Hairdressers seeing the positive side of the recession

HJ News Editor, Matthew Batham, believes hairdressing is an industry that will ride the recession with style. I mentioned in my last comment what a resiliant bunch hairdressers are, and this week I have more evidence to support this claim. While so many industries have bemoaned their lot during the current economic climate, I'm yet to speak to a hairdresser who doesn't have something positive to say

While researching a news special for HJ on how hairdressers are coping (in many cases prospering) during the recession, I spoke to Toni & Guy super-franchisee, Phil Smith. Phil is a top entrepreneur as well as a renowned hairdresser, but he still claims that seeing his salons through the last year has brought him back into touch with the economies of running a business. "I am much more in touch with my business now. I am more clued up on the financial side of running it," said Phil.

 Ben Dellicompagni, managing director at Francesco Group has seen the recession as a good reason to invest further in customer service and training for staff. "Our customers are demanding greater value for money, not necessarily discounts. We are responding with better service levels."

The group has also continued to invest in marketing, and to cut the cost of training at its academy to ensure its 36 franchisees can continue to invest in their staff during the economic downturn.

Sean Hanna firmly believes that the recession shouldn't be used as an excuse for businesses to fail. "Many businesses have suffered, but some have continued to grow and prosper," said Sean. "It's down to the director of each business to aggressively take control and ensure they put strategies in place that guarantee the safety of the business."

The overriding message from salons across the UK, is don't sit back and let the recession ruin your business - be proactive and use this as a chance to look again at your salon - or salons - and how it could run more effectively. This is a time to invest not scrimp.

The positive energy that most hairdressers exude is bound to ensure that this is one industry that will emerge the other side of the recession not only surviving, but, in many cases, stronger and raring to go