The secret of maintaining a successful salon business

It is one thing creating a successful business; staying at the top requires dedication and determination. Some of the industry's top business minds reveal their secrets for making their businesses last the course. Terry Calvert, Clipso, London and Hertfordshire "Our success can be attributed to a number of factors – from having a strong, focused education programme, to a dynamic team of stylists, to a successful reputation locally and within the industry. I think it’s essential to surround yourself with like-minded people and encourage career development. The ability to provide growth for your team is essential in remaining successful. I’m also aware that a successful salon needs a strong team and we regularly host events that encourage team building, friendly rivalry and the opportunity to get involved. Having a team that enjoys being part of the salon philosophy is really important. Alongside this, a successful salon has to really know who its clientele is, too. We are known locally for giving a five-star service and that anyone can come into the Clipso group and receive not only a fabulous hairstyle but excellent customer service. It’s the whole package that makesus successful and ensures that customers keep coming back and recommend us to their friends and family." Toby Dicker, The Chapel, Tunbridge Wells, Kent "My best tip would be to make sure you always enjoy your work, because if you are enjoying it, then it’s easy to do the hours and be successful. Know what success is too, because success is many different things to different people and it’s not all about the money. I believe it’s essential to business success that you are different from everyone else, focus on what you’re doing and don’t waste energy worrying about everybody else. It’s also important to get good people who you trust and then allow them to develop a role for themselves. One of the best things I have learned this year is that other people can do things better than me. I don’t need to be doing everything, which in turn frees me up to work on making the business stronger." Jon MacLeod, Paterson SA, Edinburgh "My biggest secret to success is to envisage exactly what it feels like to be successful, feel it so strongly and imagine it so well that it is part of you. I knew what it felt like to be successful long before I ever was. No matter what challenge I have, I focus on and imagine a successful outcome. We all rely on other people to help us achieve our dreams and it is important your team feel they are part of something successful. Imagining and focusing on the positive attracts the right people and situations needed to succeed." Malcolm MacNeil, Ishoka, Aberdeen "It is essential to have a sound financial grip on your business. You don’t have to say yes to everything; sometimes it is worth more to say no. Recognise and visualise the potential and future of your business and keep this in mind when figures are involved. More importantly, though, is remembering that clients always come first. They give you the opportunity to grow and develop, financially allowing you to get involved with photographic shoots, seminars and shows. Every time should feel like the first time when a client enters the salon – never rest on your laurels and always exceed expectations." Phil Smith, Toni & Guy, Salisbury, Wiltshire "Creating a balance between business and creativity is the key to staying successful. Building a strong business foundation allows you to be creative and to motivate team members. In turn, this results in happy clients who receive superior service from enthusiastic, driven stylists. It is important to maintain this balance; if you focus too much attention on being creative, the business side can become messy, but if you ignore the creative half the team can become stagnant and demotivated." HJ’s 2007 Business Directors of the Year, Alan and Linda Stewart, Rainbow Room International, Glasgow "To stay successful you need to be able to see how things work or don’t work and to see the potential in people. We recommend delegating responsibility, but never abdicating it. The best piece of advice we have been given was from Vidal Sassoon, who said 'keep on doing the right thing and the right things will happen'. It’s important to push the boundaries in business. We have tried to do this, and have always had a clear picture of our business, with clear values that are constantly communicated to our team. Our company ethos is to be passionate about detail, to have integrity, for everybody to have fun and not to compromise our core values. This ethos, along with the fact that we are passionate about what we do, has helped us to stay successful." Hellen Ward, Richard Ward Hair & Metrospa, London "I think it’s vital not to get complacent. I am frequently assessing what the competition is up to; failure to do this or to keep an eye on the marketplace always signals that you’re taking your eye off the ball. Fresh, innovative ideas are key to keeping not only your business rejuvenated but you, as a business leader, motivated and inspired. I think it’s key to branch out into different directions, but only if you can nurture your core business too, so delegating and building a strong team around you is vital. For anybody to be a truly great motivator and leader they have to be able to delegate and empower people. Setting myself personal goals keeps me feeling buoyant and keeps the old fighting spirit alive!"