For salon owners, seeing a perfectly styled head walk out of their salon is a thing of beauty. However, managing a salon can be, at times, an ugly challenge. Mistakes are going to happen but many are avoidable with a little prior knowledge.
They’re antisocial.
It goes without saying that you should be quick to smile, slow to anger and eager to get to know customers and employees alike. When we say “antisocial,” we mean staying silent on social media.
If your salon doesn’t have a consistent social media presence, you’re missing out on a potentially lucrative source of business. Here are just a few of the ways you can leverage it:
- Discounts. Last-minute cancellation? Get the word out fast and offer a deal to the customer who fills the empty chair.
- Polls. Nothing sparks engagement like asking questions. It’s a great way to get to know your customers better.
- Testimonials. Is a customer thrilled with their new look? Ask for a quick photo and permission to publish it on your page.
Doing social media right requires consistent content and genuine interaction with your followers. But if you put the work in, customers will reward you for it.
They advertise…but have no clue if it’s working.
Say you want to run ads that target women who are 30+ in your salon’s zip code only. Thanks to technology and that mysterious wizard called the Internet, you can.
However you choose to advertise, make sure you know exactly what your return on investment is. Running digital ads is a great way to know how hard each dollar is working. And if an ad isn’t performing, you can change it up on the fly.
They micromanage and overwork.
A wise man once said “You look good wearing one hat. You look ridiculous wearing more than that.”
Okay, fine. We made that quote up. But you get the idea. When we stretch ourselves too thin, we’re hurting more than just us. Customers are stuck with a less than ideal experience. Staff is not empowered, and nothing causes an “I quit!” like feeling underutilized and under-appreciated.
They forget their most important investment.
Nothing in your salon is more valuable than the people you choose to staff it. A walkout can be crippling, but the way to counter it is to be a true leader for your staff.
If they know they can count on you and that you have their backs, you’re already ahead of the game. Then you can use your influence to create a healthy culture that your customers will notice and want to return to.
They forget their most important customer.
It’s natural to look ahead, no matter your age or what line of work you’re in. Not to get too deep, but really, all we have is the present.
Tough love time: If you’re so focused on getting more customers that you neglect the ones you already have, you’re doing it wrong. Treat your customers right and give them a great experience every time, and your place will be smacked in the face by the power of referrals.
What other things have you seen wreck salons?
These are just a handful of things we’ve noticed over the years. Chances are you have a story of your own to tell. Let us know in the comments.
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Thank you for your comment, Jordon. We’re glad you like our blog. If you’re interested in trying out our salon software, consider starting a free trial: https://www.rosysalonsoftware.com/free-trial.