Small Business Development with Sarj

Keeping it professional in a creative industry!  onesalon.sarah@gmail.com @sarj.onesalon onesalonne.com/sarah

Today I am recapping the last 10 episodes.  I did a 10 part series, each with a different topic of systems that can be implemented into your business, and why they are crucial for you to grow.  Loving these? I want to hear from you! Tag, reach out, share!  onesalon.sarah@gmail.com @sarj.onesalon onesalonne.com/sarah

onesalon.sarah@gmail.com @sarj.onesalon onesalonne.com

Improving small business systems in the beauty industry can lead to increased efficiency, customer satisfaction, and profitability, and  - who doesn’t want to make more!  And creating compliance and mitigation systems is important for many reasons and I want to cover a few top reasons today.  First off what is compliance and mitigation : Compliance - adhering to a set of rules, such as a policy, standard, specification, or law. Mitigation - reducing risk of loss from the occurrence of any undesirable event. Think about insurance and the reasons you have to have it being a renter/1099/owner/etc.  With that information lets get into some areas you can create systems for compliance and mitigation and the importance of them!  Legal Requirements - our industry is subject to local, state federal regulations and laws when it comes to running your business behind the chair or owing and this goes into taxes as well.  Creating systems so you are prepared when state board comes in. Familiarize yourself with their rules.  Taxes - create a system to set you up for paying taxes. As an owner there are a lot more bills due than you think.  2. Reputation and trust - building strong systems can create a certain reputation with distributors. Customers. Future salon professionals.      1. Compliance with industry standards shows you are committed to ethical and             professional business practices.  3. Risk Management - we often face a variety of risks as small business owners; including legal. Financial. Operational. And cyber.      1. Building systems within these spaces allows you to stay in business longer. And this will allow you to have less stress, when you are audited, when state comes in for a check.  4. Competitive advantage - compliance with specific standards or certifications can provide a competitive advantage. Customers may prefer to do business with a company that is certified or compliant with industry-specific requirements, giving you an edge in the market. Especially in a world where high level services are becoming more prevalent.  5. Future growth and scalability - As your small business grows, the complexity of your operations increases. This is a good thing!  Implementing compliance and mitigation systems early on can set a strong foundation for your future growth and scalability, making it easier to adapt to changing regulations and business challenges. You have systems created and when one aspect adjusts you simply adjust a small area as well.      1. Example - your compliance with state regulations. If you have implemented a level within your business, and your stylists follow suite, if state changes something you will not need to change the whole process, it will be slight and manageable.  Thank you for joining today! Next up in this 10 part series is our final episode within the series!  Cost Control - and I KNOW you cannot wait for this one!  If you enjoyed this episode I would love a rating and review! If you are looking for a certain topic on business acumen please reach out! I will add my information in the show notes and as always I am here to make your business more successful and your life less stressful.  onesalonne.com/sarah @sarj.onesalon Onesalon.sarah@gmail.com

Welcome back!  I have been discussing systems and the importance of them within the beauty industry!  Today our topic is on Improvement!  This can foster growth and keep you moving forward and increasing your business and revenue!  Improving small business systems in the beauty industry can lead to increased efficiency, customer satisfaction, and profitability, I mean - who doesn’t want to make more!    Here are some key areas to focus on for improvement: 1. Appointment and Scheduling systems- Online booking Software that helps you behind the scenes. Think front desk tasks. Confirmations.  2. Inventory Management-  low stock alerts.  Purchases.  Past purchases.  You can audit your inventory. What went in and what has gone out? And where? 3. Point of sale-  Handling your transactions in a modern way. Accepting various payment methods.  Tracking sales and services.  Creates detailed sales reports you can review and maintain and read sales trends.  4. Your online presence- Website that is up to date and regularly maintained. With information about services and pricing and booking.  Utilize social media appropriately.  Encouraging reviews! They go a long way!  5. Customer Feedback and Surveys- Gather feedback, review and improve.  Making necessary changes that are tangible. Some may not make it, but most will and it will validate your guests.  Acting on complaints. I KNOW this hurts. But act appropriately and in a business manner with a system in place will help maintain a positive reputation.  6. Financial management-  Keep meticulous records of you finances. Using accounting software. This will and can create P&L. Create a budget to manage costs for future planning and growth.  Maybe financial advice from a professional accountant or consultant is needed in your position.    All of these are tangible systems. Maybe not all at once, do you need to implement, but these can build a strong business. Once the system is in place review often and update where needed.    Periodic reviews and updates can only maintain the level you have created and assist in your growth!    Thank you for joining today! Next up in this 10 part series is Systems for Improvement.  If you enjoyed this episode I would love a rating and review! If you are looking for a certain topic on business acumen please reach out! I will add my information in the show notes and as always I am here to make your business more successful and your life less stressful.    onesalonne.com/sarah @sarj.onesalon Onesalon.sarah@gmail.com

