Leveraging more profits out of your salon

The latest National Hair & Beauty Federation (NHBF) snap poll shows over 84% of hair and beauty salons and barbershops experienced reduced business compared with what would normally be expected between Christmas and New Year (28-31 December 2021), thanks to Covid-19. (source: https://www.hji.co.uk)

Whilst there have been grants available to the industry, these often will not fully cover the impact felt by many salons, so what can salons do to best position themselves going into the new year?

One question we are often asked at Hair Rehab London is 'what prices should I charge?'.  Answering this is never straightforward, it can depend on the qualifications and experience of the hair technician, the user experience, the location of the salon or mobile extensionist, competition in the local area...the list goes on.  However, we read an interesting article (and a wealth of really useful tips) in Hairdressers Journal this month.  As they point out in the article, 'setting the right prices in your hair salon for the up and coming year is one of the most important activities you can do to ensure your business remains profitable throughout 2022.'

With an additional nine handy tips to leverage more profits, the article discusses the likes of reviewing wastage, making your salon more retail savvy, offering deals and treats to existing customers and running 'refer a friend' offers to encourage new clients.  You can read the very quick, but very informative article here.

We recently came across a great app called SmartMix that eliminates hair colour waste capturing lost profit and allows for more accurate billing.  The company is based in the UK and is endorsed by Green Salon Collective. Click the links to learn more. 

One of the most cost effective ways to boost your salon's profile is through social media platforms and the key to attract engagement is engaging content.  From hair-hacks to tutorials to real life stories, followers want content that enhances their day-to-day life.  Instagram is a great platform that really lends itself to businesses within what is essentially a very 'visual' industry.  From before and after posts that list the products you've used to Insta Stories that enable you to engage with your audience a little more to Reels and IGTV that facilitate the creation of informative tutorials which have the facility to be shared further than your own follower family.  NHFB have created a great guide to social media with very specific tips for each of the main social media platforms.  And for those of you new to promoting via these channels, there is also reassuring guidance on the likes of GDPR, data protection and copyright.  You can access the full guide here.

Hair Rehab London is passionate about supporting businesses in the industry every step of the way to be their creative best.  Please don't hesitate to contact us if we can help the promotion of your salon or if there is other salon related content you would like us to cover in future blogs.

Content contributors:

National Hair and Beauty Federation - The NHBF is the UK’s largest trade association for hairdressing, barbering and beauty salon owners. We’ve got over 75 years of experience and as a not-for-profit organisation you can rely on us to help you and your business. Click here to find out all the benefits of membership.

Hairdressers Journal International - Known as the industry bible, Hairdressers Journal International has an undisputed heritage of more than 135 years, bringing hairdressers the latest news, education, reviews and hair collections before any other trade publication.  Click here to sign up.