New Salon

[eminence]

I plan to open a new unisex salon aimed at a specific type of clientelle in an area with a slight gap in the market. The problem, a major one at that would be that i currently have no hair stylists/beauticians etc. I am very business orientated but know that the business will cease to exist without the correct staffing, even before i have started.

I am towards the end of negotiating a 10 year lease on a property with the necessary break clauses etc. I want to know if there is anyone here that is not a hairdresser that runs a salon that can give any advice in terms of finding the right staff.

Any relevant comments/advice would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[Bettierae]

Possibly everyone has left for work already lol! If you don't get much in response today, bump it up tonight, there are some super knowledgable geeks on here, that give fantastic advice on things like this, persianista is great, and kim too (think her geek name is kimi 101?) You have been in the business for a while, so your common sense will come in to it too! Good luck hun x x

 

[kimi1101]

Thanks for suggesting me.

Em...I understand that you have business experience, but have you been to your local Business Link? Just for the simple reason they may have dealt with someone in a similar situation to you at the moment and be able to help, or indeed point you in the direction of someone who can.

Persianista (Dawn) is brilliant with all staffing issues, and has indeed helped me in the past with queries.

What I would say is you need someone to run your salon. This person will need experience of running a salon, be trustworthy, and of course be highly qualified in her/his skill. Also, if you are looking to open beauty too, you will need someone on this side with similar attributes. I would say you are looking to pay reasonably well for these people, as they in effect will be running your business.

Qualification wise, in a hairdresser I know most people say don't take on anyone less qualified than a Level 3, and if not, highly experienced in working in a group where they will have learnt further skills than a Level 2 (the basic hair qualification). I know a few of the more experienced salon owners in here suggest not taking on a college trained stylist, instead employing "in house" trained girls, but I think it depends. I'm currently offering a job to a girl whos just finished Level 2, trained in a college but she's worked with me and I see her potential. Its just more difficult for you as you won't know what is a good hairdresser and what is not...as much as us trained ones do!

I would say, get your manager, then get her/him to help you find staff.

Feel like I've rambled a bit....sorry if it doesn't make sense or if it is things you already know.

Hair - Level 2 is basic qual, Level 3 is further qual, A1 is an assessors qual so they can assess students in house (do you want this?)

Beauty - Level 2, basic, Level 3, further, HNC further again, HND further again (I do hair not beauty but employ a beauty girl so apologies if any of that info is wrong)

 

[eminence]

I have been reading lots of threads on here to help me and some of them very informative, but still have a few queries.

Thanks for taking the time to reply kimi. I have not been to my local business link but intend to do so. I do already have an idea of what i should be looking for but thanks for confirming and elaborating.

Yes i would be looking for pretty much what you stated but one of the problems i have is actually finding the right person, since as you correctly said i would not know what a top hairdresser manager consists of since i am not one myself, although i am sure i could pick out their managing attributes.

My other concern is that what if i don't get the right person, since i will be opening a new salon, what will encourage people to come work in a new salon with no client base or reputation apart from competitive pay, as money isn't always everything.

I have put some an ad on facebook, but whether i will get the required response is still yet to be seen. I have also put an ad on the job centre website and local job centre. Has anyone else found a good hair stylist/beautician/manager from the job centre? Any other ways anyone has found good staff?

Can you or anyone else offer any further advice or comments that may aid me?

 

[persianista]

It says on your profile that you are a hair pro.

Would it not be a better idea to find a salon manager BEFORE you commit to a lease?

There is no magic place to find great stylists, try every advertising avenue available. EG hairdressers journal, local paper, gumtree, recruitment agencies.

Best of luck.

 

[kimi1101]

The only response iv had from job centre is people who dont want a job, just need to go to an interview to keep being on the dole. in regards to getting someone with a clientele, ideally you are looking for some working within a management position in the local area. in my area, the best place to advertise for tht person is the local paper. not really sure how else i can help?
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[Terese]

I think whoever you employ it should be on a short contract, a trial....I would think its very hard to find someone exactly who you want and how you want them to work, after all they will bring their own ideas and cutting techniques with them and this of course will determine what age your clients will be and what clients you want to attract....good luck with it all, im opening up in 2 weeks and am interviewing this week, it really is a minefield!

 

[eminence]

Yes a hair pro in male hair.

Well you can see it from both views...find a manager first then have no property so cannot give the manager a start date, so they may go elsewhere if offered another position. Or secure the property so as soon as i find a manager i can move forward without wasting more time. I feel the latter is the wisest option.

I have secured the property and have 2 months rent free so effectively want to refurbish and find all staff within the next 7 weeks to open. Realistic or not? Its important to set targets anyway.

 

[vitality]

Hi although I am a trained beauty therapist and nail tech I have been a hair and beauty manager for the past two years of a medium sized establishment.

First of all you will obviously need someone with previous experience in this role.

I personally think they should also be qualified in either hair or beauty- so they can practice what they preach.

My main role was to be proactive and motivational, strive towards targets and ensure colleagues were competent and following particular salon ethics such as correct attitude, adhering to the correct timings with clients, excellent customer care, upselling and recommending treatments and services and most of all health and safety.

Health and safety includes ensuring all staff are carrying out consultations and skin tests for colours and particular beauty treatments. A lot of salons do not do this and a lot of clients may even be surprised that your carrying this out- but this separates the professional salons with the unprofessional ones.

My employer was an entrepreneur with a retail backround so my beauty backround helped me generate new ideas and policies such as customer care policy, ideas on new products and services, ways to keep client's returning to the salon e.g re-booking before they leave after their appointment, calling client's to inform them of special offers.

