The hair and beauty industry is expected to grow over the next few years as the popularity of male grooming adds a valuable new demographic. Recent surveys found that almost a fifth of customers are now male, leading to two-thirds of outlets questioned stating that they’re now more optimistic about their business than the same time a year ago. With this trend expected to continue, this could be the time for those experienced in the industry to take the next step and open their own salon.
How to Get Started
Setting up any business is never easy, but the long-term rewards can be great. You’ll need to start by researching the area you plan to base your business in. In order to determine if it will be able to support your current lifestyle, you’ll need to take into account everything from competing businesses to the economic realities of the area. A local college is a great way to find employees. Health and beauty is popular vocation nationwide and many students are enthusiastic about gaining real-world experience.
Next, you’ll need to ask yourself what kinds of services you’re going to provide. Offering a general-purpose solution is ideal if you’re the only salon available locally, as his will pull in the largest group of potential clientele. However, if there already exists a similar option in the area you might want to focus on more specialised areas. The aforementioned male grooming market offers a great way to differentiate your business. Similarly, distinguishing yourself by focusing on a different age demographic or offering unique services could set you a part from the rest of the competition.
Marketing Your Business
The biggest task any new businesses faces is getting noticed. Depending on your area, there may be similar businesses so finding a way to tempt customers into switching over to you may be the key to your company’s long-term future. Many businesses start with initial discounts to tempt potential new customers in, and then employ retention marketing schemes in an effort to keep them coming back for more. Companies like Phorest can do this by creating a loyalty scheme which rewards customers for repeat spending. Further down the line, don’t forget to also engage with customers who haven’t visited in a while. You could sent them discount codes via email or through the post as an incentive.
Even if your business is purely focused on your local community, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t also have an online presence. Social media provides a great way for businesses to engage with their customers. Joining local Facebook groups can alert potential customers of your availability, and, similarly, Twitter offers the ideal venue for inviting customer feedback. Finally, make sure you’re listed on Google+ Local so that your company’s location is verified on Google Maps. This will make it much easier for customers to find you who might be travelling from outside the local area.
Due to the recent changes in the industry, the health and beauty sector currently offers a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs. Stay focused on what makes your business unique and you could take advantage of this growing market.
