Refinery Hair Co. Success Story: The Hybrid Business Model 

The salon industry offers various options to manage and operate, whether booth rent, commission-based or hourly; some salon owners have chosen to take on all of the above.

That is why we share the success story of Dan Buccilli, owner of Refinery Hair Co. in Flint, MI. Dan defined success through a hybrid salon business model that allows his team to either choose to be booth renters or commission-based employees. This concept and other smart business decisions have helped his business grow and thrive from a team of 14 to 32.

The Refinery Hair Co. opened its doors 3 ½ years ago when Dan decided he wanted to open a space where clients could come in, feel excited to be there, and that they’d leave extremely happy and look forward to coming back. The downtown Flint location was ideal because, while living there for a few years, he had realized what a great community it was and how much was going on while the city was going through an incredible revitalization stage. Bringing a new salon business to the area just made sense. However, it was slightly scary at first due to the stigma of the Flint water crisis. But he took a leap of faith, and it turned out great!

The Refinery Hair Co. is a full-service salon that offers an inviting atmosphere through modern design and an eclectic appeal.

With white base tones and a pop of red, you want to hang out in this joyful space that offers many hair and spa services, from coloring, and extensions, to bridal services, body waxing, massage, lashes, and much more. All while allowing staff to manage their own business as a booth renter or operate based on commission. While Dan oversees the operations of the company along with his management team, he also works behind the chair 35 to 40 hours per week which allows him to interact with his staff regularly, work with his team on the same level, and treat everyone equally. Doing this has helped maintain morale, increase motivation, and avoid turnover.

One of Dan’s biggest rewards is seeing staff grow and thrive to their fullest potential.

Keeping staff happy and ensuring they know they are valued is a crucial goal that he continues to maintain through planning retail contests, catering in meals, and offering advanced education. Most education they offer is coordinated through their retail brand partners. Dan will partner with high-end product lines that offer in-house education based on retail sales volume. His team excels at selling retail and in return often receives complimentary education. It is a win for everyone!

Even thriving salon business owners tend to face challenges. One of the biggest challenges for Dan was the burnout of working behind the chair and managing the whole business. He quickly learned the importance of delegating tasks to other team members, created a reliable management team, and could find the work-life balance he needed. This leads to the most significant advice Dan can offer to up-and-coming salon owners, “Really try hard to find work-life balance because you’ll be working a lot when you first open, and there’s going to be a lot that’s not going to go right in the beginning. Don’t get discouraged and take time for yourself because if you don’t, you will start to get burnt out.”

Not only has it been beneficial to delegate tasks to his team to save on burnout and maintain work-life balance, but finding the right scheduling solution has also played a key role.

Dan had worked with many other software solutions and did a lot of research before opening his salon and finding the right software that fit the hybrid business model. While researching solutions he decided that, “DaySmart definitely would have been the best fit for my business. It just seemed like the full package to everything we were looking for, especially being a hybrid salon. That’s why I ultimately chose DaySmart Salon.” He expressed how easy it was to use and it offered the ability to view many different reports that have helped him grow his business.

By projecting sales and bookings through the software and having the ability to calculate payroll, the software became such a great tool in managing the work-life balance he needed. He also allows his staff to use their own DaySmart Salon mobile app to access their reports and marketing features to continue building their business by sending targeted marketing campaigns right to their own customers. They can even take payments from within the app and quickly reschedule appointments either at their chair or escort guests to the front desk for check-out. The solution meets the needs of everyone on their team no matter if they are booth-rent or commission.

Dan and his business’s future goal would be to continue focusing on his staff and growing their business. He may eventually add additional service offerings in the lower level of their facility but for now, it is essential to keep thriving while looking forward to the future.

To hear more about Dan’s story take a look at his Customer Success Story video on YouTube!

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The post Refinery Hair Co. Success Story: The Hybrid Business Model  appeared first on DaySmart Salon.

Customer Spotlight: Steel Beauty Hair Spa

Linda Ballard was recently awarded the title of Marketing Maven in DaySmart’s 2021 Small Business Brilliance Awards. This recognition celebrates customers who thoughtfully utilize DaySmart’s marketing capabilities to promote their business and generate repeat visitors.

We recently spoke with Linda, owner of Steel Beauty Hair Spa in Palm Coast, Florida, to learn about how the pandemic has pushed her team to get creative with its marketing activities over the past year, and how software is helping her bring new ideas to life.

