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Paul Falltrick

Its getting real

Updated: Mar 16, 2023

I’ve got to be honest, if Boris says hairdressers can open now, I’ve got a major problem….

Lockdown meant that I had that unusual luxury of knowing there was time, time to do all those little fussy bits that ultimately no client would ever notice but with time on my side it seemed like a good idea. So moving that wall just a foot was a no brainer, do I regret it now? Well maybe but we are where we are and that slightly bigger basin area is looking good.

The concern I have now is that I really don’t want to have to rush the end bit. Phase 1 will be completed very soon and it’s going to give plenty of social distancing between the stations so we’ll be able to run the salon with the full team in, safe in the knowledge that clients will be in a really comfortable space. When social distancing is a thing of the past then we’ll look at increasing the team to fill the space.

Talking of the team they are so fired up to get back in the salon. I’ve banned them from even peeking in to the salon and there’s been no pictures so they’ll get a full reveal moment when we are all back in salon together. Added to that there’s the excitement about working with a new product company, it’s going to be like a brand new salon for us all.

As we’re working towards reopening our online training with Revlon has gone so well! I was concerned about how it would translate online, how the team would absorb the information being taught in such a different way. I am so proud to see how fully they’ve embraced it and not only that but they’ve actively been completing extra online courses under their own steam. So right now I am one proud boss.

With the team onboard for the new products I think the change will be really smooth, just one tiny little challenge for me now is knowing when to order…

It could potentially be business suicide to make that first big order too soon so it’s really going to be a challenge to time it right. It’s will be such tightly timed decision so I know you’ve got a lot on Boris but lets get some dates in the diary!

Oh I did mention that once I make that order I don’t actually have anywhere to store the stock? Phase 3 is when the stock room will be finished so that’s going to be interesting. But one thing I am really determined about for reopening is keeping control of stock levels. Starting from scratch with a new company is the perfect time to make sure we’ve got all the systems and processes in place to be really hot on stock control for this year.

So a phase 1 of the salon refurb’s being completed, we’ve tackled the unexpectedly large difference in floor levels between the two spaces, the sound and alarm systems are in, the screens go in next week. I am also having time to do the jobs that I’ve always wanted to do but never had the time. Like a full week long, no repeat playlist for the salon. Who had time to do something like that pre-covid, but since lockdown 3.0 I’ve had the time to focus and create new playlists for every day of the week. It’s really going to feel like a brand new salon when we do get back to work, but with the bonus of having an established team and clientele. Now don’t get me wrong I know we’ll have lost clients during this time period, but all the work I’ve put in to the salon now is about making it the best possible atmosphere and experience for the clients to show them what a hair appointment should be. I’d really encourage any other salon owners to think about what they can do now to show their teams and their clients they’ve really thought about the salon experience and how to make it the best it can be before you start welcoming clients back in.




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