15th April 2024
Salon retail, the choice is yours and yours alone. Over the past few months I have been championing the idea of #ProForPro, professional retail products sold by professionals. This doesn’t just apply to salons, but to any small retailer who is being beaten up by their suppliers and giant stores who are seeking an every bigger piece of the retail cake, and the cherry on top of it!
In the world of haircare it was always a given that product manufacturers would develop new and exciting, innovative products for hairdressers to use and recommend in their salons, and then a few months later a copycat product would find its way online and in superstores and chemists. Whilst this was annoying (to say the least) it did always give hairdressers the opportunity to talk about their salon exclusive formulations, better quality, higher concentration of key ingredients etc etc.
These days, and this sales approach are dead in the water for some product houses. If you read this blog regularly you will be aware of previous posts that examine the shift in their approach to haircare. We have to accept that the decision has been made and there will not be a U turn from the giants who dominate the haircare market. But that shouldn’t mean salons have to just accept this as the new norm. There are a myriad of independent products ranges out there that are exciting, fresh, innovative, and affordable that are NOT SOLD ON THE HIGH STREET.
Why settle for being walked over by a product company that you have given your 100% commitment to for years, when the way they repay your ongoing loyalty is to disrupt your salon professional retail offering? Mark my words, this is just the TIP OF THE ICEBERG as corporate behemoths get every more greedy for extra revenue we will see other ‘professional’ products finding their way into these outlets that now stock the products that were once exclusive to salons.
But, this industry of ours is full of opportunities for salons to take on board. There are manufacturers out there who remain committed to ‘salon professional’ products, who share their passion for haircare with hairdressers first and foremost.
We all know clients google products when they are sat in your salon, we all know they purchase online, that’s something that can actually be dealt with, and in future blogs there will be some ‘hints and tips’ about how to deal with that situation in a productive and professional manner. However when these products that are now stocked by retail giants online and in stores have special promotions that you as a salon owner will not be able to match, that’s when your retail sales will simply disappear, so, THE CHOICE IS YOURS AND YOURS ALONE, lose your retail sales or carry brands that help you grow your business.
#ProForPro
I am always happy to chat about brands that I believe can help you and your business have a successful retail offering.