Q: To start, please tell us about your business. What inspired you to open your own salon?

A: Steel Beauty specializes in custom color and cuts, as well as permanent makeup and brows. My mother, Rose, who we lost to cancer, was my driving force for opening the business. She always believed in me and knew I would make a salon that was welcoming for all visitors. We were able to open my first salon on my mother’s birthdate, May 10^th, 2018, to honor her!

Q: What’s been your experience using Daysmart Salon?

A: I’ve been using Daysmart Salon since Day 1, after spending a great deal of time researching available platforms. As a first-time salon owner, I knew I was going to need support—which is why I ultimately chose Daysmart Salon. Anytime that we have needed assistance, the Daysmart Salon team has been there to lend a hand. The representatives are always so professional, polite, and helpful when we call.

The structure of the software enables our entire team to communicate effectively with one another, as well as with all our guests, in a professional manner. Without the right software and support, there is no way that our salon would have grown at a rocket pace the way it has.

Q: Which Daysmart Salon features do you use?

A: We use nearly all the features on a regular basis. The mobile app has been essential for us. It allows our team to be on the same page 24/7, and it helps that stylists can enter notes and formula history right from their phone. The reporting feature is another important tool because you need to know where your business stands so that you can plan for how you want to grow.

Besides providing great service to our guests, what matters most is how we communicate with them. Clients appreciate the little things like receiving notifications about their appointments. During the pandemic, we used Daysmart Salon’ two-way texting to complete a check-in process with clients. Sending out emails and texts about all stylists’ and estheticians’ availability for the following week has also been valuable for filling gaps in scheduling. When people see that time slots are limited, they respond quickly!

Q: How have Daysmart Salon’ marketing capabilities helped you promote business?

A: The marketing capabilities have been the lifeblood of our business growth. We love the flexibility and how we can customize our messages on them. Sometimes we use the templates, but mostly we make our own so that they’re trendy and unique to our stylists and salon. The response we get to these messages is amazing.

Q: How has the pandemic impacted your business?

A: Most “baby businesses” like ours have not been able to survive. It was devastating to be closed for two-and-a-half months, but I believe that the way we were able to communicate with our guests through Daysmart Salon when the pandemic hit helped us. The software helped people trust us and feel comfortable and confident visiting our salon.

All the change from the pandemic has pushed us to be even more creative. If someone would have told us that we would be hit with a pandemic, shut down for months but that our team would still grow, our business would prosper and that we would be able to move into a new salon space later this year… most people would say you are dreaming. A huge part of our success is this software and the support we get from Daysmart Salon.

To learn more about how Daysmart Salon Software can improve your business’s marketing toolkit—as well as other key tips for business owners during this time—visit our blog.

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Customer Spotlight: Ursula’s About Phace Rittenhouse Makeup Studio

Ursula Augustine was recently awarded the title of Software Savant in DaySmart’s 2021 Small Business Brilliance Awards. This recognition celebrates customers who have acted resourcefully, leveraging their dynamic DaySmart toolkit to continue driving business forward.

After working as a makeup artist in a hotel beauty studio for years, Ursula wondered why, in a city as big as Philadelphia, there still weren’t any spaces dedicated exclusively to makeup services. She got to work designing a business plan to fill this gap and, fourteen years ago, opened Ursula’s About Phace Rittenhouse Makeup Studio. We recently spoke with her about her experience running a trailblazing business and how software usage plays into her strategy.

Q: To start, we’d love to learn a little more about your business.

A: We are Philadelphia’s premier destination for all things beauty. The “ph” in our name represents the city, as well as the protective level of pH in the skin. We specialize in professional makeup for real life, as well as for print and video. I want clients to be able to go from the sidewalk to the catwalk.

We also offer microblading and my patented brow shaping service, Bonzeye Brow Sculpting, which doesn’t use wax. I could make more money with waxing, but my priority is to protect clients’ skin. I’m taking a quality service business approach, and people really appreciate that. In fact, we’re a five-time Best of Philly Magazine winner, and we were recognized as a Hotspot in Philadelphia by Allure.

Q: You were also recently awarded the Software Savant title. What inspired you to adopt a program like DaySmart Salon?

A: I got DaySmart Salon as soon as we opened because I realized I was going to be a one-woman show. I thought that all I needed was a chair and a product line – and a great software program to be my teammate.

I love DaySmart Salon, and I’ve stayed true to the system because I can always get customer service support when I need it. I’m not great with technology, so it’s reassuring to know that I can always call in and have a human being help me with an issue.

