AfterGlow Girl

I opened my salon in a retail setting 8 years ago. 1 powerbed, 3 tropical entry and 2 Bermuda power booths. 1 Mystic.

The past few years I added teeth whitening, weight loss wraps and a boutique.

Last year my gross was 160k. Unfortunately my overhead is high and I am barely breaking even. I have been working a FT job for the past 5 years and I take a small pay check from the salon. My payroll is over 4k a month for employees and rent 3k plus other costs.

Today we saw 17 people $92
yesterday 35 tanners $70

I know it is the slow season but this is terrible. I am having trouble with my staff as they have been with me for a while and I think they are giving up! I have set up several interviews this weekend to replace 2 of them.

Can anyone give any advice after reading this. It would be much appreciated ;)

tcusa

My only advice would be for you to sell your salon to someone that can
work at the salon full time. Whoever wishes to buy your place can work full time
and make at least 4k/month.

DH

Why not work your own salon and make the $4k per month? Plus most owners increase their revenue when they work the store themselves because they usually care as employees don't and not to mention the money you'll be saving from the theft. Yes your workers are stealing from you probably $1k a month which can go into your pocket.

endlesstan2013

This is the slow season, but employee theft is not something I would jump to conclusions on. I agree, you should be working your salon tho. I am the manager at this salon and I already spoke with the owner about the months of Sept thru Dec and have let her know the revenues are just not here and she will need to learn the industry and work the hours. Salons only work when you have passion for the industry, my customers say my eyes light up when I am talking about tanning, promoting a new lotion or a special we may be offering. Dont sell your employees short, there may be one that is the reason you have not closed your doors yet.

JRGTan09

Our salon has been here for 10 years, and we bought it a little over 3 years ago. We've gone back and forth from working full time jobs and having employees, to working here and having 1 or 2 employees, until last fall when we finally found a better balance (so far). I now work mon-fri open till about 7 (when the airbrush tans are done for the day), and have employees 4-close weekdays and open-close weekends. This way I am here MOST of the time, know whats going on, can keep them motivated and cut on payroll by not paying someone to be in my store 24/7.
Yes it probably seems scary to let go of your full time job to do this full time, but trust me after trying it all this has worked out the best. As a result, we have gone into the summer the strongest it's been since 2008.

peach

Buy a cheap surveillance system, and find out what your people are doing, (or not doing). They may not be stealing, but their customer service may be an issue. They also need something in the off season to be excited about. Good time to try sales contests with your employees, try new lotions, create awesome specials that combine lotions and packages. This has to come from the owner.

Black Sun

45 years in the small business world, I can only give you some heart-felt advice. If you are NOT going to be present, or at least available for the majority of time the biz is open, you need to give it up.

It is very rare today, for an absentee owner (small business) to be successful. Years ago, it was a formidable solution . Not anymore. Demographics, attitudes of employees and customers, technology and many other factors require stronger vigilance.

At this point you have to ask yourself, is the 'small salary' from the salon worth the aggravation.

If you already have a 40hr a week job, be grateful you do, and leave the headaches to someone else.

AfterGlow Girl

Thank you all so much for your advice. I really appreciate it. I fell the best solution is to leave the corporate world and work at my salon. I need to look at my budget and the salons a little closer to make sure this will work. I will be posting a lot more as I try to figure out the best way to get this salon back on track! Have a great day!!!!!!

Steve Underhill

How well you do during the busy season is based in part on what you do during the busy season. To give you a better idea of how you can increase sales would take examining all of the things you are and are not doing. There is no question that there will be changes you can make that will change what you are dealing with.

__________________
Stephen Underhill
Consultant
steve@smuconsulting.com

peach

We have recently purchased a small camera system, ($250). You would be amazed at what goes on in your stores when you are not there. You would also be amazed at how your employees behave once you do it, and review with them what you see.

I could go on and on just about the body language issues that you see your employees displaying....