EVERYTHING ON OUR WEBSITE NOW HAS AN ADDITIONAL 5% DISCOUNT

For those of you who have been our customers over the years, you understand that we are dedicated to not only providing the highest quality products and the best customer service, but also the best prices available. Helping our customers and their businesses has always been our priority for the 18 years which we have been in business. And, even today, we are still striving to improve and provide more value for our customers. For that reason, we are happy to announce that everything on our website will now have an additional 5% discount. This 5% discount applies to everything from pedicure chairs and packages to manicure tables and even replacement parts. This additional 5% discount does not take away from our other discounts such as quantity discounts; it is simply extra savings for our customers.

Visit our website : www.spasalon.us

HOW ARE WE ABLE TO DO THIS? 

In a time of national (and even worldwide) inflation, it may seem unusual that our prices are actually becoming less expensive. However, that is why we are different from the rest of the industry. We put our minds to improving our customers’ experience even when it seems like it should be impossible. Even when the rest of the industry is increasing their prices. We know that the current economic conditions may be straining the finances of our customers and their businesses and that is why we chose now as the best time to lower our prices. Therefore, if you have not explored our website in depth recently, I invite you to do so now so that you can see for yourself.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR OUR CUSTOMERS?

Our recent improvements and lower prices mean that now is a better time than any to renovate, renew and upgrade your spa or salon equipment. We still have the largest selection, most options and helpful customer service representatives available to assist you in multiple languages. Therefore, if you have been putting off getting new equipment for your business because you feel that it is too much of a hassle or too expensive, think again. We make the process smooth, stress-free and inexpensive.

A REMINDER ABOUT THE VALUE WE CAN PROVIDE

Because we are a unique company, lower prices and helpful representatives who actually know about our products are not the only things we can provide for our clients. We also offer financing options, we can arrange for old equipment to be taken away at no expense to our customers and we even have price matching available just in case you find any of our products somewhere else for cheaper. We also work directly with all of the top manufacturers in the industry and provide after-sales support in case, over time, you need to replace a part of your equipment. Simply call us up and we will help you find the correct part.

 CONCLUSION

As we continue to separate ourselves from the rest of the industry, our improvements are of absolute benefit to our clients. The additional 5% discount which we are now able to offer to our customers is just the icing on the cake. We are a reputable company with many years of experience and your spa or salon will not be in better hands with anyone else. We are happy to answer any questions you may have and are genuinely looking forward to hearing from you the next time you need us. 

Offering Virtual Products And Services At Your Spa

According to some experts, spa clients, in the near future, will spend more money on products that they see as an investment in their physical and mental health as well as their physical appearance. Furthermore, they will be conscious of the environmental and societal effects of the products and services they are consuming.This is a generational change with respect to spa clients as younger people tend to view things more holistically, combining their own appearance and well being with the wellbeing of others, the environment and the planet. Where older clients may come in for a massage for the purposes of relaxation, younger spa clients will be expecting a functional benefit as well such as increased flexibility and decreased exercise soreness. Where older clients may not worry about the source and ingredients in the products being used at their spa, younger clients will want to know if the products are natural, sustainably sourced and good for the environment. These changes create business opportunities for savvy spas since low-investment, scalable offerings such as virtual products meet many of the desires and inclinations of these younger clients.

Let’s discuss which virtual services are appropriate and how spas might go about marketing these services.

Virtual Yoga Sessions

Many modern spas offer classes such as yoga but, since the pandemic, shared spaces such as yoga rooms have been frequented much less. This is especially true for younger clients who are statistically more conscious of the pandemic and the dangers of covid-19 to themselves and others. For this reason, virtual yoga sessions could be a perfect offering for your spa. Conducting yoga sessions through zoom not only protects both your spa and your clients from coming into contact with illnesses, but it also saves both of you money. If your spa conducts its yoga sessions virtually, you will save on cleaning, disinfecting and preparation at your place of business while your clients will save on gas and transportation costs to your spa. In addition to this, as the younger clients who would most likely be your customers for this particular service are statistically more likely to be aware of environmental pollution, you can highlight the fact that yoga virtual sessions are also good for the environment as the entire class of people will be participating from their homes instead of using cars to travel.

