Does Your Salon Need a New Year's Makeover?
New Year’s resolutions have become a fixture in our culture. At the start of a new year, we look to make changes and better our lives for the future. These resolutions represent a useful period of reflection – a time during which we assess what has happened in the past and what we would like to see happen in the future. For business owners, this is also a useful time to look at how the company has been performing and develop targets and strategies for the year ahead.
The salon business is one of makeovers – however, often in the midst of making over clients, salon owners forget that their business might need a makeover too! Whether we want to believe it or not, the truth is that first impressions are everything and the look of your salon is the first impression that you give to clients. No matter how fantastic the service is or how educated your stylists are on the latest trends, prospective clients may never even make it past the front door if your salon looks disorganized or outdated!
The good news is that, if you don’t have the money for a complete redesign, you can still give your salon a facelift by following some of these guidelines:
First things first
If you were entering your salon as a customer for the first time, what would be your initial impression? A salon’s welcoming and waiting area says a lot about the company, and yet it is often overlooked. Is the entryway cozy? Does it feel contemporary? Luxurious? Or does it look like it has seen better days? By introducing new furniture, like a stylish welcoming desk and chic, comfortable seating for customers, you may be dramatically improving first impressions and enhancing your clients’ experience. Be sure to take down old pictures and get rid of old coffee table books that are filled with outdated styles. Fill your waiting area with new magazines instead. It doesn’t cost much to subscribe to a couple of fashionable magazines – and they will send clients the message that you are up on the latest trends.
Out with the old
It is important to take a look at your salon’s overall decor. Is it looking tired? Is it a bit old fashioned? If so, it could be a good idea to revamp the place! Something as simple as taking down old wallpaper and giving the entire place a new coat of paint can do the trick! Put some thought into your new color scheme. Would you like it to be warm, sophisticated, neutral or something else? Look at magazines and television shows that feature chic salons for inspiration.
Invest where it matters
Your styling area is perhaps the most important area in your salon, and having new salon chairs could be the easiest way to give your premises a more modern look and feel. If you wanted to go one step further, a new wall unit could transform the appearance of the styling area to give the place a makeover. Another part of the salon that should not be forgotten about is the wash area. Introducing more comfort and style may be exactly what is needed in this crucial portion of the salon – and if you’re making the aforementioned changes, then it’s a good idea to bring consistency to the wash area as well. Remember, you’re in the style business. A salon that isn’t stylish is unlikely to inspire confidence.
Keep equipment and retail items current
When customers decide on a salon, a number of key factors affect their decision. While style, comfort, competency and friendliness are all vital, another thing to consider is the equipment that you use. If you can provide access to the best straighteners, curling irons, shampoos and treatments, you may see a significant increase in business from word-of-mouth alone.
