Here’s a list of common hairdresser mistakes that we have probably all made at one time or another while working in a salon.  By avoiding these simple mistakes, you can improve your earning potential and grow your career. As professionals we must all do our part in raising the image of our profession to a higher level . The following simple guidelines will help us in our efforts at client retention.

Irregular Work Schedule — Far too many hairdressers cross off time on their appointment books, or show an inconsistent work schedule that limits your availability for customers. Set your schedule and stay in the salon. You never know when a customer will call for an appointment or just drop in.

Not Inviting Customer and Owner Feedback — Invite customer feedback as well as feedback from your boss.  If you receive criticism, consider it an invitation to perfecting your skills and  improve customer service. Let your boss and your clients know you value their input; they will appreciate your honesty and desire to exceed owner and client expectations.  Give them permission to offer constructive criticism without taking this criticism personally. I have yet meet a salon owner that wants to see their staff fail.

Unprofessional Appearance –. If you want to be respected and compensated like a professional, look and act like a professional. Hairdressers are in the business of improving appearances. Start with your own.

Involving Customers in Your Personal Problems —- At times there can be a fine line between being friendly and interactive with your clients, and pulling them in to your own personal drama.Customers have enough problems of their own, they don’t need to be part of yours.

Not Recognizing the Power of Customer Service —– Customer service is often measured not by meeting your clients’ expectations, but by exceeding them. Go the extra mile with customer service. The rewards of doing so can be beyond even your highest expectations.

Frequent Salon Changes –If at all possible, seek to find a solution to any work-related  differences with your boss in private before considering leaving your current job.  If you still believe a job change is in your best interest, do so in an ethical manner. Never burn the bridges behind you,  you may need references (or a chance to return at a future date).

Poor Work Habits — We are creatures of habit. Absenteeism and tardiness is a big problem in our profession. Work hard to value the time of your customers as well as your salon’s reputation. Respecting your client’s valuable time creates a sense of trust and projects professionalism for your clients and your salon.

Leaving Clients for Personal Calls — or talking on your cell phones when working on your client. Every client deserves your FULL attention.  Unless it’s an emergency, use your break to chat with friends, or to return phone calls.

Poor Customer Handling Procedures — Always greet your customer with a sincere and caring attitude. Develop powerful people and communication skills. You never get a second chance to form a positive first impression.

In today’s tough economy we can ill afford to making these mistakes in our salons, our clients have many choices and price options on where they will spend their money. Please read my book a Hairdressers Guide to Success-Personally,Professionally,Financially. Click here

For too long, salon owners have struggled in meeting the many challenges and obstacles of salon ownership in isolation. Your not alone anymore.

As salon owners we share a common bond in trying to build and grow our businesses. Many of our associations that are well intended are not addressing the deep rooted challenges  that are causing hard ships on owners or helping salon owners grow their businesses. Far too many salons are struggling while many more are going out of business. We have no voice.

Staff turnover, finding positive minded hairdressers, price wars, staff pirating, an unequal playing field, an educational system that needs reform, rising business costs, and the list goes on and on.

Finding solutions to these challenges individually is just too costly. As fellow salon owners, let us unite and learn learn from one another and share our vast experience and form a support group free of any special interest group. Owners learning and helping salon owners,will be powerful. Our success will bring success to everyone in our profession.

We must address the many challenges  affecting the growth and stability of our salons and the livelihoods of our hairdressers as well. 

Example ,how can we implement an apprenticeship program within our profession? Perhaps how can discuss how  we  can prevent turnover? How about a benefits package for our staff?

To start this movement,I suggest calling salon owners in your community and meet once a month for coffee and form a support group to identify and find solutions to the many challenges you face daily in your salon. Who better understands our educational and business needs than salon owners who work daily in the trenches. You’ll also find your fellow salon owners are nice people too!

Owners Helping Salon Owners Will Be Our Theme!

Many of you will fear that you will be helping competing salons that will affect your business. The opposite is true.

First of all there is a great need to develop upscale salons; there are more than enough customers for everyone. Today’s consumer is crying out for well managed and upscale professional salons.

By joining together, you will be able to form a support group of entrepreneur salon owners who are demanding a new approach to meeting the many challenges facing salon owners.