Meditation Apps

Another service which many modern spas were offering before the pandemic was guided, group meditations. Once again, with regards to this service, the pandemic threw a wrench in customer demand since group meditation sessions also require sharing spaces with strangers. However, if someone connected to your spa knows how to program or can use an app builder, you can create a subscription meditation app for your spa. Theoretically, it would work like this. You record the guided meditation sessions which you normally would have offered at your spa and upload them to your subscription app 2 to 3 times a week. Your clients will then receive notices about the new guided meditation uploads they recieve and they can participate from wherever they like whenever they like. This is also great for people who may be too busy to attend your spa during the week but still want to purchase your services. Marketing it this way to your clients is also a great idea. Finally, with regards to your marketing for an app like this, highlight the proven benefits of meditation for problems like stress and high blood pressure.

Virtual Skin Care Consultations

Instead of having clients physically come into your spa to have their skin analyzed for spa treatments, conduct virtual consultations over zoom. Before the consultation, have the client send high quality photos of their skin and inform you about their current diet, exercise and skincare routines. Then when you are talking with your client over zoom or another video chat platform, you can have your professional advice ready so that your consultation is informative and efficient. At this point, if you have skincare retail items at your spa, you can suggest whichever of those products is most appropriate for your client.

Conclusion Most industries have the opportunity to take advantage of technology platforms in order to sell virtual products and the spa industry is no different. If there is demand at your spa for any products or services which can be provided virtually, you should at least give it a try. Virtual products are more scalable than in-person services and providing virtual services doesn’t mean that you have to stop providing in-person services. It is just an additional service you can offer your clients for times when they are not physically available or it is safer to consume through technology.

Foods To Eat For Beautiful, Healthy Skin

When people think about how to get beautiful, healthy skin, many think about what makeup or facial creams they should use. However, the real path to gorgeous skin actually begins on the inside with what you eat and the healthiness of your overall lifestyle. Here we will discuss some of the foods you can consume to have flawless skin and why each of them is so good to consume. 

Freshwater Fish

Freshwater fish contain many nutrients which are beneficial to the skin. This includes  coenzyme Q10, zinc, vitamin E and omega–3 fatty acids. Each of these substances has their own benefits for the skin. For instance, vitamin E fights free radicals which damage skin cells and cause premature aging. Omega-3 fatty acids replenish the skin with moisture and Coenzyme Q10 helps to build new skin cells and repair old, damaged ones. Finally, zinc is also an antioxidant and may also protect the skin from UV rays. 

Pomegranate

Pomegranate contains a ton of antioxidants, even in comparison to other healthy foods. Some of these antioxidants including ellagic acid, hydrolyzable tannins and anthocyanins may decrease inflammation and make the body produce more collagen at both the dermal and epidermal levels. Fresh pomegranate can be eaten by itself or it can be added to other foods like oatmeal or yogurt. You can also make smoothies with pomegranate seeds.

Colorful Bell Peppers

Colorful bell peppers actually get their color from a substance called beta carotene which the body converts into Vitamin A. Beta carotene not only boosts collagen and makes skin heal faster, but it also helps fade scars and wrinkles. Aside from beta carotene, bell peppers also contain Vitamin c and other strong antioxidants. Bell peppers go well in soups, salads and sandwiches so even picky eaters should have no problem incorporating this skin-healthy food into their diet. 

Avocados

Avocados regularly find themselves on the short list of superfoods thanks to their numerous nutritional benefits. With regards to helping the skin, strong antioxidants like Vitamin C and E. However, avocado also has polyhydroxylated fatty alcohols (PFAs) and healthy unsaturated fats which strengthen and hydrate the epidermal barrier of the skin. This not only keeps skin more moisturized but also makes skin more elastic, reducing fine lines and wrinkles. Polyhydroxylated fatty alcohols also reduce inflammation and protect the skin from UVB damage caused by the sun. Avocado is popular to eat in dips such as guacamole or as a butter-like spread on breads and crackers. 