Q: Which features do you use?

A: I use the digital appointment book, which gives my staff and clients 24/7 access to schedules. I’m connected to the mobile app so I can stay on top of business and hear money coming in with each appointment even when I’m not in the studio. Clients also love to communicate with me—work-related or not—so I often use the two-way texting and email features so that we can keep in touch.

The ability to add notes to each clients’ profiles is very handy. Within the software, I can write down clients’ makeup formulas and purchase history, which cuts down on paper and helps me remember which services they like for the next time they’re in. More importantly, I can make comments to remember everything that’s going on in their lives. For example, one client told me she’d just had a baby, so I wrote down her baby’s name in the system so that I could ask how he was the next time she was in. She was so impressed! You meet so many people working in a studio, so DaySmart Salon helps me make each of them feel special.

Q: You also conducted teleconsultations during the pandemic. Tell us about those.

A: Stylists are like therapists, so when we closed during the pandemic, my team and I needed a way to stay in touch with clients. I called DaySmart Salon’ customer service team for help, and they taught me how to run the teleconsultations. I used my newsletter to promote how clients could meet with me virtually for at-home tutorials, like how to do their brows for Zoom conferences. These meetings would turn into us catching up, and it would feel just like our fun, in-person studio visits.

Bringing a smile to everyone’s face helped us all get through the past year. Now that people are getting vaccinated, hopefully, life in the city starts moving again and I get to see more clients in person. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel.

To learn more about how DaySmart Salon Software can help your business—as well as other key tips for business owners during this time—visit our blog.

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Customer Spotlight: Salon R5 Ltd. Co.

Tracy Nguyen was recently awarded the title of Community Caregiver in DaySmart’s 2021 Small Business Brilliance Awards. This recognition honors customers who have committed themselves to giving back to their communities through donating their time and resources to those in need.

After working for seven years in quality assurance labs for manufacturing companies, Tracy Nguyen opened Salon R5 Ltd. Co. in Davenport, Iowa, in 2019 to achieve greater financial freedom in her career and gain the flexibility to spend more time with her family. Her salon quickly became a hub for her surrounding community, especially during the pandemic when she embarked upon sewing over 500 masks for local healthcare workers.

Q: To start, we’d love to learn a little more about your business.

A: We’re a family-owned and operated nail salon and spa. My parents, who are the salon’s nail technicians, previously owned a mom-and-pop nail salon for nearly 20 years. When you open your own business, it’s smarter to go with what you know, so I teamed up with my parents because the salon setting is where I grew up. I run the business side of Salon R5 and they focus on doing nails—though I did get my esthetics license during the pandemic so that I can do more of the hands-on work and add more services to our menu for our clients to enjoy.

One thing I’d like customers to know about us is that we’re a business with integrity. Our goal is to provide clients with a good experience and to be a place where they can come to feel supported and connected.

Q: What inspired you to adopt Daysmart Salon?

A: When I opened my business, I knew I wanted to incorporate more of the salon technology that’s available today, like scheduling software. I tried out a few other platforms on a trial basis but ultimately liked Daysmart Salon best, so that’s what I’ve used since opening.

It’s been great so far. I’m able to add my own touches to the online booking platform, and all my clients love it. I use the software to send out text and email appointment reminders and recently added on the reputation management feature to automatically text clients after their visit to leave a review. The two-way texting is also helpful; I really like that DaySmart is adding features that streamline the customer’s experience as well.

Q: How has the pandemic impacted your business?

A: We were closed for eight weeks at the start. Having been only a year old at that point, we were just gaining momentum, so it does feel like we’re starting over.

Sanitation has always been a top priority at Salon R5, but we’ve since added plexiglass between employees and customers and seat everyone on every other chair, wiping everything down between appointments. All employees wear masks and shields to work and clients are required to wear masks inside. We’re definitely considering keeping the plexiglass and increased cleanings once COVID passes because they’ve helped us create a sort of safe haven in the salon. We’ve also added a health questionnaire to clients’ automatic appointment reminders to make sure they’re healthy enough to come in.

Q: When the pandemic hit, you started making masks to donate. Please tell us a bit more about that.

A: Owning a local business, my mission is to turn the salon into a platform for giving back to the community. As soon as my family and I learned about the shutdown and the mask shortages for healthcare workers, the idea to sew our own grew from there. The first few weeks, we were making the masks out of pocket, but eventually, we reached a point where we needed assistance. I realized that there had to be others in the community who wanted to help, so I started selling the masks. For every mask purchased, half of the cost went back into materials for donated masks.