This industry is constantly evolving, making it essential for small business owners to understand their business in all areas to thrive. Also, implementing effective systems is important for guest satisfaction, because it ensures consistency, quality and a positive customer experience. Today’s topic: Customer Satisfaction: Consistency in your product or service delivery leads to a greater customer satisfaction.  Systems help ensure that customers receive the same level of quality each time they interact with the business. I have spoke on this before; if two friends see you, they are going to talk about their experience, and what if one is better than another.  Your “dance” should be similar and at the same level.  I want to give you some useable ideas to take away today, and hopefully start implementing them as soon as tomorrow!    Let’s talk about systems to create customer satisfaction:    Personalization: your systems can track customer preferences and purchase history, allowing you to personalize their services and recommendations.  This is a personal touch enhancing their experiences and making the customer feel valued. Ex: Intake form, can go a long way.  Looking at their history to know what they bought and see if they need updates.  Birthday messages.    Feedback and Improvement: Systems for gathering customer feedback and analyzing it, I cannot stress this enough to analyze it. This offers you the ability to identify areas that need improvement and make the necessary adjustments.  Ex: Your booking system.  Social media presence.  Email presence.  This is a proactive approach, and makes your customers opinions feel valued and lead to high satisfaction.    Time Management!  Here is this topic again. I feel very strongly about this.  If Your systems are efficient this can help optimize appointment scheduling and daily planning. Customers appreciate punctuality and not having to wait excessively for their appointments.  Let’s unpack this… Ex: You running late on guest A is not on guest B. It is on you.  Systems to focus on for your time…  Shampooing, conditioning, prep work; setting up for success, getting their ticket ready, pre-booking, gathering products. It can be as simple as this.    Predictability:  Guests appreciate knowing what to expect. Systems will provide you with a predictable framework to build on for each guest when it comes to your service delivery, reducing anxiety not only for your guest BUT YOU TOO!  These are a few of MANY. These systems can help with customer retention, problem solving, training and so many more.  Systems for Customer Satisfaction play a crucial role. They provide so much for you and your businesses success. They create a positive experience that will always build trust, loyalty, and both yours and your clients long term success!  Thank you for joining today! Next up in this 10 part series is Systems for Improvement.  If you enjoyed this episode I would love a rating and review! If you are looking for a certain topic on business acumen please reach out! I will add my information in the show notes and as always I am here to make your business more successful and your life less stressful.    onesalonne.com/sarah @sarj.onesalon Onesalon.sarah@gmail.com

Risk Mitigation: By establishing systems and processes, small businesses can identify potential risks and develop strategies to mitigate them. This proactive approach enhances the business's resilience and ability to handle challenges. I want to talk on risk mitigation with High dollar services.  A couple of examples:  Extensions.  Permanent makeup.  Identify the risks. Analyze them. Develop your strategies. Ie:  testing the products and training.  create your insurance/get insurance. compliance - stay up tp date with our industry regulations. Create your operating procedures.  clear and documented for all your processes.  Response Plan establish your boundaries and policies.  Communication  Keep open lines of communication. How it is best for you to be professional. Our industry can be all over the place.  Review and Improve regularly revisit your systems. Make sure if editing is needed you do it. Remember that risk mitigation is an ongoing process, and it's essential to adapt to new challenges and opportunities as they arise in the beauty industry. Additionally, seeking professional advice from legal, financial, and industry experts can be beneficial in developing and maintaining effective risk mitigation systems.   onesalon.sarah@gmail.com @sarj.onesalon onesalonne.com

