Spring is just around the corner, which means growth and change are on everyone’s mind. As the first crocuses poke up though the last of winter’s crusted snow, our minds naturally turn to the idea of opening up, branching out, and expanding. And you never know just what will bloom!
If you’re considering trying to grow your salon business in Lawton this year, read on. This is the second in our two-part series on successful entrepreneurs’ tips on how to successfully expand your small business. Last time, we talked about surrounding yourself with good people, developing a sensible plan for growing your salon in Lawton, keeping your focus dialed in while you expand, analyzing your core values, and knowing your competition. Read on and find out what else we’ve gleaned from reading the best advice from the most successful entrepreneurs around!
These are common-sense ideas that any small-business owner would find useful, but they can be tailored to the needs of anyone who owns a salon in Lawton. In fact, we’ve done a little thinking for you on how this advice could apply to someone who owns a mini salon suite and is looking to grow their business, but maybe your thoughts will spin off into a different direction. Read on and see!
- Find Out What Your Clients Want and Give It To Them.
This may seem basic, but it’s the beating heart of every service-industry business. You can’t sell people what they don’t want. You have to ascertain what they do want and sell them that.
Sure, it’s important to try to anticipate needs. As an industry professional, you’ll be the first to hear about things like a specialty service that’s just making the rounds in Hollywood, a new nail color, the daring haircut that the heroine of the latest superhero blockbuster is rocking. But it’s not just about the services you provide; it’s about your clients’ total experience. In addition to specific services, you’re also providing other important things: pampering, giving the feeling of trendiness, providing a sense of identity.
Those less tangible things are what people really want, so you need to figure out how to give them to your clients along with the actual physical services you provide. It’s not easy to really put your finger on what people want. Sometimes, they don’t even know! But figuring this out is worthwhile, because it makes you essential.
- Invest in Infrastructural Improvements.
We were just talking about figuring out what your clients want and giving it to them. Some of that is emotional, the feeling they get from receiving your service. But tied into that is their desire for an experience. You have to figure out what your clients want in that regard, too. Do your clients like a soothing, spa-like atmosphere that helps them unwind after their long workdays? Or do they want to go to a salon that feels like an upbeat, cool, funky clubhouse where they leave feeling like going out for a night with their girls? That’s the power of décor and of tailoring your space to meet your clients’ needs. You have to take risks and express yourself!
When you’re leasing a mini salon suite from Salons de Beauté, you obviously won’t be making structural changes to your building. That doesn’t mean you can’t use your profits to customize your space, though. You can add paint, décor, or art for the walls. The more comfortable your space, the happier your customers! Creating the right environment is an essential part of giving your clients what they want, whether you’re retaining current clients or attracting new ones, so it fits into your mission to grow your business.
- When You’re Ready, Quit Your Day Job.
It can be hard to know when to say goodbye, but if you’re looking to not just run your own salon in Lawton but also grow and expand that business, it’s going to need all your focus. When you can, downsize your distractions. If you’re still renting a chair at a bigger salon, even if it’s still part-time, you’re going to have to give it up at some point. When you’re in a place where you can cut the cord, do it. Only then will you really be able to sow your time, focus, and energy and reap the rewards of that.
- Don’t just focus on getting the sale. Focus on helping your salon clients.
Again, salons are part of the service industry. We are here to help clients feel like their best selves. Selling them services they don’t want or products they don’t need may net you a quick sale, but it won’t build trust between you and your clients. You need to show them you understand them and care about their needs, not just about what they can fish out of their wallets.
- Keep Detailed Records
Tax season is upon us, so now’s a good time to plan out how you’ll keep even better records next year. Keeping detailed records is an essential part of any small business, though it’s rarely anyone’s favorite. That’s why getting ahead of the game is a good idea. Get a divider and put your receipts in the proper place, do your paperwork monthly, and stay on top of things. It’s not as fun as giving someone funky highlights or a great massage, but you must do it to stay afloat, and you’ve got to be great at it to grow!
- Become an Authority and Teach Others.
Sometimes, growing your brand means establishing your place in the community. When you take on a role like teaching or mentoring, it can help you remember your core competencies, your values, your brand. It’s true that becoming a mentor won’t necessarily net you more money, but it’s a way to expand your brand as you give back. People don’t forget the people who helped them! Remember how our very first action item was surround yourself with good people? Well, you can be one of those good people for others! When you make those sorts of inroads in your community, people will see you in a different light. You can’t buy that sort of publicity!
Grow your small business this year at Salons de Beauté in Lawton, OK. Contact us today to hear about our reasonable prices and premium facility!