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Simple things - Amazing resultsPosted on 9/1/2007 at 6:34 AM - Post CommentSometime
it is the simplest of things that yeild the most amazing results.
Yesterday I printed and laminated signs for around the salon. I put one
at each workstation, one in the take home area, and one on the door as
you enter the salon. It was just a simple sign with some cartoon
drawings explaning the benifits of "Protect" a 4 in one product from
DNA, It detangles, protects against UV rays, protects the hair while
swimming and is full of essential oils that repel head lice. I have had
this product since opening the salon and sales ain't been good,I
thought it would end up being one of those good ideas that no one would
buy.
Before Christmas I decided that this year I was going to run a 6 weekly product "special" this would mean I would knock off a couple of dollars on a selected product and promote it through the salon, well being January I thought I would do "Protect" since kids going back to school could use all it's features. Well the results are amazing, in just one day of having the signs up I sold out of the product except for a couple of bottles, 75% of the people who came in purchased the product! Now the discount wasn't much it normally retails for $18 I was selling it for $16. I do think that the colourful signs helped and the fact that everyone was clued in on the product of the month idea ment everyone was talking about this product. It is almost like it generates a mini crazy in the salon, everyone is buying what everyone else is buying. I hope that in the next six weeks the next product sells as well. Bad news is if I sell the last couple of bottles today, the manufacture doesn't go back to work until next monday so I will have to wait until then to get more stock. Other news is it is BAS time, which is not really a bother since my accountant does all the work they just give me the bad news of what I have to pay. The good thing is it encourages me to review the salon figures every three months, and I must say I am impressed! The salon is at 36% of my goal turnover per week which is great I wasn't expecting to be at this level for months yet and it is growing daily. Now my goal turnover it to cover all salon expenses, lease, wages, stock etc, and have 30% leftover PROFIT. I am so saddend when talking to some salon owners who really have no goals or their goals are not clear. The hairdressing industry is a high cash business, although this is getting less and less all the time, but because of this most stylist have money coming in, usually pay most of their bills on time or are only a month or so behind and take a bit of money for themselves, even if it isn't their entire wage. Sadly this means they are going broke they just don't know it. They usually have their spouses income to help pay personal bills and sometimes help them catch up on the salon expenses. I have know salon owners who have been 5 months behind on their lease, no product in the salon because the suppliers have cut them off so the change companies every few months until the have exhausted every supplier, but they wear the latest clothes are out everynight at the clubs and spend their money like there is no tomorrow. Most of these owners I have known haven't stayed owners that long most are gone within 6 months to 3 years. One thing we seem to have an epidemic of here is salons, small ones with just the owner or one or two staff, usually junior staff because they are cheaper! They plod along in this same pattern and every 6 months to 18 months you see new owner signs hung above the door, they usually don't charge as much as everyone else because they are just getting started, unfortunately they just don't ever start. Now I know I have started at a lower price in this new salon than my last but I am an unknown in the area, and my price is on par with most salons and maybe a little dearer than some. As the salon grows I have no fear about rasing my prices either. But I am a little off what I was saying, if more of these salon owners decided to work for a bigger salon they would be far better off, unfortunately that cash flow looks so enticing. The fact that most salon owners won't pay more than the award wage also doesn't help, people are of the mentality that they shouldn't work too hard because they are all getting the same wage weather they do 10 client or 50 clients per week, if more salon owners where to pay above what the basic wage is based on stylist performance there would be few small, going broke salons, and happier stylist earning a much better income. One side effect of this I think would also be that the average cost of services would be higher and a less cut throat approach to highly discounted services which would be better for the industry as a whole. The alternative is for hairdressers to wrap their head around discounted services, for example, if you go to a doctor,you will pay between $40 - $60 for a consult, if you go to a chiropractor (which I do frequently, hairdressers back!) you will pay between $35 -$50 for a consult, If you call a plumber you will pay between $40 - $60 per hour labour charge, but if you look for a hair cut, you will pay between $8 - $200, now I know that there are people who can cut hair and then their are absolute wack jobs that look like you fell under a lawn mower, but it is the same in every industry or profession, just that most others all charge the same price, good or bad, high service or bad service, STYLIST TAKE NOTE!! Anyway that's my rant for this time.
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