Beauty - Expert Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “
Should salons be open seven days a week?
Liz McKeon
Beauty Business Expert
“This sounds like a simple question that should have a simple and straightforward answer, but it’s not that easy!”
“This is a big decision that needs to be looked at from as many different angles as possible. Maybe you are located in a shopping centre and have no choice in the matter except to open, maybe you always opened seven days a week and this isn’t an issue for you. But, if opening seven days a week is an option you are considering, both as an opportunity to increase profitability and give your clients greater flexibility, ask yourself the following questions first:
• As the owner or manager, how does this impact on your personal time? Everybody needs time off and even if you are not on site, once your business is open, will it be on your mind?
• Can you get Sunday staff and if so, at what rate? If you are paying Sunday rate, will this change your pricing, or does the business take the hit?
•What happens when a staff member calls in sick? Do you have other therapists on call or do you have to cover?
•Will you get the clients all year round on Sundays? Depending on your location, will you have passing trade on Sunday?
• Is your appointment book full six days a week? If yes, great, you need to open seven days. If no, would it make more sense to increase your profitability by filling the hours you are currently open?
“Why not test the water first - run a survey with your clients and find out precisely what the demand is, then open, on a trial basis, for a few hours over a six-week period. Gather your facts, was it feasible, did your bottom line increase, did it affect your day off. If the trial period was an all round success, go for it.... if not, stick to six days trading per week.”
”
Sue Woodall
Salon Business Consultant
“Selling the idea to your staff is important, if they are not on board it could affect treatment standards if youmake themwork on a Sunday.”
“The question of Sunday opening has always been hotly debated! On the one hand you have lots of potential new business with the added bonus of convenience and flexibility for your clients. Although the costs of Sunday trading raises questions on how profitable it is, here are some factors you might want to consider.
“While your clients may express interest in Sundays, will they actually support you? Where is your business located? Are you in a gym which may be busy on a Sunday as opposed to the on the high street? When I ran a day Spa, 12pm until 4pm on Sundays, it was popular, but it was different in another business where the location was a shopping centre and Sundays were dire. Different clientele and treatments denoted Sunday’s trading for me. Sundays can also be a family day, so who are your clients? Are they professionals, housewives, students etc and your therapist will be useful with information in this regard as they will potentially know their clients.
“What are your existing busy days and how booked are you during the week? What market does your clientele demand? Are you ‘a look good salon’ e.g. nails, eyelash tints, tans etc. Your clients may want treatments for the weekend so Sundays may not be a winner in that case. On the other hand you may have ‘feel good clients’ where pampering, massage and rituals are the norm, so the Sunday opening could be more appealing to your clients. And finally how reliable are your staff?
“Here are a few ideas and actions that you can do to test the water to help you decide.
• Find out what revenue target is needed for you to open and is that figure achievable based on your offerings?
• Use your computer system and data to identify niche clients that could be interested in Sundays. For example target your professional clients who work in the week as they may be grateful for Sunday openings.
• Selling the idea to your staff is important, if they are not on board if could affect treatment standards if you make them work on a Sunday. Some therapists may prefer a Saturday off and work on a Sunday or you could rotate the weekend day off.
“Finally once decided commit to trying it for a period of time, two months should give you a good idea. Maybe do an introductory offer for the first month until the word gets out that you are open. It may be the best thing you have ever done.”
Kiera Grafton Office Account Manager with Graham Anthony
“I do agree that salons should open 7 days a week”
“Consideration should be given to the hours of operation in any salon or nail bar. As we all know the beauty business is not a 9 to 5 industry.
“I do agree that salons should open seven days a week. After having talked to some professional ladies like teachers and air hostesses, they do find that their time is restricted when it comes to booking
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treatments for themselves. Sometimes a Sunday can be the only day available for working mothers or indeed if one half of a couple needs a bit of pampering, the other half can mind the children.
“With careful planning it would not be necessary to employ any more staff and the profits would, I believe, outweigh the overheads involved. A lot of shops now open on Sundays and combining this with a hair or beauty treatment for some people would be the ideal day out!”
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