5 Things in My Hybrid Salon That Just Make Sense
I’ve been a salon owner for the better part of 12 years now, and I’ve learned a lot about what truly makes an impact on the salon experience for both clients and stylists and what doesn’t. Certain things, in my opinion, are worth the money and certain things aren’t.
In my first salon, Gina Bianca Hair, we placed a big emphasis on alcohol and coffee. It ended up being a huge money pit, created a lot of dishes and extra labor and didn’t really generate any revenue. Yes, clients liked it, but it wasn’t something that was greatly missed when we moved to my new location, The Network Salon, and rebranded. When we transitioned to a fully booth rental model, I didn’t have the money to spend on alcohol, so we cut it. I don’t remember anyone being upset about it, and I was relieved not to deal with the headache anymore.
In this article, I want to share five things in my salon that make sense for our hybrid business model and actually make us money.
1. Snack & Coffee Bar
First, we have two levels to our snack and coffee bar. We offer complimentary coffee, seltzer, water and basic snacks for all guests. Right next to it and throughout the lobby, we also have snacks like protein bars, prebiotic soda, bottled drinks, chips and more for sale. These are easy money makers and simple to source from bulk stores. It’s also pretty easy to make a wholesale account for most brands. We place an order once a week or every two weeks depending on storage, and ring guests out just like we would for retail. These impulse buys are especially great for guests with longer appointments who want more than fruit snacks or crackers.2. Salon Color Store
For our stylists, one of the best investments I’ve made is our color store. We sell everything from hair color and developer to cotton and processing caps. In a booth rental salon, one of the biggest drivers of retention is convenience, and our store delivers that. Stylists can take on new clients without worrying if they have what they need. I recommend starting small with essentials like top SKUs from one color line, developer, gloves, and foil. These basics are a lifesaver, and you can mark them up since you’re reselling. I typically use a 30% margin and buy in bulk during sales. We also place weekly orders to make sure stylists can rely on us to have what they need in stock.3. Stylist Cheat Sheet
Next is a QR code at our front desk that links to a page for all of our stylists. Since our renters all have different booking links, Venmo accounts and contact methods, this gives guests a quick and seamless way to scan and handle anything like booking, tipping, gift cards or getting in touch. It takes a few hours to set up, but it is completely worth it.4. Keyless Entry
Keyless entry is another big one. Every stylist gets a unique code so no one has to worry about keys. I give my team, including commission stylists, 24 hour access to the space. I always tell them to never say no to money, so I don’t want to limit when they can work.5. Color Remover
Lastly, color remover available for everyone. I use Clean Touch and love it. It doesn’t smell and works incredibly well. We keep it everywhere so no one has to go looking for it. I never want a client leaving with color on their skin, and I don’t want stylists wasting time trying to find what they need.
These are just a few things we do to give our team convenience and make their day to day easier. As a salon owner, I am always asking questions that lead to making my salon the best place to work. One of my favorite questions is ‘How can I make it crazy to work anywhere else?,” and these are just a few ways we make it happen at The Network!
Gina Sicard (@iamginabianca), Pro2Pro Editorial Contributor
Gina is a veteran salon owner with a proven track record of building strong salon cultures, delivering meaningful education and mentoring top performing stylists. Gina’s mission is to provide inspiration, resources and real world strategies for salon owners and stylists who want to grow.
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