TIME FOR A REVAMP?

o keep your credentials within this creative and fashionable industry it’s crucial you stay on top of the latest trends – not just with your skills but your salon too. And this means one thing: refurbishment. YY Design managing director Alan Cowling, whose company offers a complete refit service, believes seven years is the ideal time to spruce up your salon and if you’ve left it 10 years or longer, it’s highly likely that your salon is looking a little outdated.

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From changing the colour scheme to completely transforming the layout, the options are endless, but it’s also easy to become swamped with ideas – and realise that you’ve exceeded your budget! The first thing to do is get a plan, and stick to it. Wendy Droznika, director of LSE furniture suppliers says: “Consider what you want to do. Always get a design plan done – you wouldn’t dream of getting a kitchen or bathroom done without it so don’t do your salon without it.”

The number of salons approaching designers and furniture specialists has risen over the last nine months as the economy starts to recover. It seems – now more than ever – salons need a boost, whether it’s for staff morale, the client experience, or, most importantly, your profits.

Since Bristol salon Reflections re-opened in March after a £100,000 refurbishment, its marketing manager Karen Brookes-Lovell says turnover has increased by five percent – and she puts it all down to client satisfaction. She says: “The overall atmosphere in the new salon is without doubt the best thing about it – our clients love it and feel like they are getting so much more for their money. Plus we’ve had more walk-ins because people can see into

the salon from the road.”

Mirrors and spotlights were used to create the illusion of space – Karen was keen to maintain a contemporary feel – but the most extravagant addition to the salon are the Trevi shiatsu massage chairs by Aston and Fincher, costing £2,125 each.

“They were a bit expensive but it was worth it because they’ve been really popular with the clients,” says Karen. “They’re in an area away from the main salon where clients have their hair washed and can feel fully relaxed. This area has purple mood lighting and we play relaxing music selected specifically for it.”

Backwashes have become one of the most popular upgrades in salons over the last five years, but as one of the most costly adaptations you can make – especially once you factor in the cost of plumbing – not everyone’s convinced. Bryn Wilkins opted away from the massage chairs when he opened Easton Regal Hairdressing in Clerkenwell earlier this year, saying: “We didn’t get them because they were too expensive; it was a business decision. It was a choice between spending £500 or £2,000. “We decided to spend the money

where we felt the client has the experience. We spent over £30,000 on cutting chairs and basins, and we spread our budget to make sure all of the furniture was good quality.” His favourite piece of equipment is the Micro Mist processor by Takara Belmont; it uses mist to penetrate the hair’s cuticle to a much greater depth, getting the product exactly where it’s needed. This means treatments can be charged at between £20 and £30, while the client feels they’re getting a premium service. >>

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