Where to Look for Salon Equipment

When you decide to start your own salon, you are likely very excited about what the future will bring.  Once you start to get down to business and look up more details on what it will take, it might be harder than you think to get things up and running.  

One of the first things you will do is secure a location.  After that, however, you have to get into the little details including buying salon equipment.  There are many places you can look in order to find your equipment. 

Here are just a few ideas...

-Trade Shows
If you hear about a salon trade show anywhere nearby where you live, you should jump at the chance to attend.  Not only can you possibly get some great deals on salon items that you may not find anywhere else, but you also get to take a look at the equipment in person so you can see how it works before you make the final purchase.  You can also connect with other salon owners in order to seek advice on which pieces of equipment are the best for what you want to do.

-Warehouse and Showroom
We have a warehouse and a showroom here in St Louis where you can also get a hands on experience with the equipment before you purchase it.  You can walk the warehouse floors and take a look at the items and the showroom has lots to offer.  You have the benefit of being able to see everything in front of you!

-Online at www.amsalonequipment.com
One of the best places to search for good deals and prices once you know what you want is online.  You can quickly compare prices and details on any piece of equipment within a matter of a few minutes and a few clicks.  The prices are often lower to start because the online stores have lower overhead prices themselves.  Look at various reviews on equipment and do your best to judge what you can afford and what will work best for your salon.

For your Success,

Keith
1-800-481-6511
www.amsalonequipment.com 

How to Buy the Best Salon Equipment

www.amsalonequipment.com

If you want to open a salon, you know you have a lot on your plate.  You will have to invest quite a bit of time and money into the business and you will need somewhere to house your salon.  Once you have a prime location, you will then need to outfit the salon with all of the best equipment. 

You want to pull customers in to your quality salon, but you also do not want to break your budget before you even open. 

Here are a few basic tips to starting:

First, you will want to figure out what type of salon you want to have available for your customers.  Are you looking to open a high-end salon where customers will feel pampered and indulged?  Or are you looking to have a family atmosphere where customers would bring their children along with them to their treatments?  The type of salon you want to have will make a big impact on the type of equipment you will want to buy. 

Second, consider into the basics first and expand from there.  You know you will need chairs, hair dryers, washbasins, supply carts, mirrors and other such items.  Buy these things first and then get some of the other items you might want as your business starts to grow and expand.

Third, come into our St. Louis showroom and look, see, and touch the products while one our our salon design specialists listen intently to your wants, needs, and desire ~ and guide you to success.

For your Success,

Keith
1-800-481-6511
www.amsalonequipment.com 

How to Start a Salon

If it has always been your dream to open a salon, you should not let that idea waste away.  If you really want to jump in and start your own salon, there will be many things you will need to do.  Here are a few steps to help you get started.

First, you will need to decide how much money you need upfront in order to start your own salon.  You might not profit from your business for a year or two so you will need some capital to back you up for supplied and other items.  One way to make sure that you waste nothing is to shop for salon equipment you will need online at a store like A.M. Salon Equipment where you will get some of the best deals on salon and spa items that are available in today's market.

Second, you will want to take care of any licenses you might need in order to operate your business in your particular region.  You will want to get a business license and make sure that the salon you create will meet and pass any health inspection codes.  You do not want to have to pay any fines or face being shut down because you did not do things properly.

Third, look at locations for your business. You can run a salon out of your home if you have a good customer base, otherwise, watch for a storefront that is in a high-traffic area so you will not have to do much advertising in order to get the word out about your salon.  Make sure your customers have easy access to your salon by way of parking and in other manners and try not to place your salon very close to others that have similar services.

Fourth, you will need to buy all of the equipment you want to utilize for your salon.  There are plenty of items you might want to use such as shampoo and drying chairs, styling chairs, styling stations, pedicure and manicure stations and other spa equipment.  Decide what you want and then look into the special deals offered at A.M. Salon Equipment.  You can get great package deals when you buy from this online store and there are thousands of items from which to choose.

