It’s been a difficult few years for the beauty industry. When the UK was plunged into lockdown at the start of the pandemic, salons were forced to close, with many never opening their doors again.
Now, for those salons who have survived the tough times, a new challenge looms. Overall, the UK retail sector is starting to suffer as people’s incomes are squeezed by the rising cost of living. This means many clients will no longer have the expendable income they may have once had to spend on luxuries.
However, the beauty industry as a whole hasn’t yet been hit. In fact, coming out of the pandemic, people are more interested in their appearance and wellness than ever before. Here’s how to capitalise on what’s being referred to as ‘the groom boom’ so that your beauty business can not only survive but thrive in 2023.
Diversify Your Offering
One way to ensure your beauty business thrives in the coming year is to diversify what you can offer your clients. With the rise of male beauty, beauticians need to respond with popular, in-demand treatments such as manicures and pedicures for men, beard treatments, body waxing and tanning. It’s also essential to keep up with the latest beauty trends such as glazed doughnut nails as worn by Hayley Bieber at the 2022 Met Gala, and the copper hair trend as showcased by Kendall Jenner and countless other celebrities this year.
Use Quality Products
During the pandemic, people were forced to do their own hair and beauty treatments at home, and many have continued with this habit long after salons reopened, largely because it is more affordable. This means that when clients do opt for salon-based treatments, they will expect something more than what they could achieve at home.
Ensure that you offer a top-quality salon experience to your clients by using the very best products available and offering luxury touches, such as applying conditioning treatments when using semi-permanent colour to blend greys or adding highlights to enhance the natural shade of your client’s hair.
Personalise Your Service
More so than ever before, people expect tailored experiences in many aspects of life – and beauty is no different. Prove the value of your salon treatments by personalising your services. You could do this by offering skin consultations, individual aftercare courses, and taking time to find out about their lives and the results they are hoping for.
Offer Customer Rewards
As a salon owner, you want to keep your customers coming back for more. Repeat custom is essential in proving your excellence and monetary worth. Reward loyal clients with special discounts to encourage them to book that next appointment. You might want to consider a ‘recommend a friend’ scheme, where existing clients get a discount or free treatment if they refer a new customer to your salon. You could also offer package deals or freebies in exchange for a good review. Retaining a healthy client base will ensure that your salon can survive the cost-of-living crisis and thrive in 2023.
