Attract passing attention
A beautiful retail display can help attract passing trade who may not normally have booked an appointment with your salon. It's vital that they can enter your salon without feeling intimated. "A key factor is the location of your reception desk," says Stephen Ewings. "It needs to be visible but not so intrusive that it deters passers-by. Also, people don’t want to feel crowded by sales staff." Clever lighting, such as floating glass spot shelves lit from above, can act as a beacon. "You can then simply change the look of the salon by including pre-set colour-changing lights," he says.

Build bespoke shelving
Don't feel obliged to stick with free display systems. Jo Rayner recommends investing in something a bit different to make your retail area look unique. "If bespoke joinery is too expensive, there are a lot of interesting display systems out there for books, CDs and toiletries that can be used to showcase products instead," she says.

Pick materials wisely
Pay careful attention to your shelving materials. "Black shelving may seem like a good idea, but if you’re in a busy high-street position, traffic fumes can create a lot of unwelcome dust and mean constant cleaning," says Chris Palmer. "Metallic, wood and glass are all popular choices right now and an added benefit of using glass is that it allows the light to reflect all around the product displayed."

Keep it clean and clutter-free
Nothing will put your clients off browsing in your retail area more than being overwhelmed by a mass of mixed-up products. "Ensure your retail area is kept clean, tidy and clutter-free, as mess will interfere with the feng shui and atmosphere," says Nivin El-Gamal.

Don’t restrict retail to reception
While an attractively displayed retail area in your reception may attract passers-by, don't ever underestimate the importance of placing products near styling stations. "Your clients are sitting here for long periods looking in the mirror when they could be looking at, smelling and touching products," says Jo Rayner.  Another trick is to place products in locations that are passed on a regular basis. "Place them in walkways between zones or make products visible via reflections in styling mirrors," suggests Stephen Ewings.