The Dream and Struggles of Opening a New Salon - Page 5

Neon Beach · 07-15-2006, 06:01 PM

Mr Derf

Join Date: Jun 29 2006
Location: NE
Posts: 42
Points : 1,076.09 (Donate)
Rep: +13 (+/-)

Today, 02:40 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by Neon Beach
Derf? Are you Luigy from Growing Up Gotti?

Yes, I'm now working for Frankie in his salon.

---------------

LMAO! :)

MATT A · 07-15-2006, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Derf

Told you.

This is not a bad thing though.

Steve Underhill · 07-16-2006, 11:03 AM

Quote (However, I still think that it is at the best, misleading and at the worst, lying to state that "the things that you teach are successful 100% of the time.")

Everything you do in business will have one of two effects, Positive or negative. My programs are structured to only have positive effects 100% of the time. The biggest problem in this business is doing the wrong thing that has a negative effect or doing nothing that also has a positive effect. If every decision you make is proven to have a positive effect and you never take a passive position by doing nothing that also has a positive effect, your chance of success is great. In other words you will never fail because you where not prepared or armed with the knowledge to succeed. There is no trick to this. If you choose the right location package and market your salon correctly, manage your income and spending you will have a successful business 100% of the time. If you look at any business that fails you will find that there was something or a number of things that where being done wrong or not being done at all. When you choose an industry that is strong because there is an endless number of people that use your product or services, than failure is due to structure and management. I am sorry that you don't want to believe that you can control your success but you can. Don't get me wrong, what I teach are not the only thing that have positive effects, there are many paths to success, my programs have been tested and proven in tanning salons for many years. It is all done with trial and error over the years the trial has been over for a long time, that is why 10% of todays salons are experiancing so much success. The 90% that are struggeling or at least not maximizing income potential are not properly educated on what it takes to be successful or with what I see on these forums a lot, not willing to do something other than what is now causing them to fail. This is really ok. The successful bussiness depend on the failing business to make them stronger. It gives tanners a frame of comparison when they visit a failing salon and a thriving salon. Tanners can tell the difference. It is the same with many things people like supporting the winning team.

Steve Underhill · 07-16-2006, 11:24 AM

Many of you are put off by my blunt direct approach, especially when I don't agree with you. My position is not to tell you what you want to hear just to gain your business. I tell you and my clients what I know to be true, that allows me to stand behind what I teach. There are too many distributors and manufacturers that are willing to tell you anything you want to hear and pat you on the back for your great ideas just to sell you equipment or product. The success of my business is directly connected to the success of your business. I am certainly not the only person in this industry that is capable of guiding your success, but the really smart business person will look to a knowledgeable source for the tools and direction to succeed. There would be a much larger % of successful salons if potential salon owners got qualified help. I can guarantee this, all of the salon owners that got help are in the 10% that are maximizing potential income.

Brandy1 · 07-16-2006, 11:26 AM

I have met Steve Underhill and spoke with him on several occasions. He is BY FAR the most knowledgable person that I know of in the industry. If anybody is opening a salon they SHOULD hire Steve. The money they save in mistakes will ALONE pay for his fee over and over again!

And, going back to Steve's original post. People start business everyday without those 'common sense' points that Steve made. I think it was a useful post that many people can use. But of course, like always on this site, he makes a helpful post and a group of 'know it alls' ruin it by their useless comments.

Anyway, thanks Steve for all your help! You rock!

billable · 07-16-2006, 11:46 AM

Ok, my last post on this thread.

I don't know Mr. Underhill personally, but know of him. I know that he is one of the most successful people in this industry.

I do not doubt his abilities or the fact that he is qualified to help almost anyone be more successful.

I also believe that he and I agree on far more than we disagree.

My only problem is that nothing is 100% effective. While most businesses fail from poor decisions made during good times, there are situations that can't be accounted for. It may be less than 1%, but there will be factors that you can't plan on or recover from.

Perhaps you are in a town that both major employers fail and the unemployment rate goes from 4% to 40% over night.

Perhaps someone with more money than sense comes in and opens across the street and starts selling packages for half what it takes to be profitable. They don't need to do it forever, just until they put you out of business.

Also, if you ae going to consult, consult. If you are going to sell, sell. I disagree with the premise of consulting as a way of selling me your product. While it has become the norm for the life insurance industry, I don't want to be misled. Tell me why your product is better, faster, cheaper, etc. (whatever your selling point is) and let me decide if it is right for me.

I hope that this is taken as it is intended. I have tremendous respect for people like Mr. Underhill who have beaten the odds of business and been successful. We just happen to disagree on the things I have mentioned. I am certain that he is selling a good product and is a capable consultant.

excitednewguy · 07-16-2006, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Underhill

Quote (All of these things that you listed are just plain old common sense business know how. Either you have it or you don't, and it has nothing to do with tanning. Same holds true for any business that you start.)

