Fashion Focus Takeaway's

SalonDuo has successfully completed a marathon weekend attending  Fashion focus in Charlotte NC.  Our Team of 8 went ready to absorb information and be inspired, which is indeed what took place! Everyone split up to take courses specific to their needs. DevaCurl refreshers for the new stylists, eyelash extensions for our makeup artists, Martin Parson's updo class for some.  Our salon Coordinator,v Nikki PowPow and I attended  several business classes that challenged us to implement some new SalonDuo policies!! as the saying goes...

Good people always want to be better

So quickly im going to share my lessons learned. Maybe they will resonate with any hairstylist reading, or enlighten the people on the outside of our industry into how much thought, and effort goes into accommodating our guest at SalonDuo

First. If we  can't make you look good, you're just ugly. 

.....

      .......just kidding :) 

Any Person entering SalonDuo is our guests, from now on. (replacing the terminology from 'clients') 

The Importance of  remembering that as long as we are providing solutions to problems our guest's have, they will come back. When we get indifferent about their hair...that's when they have no reason to come back. 

i learned a new method of cutting bangs using thinning shears that i can't wait to try!

That as stylists we are a product, selling a service. Every point of contact is an opportunity to sell our service to a new guests. 

In one of the classes we talked about money being an invisible source of energy we all work hard for and worry about, but we never see it. I realized thats true, we make money, numbers in our bank accounts increase/decrease, and it affects our moods and directs our activities. money=energy force. 

I've changed my method of consultation with new and established guests, but that one you'll have to come into SalonDuo to experience firsthand. 

My business partner and I have become passionately inspired to create a salon experience that Augusta hasn't seen. Since we opened in Feb we hit the ground running with momentum and energy and in an auto-pilot way existed, happy to not be staying afloat financially.
That was just the beginning. One of the exciting, but scary steps SalonDuo  is taking is eliminating the assistants role in SalonDuo. Ironic seeing as my previous blog post was about them. 

I've always been aware of the energy in our salon and we strive to make it a peaceful, relaxing atmosphere that is meant to make our guest feel pampered and catered too. My scheduling has been increasingly busy the past few months, and I've double, and triple booked as needed to accommodate everyone. I wont be doing this anymore. I plan to schedule myself more time with each guest, so i can give my experienced,  personalized,  undivided, attention without time restraints. 

This is a HUGE, SCARY step for me. With my 3 year assistant leaving, and the new 'associate's' joining us, it's something I've just felt was necessary. There will be a transition period of course, and the Holiday's are all about making everyone beautiful, so do not fret, i will still accommodate everyone's beautifying needs. 

Right hand man, Assistant style.

There is a Pro-Con list to hiring assistants with experience or fresh out of school.  SalonDuo opted for someone who we could teach 'our way' without the challenge of 'un-training how another had taught them. As all beauty professionals know in this industry there are so many ways to ultimately achieve the same results, it comes down to preference. 

 the method SalonDuo uses when training an assistant through hands on experience is this:

I Do- You Watch

I Do- You Help

You Do - I Help

You Do - I Watch. 

I forget how new the entire salon experience is in the beginning, It's inspiring to take a moment to remember how every little accomplishment feels like a huge achievement. Training has it's challenges also though, SalonDuo never wants to have it's reputation compromised or the clients experiences less than perfect. This leaves a lot on the line when handing your loyal client over to the hands of an assistant in training.  The goal of having assistants at SalonDuo isn't to rush the clients experience, or because we've overbooked. It's to train these girls , show them the ropes, prepare them to become independent and build confidence for them to become  talented stylists. During the process of training them SalonDuo hopes to give our clients a  very enjoyable experience, since our assistants can focus on giving the best shampoo experience in town. 

 So far 6 weeks into our training with the girls everyday is better than the last! less shirts being soaked and more smooth blowouts achieved! 

SalonDuo believes Customer Satisfaction is no where near as important as Customer Loyalty. We appreciate all of our clients who have been such a great support this past year!