Archive for August, 2009
7 Steps to Create a Showcase Salon – Free Download
Posted by: | CommentsGood morning!
It’s just past 6am as I write this on Sunday.
We’re off to Tracey (my fiancee’s) uncles today for a family get together. I’ve made a HUGE chocolate cake stuffed full of strawberries and cream (yep – I do consider myself a bit of a chef – that doesn’t mean I’m any good)…
And I have a GIFT for you.
It’s a re-print of a salon magazine article I’ve written.
In the article I give you some quick pointers on how to turn your salon or spa into THE SHOWCASE in your area.
Nothing for sale here – just great tips.
You can open it by clicking the link below (it’s a .pdf doc) and then just print it and save it to your PC.
Click Here for Your “How to Create a Showcase Salon” Free Article
Hope it’s useful!
Have a great weekend.
Henry.
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Why Facebook Should ‘Die’ and 3 Reasons to Use Twitter in Your Salon or Spa
Posted by: | CommentsFacebook sends me LOOPY!
I can’t actually tell you what I really think about it without offending most of my thousands of members.
In fact, the level of language obscenity it builds inside me scares me!
Why do I have such an aversion to Facebook?
Simple really…
I know TOO many people who waste TOO much time on Facebook either BRAGGING about their latest holiday or childrens sports day results, sharing drunken pictures of nights out with little on or else doing their best to ruin their relationships my digging up old boyfriends or girlfriends (they’d long forgotten) only to get busted by their other half.
But my REAL aversion to it it this.
TIME WASTING.
I know, I know.
People enjoy it.
But people enjoy CRACK (which is probably less addictive than Facebook) – doesn’t mean it’s good for them.
Where will society be in 50 years time if we all spend 30% of our day talking nonsense to people we don’t really like (or we’d have kept in real contact) when we could actually be creating real value for our society?
Not a popular thing to say.
And yes, it is nice to catch up with old mates (in moderation).
And yes, in some convoluted ways Facebook can help your salon or spa (if you’ve got a lot of spare time).
BUT, there’s another ‘KIDDY’ on the block.
And I’m sure you’ve heard about this little ‘BIRD’.
TWITTER!
Twitter allows you to build up a group of ‘friends’ VERY quickly – much quicker than Facebook. And then let them know what you’re up to at any time with a short message (I think it’s 40 characters or something).
NOW, here’s the good bit.
It is VERY, VERY easy to get YOUR clients to join you on Twitter.
AND then VERY, VERY, VERY easy to send out a quick ‘Tweet’ whenever you like letting them know about something happening in your salon or spa.
AND IT IS FREE!
So, say one Friday morning you get 2 cancellations – you could send out a quick Tweet on Twitter letting everyone know you’ve had 2 cancellations and if they’re fast enough they can grab an appointment.
EVEN better you can VERY easily start to really CONNECT with your clients.
Connection happens when they start to RELATE to you and your life.
Easy when they’re sat with you – you talk about family, children etc.
Twitter allows you to build that connection over time – for free.
PLUS, the people who join you on Twitter have friends. And THEY will see your TWEETS (most often). That means you can pick up new clients for free.
Would You Like a Video on How to Use Twitter for Your Salon?
If so, post a comment on here.
I’ll knock one up if there’s enough interest.
Best,
Henry.
PS: Just because I’ve slated Facebook here does not man I won’t ask you to join me on it… Hypocritical? You can decide… As you’ll see I do things a bit different…
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10 Places You Will Definitely Not Get Your Hair Cut
Posted by: | CommentsYesterday morning my fiancee said to me “Oh… You’re so serious…”
Not all that fair actually.
I was sat working away at my PC and she came into the office videoing me just as I was in the middle of something ‘important’.
Anyway, I stopped working, did a little dance for the camera and then we went into the front garden.
Swiftly followed by our seven cats.
I then proceeded to throw crab apples (as a joke) into the path alongside our house that runs to the beach.
Was I aware there were unsuspecting families of tourists armed to the teeth with li-los, sandwiches, sun cream and fondant fancies making their way to the beach… Of course not! But let’s just say I had to make a hasty retreat back into the house.
Nobody was hurt!
And this morning I cam across this… Which has had me in stitches for the last few minutes.
Hope you enjoy it…
Click Here – http://www.mademan.com/2007/09/10-places-i-am-definitely-not-getting
Have a great Sunday!
Best,
Henry.
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Warning – Your Salon or Spa Employees Do This When You’re Not Looking
Posted by: | CommentsWould you like to get inside the head of your beauticians, your nail techs, your masseurs, in fact any of your staff and KNOW what they’re thinking?
Imagine being able to know exactly what their mind is focused on at any one time AND CHANGE IT!
That’d be real cool eh!
You’d be able to like Jedi mind trick and out trick them all day.
If you caught them thinking about a chicken Caesar wrap then you could wave your hand in front of their face and say:
“You do not want a wrap – you want to get on the phone and call your inactive clients”.
Just imagine that.
Geez – business would be simple.
I mean, I do have a few Jedi powers (and I’ll teach you some some time – they’re DANGEROUS in the wrong hands though and I don’t know if I can trust you yet) and can use them to change what people think and get them to do stuff.
But I’m Afraid We Live on Planet Earth, not the Death Star
And it’s time for a BIG Dose of reality.
