Creating a salon strategy for growth

Its official, the UK economy is now growing at its fastest rate since before the recession with growth at 2% for last year and forecasts of a further 3% growth this year. With all the doom and gloom in recent years, it’s sort of crept up on us. So are you prepared to take advantage of the growth potential? Find out where you are now – do an assessment of the following: Key Performance Indicators for the past year for each salon and each stylist, the size of the team, IT solutions, stock and suppliers, training, marketing and promotions. Decide what needs attention and what needs to change. Draw up an action plan. Involve the team – once you have some idea about what you want to focus on, get the team involved to generate ideas on how you will achieve growth and improvements. They are more likely to achieve if they are involved in the decisions. Inspire them with training on client service, your vision for the business or a promotional plan for the year. Get Connected – it’s important to have the right connections and the right information so you can make the right decisions. Build a network that includes industry contacts and experts and ensure you have access to the information you need, whether that’s by asking questions, looking at the right reports on the computer or using the latest technology. Control finances – you have probably spent the last two years cutting back, but you will need to set aside some budget if you want to grow again. Have a regular schedule to keep a close eye on your finances and invest in those areas that will give you a return. Adapt to client needs – increasingly clients want services that are personalised to them and above all want value for money. Ensure you are listening to their needs, have clear procedures and that your team are delivering. Ryan Fox is a hair and beauty salon consultant who improves salon performance through training and innovation. www.umbrellaconsulting.co.uk