This year, Hanukkah begins at sundown on December 2, and Christmastime seems to already be in full swing, given the musical selections in most stores and the number of red and green decorations all over the place. Kwanzaa begins on December 26 and lasts until New Year’s Day. Wintertime holidays are traditionally marked by the lighting of lights and the giving of gifts, as both brighten up the darkest months of the year. And don’t forget, while you’re bringing some warmth and light into the lives of your friends and your families, it’s nice to do the same for your professional acquaintances, such as your hair stylist at your favorite salon in Lawton.

Giving a little something to the people who provide you with crucial services such as great hair, professional-looking nails, or great massages is a holiday tradition. Whatever your faith, the end of the year is a time to make the people in your life feel appreciated, and a “little something” always goes a long way in that regard.

But it can be confusing to know what to give your hair stylist. You don’t want to give too much or too little. Let’s face it, unless your stylist is also a close friend outside the salon, you don’t want to give something too intimate. At the same time, you don’t want to give anything that seems too impersonal, like the holiday candle Janice from Accounting gave you last year at the office gift exchange.

Our gift to you today is a list of “stylist approved” seasonal gift ideas for that special someone who keeps you looking your very best all year long, but especially through the holidays. Just think of all those smart holiday parties, office gift exchanges, and family gatherings ahead of you. The person who makes you sparkle and shine deserves a little bit of appreciation, don’t you think?

Cash and Gift Cards

Everyone knows that it’s a tradition to tip your hair stylist a little extra during the holidays, but how much should you add? Most experts agree that doubling your usual, typical 15- to 20-percent tip is a good baseline for what might be seasonally appropriate. If nothing else you can hand your stylist a little envelope containing a nice holiday card and a little “fun money” stashed beside your usual tip.

If you want to go the extra mile, gift cards are also always warmly welcomed. If you know something about your stylist, such as what they like to eat or do, go for that! But you can always pick up a gift card for a nice local restaurant, a retail store, the movie theater, an online retailer, a book store, or a coffee house. If it’s in the area where your stylist works, that’s even better! It’ll be a convenient treat. But don’t fret over it. Pretty much everyone needs things from places like Target, so if you’re stumped, go for that! 

Booze and Food

The end of the year is the season of eating and drinking. Nobody will turn away gifts of food and drink. Tins of holiday cookies or chocolates? Sure. A bottle of wine or two? No problem. A cheese sampler? Girl, you know it. Jams and jellies? Happy to take ’em. Basically, anything someone will need to work off as part of their New Year’s resolutions is usually warmly welcomed. And if they’re homemade, so much the better! Homemade goodies always come with a bit of personal touch.

Handmade Items

If you know your stylist particularly well or have had an ongoing relationship for years, something handmade can be a really thoughtful and special gift. A hand-knitted scarf. Handmade soaps or bath bombs. Scented oils for the bath. Rosemary oil for her kitchen. Whatever you make, especially if it’s a hobby you’ve discussed with your stylist, makes a great gift!

Whimsical Gifts

Who doesn’t love an unusual décor item that immediately brings a smile to the face? Amusing mugs, clever tea towels, salon-friendly artwork, or humorous notepads are all nice gifts this time of year, especially if they relate back to something your stylist may have told you about himself or herself. Gifts like these may feel impersonal, but hey, if your stylist is always sipping on a cup of coffee, why not give her post-it notes that say something like, “This is one of those mornings where my coffee needs coffee.” While post-it notes aren’t the most intimate of gifts, they do show you’re thinking about her!

Personal Pampering Gifts

Even though your stylist may work in a full-service salon, he or she can still take the occasional “spa day” to de-stress and reset. You could get your stylist a gift certificate for a massage, a facial, a mani-pedi, or a whole-body treatment. Better yet, you can put together a basket of DIY at-home pampering gifts, including scented candles, lotions, bath salts, a mud mask, or those mitts you can heat up in the microwave. Those are perfect for tired hands!

Still Stumped?