Green Tea

Green tea has great detoxifying and healing properties for the skin. It is also full of catechins which are strong antioxidants with anticarcinogenic and anti-inflammatory properties. These catechins can help protect against photodamage that induces premature aging and also reduces the inflammation in skin caused by UVB sun rays. Green tea also creates microcirculation. Microcirculation describes enhanced blood flow and delivery of nutrients that particularly benefits the outer extremities of the body like the skin. For these reasons, green tea is not only delicious but extremely beneficial for the skin. 

Spinach

Leafy green vegetables are great for the body and skin in general and spinach is one of the best of these leafy greens. That’s why spinach is also regularly given the label of superfood with avocado among others. Spinach contains vitamins E, C, B and K. It also contains potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron and unsaturated fatty acids. As you can see, there is no shortage of nutrients which are great for your skin in spinach. Because of this, there is no shortage of benefits provided by spinach. Some of these benefits include preventing skin tumors, preventing premature aging, improving microcirculation in the skin and evening out skin tone. For those who aren’t a fan of spinach, the best way to consume it may be in a smoothie with fruits which hide the flavor a bit. On the other hand, if you do happen to like spinach the best thing to do is eat pure, unadulterated spinach leaves.

Conclusion

While there are numerous skin-healthy foods out there, the ones mentioned in this article are some of the best. Including these culinary delights in your diet is a great way to leave your skin bright, resilient and healthy.

New Hair Trend “Balayage” Explained

Balayage is a word which has been popping up on the hair scene recently but there is a lot of misunderstanding regarding this trend. Balayage has been around for a long time but came back to prominence recently thanks to social media. Balayage is actually derived from a French word which means “to sweep” and was originally intended to give women’s hair a sun-kissed look as if they had just returned from the beach in the summer. In France, the trend started in the 1970’s and, by the 1990’s, it had made its way to the United States. 

Ombré vs. Balayage

These two terms often get confused with one another and, although the styles have some similarities, they are actually quite different. An ombré describes a dye technique in which hair towards the root starts as one color and is gradually faded into a distinct, separate color which is seen in its full effect at the ends of the hair. The balayage technique, on the other hand, includes a random application of highlights distributed over the entire head with a culmination of lightened hair, similar to an ombré, at the ends of the hair. The ombré and balayage trends started with light-haired women typically adding platinum blonde tones to dirty blonde hair but has now been adopted by women with all different hair colors. 

Popular Colors For Balayage Hairstyles

As we alluded to above, light, platinum-blonde highlights on top of a dirty blonde base was the way this trend originally started. However, there are now several popular variations. Curly, caramel, balayage highlights have become a popular way for brunettes to adapt the style to their natural hair color. Cooler ash tones are also popular for brunettes who want to try balayage highlights. The trick is to highlight your hair with a color that could have possibly occurred naturally from long days in the sun. 

Balayage Coloring Techniques

Balayage highlighting is sometimes called “free-hand painting” due to the application differences between normal highlights and ordinary dye jobs. Since the goal is for the hair to appear naturally sun-kissed instead of artificially highlighted, foils to separate locks of hair are typically not used. If the stylist does use foil in the treatment session, it will be to foil off sections instead of individual hair locks. After the desired sections have been colored, the client will typically sit under a hair dryer for 15 to 45 minutes. At this point, the stylist will assess whether the hair needs additional coloring or a moisturizing gloss to remove ashiness. 

Benefits of Balayage Hairstyles

Since balayage hairstyles maintain dark roots, the maintenance for this hairstyle is much less than with many other dyed hairstyles where ingrowing roots tends to look unkempt. Therefore, this is a great hairstyle option for busy people who need to spread out their salon visits and don’t have time for numerous root touch up sessions. Fewer root touch up sessions also means healthier hair since your hair will be less frequently exposed to harsh dye chemicals. 