If you have never opened a business how can you just use your head and get it right. If all you had to do is just use your head we would have no need for these forums or any form of communication.

I don't claim to be a GURU. I have been doing this for 27 years and my business is focused on assisting people that don't want to guess at what they are doing and make a lot of costly mistakes. 100% of the fortune 500 companies use outside consulting firms, why don't they just use their heads as you suggest.

It always amazes me that so many of you can't admit that you need help. You spend thousands of dollars on build-out, equipment, advertising and yet you feel there is no value in having the knowledge to save money in the development of your salon and make more money in the operating of your salon. And yet here you all are trying to figure out what you did wrong and how to make it better.

I have been assisting salon owners as a Consultant now for 6 years, all of my clients are knowledgeable successful salon owners that when they open additional salons and most of them do, they come right back to me to assist them again. I am not interested in assisting those that know everything about everything. My business is built with those that are smart enough to know that they need qualified assistance and the value it brings. The things that I teach are certainly not the only way but they are proven to be successful 100% of the time. If there is something that you do with great success I am sure there are many people that want to try and discredit you. I wonder why the people that try and discredit a consultant are never the salon owners that have used one.

bla bla bla,,,,,why don't you providee references. Any reputable consulting business should not have an issue with this. Salon Names, Years they have been in business, tc. etc.

Brandy1 · 07-16-2006, 08:22 PM

He does provide refrences when people are wanting information on his services. In this case he was just offering help to new salon owners and give them some options.

Steve Underhill · 07-17-2006, 11:40 AM

Quote (bla bla bla,,,,,why don't you providee references. Any reputable consulting business should not have an issue with this. Salon Names, Years they have been in business, tc. etc. )

When someone is interested in my services one of the first things I do is provide many references of salon owners in all stages of development. You should never do business with anyone without references.

Steve Underhill · 07-17-2006, 12:08 PM

Quote (Also, if you ae going to consult, consult. If you are going to sell, sell. I disagree with the premise of consulting as a way of selling me your product. While it has become the norm for the life insurance industry, I don't want to be misled. Tell me why your product is better, faster, cheaper, etc. (whatever your selling point is) and let me decide if it is right for me.)

I am not sure I understand this statement. A very important decision in opening a salon is equipping your salon with systems that best supports your marketing program. While I was with a factory as the Sales Manager for 12 years it was my job to have extensive knowledge of all of the equipment manufacturers in the market. In doing so it was easy to see which company I felt provided the best customer service, and models of equipment that incorporated all of the features that translated down to the tanners needs. I also wanted the most service free equipment. The TanAmerica line in my opinion was the best equipment available. While my clients are not required to purchase the TA line, my programs are best supported by this line. It also gives my clients the opportunity to get the best possible equipment and all of my extensive services free. Now in what world is this a bad thing. If you like TA equipment, it becomes an easy decision to use my services because they are free. If you choose to use a different line of equipment you pay for my services. If I was trying to sell some off brand of equipment I would understand your concerns. This is not the case, I am offering what many believe as I do to be the best equipment and equipment company on the market combined with franchise like services free. You see this as a bad thing because it offends you? Lets recap, I don't try and sell equipment here or anywhere else. I sell a package that consist of a complete successful salon that is equipped with systems that are a part of the salons success. You can tamper with that success by purchasing another line of equipment if you choose in that case you will pay for my services. Either way, you enter this industry with the tools and knowledge to be successful. If the way you operate your salon is best for you and you disagree with everything I say, that is fine. However there are some people out there that read the post here and determine that what I have to say makes a lot more sense.

07-15-2006, 06:01 PM	#41 (permalink)
Neon Beach I'm Banned Join Date: Nov 30 2000 Location: Ontario Age: 45 Posts: 52,065 Rep Power: 0	Re: The Dream and Struggles of Opening a New Salon Mr Derf Join Date: Jun 29 2006 Location: NE Posts: 42 Points : 1,076.09 (Donate) Rep: +13 (+/-) Today, 02:40 PM Quote: Originally Posted by Neon Beach Derf? Are you Luigy from Growing Up Gotti? Yes, I'm now working for Frankie in his salon. --------------- LMAO! :)