A Few goals for our new grass roots movement:

Obstacles and Challenges — Identify and address the many deep rooted challenges and obstacles affecting our salons. what are the causes of these challenges.and how can we prevent and overcome these obstacles.

Combat Turnover — why not form a pact with one another and refuse to recruit each others staff member.

Instill Honesty and a Code of Ethics — what goes around comes around. Let us all play by the same rules and quit fighting among ourselves. If we continue to fight one another, our struggles will only get worse,while the franchises will continue to grow. there is a market for both.

Form a United Front — let us form an alliance and take back our salons and our profession. There is power in numbers.Let’s make this industry more responsive to our educational and business needs.

Form a Support group — let us help and learn from one another in time of need. Some day you may need help and support.

I will soon be releasing more information  about my upcoming 7 Day  Salon Owner’s Summit Conference aboard the Princess Cruise lines to the Eastern Caribbean Feb.3-9 , 2013

There will be no product companies involved, the emphasis will be on you and our new grass roots movement. This is your conference. Salon owners learning from salon owners will be powerful. Your voices and concerns will be heard.

I need your help and support ,please share this information with other salon owners. Feel free to call me at 1-800-390-4237 or email me at jon@hcds4you.com

I do hope that all of you enjoyed a Very Merry Xmas and Happy New Year.

Now that the holiday season is behind us, let us plan and prepare for a new and successful year for your salon and team

2012 is expected to be a difficult and challenging year for both hairdressers and salon owners, due to an uncertain economy and rising business costs.

There will be a lot of doom and gloom, especially during the first 3 months of the year.

Despite the doom and gloom I feel 2012 can be a great year for those of you who are well informed and determined to take your team and your salon to a higher level. Adversity always always presents fantastic money making opportunities for well managed salons true entrepreneurs.

Your attitude towards adversity will determine your own success or failure. Tough times always present fantastic business opportunities because the majority of people will be in denial, always looking for excuses to fail because it requires hard work and effort. You will probably win by default.

Here are some business tips to follow:

Review Your Profit and Loss Statement — review your past year. Did you really make a profit in 2011, and did you reach and exceed your business goals? If not what is your plan to turn it around? The easiest way to improve profits is to review and cut your  overhead expenses. Numbers don’t lie. Your profit and loss statement is your score card.

Planning and Setting New Goals for 2012 — separate your goals into business goals, personal goals, and financial goals. Develop a plan of action on how to make your 2012 goals a reality.

Down Time — if your salon and staff are experiencing too much down time; use this time for education, designing your marketing strategy, improving your business skills, and learning from one another.

Review the Past Performance of Your Staff — Did your staff perform and exceed your expectations? Find ways to improve staff performance and productivity.

Measure Your Strengths and Weaknesses — read my salon owner’s quiz found in my book Developing Your Skills. Click here

Time Management — the easiest way to find more time is to organize your business so you can manage your business instead of your business managing you.

Plan Your Marketing Strategy for 2012 — how will you keep your loyal clientele and attract new customers cost effectively? Review my book on Growing Your Business. Click here

Staff Challenges? — is your team performing up to your expectations? If not identify and confront the problem or person before the situation gets out of control. Review your hiring practices and your educational training programs.

Staff Recruitment — develop a comprehensive staff development program so you have more choices when adding a new member to your team. My book Creating Your Salon offers a staff development model for you. Click here.

Training and Education — invest in your salon’s greatest profit potential —invest in educating your team. Education is a great deterrent to client retention

The year 2012 will be a very challenging year, take advantage of my all day business seminar schedule. First seminar will be in San Diego Click here

Please review my educational resources on my home page; they are designed to help you meet the growing challenges of salon ownership with confidence. Click here.

“Persistence and determination will give you the power to prevail over all obstacles.”

Owning successful salon is a daunting experience. As a salon owner you must wear many hats. The many challenges of salon ownership in a very fragile economy can be overwhelming. I’m sure everything that has happened to you has happened to me in my 43 year career as a working hairdresser/salon owner.

You certainly will experience many peaks and valleys. One thing I have learned over the years is the challenge of staying motivated, with a passion to make my business a success no matter what it took.

If you don’t develop a fierce inner passion and determination to take your self and business to a higher level, you will struggle and just get by. If you develop  your passion and competitive spirit  you will succeed.

