Sean hanna advises on opening a second salon
Sean Hanna has one of the most successful salon groups in the UK and is ideally placed to advise on what to consider when opening the next salon in a chain.
How far should a new salon be from any existing salons in a chain?
SH: This would depend on the type of area your existing salon or salons are in. If they are based in a city, then one mile away could put any new salon in a totally different catchment area but if its in a rural location, you may need to go 10 miles to be certain you will not impact negatively upon your existing business. It's key to choose a location, which has its own independent client base. It's also worth remembering that the best areas for you may not actually be on your doorstep - too many people expand into the next town either because they know it or because it's convenient, without really considering the demographics of the area and analysing the true business potential.
When developing the look of the new salon what should you consider?
SH: Assuming you want to grow and develop a brand then it's important to ensure your brand values are translated into each new site. Your logo should be instantly recognisable but also your unique selling points and design criteria should be transferable where space allows. If your brand identity is strong, do not compromise, it is one of your strongest assets.
How important is it to involve existing staff in the development of the business?
SH: Growth of a business should be exciting. The existing team should be involved in the business evolution. They should feel proud of how their company is developing and it's critical to ensure that they see how company growth will ultimately give them better opportunities for the future. A growing company will have more opportunities for senior stylists, managers, trainers and even franchisees. The key here is constant, positive communication with the team.
Should you move staff from the existing salon to the new business?
SH: A new salon should use all the expertise, the systems, the culture from the other company salons, but we believe that it's healthy to set up a totally new team for each site. Of course, one key person who is either a partner or a manager can work really well but the salon should really develop under its own steam. This is why it's important to ensure that the salon business model is completely viable in its own right - the position, the dynamics, the marketing strategy all work independently. Otherwise, if you are depending on deploying the talent from your existing salons, the overall effect on the business as a whole, may not be growth, but simply spreading the same business across two sets of overheads.
