Getting yourself back!

I read a post lately that asked how to get yourself and your clients back? After trying lots of different advertising methods, sales are still down and so is moral.

I too was in this same place and I have had it all turn around and turn around quickly... here is what I changed and How it changed my salon.

Two years ago I would have sold my salon for $1. I used to say it out loud... "today is a dollar day". I tried sales bonuses to motivate my staff, I tried referal programs to motivate my clients, I tried all the advertising there is to purchase, and nothing changed. In an effort to make myself happy, I started setting up photo shoots on my day off. I had no purpose for the images, and some times I would not even plan the hair out. I would do everything for the shoot, except model and shoot the images to keep cost down. (Usually to a couple hundred dollars.) During this process, I revisited the fun side of hairdressing. The side that has nothing to do with money. I became creative again. And along the way my clients would hear about upcoming shoots and would get interested in the process. I started sharing the results with them just for conversation, and they enjoyed it. This one small thing turned into my best marketing tool ever. For less then the price of a newspaper ad I would put together a shoot and share the images on social networking site and with my clients. My clients started talking about me with their friends and their friends wanted to be close to that kind of creative enviroment. Sales started climbing.

It was not too long after, that we decided to start really reaching out into the community. We decided to do this because of the free time we had, not ever thinking it would be anything more then giving back during hard times.This meant doing more then donating GC to every charity in town. This meant getting our hands dirty. We started a charity calandar in the back. EVERY month we focus on supporting a different local charity. We signed up to do hair for a charity fashion show at no charge, we walked Relay for Life, we hosted an art auction for Earth Month. We did a day without shoes for Toms and now are hosting a style your sole event. We are working on a recycled home for Habitat for Humanity in June. The list goes on. We didn't go into this looking to brand ourselves. We just want to help, but in the mean time the personal connections we have made have turned into new clients and the community now sees us a true resource for help and suppport and they are showing us the same love.

So I guess the point of this is to stop focusing on the problem, and instead fine something else productive to do. And in the end you will not only revive your creativity, but your love for the community your are in. And if nothing changes for the better around your salon, atleast you know you have helped to change your world for the better.

The law of attaction says that what you put out is what you will get back. So starting giving to yourself, your creative desires and to your community and they will all give back to you!

Best of luck!

And I would be more then happy to talk to your salon staff and/or owners about my own personal journey. just let me know!

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Comment by sharon Bourget on September 13, 2010 at 8:11am: You took the words right out of my brain, Glenn! Working on exactly that kind of thought pattern - I have left my salon of 15+ years in search of like-minded thinking! Have an interview this morning - wish me luck!

Thanks for those inspiring words to strengthen me today!

Comment by Hilary Loren on July 4, 2010 at 12:16am: and this is why you are my mentor. like it or not. and my life coach, lol.

Comment by Becci Renfro on May 28, 2010 at 11:33am: Yes, I love the become creative again thought too! I have seem for my self as well as for other stylist friends thet it is easy to want to give up and quit when we become a robot just cranking out the same ole' same ole'.
And your idea about the cost of a simlpe photo shoot as compare to a news paper add is a good one! This would stir up the cretivity as well as generate client intrest! Have a great hair day!

Comment by Melody McCloskey on May 28, 2010 at 12:59am: I LOVE your post. Not focusing on the problem and instead putting your energy, positivity and brainpower towards the solution is brilliant.

Keep it up!

Melody

Comment by Gabrielle J. LeBlanc on May 27, 2010 at 10:20pm: amazing!

Comment by David DeViney on May 21, 2010 at 8:29am: Good stuff! Thanks

Comment by Ruth Chavez on May 14, 2010 at 1:02am: I love what you said about becoming creative again. I find that somewhere along the way, stylists need to revisit creativity to continue to learn and grow and most important, keep the exitement within the salon environment with each and every guest.

Comment by michelle stull on May 9, 2010 at 11:22pm: Glenn thanks for this I know some will read this and it will be a new idea and some will read it and know they forgot it. In any case its good info.

Comment by Dorika Ingellis on May 9, 2010 at 8:18pm: Thank you for sharing. Great job you are doing!

Comment by Randy Taylor on May 9, 2010 at 8:38am: Thanks For your thoughts. Most salon owners should relate to the $1 day. Lol. I always enjoy your posts, thanks for sharing.