Last, hire employees if you do not want to work alone and make sure they are well trained in the areas in which you will offer services.  As the owner and operator of the salon, it is your responsibility to make sure anyone you hire has the right experience and knowledge to work in your spa.

Once your spa gets going, check back to A.M. Salon Equipment for updated items and other purchases.

For your Success,

Keith
1-800-481-6511
www.amsalonequipment.com 



 

Simple Marketing Techniques that Drive Repeat Customer Business

Every successful business owner understands that it is much less expensive to up-sell a current customer than it is to locate a new one. However, many fail to implement simple marketing techniques that will keep customers returning again and again to their establishment. By implementing a few low cost marketing initiatives into your monthly calendar, you can drive incremental business during targeted time periods for your salon business.

Follow these simple marketing techniques to drive repeat customer business to your salon:

Customer Specials- Alternate monthly specials between service and retail products to attract repeat business. For example, X% off retail products for the month of October, or 10% off special event styling for December (to drive holiday business). Consider which months are typically slower and utilize promotions and specials to drive incremental business during those time periods.

Email Marketing- Utilize email to send out styling information as well as promotional materials. Avoid spamming and use this marketing technique sparingly to capture the most attention from your current clientele.

Promote New Services and Products- Whenever your salon is offering something new or trendy, be sure to promote it to your current customer base via email or direct mail.

Schedule Special Events- If you are looking to reach your current clientele in addition to their circle of friends, consider hosting occasional special events. For example, book a style show to showcase the latest in seasonal hairstyles or techniques. Or, host a do-it-yourself hair-drying event where women can learn how to achieve better results at home.

Send Reminders- For those services which are time sensitive, such as hair coloring or highlighting, send friendly customer email reminders. Something very simple such as “We noticed that it has been a while since we have seen you and would like to offer you 10% off for your next coloring session” will work perfectly. Utilize your calendar system along with an automatic email-marketing program such as Constant Contact to accomplish this objective.

Monthly marketing specials, promotions and reminders can help to increase the number of repeat customers that walk through your establishment’s front doors. While you should never take your eye off of generating new business, mining your current customer base is a proven method for increasing revenues. And, repeat customers often have higher conversion ratios and lower marketing costs than generating a new salon customer.

For your Success,

Keith
1-800-481-6511
www.amsalonequipment.com 

Designing a Salon Retail Area

If you own your own salon, you know that a large part of your business consists of the services you offer. However, you also likely sell a large range of products such as shampoos, conditioners and other items.

These products are things you use in your salon on your customers. When the customers like the results they see, they might want to buy those products, so it only makes sense that you offer them for sale.

While you have already built your salon styling areas with comfortable chairs, dryers, sinks, and styling stations, you might need to do a little work on your retail area. You want the shampoos and other items to be attractive your customers and you want to display as much as possible without overwhelming the amount of space you have. Here are a few tips to help you design your retail area.

-Consider Space First, you will need to think about how much space you have to offer to your retail area. If you have a small amount of space in your entry way, one or two small racks or shelves will be all it can handle. If you have quite a bit of room, you can look into a wide array of retail shelving to hold your products.

-Product Supply You will also want to think about how many products you have to offer to your customers. Even if you have a lot of space, if you do not have that many products, you can get away with a smaller shelf to display them. Then, you can replace the products as they are sold from the inventory you will keep in the back room. If you have a lot of different products, you will want to display at least one of each item, or at least keep some sort of book or picture reference out for your customers to see what is available to them.

-Pricing When choosing shelving and other display items, price is a big factor. You may not be able to afford the top of the line shelves that you really want. Keep in mind that anything you buy for your salon is an investment. If the shelving helps you to sell more products, you will eventually make up for the cost you put into the cabinets.

You will want to think about a number of other things when you look into cabinets as well. Things like color tone and style will help the retail area blend into the rest of the salon with ease. Once you have the retail area up to par, you might be surprised by how many products you sell.

