11th December 2023
Enough is enough! Your salon and your future are under attack. The first pictures of ‘that chemist’ selling your professional products online and in an upmarket store in London have just been published. For legal reasons I am not allowed to post them here, however I can tell you that the retail stands are beautiful, expensive looking, merchandised to the hilt and very consumer friendly. I can also share that as your clients pick and choose products themselves without any professional recommendation, they can now sit down with an ‘expert’ and have a home colour recommendation …. yes, the ‘expert’ will tell the consumer what colour you can use at home… therefore denying you and your business not only your clients retail purchases, but also potentially, your colour business.
If that doesn’t make you think ‘enough is enough’ then I don’t know what will.
Now I know this is only in one store at the moment, but believe me, there is a roll out plan being kept under wraps and will happen sooner rather than later.
It’s time to make a stand and switch to a brand that doesn’t share their professional ranges in a mass market environment. Forget about on-line and product availability that is easily found, as explained before, that’s a decision we all make to go shopping on the web and product houses have to have an online presence. Forget about certain brands being available in high end departments stores, that’s all about ‘high end credibility’. But in store in the UK’s biggest chemist is a different matter altogether, the impulse decision to buy something is there for the taking and that chemist knows it. Forget about your suppliers saying they are raising awareness of your ‘salon professional’ brands, that’s utter rubbish, they are after making more money from their brands, that’s all! And let’s not forget, most of the products you are used to recommending are on special offer already.
I totally understand the reason why big corporate companies want to gain more market share and to do that they need mass market products, but there has always been a difference, or there always has been up until now with some companies. Fortunately, there are still huge organisations that have their mass market brands but keep salon exclusive ranges as well, that’s fine! What’s not fine is a blatant disregard for the hairdressing community and the dedication and commitment they have shown to certain brands for a very very long time.
Now is the time to make that change, now is the time to think about YOUR SALON, YOUR FUTURE and most importantly YOUR CHOICES. The marketplace is full of fabulous ranges that remain true to the hairdressing industry. From big name brands to small independents, there is something for everyone, something that is #ProForPro with lots of added benefits. Choosing new retail and colour brands for your salon can energise everyone, the team, the clients and you, the salon owner. The old adage ‘change is good’ definitely rings true here. There are products out there that will deliver the same results that you are currently used to from a retail performance and colouring service point of view. And for those of you who think changing colour is scary, believe me (and I’m talking from many years experience of writing colour education) IT’S NOT!!!!
If you would like to chat about potential new products and colour for your salon I am happy to share my knowledge and offer any advice I can give.
#ChangeNow #ChangeForGood #ProForPro
PS: Someone sent me a message asking if I was not just a little scared about being regarded as a pariah by these companies? My answer, absolutely not bothered in the least. I am a professional and I support professionals who have worked endlessly at building their reputations, and that’s the way it’s going to stay.
