Follow these 10 top tips to help grow your column

Tony Rizzo, founder of the Sanrizz Salon group, offers his top tips on how you can grow your column and contribute to the success of a salon business. Motivation and drive An enthusiastic team is always at the heart of a successful and busy salon. Wake up every morning feeling fresh and positive, you only have one chance to live this particular day in the right way! Consultation Perfecting your client consultation is a key aspect of a client’s salon experience especially if they are new to your salon. It enables the client to discuss in detail their specific requirements and it serves as an opportunity for them to get to know the team who will offer guidance on how to make the most of their best features. Be convincing by knowing your subject, logical, enthusiastic and attentive. Use this time to build a trusting relationship with the client, they are more likely to return/rebook if they like your personality. Personal Service Make sure everything you discuss is on an individual level, offer the client advice throughout the service. The client is relying on you to advise them how to look great, and maintain healthy hair (use this time as an opportunity to sell retail). Offer an understanding ear to build a friendly relationship with the client. Team Work You cannot grow on your own! Working as a team and utilising technicians and assistants will help you free up time on your column, allowing you to service more clients. For example, if you have a client booked in for a cut and colour, cut the hair first - this way you are not colouring hair that is going to be cut off and you can colour the hair in a way which enhances the style. Your trusted assistant can then wash off the colour and blow-dry your client while you move onto your next client, if the client is agreeable. Targets Set yourself weekly targets to work towards, for example selling 3 products per day, upselling one treatment per day. You should work towards increasing your targets by 10% each month. Rebooking work on your rebookings, the more clients you rebook the busier you will be. This way you can ensure the client is coming back to the salon in the correct timeframe (suggest 8 weeks), if a client is left to their own devices to rebook they are likely to come every 12 weeks. Increasing value growing your clientele isn’t just about getting busier, it is about increasing the value of the average bill by offering upgrades and additional services. It is important to invest in education opportunities so you are able to upsell the latest products and techniques to clients. Reward loyalty keep existing clients coming back with regular promotions and discounts if they refer friends. Social networks Use social networks such as Facebook and Instagram to connect daily with your customers. Apps are so easily accessible it’s a great way to keep your offers and services at the forefront of their minds. Online Internet marketing and daily deal sites such as Treatwell can help fill ‘white space’ during quiet periods and used in moderation. Carefully consider terms and conditions for the offers before they go live.