THE HIGHLIGHTS

FROM USING AI TO DRIVE LOYALTY TO BATTLING BURNOUT – SALON SMART HAD IT COVERED.

Chris Foster, aka The Profile Guy, urged the audience to embrace AI, explaining how bots can be programmed to improve specific areas of business. “What if you had a retail bot, just retailing?” he said. “While you’re talking to your client about Love Island, she can interact with the code by her chair, which is recommending her products, showing her how to use them. She puts them in the basket and picks them up at your till.”

Jordan Massarellaand Ben Jones epitomised a new-gen approach to business – one that puts quality above quantity. Their Massarella + Jones salon in Leamington Spa includes collaborations with local online-only businesses (“We give them a shopfront, while we benefit from their social media presence”) as well as a homely and welcoming salon experience. We love its bespoke wallpaper, created by a local artist, that features the duo’s pets and even their tattoos!

Danny Coles of colour management system Vish showed how salon owners need to start looking at the cost of product, to price services more accurately and profitably (a Vish survey of 2,400 salons showed that one in five colour services are non-profitable). “Learn from your local garage,” said Danny. “They break down their invoice into parts and labour, and you need to start thinking that way too. Break down your services into time and product cost, price accordingly, and the profits will come.”

Mark Ronayne of Phorest alerted the audience to upcoming new legislation in the UK on tipping. “Employers cannot withhold any fees from any tips received,” he explained. “Staff need to be paid their tips within one month of receipt. You need to maintain full records of every tip that passes through your business because your staff can take you to a tribunal if they feel they’re not being treated fairly.” Mark also shared news of a free new feature on Phorest software that offers a worry-free tipping solution.