Operating Strategically in a Salon

Operating strategically in business means making decisions and taking actions aligned with your salon’s long-term plan or vision. It involves taking a comprehensive, deliberate, and forward-thinking approach to managing the business, focusing on achieving specific goals and objectives.

Strategic operations in the salon business involve considering multiple factors and variables, including market trends, competition, customer needs, and internal capabilities. You can use this information to inform decision-making and to develop and implement effective strategies to achieve business goals.

Continuous Evaluation and Adaption

A strategic approach in business also involves continuous evaluation and adaptation, as the market and business environment can change quickly. It requires strong leadership, clear communication, and effective collaboration to ensure everyone works towards the same goals.

Overall, operating strategically in business is critical for success and long-term sustainability. It helps you make informed decisions, respond effectively to challenges, and achieve your goals more efficiently and effectively.

Let’s take chess, for instance. Chess is a strategy game. Each move builds upon the next. Players face the consequences, good or bad, with every move they make. A successful chess player will only act with strategic prowess. They will study each scenario and work on the one that sets them up for their best option.

Your Choices Matter

When you operate a business, whether you’re the owner of the entire establishment or you’re in charge of the destiny of your sole chair, your choices matter. How you show up to work will determine your success. Working smarter, not harder, benefits you. At every opportunity, you’ll place yourself in a great position when you operate strategically.

Working wiser means deciding what tasks should get your attention. Becoming a one-person show, taking on everything yourself is not strategic.

Unfortunately, many new entrepreneurs tackle as many daily tasks as possible to save money. They do their bookkeeping, accounting, laundry, cleaning, answering the phone, booking appointments, cashing clients out at the front desk, designing ads, and managing social media.

From a strategic perspective, there are better uses of your time than this.

Would your time be better-served training & mentoring staff and servicing clients? Do you want to spend hours learning how to design a business card, a flyer, or a website? You might be saving money doing these things yourself. But, consider the loss of revenue from not taking a client because you are designing a promotional flyer instead.

The Power Question

By saying yes to something, what are you saying no to?

Every time you’re about to embark on a task that isn’t in your primary wheelhouse or you could pay someone else to do, ask yourself: what am I saying no to by doing this activity? What will serve my staff, clients, and my business best?

If you’re looking at a bin full of dirty towels and capes and wonder if you should clean and fold them yourself, ask yourself: What am I saying no to by taking this task on myself? What am I saying yes to if I pay someone else for laundry service? How long does it take me to launder and fold towels and capes? Could I accommodate another client at that time and bring in more cash flow than it costs me to pay someone to do the laundry? Think long-term. If you have a two-month waiting list, do you seriously want you or your staff taking half an hour or more a day to launder towels?

Build Your Salon Business

Build your salon business, not a graphic design, web design, laundry, accounting, or social media management company. Focus on what you do best and how you can strategically make that happen all the time. Focusing your efforts on things you’re great at could generate double, triple, or even more revenue than if you did these extra tasks yourself.

Strategic thinkers look at the big picture and decide where to take things a year, two years, or even ten years later. They align their expectations with their goals, so they work smarter and not harder. More time working doesn’t equate to more effectiveness. It can have the opposite effect due to burnout and exhaustion.

Aim to be effective. Ensure that anything you’re pursuing is worthwhile and the most effective use of time. If you’re not an expert in graphic design, cleaning, accounting, or any other peripheral task, consider hiring someone who can help. Your focus should be on those things you do best, and that bring in the most value. Play to your strengths.

Here’s to your success!
Dennise