Conclusion

Aside from being visually appealing, balayage hairstyles have become popular due to their numerous benefits and more natural look. It’s relatively easy to take care of and also a better option than universal dye jobs for people with brittle or damaged hair. Therefore, if you are looking to try something new at your next visit to the salon, ask your stylist to give you some balayage highlights. 

Special types of Pedicures

FISH PEDICURES

It may seem unusual to most spa clients who are used to ordinary pedicures, but there is also a type of pedicure which involves putting flesh-eating fish into the spa basin. The flesh-eating fish in these “fish pedicures” do not typically hurt the client but rather only snack on dead skin and, therefore, assist in the exfoliation process. The fish used in these pedicures are carp-like fish called “doctor fish” and are native to the middle east but have found their way into pedicures all over the world. However, as one might imagine, there are some small risks involved in fish pedicures. For one thing, while the fish snack only on dead skin 99% of the time, there have been some very isolated reports of skin and nail damage after fish pedicures. This, however, may have been due to the spa using a similar, but more aggressive, fish from China called the “chin-chin”. Chin-chin fish look like doctor fish but grow teeth and therefore can cause tissue damage and infections. For this reason, chin-chin fish are not recommended for use in fish pedicures. If you do opt for a fish pedicure, make sure you get one from a reputable spa who are using the correct type of fish.

PARAFFIN WAX PEDICURES

Who said you need water to do a pedicure? Why not try a strictly paraffin wax pedicure? For this type of pedicure, spas will typically dip the client’s feet into warm paraffin wax and then wrap the dipped feet in a bag or soft cloth. Once the wax has had time to dry and treat the feet, the technician will pull off the wax and finish the pedicure with nail paint. Paraffin wax is said to have several benefits including healing dry, cracked skin and softening the feet. As a twist, some spas do paraffin wax pedicures before ordinary pedicures in a spa basin with water.  

ICE CREAM PEDICURES

Unlike fish pedicures which really do contain live fish, ice cream pedicures do not actually utilize ice cream in any way. Instead, ice cream pedicures involve the use of a scoop, which resembles an ice cream scoop, to take out a ball of semi-solidified, mixed treatment oils. This ball can include jojoba oil, coconut oil and olive oil and also may include scents such as chocolate or cinnamon to make the experience more enjoyable and enticing. These “ice cream ball” pedicure foot scrubs are typically applied after the traditional pedicure soak has been completed with the purpose of moisturizing and repairing the skin barrier.

CHOCOLATE PEDICURES

Don’t think that just because ice cream pedicures don’t actually include ice cream, chocolate pedicures don’t include chocolate because they do! More specifically, chocolate pedicures use chocolate/water solutions, chocolate scrubs and creams or butters with cacao. As a note, cacao is the main ingredient in chocolate for its numerous purported health benefits. For one thing, topically applied cacao has been known to improve skin tone and even stimulate collagen production. Additionally, it may have a protective effect against the formation of wrinkles caused by UV radiation. Chocolate pedicures are performed differently in different salons but generally  begin with the soaking portion in a chocolate/water solution instead of just water. After the soaking has concluded, a chocolate scrub is applied before finally finishing off the pedicure with a cacao lotion or butter.

ROSE PETAL PEDICURES

While rose petal pedicures might not seem as exotic or exciting as something like fish pedicures, they are not without their merit and benefits. Rose petal pedicures typically include rose petal extracts in the forms of lotions and oils. These extracts have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties to heal skin and prevent damage. Also, during the soaking portion of the pedicure, rose petals are typically added to the spa basin for effect, added benefit and the visual enjoyment of the client. 

CONCLUSION

If you ever feel like shaking things up in your pedicure routine, see if your favorite spa has any of these slightly edgier options available. While it is less likely that they will have flesh-eating fish on hand to give you a chance to try a fish pedicure, it is entirely possible that they will have chocolate or rose petal pedicures.

