Life and Work Balance applies to the Beauty Industry Too!

It was interesting to observe the focus of theThey need to answer "I work for myself!" They
SalonLife'07 Forum, which will take place July 16-17 inmust learn to distinguish where they work at from
Vegas by the National Cosmetology Association willwho they work for. This will only come with training,
continue to focus on Life Balance, Personal Finance,information flow and focus on the individual, not the
Health & Wellness and Energy and Connection. Thesesalon.
are things not normally highlighted in the CosmetologyI contend that if they can be exposed to tools and
industry and even with this venture thetraining such as SalonLife'07, client management
concentration, as always, is on the Salon and Spasoftware, business education and communication daily
Owner. But, I think the trends are moving slowing in, the paradigm shift will occur.
the direction of the beauty professional. The bigIf they can see that business tools can be focused
question is WHY? Why is the primary focus on thoseon them instead of the salon, amazing things can
who own a salon or own a spa? Does that meanhappen. They can improve their ability to advertise,
that every hair stylist, manicurist, esthetician and sparelate to their current customers and contact their
therapist works for a salon or spa owner?customers with automated interactive email
Well that's the approach taken by the industry toreminders to manage their work calendar. They will
date. I for one, being a CPA and CFO for severalbegin to see themselves as self sufficient income
companies before starting my own company, don'tcreators and yes, business persons.
understand why these beauty professionals do notThe theory that the only way to make money is to
think of themselves as business owners. Certainly ifopen your own salon is yesterday's approach. Today,
they rent a station or work on commission they trulyyou can rent a station or two, hire your own
work for themselves, don't they?assistant's create more hourly income for yourself
Make no mistake, the big money is in the salon, that'sand not spend the cost of running the salon, just run
where the products are purchased and our majoryour operation within the salon.
suppliers control the industry media. But what of theNo one person, tool or software product can make
individual in this industry?this happen all at once. It's going to take getting
In 2003 the NCA determined that there were overtraction to the programs. Its going to take the
1.6 million cosmetologists working in salons and spasrealization that yes, even the cosmetologist needs to
across this country. That's a very large audience thatunderstand a computer, not just a paper calendar
is primarily focused, by the industry, on the latestand index cards with customer names on them. It's
styles, color theory, product blends and so on.going to take moving the beauty professional into
I believe the time has come to focus on teachingthe 21st Century!
them how to be a good business person. We needSo, I would like to challenge all the salon and spa
to teach them how to manage their finances,owners to look at their crew and ask themselves
increase their hourly profit, farm for more customers,"How can I make them better business people?" The
up sell product, end the no shows, manage theiranswer is let them be their own business person,
customer database, contact customers they thinkbring clients to the salon and spa with their own
they may have lost and so on. This is a very valuablebusiness skills and tools , manage their calendars
lesson for each and every cosmetologist out there.efficiently and effectively and make everyone more
Paradigm Shift in the making? Yes, to have amoney! Salon and Spa owners need to partner with
cosmetologist answer the question: "Who do youtheir beauty professional rather than "employ" them.
work for" without them naming the salon or spa theyTake a chance, you never know what you might
work at is a paradigm shift for sure!find... maybe true success.