Use "Back to School" to attract new clients

It is "Back to School" Time

Use this time to attract new clients to your salon!

Make a list of the ages (approximate) of your regular clients.

If you have a number of clients between 50 and 65+ years of age, you have Grandmothers.

There is nothing Grandma's like better than their grandchildren.

Invite the grandchildren into the salon for a free service before school starts.

Pre-school and K to 3rd grade--Paint their toe nails and fingernails while Grandma gets her hair done.

4th grade through 8th grade--Put a braid in their hair while Grandma gets her hair done.

(A more practical approach is to do a conditioning treatment to remove any greenish color from chlorine swimming pools.)

9th grade through 12th grade--Trim bangs while grandma gets her hair done.

Then give Grandma a $ off coupon for the next time she want to bring her grandchild in for a service.

4 to 6 more Weeks of Summer

After several days of super hot weather and nasty rain storms yesterday,

Today is a perfect summer day in Pittsburgh!

I know that most of the chains and big box stores are preparing for

"Back -to-School"

I would strongly suggest that you plan one additional summer promotion before you do "Back-to-School". There are 4 to 6 weeks of summer left. Loads of people are just returning from vacation or planning their August vacation.

Below are several suggestions for mid-summer promotions:

• Free TOE nail polish touch up. Almost all clients will have sandals on. If you have a pleasant outdoor area outside your salon, bring out a pedicart, several beach-type chairs, a pitcher of ice tea and do the touch-ups outside.
• To clients headed to the beach for an August vacation, give away a small size of hair conditioner to use while on vacation to prevent sun, sea salt and chlorine damage.
• To clients just returning from vacation, give away a free in-salon treatment with each haircut or color to repair sun, sea salt or chlorine damge.
• To younger clients headed to cheer or band camp (either day camp or overnight), give away small bottles of nail polish that they can share with their friends or teammates. Be certain to attach your business card to each bottle to promote future business.

Enjoy the remainder of Summer!

Sorry, I have beenn missing for a few months!

Sorry, I have been missing for a few months. Back Surgery and Knee Accident. I am back in action now. Corinne

JD SALON FURNITURE OUTLET has a great summer promotiin.

Lazy Days of Summer "Free" Layout and Design

We offer a Layout and Design Service for your new salon or to remodel your existing salon. Normally there is a substantial charge for this service. As a special for the quiet days of summer (July 1, 2010 to August 15, 2010), there will be no charge for this service. There will be no required purchase.

Send your room dimensions, number of hair, nail and other work stations you want, location pf doors and windows, location of existing plumbing including restrooms. We will lay out your salon at no charge.

Call 724-684-3920

Find the "Perfect" Location--Get help from a Realtor

You need to find the "perfect" Location

There are a number of questions you must have answers to before you finalize your location.

Start by working with a reputable COMMERCIAL real estate agent. Be certain that the agent does not just sell houses.

Most of the questions in this blog were answered by:

Bob Sypolt

Northwood Realty 201Associates

1179 Rostraver Road

Belle Vernon PA 15012

www.northwood.com

For purposes of this blog, we are assuming that the salon owner is going to lease space as opposed to buying a building.

Where can you secure basic information about the community that you plan to open in:

Population

Demographics

Income Levels

Schools

Visit the websites of the towns or city

Visit the website of the local Chamber of Commerce or other business associations

Visit the website of the mall or strip mall that interests you

As much as technology enables us to get information online, I would still suggest that you get out of your car and walk. Walk up and down the streets of the town. Walk the strip mall(s) and the actual mall that interests you. Stop in the stores and introduce yourself. Visit the local city building, police station and mall manager's office.

Review the parking situation.

Is enough parking available for your customers?

Is the parking area properly paved?

Is the parking area properly lit at night? Is it safe? Do the local police protrol?

What is the cost of parking to you or your customers?

If there is a charge to your customers, is it in line with what your competitor's clients have to pay?

Your Lease:

Determine your monthly rent:

Is there an up charge for:

Property taxes?

Property insurance?

Maintenance?

Common fees?

If so, can these charges be changed without notice or negotiation?

Length of lease:

1 year--too short unless the salon owner will have to do nothing to improve building.

3 years--very good especially if it is renewable. Short but allows the average business time to succeed.

5 years--even better than 3

10 years--very long--probably only to considered with a very experienced salon owner. This probably will not happen.

What does the lease include? Most of these items are negotiable.

Flooring? Most salons do not want or cannot have carpeting in their work areas.

Wall coverings? Painting or Wall Paper

New Electric? Must consider the electric requirements of each work station. This is very important if salon has tanning beds.

Plumbing? Location of any existing plumbing should be considered when laying out the salon. If possible, shampoo areas and other sinks should be located so as not to move plumbing.

Water and sewage? Quite often these utilities are included in the rent. Salons do use more water than an average business.

It is important that the above items be settled in writing in the lease prior to signing. Take nothing for granted!

