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One Stop Shop – Should YOU be offering beauty?
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Health & safety
Carole advises all salons to carry out risk assessments for every treatment being offered, and every product being used in the salon. "All suppliers will provide COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) information. If you are using one of the major product houses, they will require therapists to undergo a period of training in their specific treatments and products, and will provide suitable information for risk assessment," she says.
You must also notify insurers of any change of use of the salon, and some specific treatments such as electrolysis must also be included, as these pose a higher risk.
"The Environmental Health Department of your local authority must be notified if any treatments are going to be carried out where the skin is pierced – ear piercing, electrolysis etc. There are further requirements for treatments such as laser hair removal, but a hair salon is unlikely to introduce these treatments as the financial outlay is considerable," says Carole.
During consultation, every client must complete a questionnaire to ensure you are aware of all allergies and medical problems. This even goes for nails, as clients can suffer allergic reaction to some products.
Finally, hygiene and disposal of waste is very strict – make sure you know all the health and safety rules.
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Product suppliers
Most experts advise choosing one or two product suppliers to maximise cost benefits.
Gina at Aveda says: "It is better to have a single partner to ensure consistency of product and service, allowing your guests to gain a deep understanding of the product. By offering a variety of products, it may be hard to target a specific brand best suited to your clientele."
Keep abreast of new suppliers and trends, for example L'Oréal has just introduced a new professional skincare brand, KéraSkin Esthetics (pictured, left), a sister brand to its luxury haircare brand Kérastase.
Most importantly, check the cost of training, as some suppliers provide free of charge, some make considerable charges for training.
"Some larger suppliers have minimum spend levels, which may not suit smaller salons," warns Carole. "Others have longer delivery times, which may cause problems for busy salons with rapid turnover."
It is best not to order large amounts of stock, in case product suppliers bring in new products or ranges, which they tend to do. Consider your clientele age and type, and the age of potential new clients in your area.
If you do all of this, and can offer clients a relaxing sanctuary, combining beautiful products with amazing service, you will succeed!
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