Novel post pandemic spa services

The past two years of living through a global pandemic has changed almost every aspect of human life, including spas. During the peak of the pandemic, many people would have never dreamed about leaving their homes to visit a spa for fear of exposing themselves to a potentially fatal illness. Everything from beauty consultations to yoga classes went virtual. However, as the strongest part of the pandemic began to wane, people who were cooped in their houses for such a long period of time were now looking to get back out into the relaxation and tranquility of their favorite spa and wellness centers. However, the changes that the pandemic caused meant that, along with the old services, spa clients were, and are, now looking for new services as well.

MOVEMENT THERAPY

Movement therapy, which is gaining popularity in numerous spas which are equipped to offer this service, involves some combination of body balms, oil massages and light, functional physical movements and stretches. It is a logical part of the evolution of integrating spa services and health and wellness together. Movement therapy can begin on a massage table as is more customary spa settings. However, in addition to body oils and a massage, the masseuse will also incorporate stretching of the extremities and helpful muscular movements. This can be especially helpful for relieving tension and muscle soreness in athletes as well as people who may have excessive stiffness from a sedentary lifestyle. When the initial massage and masseuse-guided portion of the treatment is completed on the massage bed, the treatment moves onto a mat which is akin to a yoga mat. Here, the therapy will continue with spa providers guiding their clients through more incorporative movements and stretching exercises. Like with ordinary massage services, the goal is to leave the client healthier and more relaxed with movement therapy also having the added benefit of more functional, movement-related bodily improvements.

LIGHT THERAPY

Light therapy may be one of the most obvious new and popular therapies to arise out of the pandemic and increase its presence in spa settings. Light therapy involves, just as the name would imply, sitting in front of artificial light boxes as a way to improve mood, reduce anxiety and increase energy. Light therapy was originally used to treat “SAD” or seasonal affective disorder which occurs, usually during the winter months, when there is less sunlight and shorter days so people have less opportunity to gain the necessary exposure to natural light. Because the pandemic mandatorily and voluntarily locked people inside their houses, there was an uptick in seasonal affective disorder symptoms across the population. Because of this light therapy, in homes and at spas, increased in popularity during and after the peak of the pandemic. Light therapy can be combined with other services like massages or pedicures or offered on its own depending on the desires of the client and arrangement of the spa.

SOUNDS BATHS

For your body there are massages and pedicures, for your olfactory system there is aromatherapy, light therapy is (largely) visually stimulating and most spas offer some sort of healthy drinks for your taste buds. So, what about your ears? This is where sound baths come in. While some spas may use recordings of calm, ambient music for sound baths, many now use tibetan singing bowls as a superior way to induce auditory relaxation. Tibetan singing bowls have gained popularity over the years not only because of the beautiful sounds they emit, but also because youtubers and celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Russell Brand have given them strong endorsements. Sound baths, including those which utilize Tibetan Singing Bowls, usually occur in group spa sessions where the practitioner utilizes the Tibetan Singing Bowl and the clients relax in chairs or on yoga mats in dimly lit rooms. Sound baths are many-times accompanied by incense or aromatherapy for a more all-encompassing relaxation experience.

SPA APPS AND WELLNESS TECHNOLOGY

The pandemic increased our collective utilization of technology and the spa industry is not an exception to this fact. Apps which monitor exercise or steps taken in a day, heart rate and breathing all existed before but became more prioritized and utilized by the spa community because of the pandemic. These apps also provide guided breathing and meditation exercises as well as enable spa providers to observe the data their clients’ apps are collecting in order to devise services and treatments which are more tailored to their clients’ needs. Some more advanced spas even have their own business applications for things like virtual sessions, appointment reminders and scheduling and wellness tips.

CONCLUSION

While a relief from the peak of the pandemic has certainly brought spa clients out to their favorite spots again, service offerings will have evolved with the times and as a result of the pandemic to include not only the services from before but also new and modernized offerings. 

Summer 2022 Spa, Salon and beauty trends

SUMMER 2022 SPA, SALON AND BEAUTY TRENDS

As the weather is getting warmer again, new beauty trends will begin filling Facebook and Instagram feeds as they do every summer. Influencers and beauty brands alike will want to be ahead of the curve so that they can claim to be trendsetters and cash in on the new wave of products and social media attention that comes with territory. Spa and salon business owners will also want to be educated about these trends so that they are prepared for the trend related customer requests which inevitably follow.

