Hi,
Working with as many salon owners as we do it hasn’t taken long to get a general sense of the culture that exists in salons. In this case we’re using the word culture to mean: The knowledge, experience, beliefs, values, attitudes, and behaviors of a group of stylists.
Working with as many salon owners as we do it hasn’t taken long to get a general sense of the culture that exists in salons. In this case we’re using the word culture to mean: The knowledge, experience, beliefs, values, attitudes, and behaviors of a group of stylists.
At the highest level, what we’ve found are the two ends of the culture spectrum in salons. At one extreme salons are little more than common spaces where independent individuals have gathered to do hair to the best of their abilities. The salon owner provides little in the way of value-added services and tends to simply collect rent (in whatever form) in exchange for putting a roof over everyone’s head. We call this the salon Warehouse Model where the focus is on the individual stylist’s independence and autonomy. At the other end of the spectrum are salons which are run as integrated brands. We call this the Branded Model where the focus is on the client experience, team interdependence, and a collective interest in creating something meaningful and lasting—in addition to providing a place where stylists can do hair. Of course, most salons fall somewhere in between the extremes of this continuum.
We believe there are a few strategic options in the salon business that offer killer opportunities to salon owners interested in capitalizing on them. Integrating the client’s experience into every aspect of the salon’s brand is one. Selling retail in comparison to beauty supply shops is another. Creating an integrated brand is also an enormous opportunity for several reasons—chief among them the fact that so very few salons recognize it as an opportunity. This means that those salon owners who do see and act on the opportunity stand to gain such a distinct point of difference they will create a fundamental competitive advantage over their salon competitors—most of whom tend toward the Warehouse Model.
In short, the advantages of the Branded Model—strictly from the stylist’s point of view, not to mention those for the salon owner, are:
Better business education
Increased technical competence
Client growth and loyalty
Improved financial security
Personal enrichment and satisfaction
Better interpersonal skills and relationships
Greater self confidence and improved self image.
As Stephen R. Covey discusses in his book First Things First all human beings have a common need to, “To live, to love, to learn, and to leave a legacy.” We believe the Branded Model is the better way to satisfy these needs—and to ignore these needs is quite simply a shame.
If you have questions, or just want to discuss these ideas, please contact me.
Jim
Lucavia
Lucavia
(925) 980-7871
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please share your impressions, needs, or point-of-view.