For your Success,

Keith
1-800-481-6511
www.amsalonequipment.com 

Equipment to help you start your own salon

If you have always wanted to start your own salon, you know that you have a lot of work ahead of you. You will need to find a location and decide what types of services you will offer first.  Once you have those decisions made, you can start to buy the equipment you need.

There are plenty of options in terms of types of equipment and prices.  You will want your items to be high in quality so that you can ensure that your customers get nothing but the best.  In order for them to come back, they need to enjoy the treatments they receive from you.  Here are a few of the options in terms of salon equipment that you will need, or you might at least need to consider.

-Styling Chairs
The first thing you will need to add to your list is a styling chair or numerous chairs.  If you are the only worker in your salon, you might only need one, but if you plan to add employees at any point, it is a good idea to order several chairs at once so they are all the same.  Make sure the chairs are easy to clean and easy to raise and lower.  They should be comfortable for both you and your customers.

-Styling Stations
Many customers appreciate being able to look into the mirror while their stylist does their hair.  If you want to add this option to your salon, styling stations are a great idea.  Not only do these stations feature mirrors for you and your customers to use, but they also have counter top space for hair styling items and plenty of drawers for accessories.  You will need easy access to scissors, clips, dryers and other items while you work.

-Shampoo Chairs and Sinks
If you plan to offer full services that include hair washing before you do the cutting and styling, you will also want one or more shampoo chairs and sinks.  These chairs should also be comfortable for both you and your customers and the sink needs to be one that can easily be cleaned so that it shines for every customer.

No matter what you choose to include in your spa, make sure you get the best deal on every item.  A.M. Salon equipment sells a wide range of spa equipment for any spa and you can order online or by phone.  Take a look at the colors, styles and prices and you can do all of your salon shopping in one place.

For your Success,

Keith
1-800-481-6511
www.amsalonequipment.com 

 

Giving a great shampoo experience

Favorite shampoo equipment from AM Salon Equipment

Have you ever asked a client what his or her favorite part of a salon visit is when they’re getting hair services? We’ve heard that most clients will answer that the shampooing process can be the best part because it’s a service of kindness.
People enjoy the nice feeling of warm water, scalp massaging, and just generally feeling pampered. That’s one of the reasons so many clients come in for just a wash and a styling — they like the little mini-massage and hair treatment!
When you’re setting up your washing station to give your clients the best shampoo they’ve ever had, you want to make sure that you’re able to set up the greatest experience possible. That means you need to have the right equipment on hand, to serve any kind of client who walks through the doors of your business.
Here are a few things to take into consideration when choosing your equipment:

• Client heights. Tall clients will often need a chair that allows them plenty of leg room to stretch out, so they’re not feeling crumpled up into a small space. Shorter clients will benefit from chairs with leg rests in case their feet don’t touch the ground (it winds up being better for their backs).
• Client weights. Consider the heft of your client when choosing certain equipment. A heavier client may not be comfortable in a narrow chair or with a portable station. You want something that can accommodate a wide variety of people.
• Special circumstances. People with special needs, such as a bad back, being wheelchair bound, prone to headaches, or those with sensitive necks often need special adjustments. Many salon owners find that the adjustable sink works well with their clients. This is especially the case if your main clients are senior citizens or have other special needs. However, the versatility and adjustable sink provides can apply to those who work on children and differently-sized clients, both tall and petite.

Overall, the goal is to ensure that your clients have a memorable experience that they’ll talk about to all their friends, and having a great shampoo station is the very best way to start a lasting good impression.
When you’re setting up a new station, whether it’s for the first time, or for a remodel, take your client diversity into perspective. That way, you can ensure you give a great shampoo experience that will heighten customer satisfaction, improve your reputation, get clients coming back for more, and get all the referrals you could ever want.

For your Success,

Keith
1-800-481-6511
www.amsalonequipment.com