clients are usually the most open to the salon as they have never been there before – which is great for making meaningful changes and giving stylists feedback!
Exclusive offers
Host VIP days or offer early access to new services for your best clients. When planning, create plenty of ‘What’s in it for me’ for your clients, perhaps a charity raffle with some bubbles, hair tips and goodie bags (ask your supplier for some free goodies, after all, they’ll benefit too). After the event your clients will be telling everyone about the great time they had, and who knows, your efforts to raise money for charity could spark the interest of a local paper if you send them a press release! It’s a win-win for everyone!
Improve Your Financial Management
Money management is often where salons struggle the most, and I’ve been there too. When we’re busy looking after our clients and team, losing track of where the money’s going is easy. Here are a few things that helped me get a better grip on my finances:
Set a budget
It sounds basic, but having a clear budget that lays out your expenses (rent, product spend, wages) and income is crucial.
Track profits and losses
Ok, we know this isn’t super exciting work for everyone, but it's essential to regularly review your income sources and expenses. We suggest checking your profit and loss after each payroll period (typically monthly) to stay informed on how well the salon is performing. This will allow you to make adjustments, plan for taxes, and work towards your goals with a clear understanding of your current position. When you know how the salon is doing, you can focus on the things that excite you, that help drive the success of the business.
We’d love to hear from you...
Everything I’ve learned over the years has been through experience, trial and error (especially on the cutting hair side of things!), and whilst some of the ideas above will help you make some small wins, having a bigger, more strategic effort with your salon business will help you towards your and your team’s version of success.
MySalonManager helps you set and manage your financial success with assistance on pricing and understanding what a profitable salon looks like. We are specialists in creating motivating (and not to mention profitable) target and commission strategies for hair and beauty salons. Want to know more? Let’s talk; fill out the contact form to schedule your chemistry call with our coaches.
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