Many of us are victims of a profession and educational learning system that has not adapted to change. I formed Hairdresser Career Development Systems to help you on your journey in helping you regain your fighting spirit and help you  you overcome the many challenges of salon ownership

Follow the following tips with an open mind:

Delegate — don’t try to do everything yourself. Seek out help. Ask a key member of your team to help you manage your business and serve as your director of education. A Salon coordinator also can be invaluable in easing the heavy burdens and responsibilities of salon ownership. Refer to my chapter on how to develop a salon coordinator. Click here

Learn Business — learn to work smarter, not harder. Make sure you attend my all day intensive business management seminar when one comes to your area. The first seminar will be in San Diego, march26,2012. Lack of business skills is one of the leading causes of business failure.

Hire the Right People — if you surround yourself with a positive minded team, you will eliminate many of your challenges of managing people, by managing professionals, instead of baby sitting and constantly putting out internal fires and dealing with back room gossip and pettiness.

Laugh a Little — tomorrow’s another day, never let your business affect your personal happiness and family life. Identify the problem and deal with it another day by learning to laugh a little.

Believe in Yourself — you control your own success and happiness; have faith in your skills and ability. Replace I can’t with I can.

Organization and Structure — get yourself organized and structured so you can manage your salon instead of your business managing you.

I hope these few tips will inspire you to regain your passion as a salon owner.

I urge you to attend my business seminar when one comes to your area. You’re not alone anymore, help is available, let me help you regain that passion to succeed. Click Here

I am well aware of the many challenges of salon ownership. For over 43 years I also faced the same challenges you face as salon owners, but I also have been able  to enjoy the benefits of owning my own business. I certainly know about the peaks and valleys of owning your own business.

I am sure that everything that has happened to you has happened to me over the years, many a time I had to ask myself if making all these sacrifices was worth owning my own business. Yes there were times I wanted to quit, but my motivation to continue was my family, it was sink or swim.

I not only was able to survive the blood, sweat and tears and learn from my mistakes, of owning my own business, I was able to survive, and was able to retire financially independent.

I formed Hairdresser Career Development Systems first as a hobby  but realized I was able to help and impact the lives of my colleagues. I have everything I need; now I have an opportunity to have a purpose in my life to help others. It is my wish by providing lessons learned and mistakes I was able to overcome, I can give you a short cut and make your journey easier than mind.

It is my wish that the following tips will help you gain a new found passion to succeed in spite of the many deep rooted obstacles you face daily.

Get Help — learn from people who have probably experienced your pain and has found ways to overcome the same obstacles you face everyday. I formed my educational company as a guide in helping you meet these challenges with confidence. I want to create a truly educational company you can trust and count on,free of any special interest groups.

Keep an Open Mind — our profession has changed dramatically in the last few years, business practices that may have worked before are now outdated. Keep an open mind to opinions of others then do what you feel is right for you.

Don’t Follow the Crowd — of glitter and hype. Sadly I had to go outside my profession to find education that was not biased towards the needs of the product companies and special interest groups. Information is available, sometimes you have to go outside the profession to learn.

Education — find quality education that will help you get results, especially in the area of business. Salons that are well managed will always be in demand.

Perseverance — when the going gets tough, the tough get going. Never and I mean never give up. Owning a salon offers both rewards and sacrifices. Nobody ever said owning a business would be easy. You’re not alone any more. I formed my educational company to help you meet these challenges and obstacles head on.

Financial Planning — very sad that it seems many  owners and hairdressers only talk about what is the best products, they get involved in all the glitter and hype of many of our hair shows, yet focus little on how to plan their financial security and future.

I was able to retire because I learned early in my career to save and invest my money, educating myself by attending educational classes on financial planning.

As we prepare to enter what I think is going to be a very difficult,yet promising 2012, adversity will always present fantastic opportunities.  I do hope that you start the New Year following these few tips. Please take a look at my educational programs ,I know they will be a big help. Click here

Owning your own business can be daunting especially after the holidays  during a slow economy.

Why is it that some salons thrive in a good and tough economy? Why is it that some salons are thriving while others are struggling just to survive?

There are many reasons, poor staff selection, poor planning, salon gossip and pettiness, lack of leadership skills, poor business management skills and the list goes on and on.

