” We will never find solutions to our challenges by ignoring the questions that have to be asked.”
First I want to report that our Salon Owner’s Conference Cruise to the Caribbean was a huge success. The friendships and camaraderie among salon owners along with the great discussions that identified the many challenges we face and discussing ways to combat these challenges were exciting and rewarding.
What a fun week we had, building friendships, having a great time relaxing and visiting St.Thomas, Princess Cays, St.Marteen and the Caicos Islands. It was fantastic. The weather was perfect and the waters of the Caribbean was awesome.
We also learned a lot from one another by discussing the ways to ease the heavy burdens and responsibilities of salon ownership. Salon owners learning and sharing together our vast experiences and knowledge was inspiring. Who better understands our educational and business needs than those of us working daily in our salons? What became apparent was that our profession needs boht educational and business reforms.
The purpose of this conference was to start a new grass – roots movement to form a united front in addressing the many deep rooted challenges affecting our salons, our profession, and our standard of living, for both salon owner and hairdresser. We all agreed that these challenges are universal and the need for change is now.
Why is there so much pain and havoc in our profession? Who is at fault?
These are some of the challenges and obstacles we identified:
Beauty Schools — we need educational reform. Much of the curriculum taught in beauty schools is outdated and does not meet growing job market and consumer demands. Although beauty schools are designed to protect the public health and safety of the consumer and help prepare their students to pass the state board,we need more than that. Far too many students are leaving the profession because they lack the skills needed to compete in a very competitive job market.
Petition Our State Agencies for an Apprenticeship or Internship – there is no substitute for on- the- job training. We all agreed that we must sign a petition to our local state government for change.
Staff Turnover and Business Interruptions — no salon can grow and raise prices in this environment. We must define the causes of turnover and take preventative action. How can we grow our business and improve profits in this negative en environment?
How to Bridge the Gap between Staff and Management — there is a need to discover ways to bridge the gap between staff and management. A house divided will never grow.
How to Promote Honesty and A Code of Ethics — we have created dishonesty within our profession by allowing an underground economy to flourish. All we ask is for for an equal playing field. It is not fair for salon owners to invest in training and educating hairdressers only to lose them to a booth rental salon.
Salon Owners — why is there so much apathy and indifference among salon owners? Far too many feel threatened by other salon owners. However there is more than enough business for everyone. If we all play by the same rules everybody wins.
State Board of Cosmetology — there are frivolous fines that many of our colleagues cannot afford.Why can’t the state board understand we are trying to make a living? Perhaps a first time offense and warning would suffice.
Product Company’s — Most education we receive is by the product companies that are biased towards their needs. Having us promote their products when we to see these same products sold at Wal- mart and other outlets at reduced prices is insulting to all hard working salon owners and hairdressers. Where is the loyalty?
Cost Effective Marketing and Advertising — using social media is a very cost effective way to grow your career and business. We need to educate both salon owner and hairdresser on the fantastic benefits of using social media.
Booth Rental Issues — most salon owners are mis classifying their workers which violate labor laws and tip compliance rules. Owners need to seek the advice of a labor law attorney who specializes in independent contractor issues to understand these issues. We need to create an equal playing field, getting ahead at the expense of others is just wrong.
Finding Quality Educational and Business Resources — most of the education opportunities we see at the hair shows are biased information about the product companies products. This does meet our educational and business needs.
Employee Training and Development — until we see educational reform we must develop our own educational training and development opportunities.
How to form a United Front — the only people that can demand educational reform are we the salon owners. There is power in numbers.
Reform our Educational System — the earnings of hairdressers and profits of salon owners is not keeping pace with the rising cost of living. We need to think outside the box for real educational reform.
These were some of the topics we discussed. We also agreed that there was a need for us to unite as salon owners and have a clear voice that will find solutions to these challenges.
I urge concerned salon owners to call fellow salon owners in your community and meet for coffee once a month and discuss these challenges.
If I receive enough interest, I will schedule our next conference in Las Vegas in the fall. And yes there will be another cruise in 2014.
Feel free to call me at 1-800-490-4237 if you want to get involved.