What's in my toolbox right now? As I stand behind my chair a lot goes through my mind. As a seasoned stylist I think more about you my client than I ever have. What brings you to me, why some of you have stayed since I've been out of beauty school.
Marketing, let's think about the marketing aspects of "ME" as a stylist. A good friend who has his masters in marketing always say's, you Tracy are the "brand"
as you stand behind your chair people come to your salon for a haircut or whatever, but the real reason they come is YOU.
Communication patterns between consumer's and stylist's are the number one
entity. More than half the consumer's I have interviewed in Allentown and New York have fed me this information. Men visit a salon 10 more times a year than women. Women visit a salon six or more times, mmmmhhh, my brain is starting to roll the numbers. Maybe I should be a barber. Percentage of men is actually 34% to women 19%! So maybe as a salon owner we all need to rethink whom we are marketing to???
When I interviewed men on what they want in a salon, this is what they said.
Ease of getting an appointment, impromtu with their hair, a lot of men can't schedule.
cost of services in line with expectations. give that guy a great cut at a reasonable price, well you landed a client forever.
location
Clients are loyal to a stylist they like and trust. Women from the ages of 35 to 60+ are very loyal. Men from 30 to 60+ are as well loyal.
More than half of loyal clients have been with the same stylist for three or more years.
As a stylist our trust level with society is on par with a clients therapist, doctor and mechanic.
What is important to then men/women clients about their hairdresser?
friendliness, technical skills and professionalism all ranking high in my interviews. Clients are relying on our expertise.This reliance increases dramatically with the number of years the client is with us.
It's simple, the biggest thing men/women are looking for from a hairdresser, is good communication!
Making our people skills, the most important tool in our box.
CIAO XOXO