07-16-2006, 11:03 AM	#43 (permalink)
Steve Underhill Join Date: Apr 21 2004 Location: Frisco, TX Age: 57 Posts: 620 Rep Power: 5	Re: The Dream and Struggles of Opening a New Salon Quote (However, I still think that it is at the best, misleading and at the worst, lying to state that "the things that you teach are successful 100% of the time.") Everything you do in business will have one of two effects, Positive or negative. My programs are structured to only have positive effects 100% of the time. The biggest problem in this business is doing the wrong thing that has a negative effect or doing nothing that also has a positive effect. If every decision you make is proven to have a positive effect and you never take a passive position by doing nothing that also has a positive effect, your chance of success is great. In other words you will never fail because you where not prepared or armed with the knowledge to succeed. There is no trick to this. If you choose the right location package and market your salon correctly, manage your income and spending you will have a successful business 100% of the time. If you look at any business that fails you will find that there was something or a number of things that where being done wrong or not being done at all. When you choose an industry that is strong because there is an endless number of people that use your product or services, than failure is due to structure and management. I am sorry that you don't want to believe that you can control your success but you can. Don't get me wrong, what I teach are not the only thing that have positive effects, there are many paths to success, my programs have been tested and proven in tanning salons for many years. It is all done with trial and error over the years the trial has been over for a long time, that is why 10% of todays salons are experiancing so much success. The 90% that are struggeling or at least not maximizing income potential are not properly educated on what it takes to be successful or with what I see on these forums a lot, not willing to do something other than what is now causing them to fail. This is really ok. The successful bussiness depend on the failing business to make them stronger. It gives tanners a frame of comparison when they visit a failing salon and a thriving salon. Tanners can tell the difference. It is the same with many things people like supporting the winning team.

07-16-2006, 11:26 AM	#45 (permalink)
Brandy1 I love Derf!! Join Date: Nov 17 2004 Posts: 8,018 Rep Power: 36	Re: The Dream and Struggles of Opening a New Salon I have met Steve Underhill and spoke with him on several occasions. He is BY FAR the most knowledgable person that I know of in the industry. If anybody is opening a salon they SHOULD hire Steve. The money they save in mistakes will ALONE pay for his fee over and over again! And, going back to Steve's original post. People start business everyday without those 'common sense' points that Steve made. I think it was a useful post that many people can use. But of course, like always on this site, he makes a helpful post and a group of 'know it alls' ruin it by their useless comments. Anyway, thanks Steve for all your help! You rock! __________________

07-16-2006, 08:22 PM	#48 (permalink)
Brandy1 I love Derf!! Join Date: Nov 17 2004 Posts: 8,018 Rep Power: 36	Re: The Dream and Struggles of Opening a New Salon He does provide refrences when people are wanting information on his services. In this case he was just offering help to new salon owners and give them some options. __________________

07-17-2006, 11:40 AM	#49 (permalink)
Steve Underhill Join Date: Apr 21 2004 Location: Frisco, TX Age: 57 Posts: 620 Rep Power: 5	Re: The Dream and Struggles of Opening a New Salon Quote (bla bla bla,,,,,why don't you providee references. Any reputable consulting business should not have an issue with this. Salon Names, Years they have been in business, tc. etc. ) When someone is interested in my services one of the first things I do is provide many references of salon owners in all stages of development. You should never do business with anyone without references.

07-17-2006, 12:08 PM	#50 (permalink)
Steve Underhill Join Date: Apr 21 2004 Location: Frisco, TX Age: 57 Posts: 620 Rep Power: 5	Re: The Dream and Struggles of Opening a New Salon Quote (Also, if you ae going to consult, consult. If you are going to sell, sell. I disagree with the premise of consulting as a way of selling me your product. While it has become the norm for the life insurance industry, I don't want to be misled. Tell me why your product is better, faster, cheaper, etc. (whatever your selling point is) and let me decide if it is right for me.) I am not sure I understand this statement. A very important decision in opening a salon is equipping your salon with systems that best supports your marketing program. While I was with a factory as the Sales Manager for 12 years it was my job to have extensive knowledge of all of the equipment manufacturers in the market. In doing so it was easy to see which company I felt provided the best customer service, and models of equipment that incorporated all of the features that translated down to the tanners needs. I also wanted the most service free equipment. The TanAmerica line in my opinion was the best equipment available. While my clients are not required to purchase the TA line, my programs are best supported by this line. It also gives my clients the opportunity to get the best possible equipment and all of my extensive services free. Now in what world is this a bad thing. If you like TA equipment, it becomes an easy decision to use my services because they are free. If you choose to use a different line of equipment you pay for my services. If I was trying to sell some off brand of equipment I would understand your concerns. This is not the case, I am offering what many believe as I do to be the best equipment and equipment company on the market combined with franchise like services free. You see this as a bad thing because it offends you? Lets recap, I don't try and sell equipment here or anywhere else. I sell a package that consist of a complete successful salon that is equipped with systems that are a part of the salons success. You can tamper with that success by purchasing another line of equipment if you choose in that case you will pay for my services. Either way, you enter this industry with the tools and knowledge to be successful. If the way you operate your salon is best for you and you disagree with everything I say, that is fine. However there are some people out there that read the post here and determine that what I have to say makes a lot more sense.

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