29th July 2025
Is a salon really complete if it doesn’t stock retail? I’m very much aware that some salons have given up on retail and no longer have shelves of products for clients to browse and purchase from. Some salons have opted for the route of linking with brands that will send out the products, on their behalf to their clients, giving the salon a cut of the profits.
Some salons carry the bare essentials, invariably on a stand provided by a company they once used, a handful of products spaced out on shelves that should be stacked up and racked up.
The message both of these options gives isn’t great for the clients who visit the salons, it doesn’t suggest that the hairdressers and barbers they put their trust in are serious about haircare or the work they create. Every stylist should take time to make sure their clients are given the best advice face to face, with products at their disposal to recommend. Why they give their loyal clients the opportunity to buy some ineffective products from a supermarket or chemist, something that could undo their work is, quite simply beyond me.
And yes, I get it, some salons have given up because their brands are now available everywhere, but instead of giving up, it surely would be better to introduce something new to the salon environment.
Every salon, no matter how big or small has an area where clients wait, and whilst waiting they should be browsing retail products that generate interest and potential sales. It’s a proven fact that hair and scalp products generate millions in sales, and yes, the majority of those sales come from chemists and supermarkets, but if salons don’t offer anything, or very little, that’s always going to be the case.
STOCK SELLS STOCK, and whilst I always advocate that hairdressers and barbers shouldn’t sell anything, they still need to TELL EVERYTHING, anything used on a clients hair and scalp is a potential sale if enough interest is generated between hair stylist and the individual sat in the chair. But you can’t TELL anything if you have nothing to sell.
Imagine if you went into a supermarket and they had no bread, no butter, no cooked meats, no Tomato Ketchup, the outcome would be, you would go somewhere else that stocked everything you needed. So what’s the difference between a supermarket and a salon?
RETHINK YOUR RETAIL OFFERING: Restock those shelves, carry ranges that satisfy the needs of every client (that’s what supermarkets do for their customers) – showcase your care element, encourage the salon teams to talk about the products they use and why they are the best for clients to take home. Find brands that suit your vibe and your tribe, it’s not one size fits all so look around and see what’s out there (I’m happy to help here by the way).
FIGHT BACK: make a stand for your business, don’t let the supermarkets and chemists, and brands that dilute the salon professional offering win! GET SERIOUS ABOUT RETAIL, because without it, your salon really isn’t complete.
#SalonRetail #ProForPro #SalonPro #ReclaimRetail