If you’re not seeing anything that you think your stylist will like, turn to the gift pros. Google “gifts for stylists” or check Amazon. Amazon usually publishes numerous lists of gift ideas for everyone of every age. You can certainly find some suggestions there! And as we said before, letting people buy their own gifts is never a bad idea. A gift card or a little extra cash are things everyone appreciates this time of year!

Salons de Beauté is always cheery, but this time of year we’re ho-ho-hoping you choose to come in and look at our salon suites for stylists eager to be self-employed. Contact us today!

The post Great Holiday Gift Ideas for Your Hair Stylist! appeared first on Salons De Beaute.

Even at times like those, however, it’s important to be professional and do your best to meet their needs, especially in the era of social media and online business review sites. But it can be hard to walk the line of giving people what they want when they want the moon and still providing customer service that satisfies them and leaves you with your self-respect.

A little preparation for those sorts of situations can really help, however, so check out our list of five tips for handling unreasonable clients below. Once you’re prepared for the worst, you can keep your cool when the worst shows up. Once you’ve handled it, you’ll have a great story you can tell over drinks with your friends who also work in salons in Lawton!

Keep Calm

It may seem obvious, but it can be hard to remember to keep your cool when you’re in the moment. When a customer is being truly irrational, remind yourself to remain calm and professional at all times. Breathe in, breathe out and keep the conversation going. Use whatever techniques you need to keep yourself from wigging out at your client.

Appeal to their reason with your expertise if they’re demanding a style or treatment that won’t work for their hair. Don’t forget that you can appeal to their higher sense of decency, too, if they’re just being rude or arbitrary. Staying in control of yourself and refusing to show your anger means you’ll be coming from a position of strength when dealing with customers.

They say “the customer is always right” but we all know that’s not true. And remember, while that saying might have been the policy at the place you used to work, you now own your own mini salon suite in Lawton. You make the rules, and you can decide exactly how much you care to put up with in a client! 

Understand Your Client’s Point of View

Let’s say you’re dealing with an unreasonable request. A client with really curly hair wants a shaggy short cut that won’t look anything like she’s imagining or a man with thin hair wants a style he can’t sustain. We’re all familiar with tons of examples like these. It can be hard to dash their dreams in the cold water of reality, but as a salon professional, part of your job is helping your clients make good choices. The best possible way to handle this situation is to understand your client’s point of view. Go on a “customer needs discovery” with them. Ask questions. Get to the bottom of what they’re trying to achieve, stylistically speaking. This will help you give them a haircut they love, even if it’s not the haircut they demanded when they first walked in the door.

Help Them Understand the Consequences

When a client comes in with some gonzo request, take a few minutes to talk them through the reality of their decision, as we discussed above. Most times you’ll be able to get them to see reason, but when nothing else will do, you can try one final thing: telling them in no uncertain terms what the results of their choice will be. Maybe your customer doesn’t realize the gravity of the situation, but with your help, she may be able to understand better what will happen if she demands you carry out her requests. Just remember, if you find the right way to say things, people will be more inclined to listen. “I hate to disappoint you, but in my professional opinion,” when said in a calm but firm tone, can really turn the tide of a conversation with a difficult client. 

Try Exploring the Alternatives

As we mentioned above, offering alternatives can be a good solution to serving a client who wants an impossible cut, color, or style. We live in a golden age of fashion and of technology. Apps can help you show a client what a different hairstyle might look on him or her. A temporary product can offer a preview of a bold color change without the commitment. Find a way to help them visualize what they want before committing fully to a radical style departure!

… or Refuse Politely

Sometimes you just know that the style, cut, or color your customer is demanding going to be a complete and total disaster. Whether it’s something that’s beyond the skill or scope of your talents or if you just know it’ll be hideous or unsafe and they’ll be disappointed or angry, the only thing you can do is be honest and then refuse if the client won’t change her mind. Doing something terrible to your client won’t help them any, and frankly, it won’t work out well for you, either. Don’t invite the conflict. It’s better to send away a customer who’s angry with you personally for denying them a service than to perform a service on a customer who’s angry with you for destroying her hair.

Cut Them Loose?