BUBBLE BRAIDS

Bubble braids, which are not really “braids” in a traditional sense use a fluffed up section of hair which is then intermittently flattened with hair elastics to create a “bubble” effect where the hair without the elastics flattening it appears like a bubble. Many social media and search engine metrics show that this trend has grown more than over 165% year over year. For this reason, any spa or salon that offers hair styling services would do well to perfect this style for any clients who want to try this trend out on themselves.

SHORT, SHEEK NAILS

Short nails are not only more practical for warm-weather activities (and most activities for that matter) but they are also now in style. The minimalist and health-related trends in makeup and hair have now made their way to nails. What this means is women are opting for healthier and more natural ways to make their nails beautiful. This means less acrylics and more nail art with polishes and gels. For this reason having a manicurist on staff that specializes in short manicures could make your shop popular this summer.

REPARATIVE HAIR PRODUCTS

While women will certainly continue putting dyes, perms and lighteners in their hair this summer season, reparative hair products, which undo the damage of the aforementioned hairstyling products, are jolting into popularity.  Social media and search engine metrics indicate that, since last year, searches for reparative hair products have jumped 85%. “Bonding oil” is a term, within the reparative hair products category, that is also growing in popularity as a type of “styling oil” that promises to increase shine, strength and softness of hair while also providing protection from heat damage to hair. For this reason, stylists should definitely consider educating themselves, and using reparative hair products on their clients.

VANILLA ALMOND BUTTER HAIR COLOR

Vanilla Almond Butter hair, made popular by hair colorist and TikToker Chrissy Rasmussen, is poised to be the most popular hair color this summer. Judging by the most popular video clips and images of this hair color, the style starts with dark, nutty tones at the root of the hair. From there, it morphs into a mix of golden, neutral and icy tones at the mid-length hair and at the tips. Due to the immense amount of social media attention which this style is receiving, any spa or salon which offers hair services would do well to thoroughly acquaint themselves with exactly how this color is supposed to look so that they can perform it correctly on their clients.

CONCLUSION

While there are sure to be numerous beauty trends popping up on various social media platforms for the summer 2022 season, the trends we discussed here are poised to be some of the most popular. Salons, spas and beauty enthusiasts alike should acquaint themselves with these trends in order to stay on top of their game professionally and stylistically.

 

Revolutionize Your Spa Or Salon With K-Beauty

Small and large businesses all over the world are fighting for market share in the continuing K-beauty trend and there is no reason why your salon or spa should be left out of the action. K-beauty or “Korean beauty” trends focus on providing beauty treatments and products which are healthy and free from harsh ingredients.

K-beauty has actually existed for a long time and has recently come back into the mainstream consciousness as a subcategory of the clean beauty trend which is very popular with millennial and gen Z consumers.

Clean beauty, not to be confused with organic beauty, aims to avoid the use of synthetic or organic products which have come to be viewed as harmful such as parabens, aluminum compounds, sodium lauryl sulfate, oxybenzone and talc. K-beauty fits into the clean beauty category because it naturally excludes these harmful ingredients due to the fact that it evolved long before these ingredients were ever being put into beauty products.

So how does one incorporate K-beauty into a spa or salon business? For one thing you can offer treatments that conform with K-beauty standards in whatever your niche service area is. This shouldn’t be difficult because, whether you are providing pedicures, hair salon services, facials or massages, there are soaps, shampoos, creams and oils which are targeted to the K-beauty consumer. These products already include K-beauty approved ingredients and exclude offender ingredients. Simply combine the products targeted to the K-beauty consumer with the services you are already providing and you might have a whole new customer base.

Scrubs, which aim to detoxify and soften the skin, are another staple treatment in K-beauty. So, if you are interested in expanding your services, you can offer some of these foot or body scrubs as add-ons to your current massage or pedicure treatments in order to upsell customers on related services.

