The Phorest Blog

Running a smooth salon or spa operation can be tough. However, with better organisation you can streamline some parts of your day, better assess risks and opportunities for growth, keep on top of your KPIs and other business objectives as well as reduce high levels of stress. Find out more in this episode! Who wrote the article? Avril Kealy is a member of the front of house First Impressions Team...

Opening a salon is an amazing accomplishment, but as many would say, also quite the stressful experience. Fortunately, salon or spa ownership is nothing new, and as it turns out, many current salon owners have also asked themselves the same questions. So, we spoke to a few of them and asked: If you could go back in time, what advice would you give your younger self? Who wrote the article? Lucy Dou...

Appointment reminders don’t have to be just that. Why not use them as an opportunity to say ‘thank you for respecting our salon’s time and work’? Adding an incentive for people to show up to their appointment can prove to be a simple and easy way to increase loyalty amongst your client base. Who wrote the article? Chris Brennan is a salon marketing specialist, published author, award-winning filmm...

The sun is shining, the temperature is rising and school is almost out! Plus, the non-official summer kickoff in the United States is Memorial Day, which comes around late May. Safe to say that summer has arrived! Make sure you’ve bought new sunscreen; the season of burns is upon us! In the meantime, we have some June salon marketing ideas ready for you to avail of, and you’re going to love them....

In an era of celebrity and influencer endorsements, and with so much emphasis on achieving the looks we’re promoted, buying the products touted by the glam and gorge is tempting, something we unconsciously gravitate to. Where once the latest trends and celebrity secrets in beauty were confined to the pages of glossy magazines, they are now everywhere on social media. If you use of creativity, this...

As your salon moves through rapid growth, it can be tempting to skip the hard work. Don’t. This is not a time to shy away from the roles you dislike. Instead, surround yourself with experts in their fields or learn what you can about the subjects you find difficult. Who wrote the article? Richard McCabe is a highly motivated salon business coach ( iSalon Coaching ) who has a proven track record in...

Have you ever wanted to hone your management skills? Or maybe learn what makes a beautiful portrait photograph? These days you can go online and learn pretty much any skill or occupation at a time that suits you, and from the comfort of your home. The main issue is knowing which course to take. So, we did the research for you and narrowed it down to 10 alternative online salon courses that could b...

Sometimes, SMS booking reminders just aren’t enough to get a client to show up. And while it’s crazy to think it’s possible to completely eliminate no-shows, there are ways to reduce their frequency to the real emergencies only. Find out how in this episode! Who wrote the article? Zoé Bélisle-Springer is an award-winning salon industry writer, podcast co-host/producer (Phorest FM, Phorest Blog pod...

The good hard truth about leadership and management styles is that really, methods vary from one manager to another. Would you know what those styles are and what various results they can deliver? Which style do you have the most in common with? Who wrote the article? Valerie Delforge has been in the beauty industry for over 25 years giving her a strong understanding of the various challenges owne...

Coaches and mentors are there to help you see more clearly when you’re stuck in a rut. “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” To build and nurture a relationship with a mentor, you’ll need to be patient. You might not always get an answer from people you reach out to. Sometimes it might be the way you asked or what you said. Other time...

Buying an existing salon is not as easy as it may look. There are a myriad of things you need to think about before going ahead and investing your money in an existing salon. At the very least, make sure you look into its profitability, monthly income revenue & expenses, management accounts and KPIs, HR & staff issues and finally, the terms of the purchase. Who wrote the article? Gloria Murray is...

Well prepared, diversifying your salon service offerings will add a powerful & lucrative dimension to your business. But one thing it's not, is easy. Your understanding of what the beauty industry has to offer will be crucial. Beauty is a different way of working altogether. Who wrote the article? Valerie Delforge has been in the beauty industry for over 25 years giving her a strong understanding...

While you can budget your insurance policy into your salon's outgoings, you can’t budget for the legal costs and compensation payments that may arise. Wouldn't you rather be protected? Who wrote the article? Joseph L. Bolger is Head of Arbitrating and Industrial Relations at ESA Consultants , and also works with Phorest Salon Software to provide HR blogs that are relevant and helpful to the hair a...