Systems provide valuable data and insights that will help in your decision-making. By tracking the metrics and performance facts, you can make informed choices to improve operations and achieve goals greater than you probably knew was possible!  I want to talk about limited resources again..  We most of the time are one person doing most of the work.  So tracking and running Reports, provide valuable data and insights that engage informed, data-driven decisions. This helps avoid making decisions based on gut feelings or assumptions, which can be risky. As small business owners we can base decisions of emotions, but lets be honest… numbers do not lie. Data does not lie, spreadsheets do no lie.  Tracking systems allow small businesses to monitor their performance over time. This includes financial metrics, sales numbers, customer satisfaction, and more.  And if we regularly assess the performance, a businesses can identify areas of improvement and capitalize on strengths.  Let me break this down, if you are a solo entrepreneur - there is nobody to tell you, you need a raise. Or to raise your prices due to costs going up. Or know if you need to cut back in areas. Running your P&L can tell you so much.  But if you are not reviewing your reports you have no idea.  Buying too much color, retail, supplies - can dig you in a hole. You may think you are doing fine but these reports may tell you otherwise.  Pay something off- these reports can help you find holes in your business or gaps that need to be tended too, whether good or bad.  Identify trends and patterns throughout the year. Allowing you to make decisions on when you can afford something new, or more of a product or supplies.  onesalon.sarah@gmail.com @sarj.onesalon onesalonne.com

As you are hiring and delegating, you cannot expect them to be everything for you.  Document Processes and Systems Create Standard Operating Procedures.  These two go hand in hand. Create step by step instructions, this will allow for more people to step into a position.  Implement Technology Invest in software systems that can automate repetative tasks. Aka - online booking platform.  Encourage improving your systems and updating where needed.  Test test test. Before implementing and during using and everywhere in between and after.  Document your Itellectual Property! It is worth more than you know!    onesalon.sarah@gmail.com @sarj.onesalon onesalonne.com/sarah

You want to scale your business and handle the increasing amount of guests and services requested all while being effiecient and ensure your growth stay consistent.  Create processes and systems.  Invest in the technology that best suits you.  Plan financially, know where you are and where you are going.  Gain customer feedback.  Be flexible.  In this episode I break down these topics and how i have ben able to utilize them while scaling.  @sarj.onesalon onesalon.sarah@gmail.com onesalonne.com/sarah

A recap on where I have been with the podcast and what you can expect!  I am working though a series of 10 topics, to provide you short, usable episodes that I am hoping you can have something you can take away, right away and build your business stronger.  Our first episode was on Efficiency and Consistency and today we are talking Time resource and Management.   Small businesses often have limited resources, including time and manpower.  Implementing systems can help you optimize your resources.   This can ensure that tasks are completed in a timely manner with minimal waste. Lets unpack this…  Limited resources - time and manpower.  Are you are a one person show, and the thought of bringing on help is hard to wrap your mind around both financially and with time?  I get this - I was you and I will not just say- hire hire hire. That might not be possible.  So lets talk systems - are there areas that you have fund, when you brain dump or do “blank space” that keeps coming up that you know needs to be tended to… ?  Mine was a-   Cleaning crew.  Then numbers.  The operations. Events. Details for events. Assistant milestones. Team milestones. Donation requests… I get it and I hear you.  You need to focus on your time and when and how you can systemize it so you are being efficient and maximizing your time behind the chair in in front of the chair - CEO, CMO, COO, etc. Block Schedule your office time so you are using your time and not wasting your time. Next topic - Scalability and systemizing it.  onesalon.sarah@gmail.com onesalonne.com sarj.onesalon

Efficiency : Systems help streamline processes, allowing tasks to be performed more efficiently and consistently. This is important for delivering a high-quality product or service and ensures customer satisfaction, especially in the industry during a time of nieching down. Opening a business in the beginning-  yes there is a business plan, but lets be honest - the day to day that comes up, that you were not prepared for .. you end up doing one thing, then another, then another, pretty soon you are not even doing the items that are not important.  We have limited time as small business owners Streamlining : if you can sit down and figure out where you struggle the most. Is it onboarding, opening, closing, hiring, firing, taxes, bill pay, rent collection. You name it. And start buikding that system, you will only be setting yourself up to becoming more successful.  onesalon.sarah@gmail.com @sarj.onesalon onesalonne.com

This summer I took a step back and reworked the podcast to be more like a “series” of topics. I want to start with an overview of what I want to focus on in specific - which is systems and what the next 10 episodes will be, in regards to topics.  There can be 100s if not more, of systems you can implement within your business. And my focus is to give you short podcasts, 10-20 min, where you can take away something and implement it, almost immediately.  So when I say series: Today I will do a brief overview of the next 10 episodes.  This series, if you will, is why systems are so crucial for small businesses.    Efficiency and Consistency.  Time Resource Management Scalability  Reduce Depending on Individuals Decision making Risk mitigation - especially with high level services like extensions, permanent makeup, etc.  Customer Satisfaction  Improvement  Compliance and regulations per your industry Cost Control - unnecessary expenditures.  Onesalon.sarah@gmail.com @sarj.onesalon onesalonne.com