No one wants to send away a client, but in some very rare cases it may be worth your sanity to do so. Regular readers of this blog will know that every single one of your clients can be estimated to bring in about $1,500 in annual revenue, so it’s good in some cases to just grin and bear it. But in other cases, you’ll be happier if you make room in your schedule for new clients who appreciate you and listen to your expertise.

Salons de Beauté is a great place for salon workers who want to determine who they want to work with and what they do. Contact us today and enjoy the freedom that comes with determining your hours, clients, and services!

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Whatever your reason for moving, moves happen, and you’re not the first health or beauty professional to do so! When you choose to move, you’ll want to do everything you can to make sure the move doesn’t negatively affect your business. There’s no way to eliminate the stress of actually picking up and moving, but with a little foresight and planning you can move without the stress of worrying you’ll see a downturn in your income.

Maintaining Your Business During a Move

We’ve all lost things during a move (and we’ve also “lost” things, like those ugly curtain rods you got three Christmases ago from your aunt). While (sometimes) it’s regrettable when an item goes missing, things are easily replaced.

But when you work in the health and beauty industry, your business is about people, not things. You can’t pack your clients into a box like you can your hair dryers, shears, razors, massage lotions, or samples of great beauty products. Customers are hard to replace, but the thing is… you’re a rock star. You give great cuts, massages, or facials. You’re on time, personally motivated, and you’re fun and engaging and talented. Along with great service you give great advice for all the weird life problems your clients tell you about. People love you and your treasure trove of hair color and styling products. Your clients will stick with you—well, most of them will. But you’ll have to work for it.

It’s said by salon industry experts that you can expect to lose twenty to thirty percent of your clients when you shift locations. Some loss is inevitable, but you’re more likely to keep that number on the low side if you manage your move well. 

Give Verbal Notice. Like, a LOT of Notice.

While it’s understandable to want to keep a move quiet while you’re still in the planning stages, you will have to give your clients quite a bit of notice if you want to retain them as you move. Did you know that salespeople say you have to tell a person something three times to get it to sink in? Whether or not you can see your clients three times before you move, telling them as early and as often as possible that you’re relocating will help as many of your customers make the jump with you. Drop them a line on social media as well as telling them in person. And when it’s really happening, try to get them to pre-book at your new location. That way, they’ll be in the door almost as quickly as you’ll be! People need the services you provide, so the sooner you’re up and running and getting them in the chair, the better.

Flood Them with Notifications…

Telling your clients in person is great, but you also have other options—especially if you’re in a difficult situation leaving your old location and starting at a new one, and you don’t want to advertise your move until it’s time to make it. Try some of the following…

• The US Mail: Send cards or letters to their home addresses, if you have them.
• Social Media Updates: If your clients follow you on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, you can lock down your profiles so that only certain people can see them. Then you’re free to post alerts to your clients.
• Emails: A targeted email blast can do wonders for your client retention rate when you move.
• Text/Phone Call/Voice Mail: You have their phone numbers. Use them! 

Maybe this seems like a lot of work, but it’s more work to build a new clientele from nothing. Every client you have is probably worth $1,500 or thereabouts in annual revenue (a number we based on a client getting a cut and color ten times a year). Add to that the occasional $25 bottle of shampoo, conditioner, or other styling products and the value goes up. And this number might be even higher once you start running your own mini salon suite in Lawton and can retain more of your money and keep more of the markup on product sales. When you add in 20% in tips, your hard work will pay off in the end.

It might help to offer a discount to clients who follow you to your new place, and it’s often worth it to ask your existing clients to tell their friends. But don’t overdo it! Not all of your clients will follow you, and you’ll have to let them go or risk seeming obnoxious or spammy.

Host a New Salon Launch Event

Launch parties are fun—and hosting one can generate some additional buzz for your new location. You can hand out gift certificates for discounts and show off your killer décor. Most of all, it’ll show them all where you are. Get a few snacks and a few drinks and people will come.

And Maybe Don’t Talk About the Old Salon

Your clients will ask what happened. While it’s acceptable to cite differences of opinion or a rent increase, it’s important not to badmouth your old location and more importantly, the people there. The salon industry is a tightly-knit group; word gets around. Stay positive, talk about how much you’re loving your new space or business, and leave out any bad feelings you might have.

