Salonology

When I was younger I was terrible with money...

I spent without awareness.

I was easily swayed to buy a new pair of Miss Sixty Jeans because they made my legs look long...

I liked to have new outfits for each weekend...

Everything went on a credit card…

Until, one day, I realised I didn’t really have much to show for it.

Jeans that no longer fit and some fun memories of nights at the local cheesy nightclub – but not much else.

And as friends settled and bought properties and went down the more conventional route, I was living abroad somewhere being less than financially responsible.

But when I opened my salon, that all had to change.

I had to start treating my business like a business and be more self aware when it came to numbers.

One of the best tips I ever had was to move money each and every month into a separate account, ready to pay taxes and bills – so I always had a surplus.

So I didn’t spend what I should be reserving.

As someone who’s easily distracted by shiny things, this was a game changer in my business as it showed me, with more clarity, where I stood each month.

It’s a habit that’s rolled into my private life too – small off shoot bank accounts for taxes, bills and savings.

Sounds boring and unsexy...

But it's actually savvy and smart.

Because it does something that’s extremely important.

It reduces stress.

That feeling you get as you approach end of month...

Taxes due...

Wages due...

Rent due...

It's scary...

And if you aren’t on top of your numbers, you lose your way and the overwhelm kicks in.

Panic...

Sleepless nights...

That horrible sinking feeling...

But now… I don’t worry.

My standing order kicks in first thing so there will always be enough to make sure I have the money to pay.

The thing is, in business, we can avoid so many of these things by having systems in place.

It may not be the most glamourous of subjects – but if you have the foundations in place, the whole job of being a salon CEO becomes much easier.

So your nights are more restful and your days less full of stress.

The number of salon owners I speak to who vigilantly check the bank by the minute - worried that the balance won't reflect the bills is crazy.

The fear mounting towards month end.

Understanding the hacks, processes and systems you can easily implement to make life easier is probably one of the most valuable things you can do with time your time right now.

If you have a salon and you want to up your game and level up your business, it might be worth a chat with us.

Don’t panic!

We aren’t financial advisers!

But we are salon business mentors - and we’ve been where you are….

With almost 30 years mentoring experience between us too, we’ve likely over come any challenge you could throw at us – either in our own salon or with a salon owner in our mentorship program (who probably sleeps much better now for it).

Reach out to see if you’d be suitable for our mentoring program that can add 10s of thousands more profit to your business every year... whilst also reducing those stress levels.

Comment CHAT for, well, a chat.

Money, money, money... 💸

Why are we so scared of it in the salon world?

I am always surprised when salon owners easily hand over tens of thousands of pounds for a super-duper piece of technology that does amazing things…

…and yet charge clients pennies for the privilege to have the treatment.

Why are we willing to spend… yet not so willing to charge?

The anti-aging industry is worth Billions.

With a capital B.

In every country, in every town, people seek the elixir to youth.

And they spend money looking for it.

They seek it out from bottles with fancy labels and scientific sounding ingredients.

They seek it on social media where their favourite age-defying celebrities share their own secrets to youthful skin…

They seek it out from surgeons with scalpels…

And they seek it out from YOU.

And I don’t just mean treatments designed to reduce fine lines.

I’m talking beautifully manicured hands, perfectly coloured hair, a clean and even tan.

All these things bring confidence and a spring in the step to those who seek ‘feeling good’.

And yet, we belittle our ability to charge – even though we know our ability to deliver.

Our industry is a wealthy one.

Our industry is a strong one.

Our industry is one that is currently immune to being replaced by AI.

And yet….

We undercharge.

We undersell.

We underbelieve (probably not an actual word, but you get my drift).

Next time you worry about charging £90 for a moisturiser, remember that John Lewis sells a La Mer cream for £2160.

And people buy it.

Why do they buy it?

Because they think it will work.

Why do they think it will work?

Because of the price tag.

Would people buy the same cream in Home Bargains for £2.99?

Probably!

But they’d have to sell 722 pots to bring in the same amount.

Beauty sells.

Anti aging sells.

Results SELL.

But you first and foremost have to see your own value.

Here is a simple exercise you can do to start to shift these thoughts.

Write down 5 things that you can do in your business no one else can.

It’ll remind you why you are special, unique, and in a category of your own.

Can’t think of 5 things?

Well, that might mean it's time to change up your model.

I can help with that.

It’s kinda what we do here at Salonology.

Shake things up so you can rebuild a business that charges worth, fulfils you and gives you freedom.

A wonderful day of golf and fundraising at the annual Hair and Beauty Charity Golf Day.

A massive shout out to the good folks over at Phorest Salon Software for tolerating our Ryan and not letting his terrible golf drag the team down too much! 🫠

We're passionate about doing our bit and giving back to the industry - and especially for a cause as worthwhile as this one.

The Hair and Beauty Charity do an incredible job of supporting people in our industry who really need it - keep up the amazing work guys, you're an inspiration. 👏🏻👏🏻

Right now I am knee deep in designing my new wardrobes in my new home.

And it’s a minefield…

I’m using the Ikea Pax system and there are SO many hacks, short cuts, extras, ideas and more out there that it feels like a full time job just to put the whole concept together.

A friend asked me why I wasn’t just getting ‘pre-designed’ ones to do the job.

But here is the thing….

I don’t want something that’s predesigned. I want it to be exactly as I want it.

I intend to use these wardrobes for the foreseeable. They are taking up an entire bedroom and will actually be a bit of a show piece in my home, so it's vital I get this bit right.

Or, in a few months I will regret using someone else's pre designed concept.

So why is this relevant? 🤷🏼‍♀️

Well, business is very much like these wardrobes.

✅ You can design it to be exactly as you want it to be.

✅ You can make it bigger, or smaller.

✅ You can make it open, or more private behind closed doors.

✅ You can choose all the elements that make it work.

✅ That make it PERFECT.

But… and here’s the kicker.

MOST salon owners don’t do that.

They do what everyone else does and ‘follow the rules’ so to speak.

Which is basically the same as me walking into my neighbour’s house and copying their wardrobes – even if their needs were totally different.

There is a story in our industry that keeps many of us trapped.

🥺 That you have to do ALL the treatments.

🥺 That you should open certain hours and certain days.

🥺 That you should charge a certain price.

🥺 You are expected to have all the fixtures and fittings the industry determines – even if they don’t fit your needs.

But, I am gonna tell you what the industry doesn’t…

Salons can be lucrative.

They can be hugely successful.

They can be bold and brave and different.

They can be unique.

Specialist.

Highly profitable.

You can charge what you like.

Do the treatments you love.

Work the hours you choose.

But you have to be prepared to plan it all out.

To go back to basics.

To re-evaluate the business and build it back from the foundations upward.

Is there work involved?

Yes.

Is it worth it?

Absolutely!

The joy of having a balanced business;

🥹 One that makes you money and gives you freedom.

🥹 One that drives your life, not your stress levels.

🥹 One that boosts your bank account, not your cortisol.

It's all there for the taking… if you want it.

And if you want help to do it, that’s what we do.

And I have A LOT more experience doing that than planning wardrobes – so wish me luck.

Hollie xx