Why you should be taking salon success courses

Like all professional stylists, nail technicians and make up artists before you - you’re out to make a name for yourself. You have taken numerous courses to perfect your skills and to get closer to obtaining your certificate. After weeks of getting acquainted with your mannequin head or practicing your Phi brows on numerous bananas, you’re confident in yourself and are ready to take on your exams. After passing with flying colours, you’re finally in the professionals league! Since this is just the beginning of your journey, you have many plans to make it big in the industry. You might be considering working mobile, for a salon or spa, booth renting or even opening your own business. But have your courses prepared you enough for what’s to come? Most hair and beauty certification courses cover topics related to your trade, but rarely do they go into details regarding finances, business management, marketing, etc. For that, there are salon success courses!

What are they?

Salon success courses are led by an expert in the field, who has practical knowledge of the industry, as well as the business aspects of it. These courses are usually led online, one-on-one, or in group get-togethers, and can be formal and strictly academic or laid back and fun. The topics covered range from managing finances and marketing your services to attracting clients to your business and improving their loyalty.

Learn how to work with clients

So, you’re fresh out of school and you’re finally ready to start your career in the hair & beauty industry. Let’s say you’re hired as an apprentice stylist at a local salon - though this isn’t your dream position, you have to start off somewhere. But without prior training, how do you begin working with clients? If you’re constantly making mistakes along the way, your chances of becoming a junior, not to mention senior stylist, are becoming less likely. However, salon success courses can change all of that! To find one that suits you, go on the web and look for options in your area, or those that are strictly online - depending on what you prefer. Also, make sure that the course is suited for stylists and salon owners alike. A reputable instructor will cover ways how you should engage clients to not only provide them with excellent customer service, but also to benefit your business when it comes to things like promoting treatments, products, improving customer loyalty or upselling.

Master the art of finances!

When it comes to running your own enterprise or renting a booth, nothing is more important than being capable of understanding your finances. This happens all too often - a seasoned specialist, with years of experience working in countless salons and spas finally decides to run things their own way and opens their own business. They’ve already made a name for themselves in the industry and even have a strong customer base, so what can go wrong? Without real-life knowledge on how to properly manage finances, this dream will quickly fall into shambles. Things such as managing a marketing budget, effectively pricing products and treatments as well as equipment shopping are oftentimes left out of specialisation courses - it is up to you to learn this! But don’t fret, salon success courses are here to help!

Before you make a decision, make sure that the course is strictly for businesses in the hair and beauty industry! Although group courses are fun and interactive, it is best to focus on one-on-one sessions with the instructor, because they apply their knowledge to your unique situation, allowing them to better assist you. Mention your plans for the business, and ask what solutions they recommend to make better financial decisions in the long run. One of the best tools is beauty & hair salon software, which especially comes in handy when it comes to managing finances. Booksy is just that - a system that works as your virtual financial assistant, generating sales, treatments and product popularity reports, as well as your revenue forecast.

Become a marketing guru!

Marketing a beauty business can get tricky, as it all depends on your target audience. Is the majority of your clientele over 50? Or are your treatments more popular with younger clients? Did you know that you should have separate marketing campaigns for each of these groups? Don’t be surprised if this topic wasn’t covered in your specialisation course. Before you launch an ad campaign, get a better understanding of your audience - learn how many of them are on social media and what treatments they are most interested in. Also, consider how you can market your offers to them without sounding too salesy. And when you're ready, use Booksy's automated marketing campaigns to promote your services or special offers and make sure your clients keep coming back to your business.

Just because you’ve finished your specialisation course doesn’t mean that you’re ready to take on the world! Before you make a name for yourself in hair & beauty, consider taking a few salon success courses to make sure you’re effectively running and managing your salon or spa. And don’t forget your invaluable sidekick, Booksy!