You Know You’re Going to Make the Move…

The only constant in the universe is change. You have to be prepared! You’ll move, for better or for worse. Why not be proactive about your dreams? Make lemonade out of the lemons of life! As painful as it might be to cut ties or as inconvenient as moving might be, you’ll love working for yourself in your own mini salon suite in Lawton!

Salons de Beauté in Lawton is leasing mini salon suites to stylists looking to move into a great, upscale location where they can be their own bosses. Contact us today and find out about our reasonable rates and great location!

The post How to Successfully Relocate Your Salon Clients and Business appeared first on Salons De Beaute.

Making the Jump from Salon Employee to Entrepreneur

The truth is, fear is the hardest thing to overcome when it comes to making the jump from employee to entrepreneur. Think about it this way: you already have the passion, you already have the drive… or you wouldn’t be considering the move in the first place!

The way to combat fear is to educate yourself. The Salons de Beauté blog is a good place to start acquiring the knowledge and experience you’ll need to draw clients, offer professional services, and figure out what it’ll take to open your own place. Check there for advice on things like joining a trade union, establishing relationships, and making your salon a success. You’re already a talented beauty professional with solid technical skills. Maybe you already understand the business side of things a little, and just need to make sure you have a solid plan. If you’re committed to learning and have the energy to do what it takes to make your own business a success, you can do this. Let the fear go! Because the process is not that bad, even when it comes to finding premises. Although…

A Professional Location is a True Sign of Professionalism

Finding a location for your beauty business can be tricky, especially when you’re working on a budget, but it’s also extremely important to have premises that look professional. Beauty is all about trust, and your clients want to feel like they’re in good hands. Clean premises with a relaxed, salon-like feel in a high-traffic area will do wonders for your business. And if you can establish your business near similar ones, you can enjoy the “multiplier” effect where business brings business—you know, like having a coffee shop next door to a dry cleaner. Even better would be a setup similar to what you’d enjoy at Salons de Beauté in Lawton. If you’re a nail tech who accepts walk-ins, and your next-door neighbor is a hair stylist who gets a bit busy on the weekends, boom. That’s traffic you might not have had otherwise! That’s why small businesses find locations next to other successful businesses—impulse traffic can be a huge income source. Plus, the extra parking can make it a lot easier to get in and out of your business!

It’s Hard to Find Affordable Real Estate

While a search for affordable commercial real estate can seem overwhelming, it won’t be so bad. After all, commercial spaces are more valuable to their owners when they’re leased, so they’ll price themselves competitively. The big problem is actually finding an affordable space that’s already set up for what you want to do. Even if the price on a space is right, and the location is to die for, if it used to be a pizza place or an office, it’ll cost far too much to install cabinets, shampoo bowls, styling chairs, sturdy countertops, mirrors… everything you’ll need to be a small salon.

But if you live in the Lawton area, there’s a good solution at hand. Salons de Beauté in Lawton is affordable—most of our clients pay about $130 a week for a mini salon suite between 9×9 and 9×11 that has everything they need and nothing they don’t. Our space is welcoming to clients, with privacy doors and salon-like waiting areas. We also have great parking for them and on-site laundry facilities for you.

You Can Find a Salon Space That’s Affordable

We understand that any rent can seem like a lot when you’re used to just receiving a paycheck at the end of the working week, but in reality, the cost of a space for your own salon is easily covered when you’re keeping all your monthly service revenue and every single bit of the profit from your retail sales. Many of our leasees here at Salons de Beauté have found their income has doubled or more when they don’t have to share revenue or product sales. 

As a New Salon Owner, Less is More

A mini salon suite might not be the space you first imagined when you began to dream of owning your own business, but when you really think about it, a smaller space can mean big things for you. Whether you’re starting out as a small business owner or downsizing because you’re tired of running a huge salon, less will be more when you lease with Salons de Beauté. Stylists and beauty pros can only really service one or two clients at a time, so you don’t need a ton of space to do your job exceptionally well. What you need is enough space to work with your customers, show off your products, and move around without banging into things. The waiting area at Salons de Beauté allows early arrivals to sit and relax while you finish up with your prior client, so you don’t need a seating area. You just need room to work, and you’ll have it—with storage, too, and all the amenities.