Unfortunately far too many salon owners are waiting for the economy to improve, while others are in denial, and refuse to develop their business management skills because it requires hard work and effort.

Nobody ever said owning your own business would be easy.

Here are a few tips that can help you overcome the after holiday slow downs:

Be innovative — put on your thinking cap and find ways to stand above the crowd to gain that all important competitive edge. What is your competitive edge? Why should I patronize your salon over all the others in the community? You may want to consider writing a blog post to increase visibility of your business.  Perhaps send a little personal message to your clients wishing them and their family a happy holiday season. Maybe renew your efforts at excelling at customer service.

Self-Improvement — a recent survey showed that 94% of all business failures were due to poor business skills on the part of the owner. Learn everything you can about the business aspect of salon ownership. Your probably a very good hairdresser, now learn how to be an astute business man or woman. Work hard to renew your passion to succeed. Make sure you attend Jon’s intensive business seminar when one is held near you.

Monitor Your Customer Return rate — all the adverting in the world will be useless if customers are unhappy and never come back. Losing just one customer and her family can be devastating to your salon’s growth and profitability. Negative word of mouth is the worst kind of advertising.

Get Help — learn from people who have experienced  the same struggles as you, but were able to survive and overcome the many challenges of salon ownership.

Learn the Power of Social Media — you spent much of your time developing your artistic skills. Now it’s time to learn how to increase salon traffic cost effectively. Just go to Google, type in facebook then tutorials, same for you tube, twitter etc. Learn the power of social media.

Educate Your Team — show your team how to double and triple their income. Educating your team will be the best investment you will make in growing your business. I will soon be releasing my schedule for my motivational personal growth success seminar for hairdressers.

Did You Make a Good Profit in 2011? — It is important that you review the customer return rate and referrals of your team. Review your profit and loss statement.  Did you know the easiest way to improve profits is by cutting expenses? Numbers don’t lie, that’s your real score card.

Renew Your Passion — develop a strong competitive spirit, and, never give up.

You’re not alone, help is available.

2012 will be a very challenging year for salon owners and hairdresser’s alike. I do hope that these few tips will be helpful especially during the slow period after the holidays.

I will be presenting my first all day business seminar in San Diego at the Town and Country Hotel Circle North on Monday,March 26,2012.Call me for for reservations and information. Make sure you follow me for ongoing information .Click here

Improving staff performance and productivity will always be a major challenge in taking your team and your salon to  higher levels of excellence.  As coach of your team you need to help them stay motivated as professionals . You must show them how to maximize their full learning and earning potential,by helping them learn self motivation guidelines. You must make them aware that they must take full responsibility for their own success or failure.  If you can’t motivate yourself, how can you expect to motivate your team? Excellence does start at the top.

The following tips will help you take your business and team to a higher level.

Leadership —one of the key components of leadership is to be able to create a team environment where everyone shares  the same vision and goals. As a salon owner work hard to inspire and motivate your team by always showing a caring and sensitive attitude toward their growth and development. As leader of your team you must develop powerful leadership skills if you want to earn the trust and loyalty of your team.

Make Their Jobs Fun — create a positive and professional salon environment based on trust and mutual respect, where it’s fun to go to work every day. Create incentives and contests that challenges team to higher levels of performance. Work hard at helping your team maximize their full learning and earning potential.

Earn their Trust and Loyalty — You get the best of others when you give the best of yourself. Work hard to earn the trust and loyalty of your team. Let your staff know your door is always open if they have a question or problem. Always let your staff know you invite feedback.

Provide a Positive and Professional Work Environment. — in order to create this environment,work hard to create conditions that foster loyalty and respect,not fear and intimidation.

Education— give your staff the educational tools to perform at higher levels of excellence.Invest in your salons greatest profit potential; invest in educating your team.

As coach of your team, the more you are able to provide quality education, the higher their confidence and self-esteem. It is your challenge to help your team achieve success.

Keep them Busy — too much down time will diminish their self-confidence. Work hard at marketing and promoting your business, making sure you monitor their referral and customer return rate

Give Praise —sometime a little pat on the back for a job well done will go a long way in motivating your team . Always give praise when warranted, show appreciation for their hard work and accomplishments. Make your staff feel like champions.

Incentives — keep challenging your team by providing targets and incentives.Team contests for the most referrals or individual rewards for selling the most retail are examples.

