While owning your own salon as a hairdresser might be the ultimate dream, the industry is one of the toughest around. One would think that at a time when Instagram and social media is at the forefront and everyone seems to be obsessed with style and beauty that it would be almost impossible to fail. However, there are tons of errors new salon owners end up committing that leads to their demise. Here are some of the most common reasons why hair salons fail.
- Your Stylists Are Leaving with Their Clients
This is a problem that affects many salons and is very difficult to address. One of your star stylists starts amassing a list of clients on the side and takes them with them when they leave. The worst is that the salon owner ends up losing not only clients, but a skilled stylist as well. The cause for this is often a lack of ethic within your salon. More and more salon owners are counteracting this by having their stylists sign a contract that prevents the practice.
- Leadership Issues
Many times, the problem is actually management. Lack of leadership and management skills can hurt you in many ways. Thinking that this skill is not important is a huge mistake. You should either consider investing in yourself by going through a formation or delegate it to a third party, so you can concentrate on what you do best.
- Lack of Investment in Stylists and Equipment
The less you invest in your stylists, the higher the turnover will be. Or you might not even be able to attract qualified stylists at all. One way you could invest in your workforce is by having an apprenticeship program.
However, not every employee will like this type of investment. You should have an open dialogue with your employees and try to find out what they value the most. Some might just want better remuneration while others might want to have more flexible schedules.
You also have to make sure that they have the best equipment at their disposal for their work. But if you’re already tight on your budget, you’ll have to find a way to reduce your costs on equipment.
While some pieces of equipment will absolutely have to be state of the art for your business to be competitive, you can go for domestic level products in some cases. For instance, you don’t have to break the bank to buy the latest straightening irons if it’s out of your reach. There are plenty of entry level units that will do the job just as well. Visit designsauthority.com to read more on which straightening irons would be better for your salon.
While the hair salon business is not easy, it’s very possible to succeed if you have the determination, work ethics and proper marketing skills. You also have to know how to separate yourself from the rest and dedicate yourself to quality while building a loyal customer base.
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