Generally the manager will know how to get the salon running as smoothly as possible and generate a system to suit your business.

sorry if I've babbled on or told you stuff you already know x x

 

[angelina221]

I bought my salon on a whim with no qualifications whatsoever in hair or beauty!
What i did was one of those home study courses in beauty. It was the same syllabus as NVQ but the certificate i would get would not enable me to get a qualification.
What it did do, was to give me an insight into the business which is what i wanted.
I wanted to know something about the business i was entering.
I got books from the library about tax, accounting and running a business which mostly went over my head-lol. That's why i got an accountant
Phone the HSE and they will send you lots of information that you will find very helpful.
I wrote lists of stuff that i needed to do and spent over 6 months studying and reading books. I had to wait about 6 months for the keys after i put the offer in and i then spent a further 6 months doing the place out. That gave me valuable time to study!
A lot of things you just learn as you go along and you learn quick!
I didn't get a manager in. I got self-employed girls in to do the hair and beauty and i did everything else myself.
I then did some accredited courses in waxing, spray tanning, eyelash extensions etc.........so that i was able to cover if someone was sick.
I think if you have the determination and are prepared to put the hard work in then anything is possible.
My dad said i was always tenacious and i think you have to be.
Ok, i made a few mistakes along the way, but who doesn't?
Getting staff was the hardest part. I didn't get the right staff in the first place.
I've been incredibly lucky with the staff i have now and even luckier that they all actually came to me to ask for a job! They are all excellent at their job and as such my business has soared.
I've never worked so hard in my life but it's been worth it.
I'd start asking around for staff now. I was left without a hairdresser for a short time and it's amazing how many people know someone who is a hairdresser. Just ask around and you could always put an advert in the recruitment section here on salon geek.
Good luck

 

[**TwinkleToes**]

i cant offer much help really apart from business experince

id say the one thing that springs to mind is if you get access to the property soon, id get some really big eye catching posters up in the window advertising new salon coming while your getting organised with what vacancies you have and maybe have 'drop your cv in' (if you have a letterbox that is) and have a tel no and email they can use to get in touch. will drum upo some advertising even if nothing else.

now your gonna get some crap applications come in infact prob more crap than good but then you could perhaps arrange an open recruitment day for some potential staff

get some trusted collegues/friends along to help you judge the staff on various aspects such as personality and competence aswell as technical abilities as its often hard to see past your first impression of people and several opinions on a person are bound to give a more accurate perception of the true person and will also help to reveal those that just talk a good game.

have a group session for an hour or two allowing you to see interaction and calm the nerves you could have some ice breakers and even have them do a demo with a limited number of items or something and from there narrow down your selection asking just a few to stay on for another hour then you and your collegues can 'grill' individually a bit more lol a bit like the way colleen rooney selects the girls on real women starting with a big group and narrowing down as you go.

it very hard to get the 'right' person based in a 20 minute interview the longer you can spend assessing for the right person the better the choice you can make.

one other thing id say is when you chose someone keep a note of the names of the 1 or 2 next best people coz invariably things can happen and the person u chose can turn out to be the wrong one or change their mind or not stay and then you can always go back to someone you nearly picked down the line first before having to start from scratch again if needed
sorry to have rambled on a bit wishing you good luck

 

[**TwinkleToes**]

I bought my salon on a whim with no qualifications whatsoever in hair or beauty!

What i did was one of those home study courses in beauty. It was the same syllabus as NVQ but the certificate i would get would not enable me to get a qualification.
What it did do, was to give me an insight into the business which is what i wanted.
I wanted to know something about the business i was entering.
I got books from the library about tax, accounting and running a business which mostly went over my head-lol. That's why i got an accountant
Phone the HSE and they will send you lots of information that you will find very helpful.
I wrote lists of stuff that i needed to do and spent over 6 months studying and reading books. I had to wait about 6 months for the keys after i put the offer in and i then spent a further 6 months doing the place out. That gave me valuable time to study!
A lot of things you just learn as you go along and you learn quick!
I didn't get a manager in. I got self-employed girls in to do the hair and beauty and i did everything else myself.
I then did some accredited courses in waxing, spray tanning, eyelash extensions etc.........so that i was able to cover if someone was sick.
I think if you have the determination and are prepared to put the hard work in then anything is possible.

sorry off topic but angelina you have just described my life lol you have made me feel a lot more possitive that in not completely mad in what i am trying to do - must be something about the name lol

 

[Just Hair Ins]

Off topic somewhat, you mention that you have 7 weeks to refit the Salon.

The builders who will be responsible for the refit - Check they have Employers & Public Liability, especially that they have what is called Contractors All Risks cover – this covers the site/ values for loss or damage whilst the fit out is being undertaken. Should there be a fire and handover has not been completed the works will not be insured without this cover. Ask them or their insurance broker for proof of cover.

If using Freelancers; check that they have insurance cover.

Insurers will require a 5 lever mortice (Chubb) deadlock on the entrance and final exit doors/ key operating locks fitted to any accessible or ground floor opening windows. Dependent on the location and sums insured, insurers may need an intruder alarm system - use an approved NSI (formerly NACOSS) or SSAIB registered installer. Suggest you obtain insurance quotes before salon is fitted out for two reasons: -

1) Establish budget
2) Whether additional security (alarm/ grill/ shutters) are required

When looking for insurance, the values must represent replacement cost (stock notes trade sale to you not retail cost) otherwise insurers will impose the Average clause. Any item not insured for the true cost wil be adjusted accordingly. For example if the contents figure is 50% under insured then settlement (following an insurance claims) will note 50% of your insured value.

Keep an eye on what is deemed Tenants Improvements; this is the alterations to the fabric of the building such as new ceilings/ lighting/ partitioning/ floor/ built in reception desk/ alarm/ air conditioning/ network cabling/ trunking etc (mainly the budget to create the vision). Ensure you insure for Tenants Improvements.

Good luck