FAIRBANKS — In the quaint beauty parlor on Wilcox Avenue in west Fairbanks, a mother and daughter share a warm effervescence that has defined their family cosmetology business, Belle-N-Beau Hairstyles, since 1979.

You would never know Susan Murphy, 50, had donated a kidney to her mom Marge Murphy, 71, just four months ago. Except for one anomaly.

“Now she gets cravings for food I liked,” said Susan, a blond mother of three who works full-time as a cosmetologist and is finishing a master’s degree in social work.

Two summers ago, Marge had a physical exam reporting perfect health. A few months later, in October 2008, her urine had turned dark brown and she wasn’t feeling well. After being misdiagnosed with a bladder infection, she went to see a urologist.

“He said, ‘I think you’re in kidney failure,’” Marge said.

Read more: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner – Fairbanks mother daughter share salon business and kidneys

Fifteen years ago, it was “The Rachel.” Twenty years before that, it was “The Farrah.” And those are only two examples of iconic hairstyles that have graced thousands of heads over the last hundred years. But can there be another? With today’s trend toward individualism, colorist and Matrix Artistic Color Director, Patrick McIvor, and stylist and L’Oreal Professionnel Portfolio Artist, Amit Abraham, say it isn’t likely.  Read more…

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“What an appropriate theme for this year’s conference,” said Gordon Logan, CEO/founder of Sports Clips, who was reelected to his second two-year term as ISBN board president. “Success comes to those who seize opportunities and there is no better opportunity to learn how to improve our businesses than connecting with our fellow members and our supplier partners here at the ISBN conference,” Logan said, citing favorable business conditions like lower real estate prices, availability of stylists seeking stability and work opportunities, affordable advertising and low-cost social networking sites as trends that can help salons and spas build business. Read more …

The beauty salon is a strong business to be in these days. Not only are ladies interested in maintaining their looks and making themselves look more attractive, but in many regions men are inclined to spend a good amount on facial and hair care also. It isn’t a business sector geared just towards women any longer. Broadening the customer base provides the ability for more people to successfully start their own beauty salon because there are a broad variety of people utilizing these services on a regular basis.

Starting Up your own beauty salon can be as easy as setting up to see clients in your basement. Read more …

Spa and Salon Software Can Manage Many Facets of Your Business

Spa appointment software is beneficial in that it keeps a cohesive record of appointments in one place. These programs can also track employees, as well as their hours and sales, along with the list of their clients and what procedures those particular clients had. Software can even give discounts and keep track of specials that employees are charging their customers. The sales of the employees can  be tracked; there are bar code readers and gift card capabilities of some of the software programs.

Software has the capability to track employee sales commissions, hourly wages, insurance deductions, federal and state withholdings, print checks and tax forms. The computer can act like a register and print sales receipts, sales reports, and track the operator and the sales.

Track Client Information

Client files are tracked with software, it keeps the clients history, contact information, purchases and visits. The software also stores inventory control, generates bar codes and price labels. It  helps with marketing by printing or sending, postcards, letters, birthday cards, specials and anniversaries. It allows the computer systems to automatically back up and it keeps track of sales tax.

Track Advertisements and Promotions

A spa relies on advertisement, word of mouth and quality services, and with the software management system all of these are taken into consideration and they are catered to. The best way to increase sales and employee satisfaction is to keep track of behavior and sales. This can open a door for improvement and higher quality.

For Large and Small Businesses

Any successful business keeps record of its employees, products and clients and the best way to do that is with a software management program. There are different types of programs available that can keep track of large spas and small ones. The programs are equipped to track as few as one and up to dozens of employees, and it can track hundreds and thousands of clients. Every spa owner wants to be able to drum up new business by being able to offer the most advanced techniques and services to their client. That is where word of mouth and more business comes from.

Try Some Free Demos Today!

If you’re interested in the software that’s available you can try a salon software free demo from a variety of providers. See what’s out there and hopefully you’ll find a package that’s perfect for your spa or salon!

From IT/Technology Tech! – Q&A

When you provide the ‘Wow’ factor to your clients, they are a lot more likely to recommend your business to their friends, colleagues and family. Always your aim is to turn your clients into your ‘Raving Fans’. To build long term client loyalty you need to offer a quality of service that far exceeds their expectations. With a little planning this doesn’t have to be difficult. The secret is the little touches you provide.

Idea 1: Send your clients a birthday card with an enclosed gift coming up to their birthday. The gift can be money off their next service with you, or it could be a little add-on service the next time they are in having their regular service.

Chances are, with everyone emailing and texting these days, your birthday card with gift can be the only one they receive in the post. This special touch won’t cost you very much, but this is exactly the sort of unexpected special touch your client will love you for. After all, who else offers this kind of personal attention?

Idea 2: When you are using good salon software it’s very easy to add a note to a client’s file detailing not only what service they had, but what way they like their coffee and even what they discussed with you.

Imagine a client returning after a six weeks absence being greeted by you with their favourite beverage and magazine, to be asked how the holiday to Spain went / how the wedding plans were progressing—or whatever the follow-up was to their last conversation. Yes, this will take you 2 or 3 minutes to put these details into the computer, but it’s well worth it as this is the real meaning of “personal service”.

And because none of your competition is doing these little touches is EXACTLY the reason you need to do them.

Idea 3: It’s always a good idea to keep a digital camera in your salon, you never know when it can come in useful. If a client has opted to change her look, take before and after shots. You can keep a set for your client’s file as well as print out a set to give to your client: she’ll really appreciate the gesture.

If it’s a particularly flattering photo, your client will show it off to all of her friends, and that means free PR for you. It is also an extra touch that is unexpected and not offered elsewhere! You can go the extra step and put a stamp or sticker with your logo on the corner of the instant photo for branding.

Take shots from different angles to keep in your files so that you can pull up a client’s ‘history’. Ask if you can use these images in your own portfolio collection – it’s always best to get this permission in writing.

Clients really appreciate seeing before and after pictures of real people rather than trying to picture how they would look with a ‘do’ from a glossy magazine. Check with your client if you have permission to use the photos for marketing purposes and build up your collection of picture testimonials.

You can scrapbook these photos in an album to display in your reception area. This is very low cost PR and is a very powerful endorsement for your services. It is also something interesting for your clients to flip through while waiting for their appointment. This will also promote to those who are (not yet) clients but waiting in the reception area.

Once you’ve got your camera, your costs are quite low considering the value both you and your clients will get from the pictures you take.

Reprinted from WorkOnInternet.com.

The complete, detailed agenda can be accessed here:

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When you take chances and focus on customer service, your business will grow. But you had better be prepared.

One bad move can quickly destroy everything you’ve worked for, especially if you mess up with finances and taxes.

Back in the mid-1970s, I took over an 800-square-foot salon in Painesville in the oldest shopping center in the state. It was the same year the law changed allowing men to get their hair done in beauty salons with women. I wanted men to feel welcome, so I called it Ladies & Gentlemen.

It took 10 years to build up to 25 employees and about $250,000 in sales. Then I moved to a larger space in Mentor. Business picked up fast — really fast. In just one year, sales doubled. I was used to doing everything from hair to payroll to managing staff. Suddenly, I was completely overwhelmed. My accountant left town, and finding a replacement was on my to-do list. In the meantime, I asked a friend to help make tax deposits.

My biggest mistake was not making sure I had the right professionals in place to handle my company’s finances, as soon as I moved to a larger location. I was so busy with hiring, training and doing hair, that I didn’t take time to understand new financial obligations that came with growth. Read more …