Tough times have always provided great and lucrative opportunities. The trick is to know what to look for. Don’t keep doing what you did during good times and expect the same results. Keep up with the changing needs and expectations of clients.
Suggest new strategies and improved ways of operating for your team. This will instill confidence as it demonstrates that you are thinking of the overall growth and health of the salon business.
Focus on the needs that come to the fore during tough times. For example, now might be the time to introduce saving accounts for your clients, so they can put money into their salon account weekly and then not have to worry about the bill when they are getting high ticket services.
Experiment with new ideas – the more the better. The trick is to take a number of small, manageable risks and see what ‘sticks’. For example, offer a prize in the salon to the team member who gets the highest bill from a single client in a month, thereby encouraging your team to upsell daily.
Roll out the red carpet! Remember excellent customer service doesn’t cost you anything extra; in fact, it pays and it is your best opportunity to gain a competitive advantage in a crowded marketplace.
Follow up on every call and inquiry. In good time, leads can slip through the net, but there is no room for that now or for the foreseeable future.
Don’t pretend to your team or your clients that times aren’t tough, in fact, emphasize it. Reassess the needs of your marketplace by listening to your clients. They bring an objective eye to your business, so listen to their feedback and ask for their suggestions. Make sure they feel appreciated for their business and they will continue to support you.
As the team leader you cannot stagnate in your managerial role: now is your opportunity to inspire, motivate, and encourage your staff to produce outstanding technical work while providing excellent customer service.
Resisting change is futile. Only by embracing change can you survive it. Smart salon owners and managers are prepared for change and are flexible enough to stay ahead of the game. The economic reality has created new boundaries. Leverage those boundaries to provide your salon with focus and increased creativity. Economic downturns are tough, but resourceful entrepreneurs, who are willing to take calculated risks with forward-thinking teams can ensure a prosperous and safe future.
2020 is the year of uncertainty. To make sure that uncertainty doesn’t become overwhelming, frightening, and paralyzing, identify what you can and cannot control, for example:
I cannot control:
- The virus
- The economy
- The weather
- What my competitors are doing
I can control:
- My prices
- Timing of services
- The brands I partner with
- My investment in salon training
- The quality of my work
- Customer services standards in my salon
- Opening hours
- Rosters
- Salon promotions
- Bonus schemes for staff
To successfully continue to steer your salon through unchartered territory, learn to focus on what you are in control of and watch your salon soar.
Do you need expert guidance during these tough times?
Contact Liz today and see what are your options.
