Salon: Build Your Brand

Diane Von Furstenberg built her brand. She was consistent, her marketing was on point, she made quality clothes and she had a look. People know her prints and her fabulous wrap dresses when they see them. This is a perfect example of branding.

It doesn't matter where you came from or where you went to school, nothing matters anymore. What you have is right here, right now, right in front of you. What are you doing to build your brand? Are you happy with how many guests you see? Are you happy with your monthly income? If you answered I don't know or no to any of these questions then read on. 

It is important to focus on a mission statement, what you stand for and what you hope to portray to others. This is the best place to start. A mission statement simply states what you wish to accomplish for your guests and in your everyday practice of doing hair. It also states who you are and what you are all about pertaining to your job. Why is a mission statement so important? Even if you do not put it out there for people to see, it is a gentle reminder of your why. Why you are doing hair and making magic happen on a daily basis. It's okay if it takes a while to write one.  My mission has evolved over the years from when I started. 

Hopefully you have a wonderful foundation of education working to your advantage. Continuing your education in this industry is super important even with a wonderful foundation. If you are not that good at a certain skill, practice will change that. Keep an eye out for classes in your area. You want to build a brand that says, "that stylist knows what they are doing." I remember being at a restaurant and overhearing a lady say that she trusted a certain salon and that she would go to any stylist there because they were all very skilled. It was so nice to hear someone speaking highly of a salon and not just one stylist. They would have recommended anyone in that salon! That is how your brand should feel. 

Consistency is key. Make sure that you are consistent with every client. Be on time, shake their hand, walk them back to the chair, offer them a drink, give them a great scalp massage, take notes on color, listen and take your time. Each client should feel special and with consistency this will not be an issue. Starbucks is a wonderful example of this. Starbucks is the same everywhere you go, they have a similar layout, everyone dresses the same and the drinks are the same too. People feel comfortable at a Starbucks because they know they are going to get the same result when they pick up their drink. I know, we are not robots, but keep in mind consistency and you cannot go wrong.

Leave your problems at the door. Get to work early and take a deep breath. Sometimes we cannot help when our clients are extra early but as long as you are 15 minutes early you should have time to process and breathe! In the past I've been guilty of coming in like a tornado and running past my client on my way in. Right there, no matter what was going on, I looked like a mess. If you are having problems outside of work, take work as your chance to get away from those problems. You are so lucky that you get to go to work, create art all day and chat with amazing people. This job is such a creative outlet for so many of us that it is less like a job and more like fun.

Dress for Success. No matter what, dress like you are going to see someone important. If you take on this ideal you will always try to look your best. Dress for the job you want not the job you have! Your guests look to you to set the trend. To our guests we know what is going going on and what the latest and greatest is. That might not always be true but at the very least look like you know.

Building your brand is important. If you ever have any doubt in what you are doing just go back to your mission statement and get yourself back on track. This is such a wonderful job to have and you should feel so lucky to be where you are. If you are just starting out, reach for the stars because the sky is the limit.