Beauty Business

One problem all business owners face is marketing. Most in the beauty or spa industry know a lot about the creative side but few understand advertising on a budget. sure you can place print ads in local publications but do you really want about investing thousands into something that might not make a return. For me the answer is always no. that kind of advertising might be fine for a well established shop with a nearly full booking schedule to keep the name frest but is way too risky when you need to turn ads into profits fast.

I would recommend opening various accounts on social media and  post 2-3 times a week. Not just FB but LinkedIn, Redit, instagram, tumbler and others that are popular. Spend a hour when not busy making 15-30 second how to or product demo video with your phone. You don't a professional video crew to get somehting nice. sure, it won't be cinema quality but clean and to the point is what people will respond to. 

Post one every few days and soon you will see calls increase. The cost will be nothing except for a little investment in time. Look around you salon right now. How many of your staff don't have a client in the chair. This would be the perfect time to record a quick video about one of your services. A few seconds is all it takes to get attention. For more hair salon marketing ideas check out the website.

Rideshare or Not

Today is September 25, 2015. A couple days ago I was forced to purchase a newer car. Okay no one tied me up and made me do it but my older car with 277,000 miles died and was too costly to repair. It's time was over so I found a 2014 that fit my requirements. One big one was a full warranty as I grew tired of repairs over the last few months. Long story short is I thought Uber would be a way to increase income since I (read more) #rideshare #uber#uberinsurance

Salon Chair Quality

Purchasing online is a good way to shop and almost the only way to go when searching for a salon chair. Too bad the image and descriptions might not match the product you are really buying. With salon hairdresser chairs and shampoo units the bottom line is they cost money to make right. If you want engineered designs where the parts fit together and stay tight, arms that don't move a fraction of an inch and cushions that feel the same new as several years down the line you need to expect to pay a little more. Sure there is a place for low cost goods but don't expect high quality and exceptional life. Expect something to work somewhat okay and fill the space in your salon. Expect it to last a few months and be ready for replacement with no resale value. Remember your salon styling chair represents your brand so be careful with your decision process.

I would suggest if you are purchasing any chairs made in China to bring in a single sample.If the price is under $600.00 it is a good chance the parts are all from China. Check the construction and fit of the pieces. Look at the materials used and make sure it does not have a strong odor. Yes, many using lower end materials have that plastic petroleum scent. It stays and even transfers to clients clothing which is a good way to chase away clients.,

Expect to pay around $100.00, for return shipping. Most cartons are oversized and without a high volume account the cost is about double what it would be for a standard box of the same weight. Plus few refund shipping charges even if they say free shipping the fine print usually excludes the shipping cost from the refund. Also a few charge a re-stock fee. No wonder most who buy 5-10 pieces just keep them as it is too costly to return when 30-50% of your cash will be gone doing so.,

Just be careful and ask a lot of questions. Stick with a name brand and only long time established manufacturers. Belvedere, Takara are both older companies with established brands known for quality. My manufacturer, while not well known in the USA has manufactured for the European market for close to 90 years and not includes Dubai in their markets serviced. The one thing all mentioned have in common is they are not low cost. They provide you something better than a low price. that is called value!
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New Salon Chairs

When buying online for salon chairs they all look great. Interesting how a photo can hide the most important factors in buying a chair. Many of the $400.00 - $500.00 chairs have great looks but when you get them in the salon disappointment soon follows. First you unpack the box and things are all thrown together. Okay not a deal breaker but it would be nice to receive it in a box that actually fits the product. Those slight indentations will come out with time. Next you place it on the stand. Now the real test begins. You look at the base of the chair and the stand assembly appears to not really fit the chair. A few gaps where the screws hold it on. Okay so they save money by not engineering much of anything, just throw a few pieces and hope they fit. Not a deal breaker but not what you would call quality either. Next you place the chair on the base. A but of excessive movement as it simply slides on. No way to tighten. Now you try it out and the arms shake. they are tight from the factory but that lack of engineering is now showing its shortcomings. A new out of box salon chair that has shaky arms. Next you try the tilt function and it works. In fact it tilts and wobbles so much you are afraid a male client might just hit the floor if you try to use it. A tiny but of movement might be fine but about an inch of play just does not look safe. That chrome base looked heavy duty in the photo but it is really thin metal and the chrome is actually so thin it will rust from the inside out sooner than you want to believe.,

Now is decision time. Admit to yourself and your staff that you got taken or pretend it is all fine because you have to have chairs to do business. Also the cost to ship back is a lot. Small shippers pay full retail rates so a heavy box can easily be $125.00 even though you paid $50.00 to bring it in. The real decision is throw away $175.00 each in shipping and have nothing to show for it or just hope they last long enough to start making a profit.,

Most end up keeping the chairs because they can't afford to buy better especially after spending so much to return. All the refund would be is for the chair price minus shipping so they are stuck., And we didn't even mention the poor sewing or cheap cushions used on the chair. You know, the kind that go flat after a few minutes of use and stay flat forever.

Review of Salon Styling Chair 

Euro On The Rise

For salon owners in the market for salon equipment the choice is usually well made American manufactured products lacking style. Chinese imports with (copied) sytle but missing overall value due to low quality that a piece of daily used equipment must have or Italian and German imported goods with style and quality all in one. With an international economy few think about the cost to buy is not based on a US price but international exchange rates. The big banks get the published rate which was around 1.28 to 1 9 months ago. It had gone down to 1.08 to 1 3 monts ago and is now slowly moving up. The higher it goes the less the US dollar can purchase so that means higher prices for the exact same product, even if the manufacturer does not raise prices.

If you are in the market for European goods now is the time to make a decisoin. For example a $1357.00 salon chair at todays rate of 1.13 to 1 would be $1536.00 at 1.28 to 1 value ratio. About $200.00 more and it is the exact same piece.

Worlds Finest Salon Chairs

Everyone in the beauty business makes their living with a chair. The key is form and function. If one is lacking then it can cost you return clients and profits. You might be wondering how that is possible. Image is everything. If a client sits in a well worn chair, even it it is somewhat new they instantally have a lower perception of your business. That cushion that hits bottom or theside arms that move around just a little too much makes a bad impression. On the other hand a well made salon chair that feels firm and solid as well as looks amazing tells the client they are at a top quality establishment and they expect to pay a little more from the start.