What Next for Your Salon Business?

If what we’ve said has got you thinking that leasing a mini salon suite might be the right choice for you, well, it’s time to take action. The year is ending, you’re starting to think about what the new year will bring. If you’ve fantasized this year about outfitting a salon space, creating a new client base, selling your favorite products, and more, it’s time to pick up the phone and call us today! Salons de Beauté is a great choice for any stylist or beauty pro interested in branching out into managing their own business. Contact us today!

The post Have You Ever Thought About Owning Your Own Mini Salon Suite? appeared first on Salons De Beaute.

All of the above scenarios could lead to the desire—or the need—to jump ship to another salon. Sometimes, no matter how much you enjoy your workplace, you need to leave it behind you. But if you find yourself in a similar situation to the above, don’t just move from one salon chair to another—consider moving to your very own mini salon suite.

Maybe you’ve never considered being your own boss and going into business for yourself, but there are many reasons to think about it when it comes time to make a change in your life. When you own your own mini salon suite, you have more control over your clients, the services you offer, and your income. There are many great salons in Lawton—you probably already work at one of them!—but until you open your own, you’ll always be at the mercy of others. When you own your own salon suite, however, you’ll be in charge.

For example, when you own your own salon suite, you’ll be able to charge your customers what you think your services are worth, and up-sell any additional services you provide instead of handing off coloring or brow waxing to another aesthetician. Not only that, but you can also sell product at a higher margin, meaning your motivation to cross-sell will be rewarded and reflected in your own bottom line.

And speaking of those products, you won’t be limited in what products you can sell when you run your own mini salon. You’ll decide what deals to put in place, what brand lines to offer your clientele. You’ll know best what they want, and you’ll sell those items at a price point that will tempt them.

Once you start thinking about owning your own mini salon in Lawton, you may find that you start thinking about lots of little things you would change about your current salon if you could. Maybe you think you’d do a better job managing than your current manager. Maybe you think you could set better hours of operation. Maybe you see ways you could be retaining more clients, or generating better word of mouth. Maybe you see ways you could provide better customer care, or don’t like the lack of unity among your coworkers. Or maybe you’re just sick of mandatory meetings! Whatever the case might be, a mini salon suite might well be the right place for you to move, when you’re ready to move.

Salons de Beauté leases mini salon suites to self-motivated stylists just like you. Contact us today and find out how we can help you be your own boss!

The post Jumping Ship: Reasons YOU Should Consider Moving from a Salon Chair to a Salon Suite appeared first on Salons De Beaute.

These days, however, men’s grooming is a booming industry. A full 25% of salon customers in 2015 where men, and it was estimated that the men’s grooming industry would bring in $21 billion in revenue in 2016. Much of this revenue is generated via men’s grooming products, given that companies are wisely packaging hair care products, shave products, and even face care products like oils, lotions, toners, and scrubs, to appeal to men. At salons all over the world, haircuts and shaves remain the most popular services among men, but more and more men are also becoming interested in more advanced grooming, requesting facials, massages, and hair removal. This growing men’s grooming market is a golden opportunity for savvy health and beauty pros who want to attract—and retain—new clientele.

Let’s be clear—we’re not talking about barbershops here. We’re talking about salons like yours—salons in Lawton—offering services for men, as well as the typical services women enjoy. While barbershops these days cater to men’s interests by featuring cigar bars or sports themes, or by specializing in mustaches, beards, and “manly” manicures, there’s no reason a more standard salon can’t attract a male clientele.

A 2015 study revealed that 81% of salons don’t have a male-focused marketing program. That’s a huge opportunity for salon owners like you to explore. So, how do you tap into this? Well, men report that cost and convenience are two of the most important factors they consider when choosing a salon. Cleanliness and value are the other two top factors. That means that salon owners like you who are already in a convenient location can easily advertise and attract a male clientele. (Hint: use social media!)

