Has the recession been good for business?

HJ's News Editor, Matthew Batham, agrees with new research that suggests many hairdressing businesses will come through the recession as more efficient enterprises.

When I read recently, that research by Barclays Bank showed that some 61% of small businesses owners believe the recession has made their company more efficient, I wasn't entirely surprised - not based on feedback from successful players in the hairdressing industry.

A few months ago, 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 claimed that seeing his salons through the last year had 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.

According to the Barclays' survey, a greater focus on customer service (34%) was the main way that businesses had improved; with 25% reporting a general improvement to their overall business strategy.

Commenting on the findings, Sean Dawson, general manager of hob salon in Camden, London, and Manager of the Year in HJ's British Hairdressing Business Award said: "During boom times it natural to allow certain areas of your business that may not be financially efficient to go under the radar as your bottom line continues to increase, but when there is a media frenzy such as when the original 'credit crunch' story broke you tend to take a much more detailed look at all aspects of your business both financially and in regards to the operations. As regards to the service aspect, clients are looking to spend wisely and get the most value for their money, so it is imperative that you deliver maximum service whilst insuring that your new client rebooks."

Scott Smurthwaite, owner of Cream Salons in Cheltenham and Gloucester, and HJ's Business Director of the Year said: "With the recession we have been forced to look at our figures on a daily to weekly basis and set targets for minimum turnover which have to be adhered to. This is what should be done year in year out, recession or no recession. I think during the recession, a lot of owners have woken up to how businesses should be run."

Even Queen of the high street, Mary Portas believes the recession is a time for hairdressers to shine. Speaking at this year's Wella Business Network event, she told delegates: "You should be looking at these as exciting times, as an opportunity to bring dynamism into your business. This is the time to invest in innovation."

But what do you all feel? Has your business become a more efficient machine as a result of the economic down-turn - or do you have a very different story to tell? Let me know by commenting here or on the Forums.