Performance Review
At regular intervals throughout your employment, the salon management will discuss your job per-
formance with you. Called Performance Reviews, they have several common characteristics:
·
Performance Reviews occur at regularly predetermined intervals.
·
You will be given suggestions to help you capitalize on your strong areas.
·
You will receive constructive criticism about the areas where you could improve. The man-
agement may also help you develop a plan to make improvements.
SALON OWNERSHIP
Perhaps your dream, maybe even one of your long-term goals, is to run your own salon. The suc-
cessful salon owner, through ambition and hard work, can enjoy personal and financial security and
the creative freedom to develop and build a lucrative business. Even if you have never thought of
salon ownership or already know that you do not have a desire to own a salon, it will be beneficial
for you to know the fundamental principles of various salon ownership models and operations.
Understanding the inner workings of salons will create a foundation that will allow both you and
the salon owner to meet goals together. This section of the chapter will explore how to begin the
process of owning a salon.
Self-Appraisal
A salon owner does not have to be all things to all people. The stylist planning to open a salon
should assess his/her own skills carefully to pinpoint any areas of weakness. Locating weaknesses
allows the potential salon owner to hire employees for whom those same areas are strengths. Skills
essential to a successful salon owner are:
1. The ability to recognize hair fashion trends and technical expertise (While the salon owner
need not excel in every salon service performed, he or she MUST be able to recognize great
color skills or perm techniques and hire staff accordingly.)
2. The ability to communicate with the public, not only in ordinary situations, but also in
unusual or difficult instances
3. The ability to accept suggestions and criticism from clients and staff
4. The ability to exert self-control
5. The ability to manage the financial operations of a salon or to work with a professional
bookkeeper or accountant to create a budget that predicts income and expenses
6. The ability to establish and adjust salon pricing in accordance with local economic factors
7. The knowledge to create business through promotion
8. The ability to set realistic business goals
9. The ability to organize a business plan into an executive summary, goals, market potential,
marketing strategy, financial projection and exit plan
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SALON BUSINESS