This will be the last one for this summer and I will return weekly after Labor Day with some great guests, big topics, and tons of systems for you to implement into your business and help wherever I can!  Time management. This is a struggle for those in our industry, I have found. Personally, those around me, people I have mentored.  Why? Because if we are not behind the chair or the nail table, massage bed; then we do not this we are being productive and “making money.”  I get this so much!  I want to share what has worked for me and how I implemented it over time and what I am doing currently.  I appreciate your feedback, ratings and reviews.  @sarj.onesalon onesalonne.com Onesalon.sarah@gmail.com

Today I want to talk about “over stimulation.” And where my focus is, within the beauty industry, We would be lying to say we are not in a field of over stimulation.  We are taking on emotions and conversations all day every day. Behind the chair. In the break room. Social media. Texts and emails with guests. It is everywhere.  I had an incredible conversation recently about what I do and how I get over stimulated and I NEVER thought of this. Eye contact. We carry on conversations all day long. But we rarely look someone in the eyes and talk. Yes, we look up or at them, but we are always looking down. And I find myself struggling, at times - mostly when I am not comfortable, to look people in the eyes in social setting outside of the salon. And when I am put into social settings, especially after working all day and being over stimulated all day, I find my anxiety is heightened and sometimes even before I get to the event it goes up. It is my sub conscious - going into this feeling that knows what is coming.  I can go to dinner with my husband or best friends, that I am comfortable with after a long day, because I am comfortable with what is coming. But like a wedding or event on a Friday or Saturday night may be tough.  Let me back track quick and talk about what this is: Overstimulation refers to a state in which a person's senses or mental processes are overwhelmed by excessive or intense stimuli. It can occur in various contexts, such as sensory overload, information overload, or emotional overwhelm. Overstimulation can affect individuals differently, but common symptoms may include feeling anxious, agitated, exhausted, irritable, or having difficulty concentrating. A few common areas we can get over stimulated - and think about your day to day experiences in your business. Sensory overload; from crowded spaces (this can be just a few people for some), bright lights, strong smells. Think of your senses and perhaps you are one that is very sensitive to one of your senses.  Information overload; this can be in the realm of social media and the digital age, where we are constantly getting information and exposure to everything all the time.  Emotions; trauma, stressful situations and events that are emotionally based.  Now how can we adjust or manage overstimulation.  Recognize and Remove Triggers, where you can. Maybe build boundaries and avoid situations and circumstances that you know you will not feel ok in. And I am going to tell you right now, that is OK. I give you permission to say “no.”  Create a retreat space for yourself. This might be your home. A walk path. A couch. A chair. Just a space that you are able to disconnect and get your mind, body and heart back to you healthy space.  Self Care- Make sure to prioritize this. Yoga, walks, breathing, exercise - are all areas of self care. Self care Sunday, may be your thing. Maybe do this on a Friday or Saturday night, or before you know you are going to be in an over stimulation state.    @sarj.onesalon onesalon.sarah@gmail.com onesalonne.com

Hard Conversations do not need to be depending on how you approach them.  If the conversation is something that went so far south it should be an easy conversation to have. If they stole from you, if they destroyed something, etc.  But as small business owners, most of the time we are empaths so having a conversation that is not “fun” can come across as difficult for us!  Be prepared. And if they come to you with a heavy topic out of the blue, ask to set up a time to talk in private when both of you can be respectful and answer the best you both can.  Choose the right time and place.  Listen to what they say, be an active listener. Do not just nod and say “yup yup, ok, yes.” Avoid interrupting them. What they have to say is important and you may learn something or find a better path to go.  Be calm and composed. Do not go over the top with emotions. It is so easy to do this as an owner. We own the company and it is our baby. So fight or flight may be where we feel our insides going, like we would with family and friends, but this is our business.  Do not blame and judge. They, just like you, have thoughts and feelings. You would not want them to come into this conversation or have a conversation based on blame or judgement. This is why Number 1, is number 1 - be prepared and know the facts.  Focus on the facts. Conversation can go off track. But if you are entering a conversation about XYZ… then that is what you need to stay talking about. If ABC comes up, maybe another meeting should be had to discuss this. The facts about the topic at hand is imperative and that is why you are having the conversation.  Talk about solutions together. If both parties are talking about something they have ideas and maybe talking it through and problem solving can be great for your company. Or maybe talking it through will answer questions.  Clarify when needed. If you do not understand something or they do not understand you, make sure to explain and clarify so everyone is on the same page.  Maybe you implement these conversation techniques, maybe some or none. Even 1 or 2 of these are important.  Difficult conversations can be emotional and challenging. Especially in small business when the owner, you are the one that is everything to the company. Look at this as an opportunity for growth and be genuine. Even in the worst conversations we can grow. I definitely look back, all the time, at conversations and peel it a part. That is what I do. And I see where I could have adjusted or if they said something and I did not respond well, then I need to learn and grow.   @sarj.onesalon onesalon.sarah@gmail.com onesalonne.com/sarah

