Owning a salon business is a dream come true for any beauty industry professional. Having your own beauty salon gives you the freedom to experiment with various interiors, to offer unique services and most importantly the ability to work for yourself and succeed.
With higher disposable incomes, the influence of social media, exposure to celebrity looks etc, there is a huge influx of increase in salon customers. However, not everyone seeks some drastic change in their looks, but there is always the need for regular grooming.
Owing to all these factors, the salon industry in India is growing fast, generating annual revenue of around $20 billion, which will reach $58.7 billion by 2019.
Neena Daspatnaik, Manager Expansion & Franchise, Marco Aldany, said, “As long as there are human beings, everybody needs to go to the salon. Everyone wants to be well groomed and look good. So, the salon industry has a great future.”
Well, owing your own salon business seems very enthralling, but starting a salon is not a cake-walk. Just like any other business, there are various things which you need to keep in mind. Here’s the rundown for the important things, by the industry experts, that you must consider before venturing into the salon industry.
Location
If there’s one thing that can break your business before even getting started is Location. A good location is everything for a salon business. The success of your business depends on how much easy it is to reach it. Vandana Bhardwaj, Director, Marie Claire Paris Salon, Nails, Wellness and Academy in India, said, “Location is the most important thing. It can be considered as the Father of a successful salon and spa business.”
It is ideal to choose an area that has a lot of offices and other commercial establishments as that, more often than not, ensures a steady stream of customers.
Pushpender Singh, Founder & Director, Gallantry Salon, commented, “In this business, the ratio of male and female is equal, so location matters a lot to garner customers of both genders. One should check whether there’s a wine or alcohol shop nearby. It should be located on the ground floor for easy access. The store should be visible and in a pleasant location.”
Quality of Services
A beauty salon is a service-based business. Hence, the most crucial factor behind the success of your salon is the quality of services offered. No matter how good your location is, or how eccentric your interiors are, if the services aren’t top-notch, you are bound to lose customers. Thus, hire good and competent staff with proper training.
“If location is the Father of a successful salon business, then the quality of services is the mother of it,” added, Vandana.
Interiors
It is always said that the first impression is your last impression. So, it is advisable to make that first impression count. The quality interior design of beauty salons should optimize the maximum comfort of customers and the convenience of staff.
Pushpender Singh, said, “Beauty & Wellness industry is altogether about look & feel. People going to a salon, is there to attain relaxation. Thus, decor matters a lot in delivering that level of relaxation. If the interior is good and pleasant, the overall experience will be better in addition to good services.”
“In a salon business, the interiors need to be attractive and relaxing at the same time. If people are not fond of your interiors, they wouldn’t like to come there again and again. They would be bored of it and may find it mundane,” stated, Vandana Bhardwaj.
Standing Out From The Crowd
In today’s competitive market, where you can find a salon on almost every lane, it’s of utmost importance to differentiate yourself from the rest of the crowd. Providing some niche or distinct service will able to attract a new set of customers and also help in gaining customer loyalty.
