Learning is an excellent tool to replace some of the falsehoods of how to run a successful hairdresser business that we encounter from our peers in the industry that haven’t ever grown their sales. If we listen to the experts in the station next to us we become callous and indifferent and our clients will certainly know it and begin to look elsewhere for the services that we provide. But the real fulfillment comes for us when we keep on learning continually and never think that you or I have actually arrived.

So let’s just consider some of the many facets of conducting a successful hairdresser business:

1. Your customers are #1: This is as fundamental as it gets and yet we’re all to quick to pull the trigger and let our folks know specifically what we feel … like, ‘don’t they care about all I’ve done for them? I’m just having a bad day today so they need to stop complaining to me all the time.’

Do we really have bad days? I mean does the sun come up everyday? Yes you bet, but we’ve got to show our appreciation of our clients and value them just like we want them to value us.

Actually, would you like to attempt a small test with your clients? Deliver to them your platinum service and see how they react to it; are you game?

2. There’s gold in your list: I can’t repeat this too many times because this is critical that you must have or develop your own list of customers that you can keep in touch with regularly. So let’s see … would you like to have your customers be loyal to you?

Just how good would it be if you produced a totally loyal client base that continues to visit and refer new people to you? How do you cultivate this and then keep giving them more value because they’re your clientele? By beginning and then keeping a list of all the people that you serve and then communicate with them on a regular basis.

3.

Lifetime customer value: This is a phrase that many in business don’t incorporate or employ into their businesses. And it’s almost a crime. You can’t actually know how good you can serve you clients until you grasp exactly what they are worth to you in your hairdresser business in the long run. Or as it’s called … their lifetime customer value. You will have to know a simple equation that allows you to crunch the numbers cost per visit, products bought, visits per year, times 5 years.

4. New Faces: First time customers ought to have some special considerations from you each time you get one in your chair. Have you ever been to a mechanic for the first time and wondered how you were going to get screwed? I mean treated? Have you ever been a little short on patience with those that come in to you the first time? I’m sure that you haven’t, but we’ve all experienced that uncomfortable time ourselves, haven’t we?

5. Being fresh: And I don’t mean being rude with your clients, but by adding some new items to your salon or station to change the look of what you started with XXX years ago. And I bet you already know exactly what I’m referring to don’t you? Come on change it up a bit. Do some extreme themes every once in a while to bring some novel look in your space and enjoy it with your customers. Make them laugh, offer them a cup of green tea of coffee or bottled water. How about fresh popcorn? Don’t offer them the stale mints that are so old the cellophane is stuck to them. Give them a break!

Here’s some things to consider and then … make it happen. Come on, give yourself to your clientele and see if they don’t approve of your hospitality.

How would you like to be one of the most successful hairdresser businesses in your corner of the world? You can and you should because you are the worth your best effort. We have a lot more to talk about.