Restrooms?

If it is a free standing building, it must include a restroom.

If it is part of a multi use building, are public restrooms available for your clients?

Determine if the landlord will allow for leasehold improvements?

Again, in writing in the lease.

If in a mall or strip mall, what mall rules normally apply?

Opening time

Closing time

Holiday hours

Use of space outside storefront

Music and/or noise

# of people

Signage

Take the time and spend the money to have your lawyer review the lease.

It will be cheap and quick when a problem occurs and you are prepared.

There are 2 additional experts you need on your team.

There are 2 additional experts you need on your team!

A Lawyer & a Real Restate Broker

How to choose a lawyer?

The following factors and questions should be considered when choosing a lawyer.

• Do they know and/or get along with your accountant? In my opinion your account is your most important team member. Therefore, the other team members must be compatible with him or her.
• What type of law do they practice? You will want a lawyer that specializes in business, tax and real estate law. (In small towns, it is more likely to find lawyers who are generalists)
• Are their fees afordable? Yes, lawyer fees are negotiable. Do not sign any long term payment arrangements.
• Do they return calls and get back to you quickly? Ask around the business community. Ask what their policy is.
• What is your "gut" reaction?

To start you will need a lawyer to do the following:

Set up corporation and/or partnership papers.

File for a fictious name license

Review your lease.

*Special note--There are a lot of these you can do yourself.

Lawyers can only charge for their time and expertise. You do not have their expertise. However, you can do the simple tasks that require time.

• You can file for your cosmetology/nail/barber license.
• Open your own bank accounts.
• File for local permits.
• Collect data for the things the lawyer will do.
• Do special mailings--certified. etc.

Be certain to request and keep copies of everything that your lawyer does for you.

Trade Journals--Keep in Touch with the Industry

It is important to keep in touch with the industry.

This is so if you have owned a salon for years or are just opening one.

Following the Trade Journals is one way to do it.

Modern Salon and American Salon are two of the biggest and oldest in the industry.

I stopped my discussion of the experts needed to open a salon because there are two very interesting and helpful articles in these magazines:

• American Salon's November 2nd edition article by Rodney Cutler on Social Networking: Not Just for Gen-Y. Sure it started as a way to connect with friends, but now it's one of the most powerful and easily accessible marketing tools out there....................(This is a must read article!)
• Vance Publishing, the parent company of Modern Salon invites you to attend a FREE presentation of "The Art of the Possible"--Digital Marketing Strategies and Tactics to Grow Your Business in the Salon Industry at the 2010 Western Buying Conference on January 14th at Bally's Hotel in Las Vegas. You must register. If you are unable to join the presentation contact modernsalon@vancepublishing.com for an individual appointment.

Try to grab all the free help you can for your business!

Follow up to 10/10/09 Blog "How Computerized Will Your Salon Be"

Follow-up to 10/10/09 Blog "How Computerized Will Your Salon Be".

Answers and Statements by a Small Business Computer Expert:
Kevin Marraccini
marraccini.com, llc
1316 Woodland Drive
Monroeville PA 15146
412-956-3573
kevin@marraccini.com
www.marraccini.com

Point of Sale program for services and retail:
I think Point of Sale is a must. Quick Books and Microsoft both have products geared toward the small business. They include easy to follow screens and link with credit card processing companies. They will also link with tax software.
Is there hardware available?
Computer manufactures are incorporating POS as a complete solution offering. These offerings will include a computer, monitor, cash drawer, barcode scanner and printer.

Are appointment scheduling programs available?
Most POS programs have a Appointment Program available as part of the package. They are print reminder postcards, phone and email lists. A client record card can also be included.

Can the POS program attach to an accounting program?
Most POS systems can do basic bill paying and invoicing. Most will link to more advanced account software packages such as:
P/L Statement
Balance Sheet
Inventory--Retail and /Service Products
Payroll (Outsourcing payroll is also an option. They will also prepare taxes.)

There are a number of Computer packages just for Beauty Salons. Do you recommend them or prefer basic programs such as Quick Books?
I checked out a few of them and they do seem pretty powerful. Might even do what Quick Books does. They need to work with the accounting program the salon is using. Linking to tax software is important.

What hardware do you suggest?
Dell or HP is what I typically recommend for computers. There are many cash draw and scanners vendors.

The following should also be considered:
*The owner or manager may also want a computer in their office.
*They will need a router to connect to the internet and link multiple computers.
*They may want to restrict access to certain programs such as payroll, P/L, etc.
*They may also want to "lock down" the register so employees are not surfing the internet for non work related things.
*I think internet at broadband speed is important--Cable, DSL. FIOS.
*Running antivirus or spyware detection programs is important.
*Having a backup program to protect the data is very important. I recommend Mozy.com.
*Passwords are important.

Email and Website:
Email and Website are great. Scheduling appointments by email would be a quick way for communication. Salon owner may want to have a smartphone or blackberry.