There’s a strange old saying in men’s grooming that you should never go to your woman’s hair salon. Here at Salons de Beauté, we think that attitude is old-fashioned. There’s no reason men and women can’t enjoy the same salon, even if they’re dating. In fact, offering a couple’s discount might be just the way to get the significant others of your clients in the door. Just remember, men value frankness. Surveys have shown that 50% of men who are unhappy with a haircut tell their stylist on the spot. So, cultivate an open relationship with your male clients, whether they’re the significant other of a regular, or just walk through the door because you advertise men’s styles and male-oriented grooming products and treatments!

Salons de Beauté is the convenient solution for all your grooming needs, whether you’re a manly man, a girly girl, or somewhere in between. Contact us today!

The post How to Attract and Keep a Man (Client) at Your Lawton Salon appeared first on Salons De Beaute.

While here at Salons de Beaute we believe our stylists are artists, unique creators who use medium like nails, hair, skin, and more, the salon industry is a sales industry. While we may not be selling gadgets or gizmos, services are still sales. So, a tip that helps generate revenue for anyone in sales looking to grow their business is to increase your add-on sales.

Sometimes called “upselling” or “cross-selling,” these tactics are good ones for salon workers or owners like you to increase your revenue. As an experienced salon professional, your knowledge of your craft and your products makes you a valued health and beauty expert—someone your clients can rely on for good advice and quality services.

You can monetize that trust by upselling services. Examples of upselling would be adding a color to a cut, a brow waxing to a facial, or a foot massage to a mani/pedi. You don’t have to be aggressive about it; a good approach is urging your clients to take care of themselves—to treat themselves. They’re worth it, after all!

You can also cross-sell products that will match your services. Examples of cross-selling would be selling your clients color-protecting shampoo after you dye their hair, recommending a jar of cuticle cream after a manicure, or selling them a packaged mud mask to keep that facial looking fresh. Listening to your clients’ needs and recommending products and services that will serve those interests will make you seem responsive, rather than mercenary.

Successful sales like these won’t just move products off the shelf of your salon suite in Lawton—they’ll establish you as an authority among your clientele. Being a reliable source of health and beauty information will bring your clients back for more… and potentially increase your client base. Think about it: when your happy customers aren’t just raving about your amazing haircuts, but also about the great products they pick up at your salon, new people will have two motivations to walk in the door for a service!

Salons de Beauté is renting to self-motivated stylists and beauty professionals just like you. Our mini salon suites are ideal for small business-minded pros who are eager to be their own boss. Contact us today!

The post Make the Most of Your Time with Your Salon Clients by Upselling and Cross-Selling appeared first on Salons De Beaute.

One of the top resolutions people make come the start of the new year is to improve their employment situation. To take risks on new opportunities in the workplace. It can be scary enough to make the leap from one position to another—and if you want to make the jump from employee to small business owner, it can feel terrifying! But in the end, it can really be worth it… and when you have good resources like Salons de Beauté to help you, it’s more in reach than ever before!

Why do we say Salons de Beauté is a resource for self-motivated stylists looking to open a salon in Lawton? First, and most importantly, Salons de Beauté leases mini salon suites to stylists just like you, making it easier for you to open and run a salon. And our reasonable rates, great working space, and community of like-minded small business entrepreneurs will help to support your business even after you’ve signed on the bottom line. Our social media, as well as this very blog, is also intended to be a resource for our community—and by community, we mean the stylists at Salons de Beauté, and the broader community of stylists who work at salons in Lawton! We strive to be a valuable resource for stylists, colorists, nail techs, massage therapists, and aestheticians everywhere.

So, when is the best time to make the big change from employee to owner and start your own mini salon business? It’s not just about dreaming of setting your own hours, managing your own client list, and keeping more of your money—though those are all perks, to be sure. Business experts will say that striking out on your own is the best move when you no longer feel you’re growing or learning in your current position. That’s when you’re ready for a big change. It’s also crucial to be certain you’d rather work sixty hours a week for yourself, rather than forty for someone else. And if possible, it’s good to be in a stable place in your life, with the support of your family and friends!

