Hi Lins22,
Wella L'Oreal... both great brands. I've been coaching my clients for years on this one thing when it comes to the products you choose to bring into your salon and here's the skinny. Almost no professional beauty companies out there make a really bad product... at least not the ones in the mainstream.
Having said that, as a new business owner, it is very important that you make strategic and unemotional decisions because if you don't it will end up costing you a lot more than you can imagine later down the road.
As a salon business coach, my advice has always been this:
- Divorce yourself emotionally from every single brand out there
- Invite all the players to the table and here what their proposals are
- Only choose to work with brands that want to partner with you and truly help you grow your business; by this I mean support including but not limited to:
- Education both technical and business
- Backbar and samples
- New client bags
- Events
- Promotion & Incentives
- Marketing
- Mentoring & Coaching your people
The list could go on and on; however, you get the gist. I am not saying you have to nail down all of this from one manufacturer BUT these are the conversations you should be having. Make sure you are talking about the things that are most important to you in the growth of your business.
And last but not least is this: I would say no more than the following when it comes to number of lines:
- Two permanent color lines and one demi permanent (if you have less than 6 stylist, then one of each is enough)
- Two retail lines at different price points and different market positioning; this way you can cater to more people
Hope that helps. Good luck to you.
Best,
Dean