2012 will be  a challenging year for your business and your team. Please visit my web sites for information about my educational resources and special success seminars for your team.

Thanksgiving is always an appropriate time to give thanks for all our blessings.

In our hectic schedule; trying  to find time for our business, struggle with a difficult and volatile economy, and trying to find  quality time with our families, we sometime take for granted  the many gifts and opportunities that are available to us.

Personally I want to thank all my colleagues for the trust and support you have shown me throughout the year. I want to wish you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Thanks to your support our grass roots movement is growing, please pass the word. Together we will make this industry hear our voices, respect our educational needs, and respect us as professionals.

I formed Hairdresser Career Development Systems free of any special interest groups so that I can share my 43 years of hard won experiences as a working hairdresser/salon owner and  give you a voice and educational guidance that will help you raise your standard of living and improve the quality of your life.

I will continue to seek out and provide quality information and educational resources that will be focused on your educational and business needs.

It is my sincere hope that the following tips will make this Thanksgiving Holiday a very special holiday for you and your family:

Nine Tips on Giving Thanks:

Let Us Be Thankful For Our Opportunities — As professionals we have a wonderful opportunity to not only make our customers look good but, also make them feel good about themselves. Our customers give us the opportunity to earn a living as well as show case our skills and artistic talents as well. The sky’s the limit.

Let Us Be Thankful For Our Good Health -–all the money in the world is meaningless if you have poor health or are unhappy. Good health can be maintained with exercise, good eating habits, and overcoming stress and depression. Let us be thankful for our good health.

Let us Be Thankful For Our Family — Family is especially important. Let us give thanks that we are able to celebrate this special day with our family and loved ones. Let us not forget how fortunate we are that we have families that love us, and especially our parents who will love each of us unconditionally.

Let Us Be Thankful That Our Profession Does Not Require Hard Sacrifices — if you would go back to college with rising tuition costs ,you would have to spend over 4 years of hard work to get a college degree, and pay back a student loan as much as $100,000 and up before you even get a job. Sadly many college graduates are unemployed; a good hairdresser will never be out of a job. Our profession allows us to control our own destiny. A hairdressing career can be a short cut to financial independence.

Let Us Be Thankful We Can Help Others —we have a wonderful opportunity to impact the lives of others by helping our customers gain self-confidence and and self esteem in their appearance. A wonderful feeling when a client walks out of the salon with a smile. Helping people feel good about themselves is a great feeling.

Let Us Be Thankful As Citizens of U.S.A -– we in America sometimes take for granted our freedoms and opportunities in this beautiful country. Many people in other countries are fighting and dying to gain their freedom and democracy that we often take for granted. In America you control your own success or failure. Nobody can stop you from learning and growing. Our country allows you the opportunity to make a better life for you and yourself family. Your biggest obstacle to your own success and happiness will probably be you.

LetUs Be Thankful To Our Customers -– our customers have many choices on how and where they will spend their hard earned money. Our customers represent our livelihoods, by giving us an opportunity to enrich their lives and images ‘and provide us with jobs.

Let Us Give Thanks to Our Troops -–many of our troops are not able to be with their family on this Thanksgiving Day because their defending our freedom and liberty. Let us give thanks for their service and sacrifices so that we may enjoy time with our family on Thanksgiving Day.

Let Us Be Thankful We Have Jobs — we are very fortunate to control our own destiny. This is one of the few professions where you can literally get all the over time you want once you create value in your skills and create a demand for your services. A good hairdresser will never be unemployed.

Many of our  fellow salon owners and hairdressers are facing many challenges and obstacles in today’s tough economy.  When the going gets tough think about all  our blessings ,always stay positive,keep learning, and take the word “I can’t” out of your vocabulary and replace it with” I can.”

It is my wish that Thanksgiving will be one of many special days for you and your family.

For ongoing information,daily tweets,weekly blogs, and special announcements,please follow me on my business fan page here and click the “like” button.

During the Holiday season, most salons will be busy. Unfortunately, after the holidays, many salons will struggle to overcome the slow months of January, February, March and April. A tough economy doesn’t help matters.

If your one of the top well managed salons that are able to stay busy throughout the year, you’re to be congratulated. If your business is not as busy as you would like to be, please follow these tips’

Now is the time to start planning your marketing strategy to survive and prosper during this slow down period.