They're attention-grabbing, they tell a story and because they're visual, we process them much quicker. More and more, we're seeing an uptake in emoji with brands in various industries. What about in the hair and beauty space? When added to salon SMS & email subject lines, can they increase open and click-through rates? Who wrote the article? Zoé Bélisle-Springer is an award-winning salon industry...

With so many point-of-sale software providers out there, how do you even start making up your mind on one? Consider these 9 key features to make an informed decision for your business. Who wrote the article? Zoé Bélisle-Springer is an award-winning salon industry writer, podcast co-host/producer (Phorest FM, Phorest Blog podcast) and speaker known for helping salons grow through her educational co...

Delegation is and will always be at the heart of true leadership, and yet, it’s a discipline and a procedure that many struggle to master. Think about it this way: if management is about developing people, then good delegation is about bringing the best out of those same people. Think about how you manage your staff at the moment. What does delegation mean to you as a salon owner? Does it keep you...

According to a study from male-focused manufacturer American Crew, 70 percent of walk-in business is men. Seventy percent of walk-ins is no joke. Think about it: for every 10 walk-ins, that’s 7 men’s haircuts for your salon... or another one down the street. But why? What makes a potential male customer choose one salon over another? Who wrote the article? Zoé Bélisle-Springer is an award-winning...

When posting salon news, special offers and latest promotions on social media, one way to ensure that you reach a lively, chatty audience is to use hashtags. But hashtags can be a touchy subject: there are a few etiquette rules that you should remember, because even the most innocent post can turn into an embarrassment! Who wrote the article? Chris Brennan is a salon marketing specialist, publishe...

Wedding season and warm weather are upon us! Which means two things for your salon/spa. First, that if your clients aren’t already starting to book their holiday flights, they’re about to. Which means it’s time to get them prepped for the sun before they head off. Second, those who’ll be tying the knot will start booking their hair and beauty appointments. Plus, if you’re based in North America, y...

The Phorest Salon Software Client Experience Award is not based on public votes or judging panels, but rather on how the people who spend their money in your salon or clinic felt about what you provided them with throughout the year. In this episode, learn how to leverage the award to increase client bookings. Who wrote the article? Zoé Bélisle-Springer is an award-winning salon industry writer, p...

Rebranding can be quite hurtful to your business when it’s not done right. The best way to avoid the identity crisis and the budget overspend is to think about your why, goals and strategies, and establish a plan to achieve them! Who wrote the article? Zoé Bélisle-Springer is an award-winning salon industry writer, podcast co-host/producer (Phorest FM, Phorest Blog podcast) and speaker known for h...

Look at your desk right now; what does it represent? How many things do you have on it? Are they all necessary? Can you see a way to make your retail space work hand-in-hand with your salon reception? Can your receptionist become more of a retail coordinator? To increase your salon's revenue, you must start encouraging retail & customer experience culture. Who wrote the article? Valerie Delforge h...

Applying staff access levels in your software system can be one of the trickier aspects of salon management to master. Access to client databases can be a touchy subject, and it can be challenging to implement the perfect balance between security and trust. Staff access is, ultimately, a personal choice. This episode focuses on important things to consider before deciding how your staff access lev...

You would think that such a simple thing as rebooking on the day or getting clients to join your loyalty program should be relatively straightforward to implement in a salon, but it’s actually quite difficult. And while it’s a challenge, it’s not something you can afford to miss out on. In this episode, learn how to bring those conversations up effectively with clients. Who wrote the article? Zoé...

How we find jobs has changed. Plus, there's often a discrepancy between the skills hair and beauty courses teach, and the skills salon owners look for in a candidate. It's tough. This episode explores the avenues available to advertise salon job openings in the digital age. Who wrote the article? Valerie Delforge has been in the beauty industry for over 25 years giving her a strong understanding o...