Business Trends

How to Stay Recession Proof - American Salon Magazine Peter Mahoney writes about how salons can stay recession proof in American Salon Magazine's blog!  (By: Peter Mahoney)

The Salon – The Original Social Networking Site! As a business owner you need to have a presence on the internet. Having a website is not an option. I equate not having a website to running a salon without a blow dryer. Now you can add to your web presence through social networking sites. Within the last year, the web has exploded with numerous online social networking opportunities.  (By: Heather Bagby)

Credit Check American Salon Magazine featured SSBC business partner, Integrity Payment Systems, in the "Better Business" section of their May, 2009 issue.  (By: Integrity Payment Systems)

SPECIAL REPORT: Q2's SILVER LINING As we enter the second quarter of 2009, CNN has announced that our country is now in the 17th month of recession. That means that we are now officially in the longest recession since the “Great Depression.” Salons are closing at an unprecedented rate. Those that don’t have systems are finding it difficult to stay alive. Clients are booking on an average of every 8-10 weeks instead of the usual 6-8 weeks. Impulse spending is down. People still want to feel good – even more so – but they want to do it economically. Is there a silver lining to this dark cloud of news? Yes! We caught up with SSBC Board Members at the Summit in Tampa, FL this week to get a little good news.  (By: Summit Salon Business Center)

David Craggs, President of L’Oréal USA’s Professional Products Division (PPD), is retiring from the company effective February 2009. The announcement was made by Laurent Attal, President & CEO of L’Oréal USA.  (By: L’ORÉAL USA)

USA Today reports a growing wave of companies in all sectors — technology, financial services, energy, retail, manufacturing — are embracing environmentally safe practices, otherwise known as going green! Read on to find out how you can go green in your salon.  (By: Nicole Eicks)

Beat Inflation - Tips and Solutions It's a fact: prices go up and down every day; sometimes faster than others. Sooner or later, the inflationary adjustments of our correcting economy are going to affect your business in a negative way. Are you proactively taking steps to combat these truths so that they don't continue to lessen your cash flow negatively affect your profit margins?  (By: Gavin Salsbery)

Sell Promotions and Savings! It is amazing how quickly American consumers change habits when gas, food and health-care costs rise. In order to hold onto your clientele, it is increasingly important to offer incentives to your existing and new guests.  (By: KRS Consulting Group LLC)

Regis to Acquire PureBeauty and BeautyFirst Regis Corporation (NYSE:RGS), the global leader in the $170 billion hair care industry, announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire the PureBeauty and BeautyFirst salon operations. The Company currently holds a 19.9 percent equity interest in PureBeauty and BeautyFirst. The transaction is scheduled to close in February, 2008.  (By: Press Release)

L’ORÉAL USA Announces the Acquisition of Columbia Beauty Supply L’Oréal USA, a subsidiary of L’Oréal S.A., announced today the acquisition of Columbia Beauty Supply, one of the professional salon industry’s most well-respected distributors of salon products.  (By: Press Release)

2008 Salon Financial Forecast KRS Consulting Group understands that this year represents a challenge for many of you. If you've paid attention the nightly news, then you know that many economists consider this country at the beginning of a economic recession.  (By: Gavin Salsbery)

RAPID GROWTH: Too Much of a Good Thing? Rapid growth sounds like one of those so-called “problems” that we would all like to be cursed with! Yet, ironically, many salons actually lose money during periods of rapid growth.  (By: Jane Salsbery Gibson)

When More is More: Merging Two Salons What are the best reasons to merge two salons, and how does it work? Read the story of The Rock, in Fort Meyers, to see how two salons successfully became one.  (By: Sharon Meier-Tamules)

Redken Named Icon Of American Marketplace We are proud to announce that Redken 5th Avenue NYC has been honored as one of the "Icons of the American Marketplace" together with 256 other American brands.  (By: Press Release)

L’ORÉAL USA TO ACQUIRE MALY’S WEST, INC. L’Oréal USA, Inc., a subsidiary of L’Oréal S.A., the world’s largest beauty company, announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire Maly’s West, Inc., one of the most successful family-owned professional salon distributorships in the U.S.  (By: Press Release)

Leasing for Profit - Part Two Welcome to part two in a four part series “Leasing for Profit.” After twenty-four years of experience, twenty-one salons and hundreds of leases later, I've created a Top Ten leasing “must knows” to turn lease negotiating from a chore into an opportunity for increased profit.  (By: Peter Mahoney)

Have You Said “I Do?” Marriage to a single manufacturer is one of the smartest business moves a salon owner can make. Choosing a manufacturer with deep pockets is even smarter. That is why we recommend Redken and their Club 5th Avenue Program.  (By: Sharon Meier-Tamules)

How to Use Service to Client Ratio for Success Service-to-Client-Ratio, or “STCR,” promotes natural retail sales. This means that when the STCR is correct, retail sales are naturally high, because the services performed prompt the guests to “insure” their investment at the salon with the right professional products for home care.  (By: Michael Nikolas)

2007 INDUSTRY FINANCIAL OUTLOOK It may seem the safe road to be a salon for everyman and his family, with average prices, average services, average skill levels, and average opening hours. But it is not.  (By: Randy Kunkel)

Why Do Clients Wander They say 85% of the reason why clients will re-visit a salon is due to the TOTAL experience in the salon. Clients are becoming customer service connoisseurs, and right-fully so! As competition moves into your area you need to have a focused team strategy to assure your business will stay on the cutting edge of the client experience.  (By: Kristi Valenzuela)