Planning -– develop your marketing and advertising campaign using social media ,flyers ,post cards, newsletters etc. Now is the time to start planning for the 2012 season

Old Clients — send a simple letter or card and simply say we miss you.  Make sure you also include an offer as a reward. It has been proven that lost customers are the easiest to get back.

Education — seek out education, my business seminar for salon owners and personal growth success seminar will be a great start. This is the time where you need to keep yourself and your team motivated and excited about the New Year. If you’re a salon owner, take the time to develop your business management skills.

Early Bird specials — This is a great time to offer incentives to your customers, especially during the early part of the week.

Group on — although I am not a fan of group on, especially if you want to attract an upscale clientele, this would be a great time to develop your junior stylist program at reduced rates for your young staff members.

Sell more services — educate your staff on how to sell more services.  Example, your client is scheduled for a haircut, but you explain the benefits of a new color,

Avoid Complacency — the greatest thief to success. This slow period will allow you to regain your passion to succeed.

Review your Profit and Loss Statement — Numbers don.t lie; did you really make a profit? If not, get help. Do you have a plan or strategy for the New Year? Are you prepared with your tax responsibility? Are your records all organized? Have you evaluated your staff and their referral rate and performance?

Although we all want our salons to stay busy throughout the year, but this slow period can present you with fantastic opportunities to plan and grow your business even during the slow season. For ongoing information join my facebook business fan page by clicking here and pushing the “like” button.

Most of us have lost a staff member from time to time. Some leave because they feel they can advance their career elsewhere, and some are lured by being offered more commission or booth rental options and  of course client lists are expected to follow.

No business can continue to grow with a constant merry go round of losing members from your team to your competitors. Any interruption to building and growing your business is a major challenge to salon owners, our profession, and your other staff members.

How are we to raise prices in this type of  of business interruption and turnover? Our current tough economy compounds our challenges.

Unfortunately out of desperation, some salon owners will attempt to recruit key members of your team by offering higher commissions or booth rental options in the hopes of them bringing a clientele. This should serve as a red flag that  some owners are desperate and depending on a hairdresser to bring a clientele to help grow their business .

There is a question of ethics here. There are more than enough customers for everyone. Getting ahead at the expense of others is just wrong. What goes around, comes around.

Sadly some owners have no plan of action on how to prevent and overcome staff turnover when they experience turnover . Many try to recover by hiring any one just to fill their chairs,while others struggle to find a replacement.

The best way to protect your business and the livelihoods of your other team members is to first identify and prevent the causes of turnover and then fight back.

The following tips are not designed to hinder the livelihoods of hairdressers, quite the opposite, these tips are designed to not only insure job security, but also give you the owner and hairdresser the opportunity to grow in a professional and positive salon environment as well as create a demand for our services so we can raise prices to combat rising business costs. Turnover affects everyone.

Follow these five tips:

Hire The right People — you should place all newcomers on a six month probationary period and make sure their employment is at-will which means you can let them go at any time and that they can quit at any time. Make sure they share your vision and goals.

Prevention — why are they leaving you? Do you have an employee handbook? Did you provide a positive and professional salon environment? Did you implement a salon training program? During their six month probationary period did you find out if they shared your goals and team concepts. Sometimes as owners we also have to share in the blame for staff turnover.

Employee handbook – did you clearly define your salon’s expectations to your new staff member? Did you provide them with terms of employment? Did you add a provision that all phone numbers and addresses of your clients are the property of your salon and will be cause for immediate dismissal and legal action?

Fight Back — if your stylist leaves and take phone number and addresses without your permission?  Fight back by sending all his or hers  customers a very nice letter stating we want to keep you as a customer and make them an offer they can’t refuse?

Build the Reputation of Your salon — not the reputation of the hairdresser. Work hard to win the loyalty of your customers by staying in touch regularly.

Leadership — you have to earn the trust and loyalty of your team by working hard to make them successful. Create conditions that foster loyalty. Let your staff know you really care. Excellence does start at the top.

Contingency Plan — make sure you continue to seek applicants, prepare letter to customers, and protect your customer lists.

For more complete information about this topic and more refer to my educational books and read the table of contents. Click here.

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