In the end, however, it’s mostly about when you have the drive and determination to make your own small business happen. No one ever has all their ducks in a row, no one is ever 100% ready for something. Waiting for the stars to align may keep you from pursuing your dreams indefinitely. So if you’re interested, make a New Year’s resolution to come to Salons de Beauté and talk to us about what it would take to open your very own salon in Lawton!

Salons de Beauté in Lawton is leasing mini salon suites to stylists interested in being their own boss in the new year. Contact us today and ask us about our reasonable rates!

The post New Year Means New Opportunities for Your Own Salon Business in Lawton appeared first on Salons De Beaute.

If you really want to earn a few extra bucks around the holidays, consider doing some easy holiday marketing both online and in-store. That’s right! You should absolutely deck the halls of your salon with boughs of holly, festive lights, and other odds and ends that put people in the mind of giving (and spending). Some people like to go all out with that sort of thing, using tinsel and even Christmas music to put people in the right frame of mind. Others like a subtler touch—a few holiday decorations, but no Christmas music, to make their spa an oasis from the holiday hustle and bustle. Embrace your individual style! But while you’re decorating your salon, don’t forget that your social network is also a great place for holiday marketing.

That’s right—your social network! You can really use it to your advantage this time of year. First and foremost, let your social media followers know you’re open (and eager!) for business during the holidays. Make sure to note any changes in your days or hours, but also let them know your schedule is already filling up fast. That sort of information will inspire your clients to give you a call and make sure their spot is reserved.

The holidays are also a great time to move your stock. Try pushing your retail salon products to the maximum. Put everything you have out in a nice holiday display, and run two-for-one specials that will have your clients buying what they need, but also considering their friends and family. A sign in-store or a subtle hint while they’re in the chair can be great motivators for clients to open their pocketbooks, but again, don’t forget your all-important social media. An exclusive online coupon can get people in the door. Salon products are just the sort of thing people like to have on hand to give to friends, both as a main gift or a last-minute present, so there’s no harm in suggesting how nice it is to find a luxury conditioner or sparkly nail polish under the tree.

Remember that the holidays are a time for joy and giving and family—and here at Salons de Beauté, we consider all our clients family. So, happy holidays from us to you!

Salons de Beauté is leasing now to stylists just like you. Contact us today and maybe Santa will put your very own mini salon suite under your tree this year!

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For aspiring stylists looking to open salons in Lawton, joining a trade organization is a great way to get to know your future business by acquiring information and advice from people who have been where you are. Trade organizations usually offer advice on things like marketing, as well as providing opportunities to network and attend workshops, seminars, and conferences on special topics within your industry. There are usually even mentorship opportunities! So, if you’re standing behind a salon chair today but see yourself leasing a space and running your own business tomorrow, you should definitely consider joining an organization full of members who can give you advice on how to make the leap. And even if you already own your own salon in Lawton, or one of the mini salon suites we have here at Salons de Beauté, there’s no time like the present to expand your horizons by joining a trade organization!

There are other compelling reasons to join a trade organization. Many have online forums for their members to discuss topics related to business, including those that might not otherwise be on your radar. Sometimes legislation can be introduced that might affect your business in strange ways—trade organizations stay on top of such matters. They’ll also be up-to-date on what sorts of charitable organizations you can donate your time to in order to gain exposure and even tax benefits. They’re also often the best resource for locating ongoing education and training opportunities.

The Beauty School Directory is a great resource for stylists. The linked page will provide you with basic information and a huge list of organizations for stylists just like you. Here are a few you could consider:

• The Professional Beauty Association provides industry content helpful to salon owners and those who hope to own their own salon or mini salon suite one day.
• There’s also the Association of Cosmetology Salon Professionals. Their mission is to promote and support professionalism in the cosmetology, esthetics, and nail industries.
• For Colorists, there’s the American Board of Certified Hair Colorists.
• Those who do cuts and colors may find a good resource in the Hair Artist Association.

These are only a few of the many great trade organizations that exist to support salon professionals just like you. Joining a beauty or salon trade organization can be a great first step in achieving your dream of being a salon owner, or a fantastic move to make if you’re already established in your own salon in Lawton but want to grow your business.

Salons de Beauté is leasing mini salon suites in Lawton to stylists like you. Contact us today!

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