Ownership is hard!  Especially small business ownership. Nobody understands what you are going through exactly. It can be lonely.  Let me break down what can be considered a small business inside the beauty industry.  This of course can be translated to other industries but I am speaking on the beauty industry in particular.  Boutique Salon owner.  Chair renter.  Suite renter.  Boutique Spa owner.  Boutique nail salon owner.  Small bsuiness ownership can range. Take time for yourself, it is healthy and ok. Do not think you have to do it all and all the time.  Take time for yourself to understand what you can do and where you need help. And ask for help, it is a sign of strength to ask for help and build a stronger team.  @sarj.onesalon onesalon.sarah@gmail.com onesalonne.com

First off, you deserve time away and if you are anything like me you will need to have some systems and boundaries in place before leaving so I know and feel I can truly unwind.  Put it in your calendar. Take time off before and after the trip if you need. Book clients accordingly to you stepping away.  Set up social media so you can step away and questions, concerns comments can be tended to, if they can.  Set up boundaries for communication.  911 communication.  Purchaes what you can ahead of time and know - Your team, co-workers, staff can get things for themselves.  Answer what you can before you leave.  Do not overthink it. Do what you can and you will learn each time you step away and grow from that.  Create those systems to allow yourself to step away, you know what is best for you and your well-being.    @sarj.onesalon onesalonne.com onesalon.sarah@gmail.com    

What is it, why have I transitioned to this system, how does it work for me and my salon, what does it do for you, and so much more will be covered. I am not affiliated with them. This has been a system I have incorporated into my business a couple years ago and I do not how I could go back to not having it.  What is salon scale:  It is a digital weighing scale designed specifically for use in hair salons and other beauty businesses.  It is used to accurately measure hair color and other hair products in the correct proportions minimizing waste.  Each stylist has an app. It connects via blue tooth to the scale. So each bit of color they use is calculated and you can invoice them. I am a rental salon owner and I offer a service so my renters do not have to order or go purchase. They can purchase what they use from me.  Reports:  I love love love reports; and this is how I know where I have been and where I am going… without reports you are just running willy nilly.  Color Line reports Stylist Reports - if you are the “distributor” - which I am. It is an offering in my salon.  Customer Reports (gone are the days of the notebook, or the three ring binder - yes, we did that) This has helped grow our business and my business, as well, behind the chair, more than I knew I could.  A system to validate and explain why, had me at hello!  Please reach out with any questions: @sarj.onesalon onesalonne.com onesalon.sarah@gmail.com

We are navigating our way through burnout on this episode. And I want to preface  None of this means we do not love what we do and who we do it with… It just means that sometimes when we go, we do not stop, even for ourselves, and that is why I want to help you navigate through this time.  Also, I am no doctor or therapist … this comes from years and years of burnout myself. Research, therapy experience, trial and error for what has worked for me and those around me.  Lets do a quick recap… Burnout in the beauty industry can have serious consequences for our health and wellbeing. Identifying burnout can be challenging, as it can manifest in different ways and can vary from person to person. However, here are some common signs and symptoms that may indicate burnout: Exhaustion, Reduced Performance, Negativity, Detachment, Irritability, Headaches, muscle tension, digestive problems, Sleep issues, No motivation.  If you are experiencing one or more of these symptoms, it may be a sign of burnout.  Preventing and managing burnout, is essential for our industry.  How can you Navigate Through this...  Take a break, mark time out, tell no one. Prioritize self-care. Set Boundaries - whoa, yes, I said it... set those boundaries in and out of work and life.  Talk to people around you!  Practice stress-management techniques like yoga, meditation and deep breathing.  Re-evaluate those priorities. Work, schedule, friends, family.  Seek professional help if needed. A third party to talk to is tremendous and helpful beyond measure.  It's important to recognize these signs early and take steps to address them to prevent burnout from becoming more severe.  It is ok to say no.    Reach out with any questions or concerns.  @sarj.onesalon onesalonne.com onesalon.sarah@gmail.com