In fact facing REALITY and accepting REALITY is a FUNDAMENTAL to you achieving what you want.
Most salon and spa owners (and all business owners) are completely deluded.
They honestly believe that there employees have YOUR and YOUR salon/spas best interest at heart.
They truly believe that they want to come to work and they want to serve your clients.
Well I’ve got news for you BUDDY!
Codswallop…
In REALITY your salon or spa business, your profits are way, way down the list of what they’re thinking about.
Here’s a rough guide to what they’re really thinking about:
- Will Brad call me tonight.
- Has Jenny posted her holiday pics on Facebook.
- Did Jimmy junior win his sports day.
- How on earth will we pay for our holiday.
- Did Janine really kill Goliath on Eastenders (sorry, don’t watch it so made up the names).
- I wonder if I can get home early today.
- What can I sell on eBay tonight.
- What shall I wear out on Saturday.
- Did he really do that with her?
- Why won’t my Dad accept my boyfriend.
- Shall we have chicken or pizza for dinner.
- How fast can I get this set of nails done without being told off.
And then somewhere down at about number 17 – YOUR PROFITS…
Now there’s a big problem here.
And here’s what it is.
Where are your profits on YOUR list?
NUMBER 1!!
Ah!
Problem!
Your profits are not that important to your staff.
And even worse in 99% of cases you will not be prepared to accept it.
“My staff are different.”
“My staff are really focused.”
“My staff are really well trained.”
“My staff have incentives to do well.”
Sorry…
It’s because of this inability to accept you are not that important to your staff that so many employee troubles happen…
The moment you ACCEPT that your profits are not top of the priority list (in fact they’re) way down the list then you can embrace it and make plans to DEAL WITH IT.
Hope I haven’t scared you…
Doesn’t mean your employees are really good, nice and the best around. THAT has NOTHING to do with it…
Best,
Henry.
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3 Secrets to Salon and Spa Marketing that Nobody Else Will Tell You
Posted by: | CommentsAngry!
You gotta be kiddin’!
Furious!
More like it.
It takes a lot to move me from my persistently happy mood to a state of crossness (let alone anger) when I’m sat at our beach hut watching the holidaymakers get told off for walking their dogs or throwing a tantrum for dropping a sausage from the BBQ into the sand.
But yesterday it happened…
I got cross.
Very cross.
I was reading an article in a Beauty Industry Magazine (I won’t name and shame them – and it’s not the magazines fault I suppose) about how to get more clients.
Their advice was that given we’re in recession beauty salon, nail salon, tanning salon, hair salon and spa owners should get ANY clients they possibly could.
Any!
They should do things like get out of foot (or send their employees out) and BLANKET deliver flyers.
They should hang around on in towns and on street corners and give out flyers to the GENERAL PUBLIC (yeah! that works! If you’re REALLY BORED and like wasting time).
That as long as they told enough people WHERE their salon was then eventually… Eventually… Eventually… They’d get some new clients.
Ah!
Ah!
Ah!
On one level they were kind of right.
Give out enough useless freakin’ flyers and yes eventually… Eventually you will get a few badly qualified, bottom of the barrel clients stumble through your doors…
And maybe even the odd client who you really want.
But for the love of god!
That’s a really, really, really, really bad, waste of time, lazy, expensive, useless way to get clients.
And the fact someone is giving that advice away MAKES ME A CROSS LITTLE BOY!
So…
I had another cup of tea.
A rich tea biscuit, closed my eyes and erased the anger.
And this morning I’m going to once again give you the THREE things you MUST do BEFORE you do any marketing or advertising at all.
Do these and you’ll be in the top 1% of salons and spas quickly.
Don’t and you’ll be chasing your tail forever.
3 Secrets to Salon and Spa Marketing that Nobody Else Will Tell You
Here they are:
- Identify YOUR ideal client. WHO do you want into your salon or spa? What gender are they? How old are they? Where do they live? How much money do they make? What paper do they read? How many children do they have? EVERYTHING and anything you can identify from existing clients and/or what you see as your perfect client. Once you know who you want then guess what! You can actually go find them!!
- List every possible place you can find these people. You can buy mailing lists, maybe they go to a particular ‘club’. Maybe they live in a particular part of town. Maybe they frequent another business in your area (yeah – believe it or not they do buy from other people too…).
- Develop an OFFER. Something truly irresistible. Something that will make your IDEAL client sit up and say ‘Geez, Frank, we gotta get our little butts over to Henry’s Beauty Parlour TODAY!”. This bit is very IMPORTANT. Their is so much NOISE out there you gotta give your prospects a reason to CONTACT YOU. Luckily, most salon and spa advertising is so LAME – covered in pictures of smiling women, beaches, couches, lipsticks (guess what – your prospects KNOW what a couch looks like) that quite frankly just having an offer will set you in really good stead.
There are a few more things you need to do but you gotta do some thinking too…
So… Post in the comments section of this article what else you think you need to do and anyone who gets it right will get a prize… Not sure what yet, have to have a look in my goody bag… But it will be cool…
Get posting!
Best,
Henry.
PS: I’ve letting a few more people have FREE access to over 81 ready to use marketing campaigns for your salon or spa. All you need to do is head here and watch the video – all is explained. But hurry, I am planning to drop this freebie. I’m just giving too much away.
Click Here for FREE Access to Over 81 Ways to Get More Clients
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