K-beauty also includes a lot of sauna treatments since, as mentioned before, detoxification is a big component of their beauty strategy. So, if you are looking to go after the K-beauty market, you may want to consider adding something like this https://www.spasalon.us/salon–accessories/newgen-2in1-foot–bath–tub.html or this https://www.spasalon.us/nail–equipment/far–infrared–foot–bath–barrel.html to your spa if you want to grab the attention of younger customers. In addition to K-beauty fanatics, sauna treatments such as these are popular with all customers looking to detoxify their skin.

If you are feeling extra ambitious and want to give your pedicure or massage clients an even more authentic K-beauty experience, you might consider doing a little research on some of the more common, traditional K-beauty ingredients such as mung beans, ginseng, rice, green tea and turmeric. Also be sure to research how these ingredients are typically prepared in K-beauty cosmetics and then you can use this knowledge to begin creating your own K-beauty creams and offer them to your spa (or salon clients in the case of hair treatments) as an organic, artisanal alternative to some of the other products on your retail shelves. 

In conclusion, some people claim that Korea has actually passed France and the United States as the go-to place for beauty innovation so it makes sense to borrow a few of the things K-beauty is doing for your own business. In addition to this, K-beauty is popular with younger beauty consumers whose likes and dislikes need to be paid attention to as they are the future of the salon and spa customer base.

Stocking For Retail Sales At Your Salon

If you are not already selling retail items at your salon, you are likely missing out on revenue and profit which you could be earning. Salon clients are looking to you for guidance on retail beauty products just as they are looking to you for guidance on professional salon services. Therefore, having to send these clients to another retailer because you do not stock retail products not only hurts your bottom line but also disappoints the client. So, if you are not stocking retail products or you are not stocking these products optimally, now is the time to fix that. Although stocking products intelligently does require work in order to implement the system that works best for your salon, you will find that it is well worth the trouble when your income is higher and your clients are happier.

Deals With Wholesalers

One of the first, and most important, parts of selling retail items in your salon is obtaining good deals with wholesalers. There is very little reason to buy something at the same price for which you will sell it unless you are simply testing a product at your salon to see if there is adequate demand so that you can turn around and inquire about wholesale prices in the case that the product does prove to be popular. However, a good wholesale deal does not only mean getting the item for a good price. You will also want to ensure that the other aspects of your wholesale purchasing agreement are favorable and fair for your salon. This includes hashing out what the delivery time will be, who will pay for the delivery, what the policy is for damaged and unusable products and how the wholesale price will be adjusted in case you are very successful with certain products. If you happen to sell a lot of a specific product and find that you are regularly increasing the amount you require from the manufacturer or wholesaler, you should be further discounted as is customary. If you find that you are so successful with certain products and have very predictable sales, a buying contract is another way to further negotiate lower wholesale prices. However, this step should not be taken unless you truly have predictable sales and have had predictable sales for a long time because you do not want to get locked into a contract which requires you to buy items which you are then unable to sell. Finally, you should seek deals with numerous wholesalers or manufacturers as you do not want to be unprepared in case one of them is unable to continue providing your salon with products for any reason.

Inventory Management And Strategy

After receiving your retail items, you should always remember to practice good inventory management protocols. This includes practices like “FIFO” (first in first out) and regular physical audits. To explain, first in first out means that the first products of any category which arrive at your location should be out and in the front rows of your shelves while newer, later-arrived items should be further back or not yet on your shelves and kept to later replace sold inventory. This prevents older items from becoming damaged or unusable over longer periods of time. There is nothing worse than pointlessly losing inventory (and money) because you were careless with your inventory management. Also, while inventory management software is never a bad idea, using this type of software does not eliminate the need to do regular physical audits at your salon to ensure that the inventory that your software indicates should be in your salon matches the inventory which is actually there.

