4 Big-Picture Issues Bubbling Under the Surface for Salon Owners

Before we even opened the doors to ‘Cure Studios back in 2021, one truth was already apparent: free time was a thing of the past. Salon ownership is an all-consuming endeavor that leaves you little time to think about anything other than what’s happening right here, right now. So, it’s understandable then, if, on occasion, we allow certain big-picture business issues to bubble up under the surface for longer than is ideal. After all, we’re only human, and, more often than not, we simply don’t have the time, resources and, let’s face it, energy to put meaningful thought into longer-term concerns; concerns that, while important, may not be the hottest fire burning at that very moment.   The thing is, what we’ve also learned after nearly three years of salon ownership is that time is undefeated. Sooner or later, tomorrow’s concern becomes today’s crisis, and when it does, it’s always better to have a plan at the ready. So, let’s rip off the band-aid and dive into four long-term, big-picture issues bubbling under the surface (and in some cases, already spilling over) for which salon owners eventually need a plan. 

Bubbling issue #1: Your most senior professionals want more career growth opportunities. 

Let’s assume for the sake of this conversation that you’re already doing all the right things for your employees: paying top-of-market wages, providing viable insurance, cultivating a safe and open workplace and creating career-growth opportunities within your salon. 

Congratulations, you’re doing an amazing job. You’re also probably not doing enough. Think for a second about your most senior staffers. These are smart, passionate and ambitious professionals. Maybe they haven’t voiced it yet, but, chances are, there’s a desire for more bubbling within. They love your salon and they love the work, but they know when they’ve hit the ceiling.

As owners and leaders, it’s up to us to seek and create additional growth opportunities for our most senior professionals, even it if means going down non-traditional paths. For example, at ‘Cure, we proactively reached out to several agencies to see if there were opportunities for our staff to get involved with interesting projects beyond the walls of our salon. As it happens, there were, and it’s a wonderful opportunity for our team to further challenge and stretch themselves. 

Ultimately, the onus is on you to find non-traditional growth paths for your employees, because whether they’ve expressed it or not, that desire for more is bubbling within. Remember, a good mentor thinks that one day someone will go elsewhere to continue growing. An excellent mentor knows they will. 

Bubbling issue #2: Growing consumer discontent with tipping 

I was at an establishment the other day where I interacted with, was serviced by and helped by no one. Imagine my surprise when I was prompted to provide a tip at the checkout counter. That I was exasperated may not be your concern, but the growing backlash against tipping sure as heck is.

For most salons, tipping is an essential part of the business model. Even if you’re paying them at the higher end of the pay scale, your staff depends on tips to make ends meet and sustain this as their chosen career. Without tips, the math just doesn’t work, for them or your business. Anyone who just flippantly says “Pay your staff more” obviously never owned a salon. So, consumers’ growing discontent with tipping is a huge concern for salons. An existential concern, even. 

What can we do about it though? We obviously can’t control what goes on at other establishments or demand they stop requesting tips they haven’t earned. What we can control, however, is how deeply we focus on providing exceptional client experiences. If we’re heading toward a place where we can no longer expect clients to tip, then we have to be more purposeful than ever about earning gratuity by delivering great client experiences. 

That means making sure everything about our engagement process – from the moment a client finds us online to the moment they walk out the door and beyond – is seamless. It means hiring exceptional people who don’t just provide quality services but build relationships. Above all else, it means making those relationships as deep, personal and meaningful as possible. The best way to prepare for the coming backlash against tipping is to make sure the tip-worthiness of your experience never comes into question to begin with. 

(This also feels like a great time to reiterate how long overdue it is that lawmakers extend the 45B FICA Tax Tip Credit to the beauty industry. It’s beyond crazy to me that salon owners aren’t afforded the same tax credit that restaurant owners have enjoyed for more than 30 years. Get it done, Congress!)

Bubbling issue #3: AI is here 

You didn’t think we were gonna make it through this entire piece without talking about AI, did you? Look, there are plenty of people out there better versed than I am to tell you about where we are in the AI maturity curve and where this is all heading, but it’s obviously heading somewhere. The longer we ignore it as salon owners, the less prepared we’ll be if and when it does spill over. 

The way I see it, there are two things we can do right now: First, keep an open mind. The technologist in me has seen firsthand how much value can be gained by automating once-manual processes. If nothing else, let’s be open to the possibility that some of the new technologies that fall under the big, scary AI label might actually help us create a better client experience. 

At the same time, let’s lean into the things that AI can never replace. For example, I don’t care how good it gets — AI is never going to replace professional-grade, custom nail art, so we’re making that an even bigger part of what we do. It also can't replace the conversations and relationships that matter just as much to our clients as our services, so we’re putting even more emphasis on the personal elements of our client experience. 

Bubbling issue #4: You may one day desire an exit. Rachel Daily is the co-owner of ‘Cure Studios and Boulevard Senior Product Manager. You can follow Cure Studios on Instagram @curestudios.Courtesy of Rachel Daily

Two seemingly divergent truths about my experience as a salon owner: I love every minute of it, and I don’t want to do it forever. Before we started ‘Cure, my business partner and I consumed every resource we could get our hands on, and I distinctly recall thinking that while there were tons of resources available for those of us entering the salon business, there were almost none available to those looking to exit it. When the time comes, figuring out how to exit might be a lot harder than figuring out how to get started. 

Even if the eventual day is still years off in the distance, start at least thinking about what your exit strategy will ultimately look like. Start reaching out to people who’ve gone through the process now. Start learning as much as you can now. Your future self will thank you.  

A helpful hand can make all the difference. 

Planning for what’s coming next isn’t easy, especially when you have nothing in the way of spare time. If you’re frustrated by your lack of bandwidth to take on these big-picture tasks, make sure you’re exploring all of your options, and don’t be afraid to get some help. At ‘Cure, not only did we open a rec for a part-time operations assistant, but we also hired an executive assistant to help us ideate on and execute strategic priorities for the business. Finding a non-industry-specific consultant or assistant to help out with those tasks you’ll just never have time for yourself can make all the difference. 

About the Author:

Rachel Daily is the co-owner of ‘Cure Studios and Boulevard Senior Product Manager. You can follow Cure Studios on Instagram @curestudios.