The UK beauty industry is a mature one and continues to grow even bigger. It is currently worth £17 billion and consumers are projected to spend an average of £342.90 on beauty and skincare this year.
As a salon owner, this figure represents how much value people place on their beauty. It is therefore essential to be recognised as a key player wherever your business is located. However, the industry is a highly fragmented one, and as more entrepreneurs continue to set up shop, the effort to stand out becomes twice as much.
To grow a loyal customer base and be successful, your salon must have a good reputation and trust of its customers. Because people are very particular about their looks, they tend to patronise a salon renowned for quality results, foster a relationship with personal hairdressers.
Stand out of the competition with a stellar reputation by doing the following:
- Build a likable business
This is the basics, start by creating something people will like. Your reputation should be built on something: real organic products? State-of-the-art equipment or excellent customer service.
Invest in the general appearance of your salon. Give it an ambiance people can feel comfortable about- this includes comfy seats, talented hairdressers, hi-tech equipment and great rapport. When a new customer enters your salon, you want them to feel at ease immediately.
- Be Professional
Keep it professional. Have a vision for the direction of your business.
Establish a structure that includes reasonable objectives, personable values and highly competent staff. Ensure you maintain good business practices, such as adhering to health and safety standards, being up to date with your financials and taxes. You can do this with tools such as an income and/or tax bracket calculator, expense tracking apps, etc. Insurance is also an important factor; you can run your business with peace of mind knowing there is a beauty salon insurance that protects you from anything that might happen to your business.
- Sterling Customer Service
Create a difference with your customer service. Many establishments understand how important this is, but few know how to go about it. Great service starts with the owner- your staff take their cue from you. So ensure you train employees regularly to be courteous, up-to-date on industry trends, and warm at their rapport. People like personal hairdressers to be highly knowledgeable and proffer solutions that help.
- Engage with your Loyal Customers
When you notice you have a decent number of loyal customers, engage with them on other channels besides the Salon. You can set up an online database and provide interesting newsletters. Send friendly greetings on special days, and ask for referrals.
Beauty salons rely a lot on referrals, and happy customers will gladly tell their family and friends. With these in place, it won’t be long before your business stands out. In many ways owning a salon and cutting people’s hair is one of the more personal businesses that you can have. For this reason it is important to remember that your customers and relationships are determining factors in the success of your business. Hold on to your customers, and they will recommend you to their friends and family. From there you can watch your client base grow.