  Sales Management And Strategy

Another important part of retail item management at your salon is your sales strategy. Will you do paid advertising? Will you incentivize buyers by offering discounts under certain conditions? Which items will you put in the most visible parts of your salon? The items with the highest profit margins or the most popular items? Because, the most popular items will not necessarily be the most profitable and vice versa. However, at this point you will also have to consider volume. It would be a shame to put an item which you only sell one of per week in the most visible part of your retail shelves just because you make a 30% profit when you would actually generate more income selling a less profitable item at a higher volume. Also, don’t be afraid to test out new products with minimal investments. You can even try offering free samples to gauge whether or not a new product is worthwhile. Also, if you can scour blogs, social media and search results software, you may be able to find (and sell) a popular retail item before your competition is even aware of its existence. If you find a very new and popular item, it may be worthwhile to private label that item in order to create more brand recognition for your salon.

Conclusion

While many salon owners and employees may see themselves more as service providers than business owners, salons are a business and well-rounded businesses always have the best chances at success. Therefore, ignoring the selling of retail items at your salon is a mistake. Since you already have clientele who patron your salon, why not offer them as many products and services as possible? You already did the hard work to get them in the door, so don’t miss out on sales opportunities just because you may be wary of inventory management and sales. Begin with confidence, understand that you will make mistakes and learn and create the best salon environment you possibly can.

The History Of Hair Salons

Many people visit hair salons multiple times a year, if not monthly, but never stop to ask themselves; how did this profession get started in the first place? What is the history of hair salons and where did they begin? Here we will explore this topic and answer some of the most interesting questions regarding the origins of hair salons.

The Beginnings

The first hair stylists were actually barbers. Barbers got their name from the latin word “barba” and the profession seems to have started in Europe. Some of the earliest accounts of these barbers come from 2,300 years ago in the Sicilian region of Italy. Later, Romans adopted the trade and many became traveling barbers. Since they did not have their own shops, many cut hair in the homes’ of their clients or outside in the street. Even in relation to the prices of these antiquated times, most barbers offered their services for very cheap because of the fierce competition that existed in the profession as well as the reservations that people had about accepting barber services due to the blunt tools and razors which were used. Some people even referred to these early barbers as “butchers” because the dull, copper razors they used often cut and scarred their clients’ necks. Interestingly, the musical “Sweeney Todd” is derived from this early reputation of barbers. A few barbers of the time with exceptional tools and a developed skill-set did manage to get wealthy because their services were sought by the upper class who were able to pay the elevated rates this small percentage of barbers were charging.

A Little Later In History

The best example of the progression of the barber and hairstylist profession takes us to England. Interestingly, many barbers doubled as surgeons and/or dentists because they were more skillful with razors than other medical professionals. At this point in time, they did have their own shops and commercial locations. In fact, in England, barbers became known as “barber surgeons” and were paid more than ordinary surgeons because they generally possessed more refined abilities with razors. One of the most coveted barber skills at this time was “bloodletting” which was medically recommended for almost all illnesses and maladies. The “barber pole,” historically, was just the structural column or bannister outside of a “hair” shop which was wrapped in bloody clothing that the barber was drying after bloodletting sessions with their clients. This created the now recognizable “red and white” striped pole which we see today.

The Fall Of Multiple-Profession Hair Stylists

Around the 15th century, actual medical professionals began to complain that hair stylists and barbers had too much privilege. They complained that being able to label yourself as a barber, dentist and surgeon was unfair as most hair professionals had no previous medical experience. In addition to this, and due to their lack of medical experience, many barber-surgeons were inventing medical treatments that ultimately hurt their clients and the public was noticing.

The Start Of Modern Hair Salons

As science and medicine advanced, barbers and hair stylists were no longer able to keep up with the surgical techniques being used by actual medical professionals. Due to a combination of the public losing trust in the medical abilities of hair professionals and new laws being enacted which prevented hair professionals from practicing medicine, barbers and hair stylists moved away from bloodletting, dentistry and the other pseudo-medical practices they were engaging in and began to diversify their services into beauty-related practices such as styling and wig-making.

Conclusion

Today we know hair salons only as the place for a haircut, dye-job or style service. However, this was not always the case. Historically, hair stylists performed services which we wouldn’t dream of getting done outside of a hospital or dentist’s office today. This just goes to show the strange evolution of what eventually became today’s hair and beauty salons.