Salon owners are faced with challenges daily—owning and operating a salon or barbershop is no easy feat. That said, the Coronavirus pandemic is posing an entirely new set of challenges, and it may be tough to figure out the best way to navigate. Tony Odishio, beauty expert and salon owner, has a few tips to help you get through these uncertain times.
How are you keeping yourself and your team motivated?
As a leader, I’m always optimistic and I like to look at the bright side of things. I know it’s a difficult time for everyone but it comes from the top; if the owners are optimistic and positive, then hopefully it will have a trickle-down effect on the employees and even clients. We are all going through this together and we are doing everything possible in terms of sharing the benefits that the government is offering to our stylists. These benefits include links to various websites such as the Professional Beauty Association, etc., so they can stay informed about what’s going on. Knowledge is power.
People are scared about losing income. What advice can you give?
It is a very uncertain time for all of us. During the shutdown, our management team is working remotely and reaching out to clients to book future appointments for when we plan to open back up. By doing this, our team members will have appointments booked for when they return. Some salons are giving discounts for appointments booked and paid for now for the future to motivate clients and keep a stream of income coming in.
If you have been through a scary time previously (for any reason) with your business, how did you overcome it?
Resilience and staying connected. The beauty industry is constantly going through shifts and disruptions. We saw a huge change in the traditional salon structure in the last couple years as stylists moved away from commission-based salons to chair rentals and independent suites. Some salon owners naturally saw a huge dip in their revenue during that period. It's important to stay connected with your community during such times to help with rebuilding your staff and clientele (financially, physically, and mentally). During all this, one message rings very true: We're all in this together!