Before You Buy Equipment, Decide If Your Salon Will Be Posh Or Budget-Conscious
By ksp | December 8, 2011
Those planning to open a salon probably already know that getting the job done is going to require a good deal of cash before you can open the doors the first day. You’re going to be shelling out for all kinds of startup expenses that you may not have anticipated, but have to be paid before you can provide services for your first customer.
You can’t provide care for anyone unless your shop is fully equipped for it, and that’s going to be a sizeable outlay for you. Your primary expenses will total to a rather large chunk of change, but they are completely necessary if you expect to attract a good number of clients.
You’ll want to wait until you’ve been able to make a plan of where you want to go with this, because it’s not enough to merely ascertain that you’ll invest in equipment. You’ll need to come up with a strategy that allows you to get all of the equipment that you’ll need and still stay within the confines of the budget that you’ve drawn up.
Use a few rules of thumb to keep your equipment buying within the realm of the affordable. Do you want to run a posh salon that offers all of the cushy extras that a Beverly Hills spa would provide, or a cut-rate place?
If you’re aiming for the high-end, all-amenities concept, you’re obviously going to spend a good deal more than the no-frills, budget-conscious salon will. You can’t put one over on them with budget salon equipment if you’re going to charge high-end prices to customers who expect to be pampered and preened.
You don’t have to go hog-wild with high-end equipment when you’re gearing up for a discount-oriented salon that attracts customers who are seeking out a good deal. You can get some insider information on who to go to for your equipment purchases by talking with other salon operators.
By simply walking the aisles of wholesalers’ showrooms and perusing trade publications, you can get a good idea of what equipment is on the market and the prices that are being charged for it. Attend a trade show if you’re able, where you’ll get the big picture on lots of different kinds of equipment that are available, and the prices charged for them.
Begin by pricing the most necessary items that you’ll need, such as barber chairs, shears, washing basins and hairdryers to set the gears in motion. When your salon starts making money, you can purchase more elaborate equipment common to the high-end salons.
Customers like to see bright, shiny equipment, so it’s important that you keep what you have looking good and upgrade whenever possible so that new customers are attracted to your shop.