I used Daysmart Salon’ email marketing to share the landing page to where people could purchase the masks on our website and learn more about what we were doing, then used the booking platform to set up pickup times.

To learn more about how Daysmart Salon Software can help with your business’ reopening—as well as other key tips for business owners during this time—visit our blog.

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Customer Spotlight: Carleen Sanchez Hair Design

Carleen Sanchez was recently awarded the title of Innovation Inspiration in DaySmart’s 2021 Small Business Brilliance Awards. This recognition celebrates Carleen for pushing the envelope of what’s possible for a salon and proving her creativity by leveraging Daysmart Salon’ software to deliver value for her business.

A licensed stylist of eighteen years, Carleen opened Carleen Sanchez Hair Design in Reno, Nevada, in 2006 to specialize in naturally curly hair, which she identified as a major blind spot in the industry. We recently spoke with her to learn more about her business and how she leverages software to fuel its success.

Q: To start, please tell us a little bit about your business. What sets it apart from others?

A: I focus exclusively on the naturally wavy and curly-haired clients. My target market is the woman who has been ignored by the salon industry. I especially love working with older, powerful women who can then teach their kids how to do their hair. At my salon, I really coach my clients on how to do their hair themselves so they can then duplicate the results at home.

Q: What inspired you to adopt Daysmart Salon?

A: I previously worked at a hair salon that was using the Daysmart Salon software and planned to switch to Vagaro. Because I prebook clients a year in advance, it would’ve been a nightmare to switch all my appointments over to a new system, so I took it as my cue to start my own salon and use the Daysmart Salon account independently.

Q: What has been your experience with the software?

A: Since I took over the account, the program has grown with me. For example, when I first started, my employees were writing out their hours for payroll by hand, which made the process harder than it needed to be. Setting them up in Daysmart Salon’ payroll has made the process seamless.

I love how the software automates everything, from the time clock, to sales and tax reporting, to sending out marketing and confirmation emails. With Daysmart Salon, I can automatically email video tutorials after clients’ first appointment to teach them how to care for their hair once they leave the salon.

Q: What a creative idea. Tell us more about the tutorials.

A: I found that having videos to reference helped clients on their healthy curly hair journey, so I filmed a few short videos to cover foundational curly hair information. Normally, when clients book their initial appointment, we use the time as a Cur

ly Hair 101. Because wearing masks makes it difficult to communicate clearly, the videos are a way for clients to relisten to the information at home.

Q: Are there any other changes to the business that you’ve made as a result of the pandemic?

A: The pandemic forced me to get creative! I invested in a covered patio so that I could do hair outside, even in the middle of winter. We use plugged-in hot pads, long sleeve capes and space heaters to keep clients warm. When clients m

ake their appointment, Daysmart Salon sends out an email asking if they’d like to have their hair done indoors or outdoors.

I also sharply increased the pay for my team. It’s hazardous working with the public during the pandemic, so the compensation is to add value to their roles right now.

Q: How has Daysmart Salon helped over the past year to keep business moving amid disruption?

A: The email integration has been fantastic for keeping in touch with my clients because I can easily send them a message to keep them updated on the salon. While the salon was closed, I also made sure to call each client on the day their appointment was scheduled for to touch base and bring a little joy into their lives since we wouldn’t be able to meet. Salon folks need to make sure they’re constantly thinking about the client’s experience. Keeping in touch goes a lot farther than people think. In today’s world, the new essential amenity is holding meaningful conversations with your clients, versus having a nice coffee maker.

To learn more about how Daysmart Salon Software can help propel your business toward success—as well as other key tips for business owners during this time—visit our blog.

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Customer Spotlight: Belleza Hair and Nail Studio, Inc.

Daysmart Salon customers are passionate small business owners who excel at what they do. As part of our commitment to supporting and educating entrepreneurs, we created a Customer Spotlight series to showcase our customers’ expertise in growing a successful business.

For our latest Customer Spotlight, we sat down with Dawn and Ann Belleza, owners of BellezaHair and Nail Studio, Inc. in Frederick, Maryland. The two talk about how they’ve successfully balanced maintaining creativity with managing a salon for the last 17 years.

Q: What is your favorite part about running a salon business?

A: We get to mesh the creative part of our personalities with our business leadership skills. In hiring employees, we choose the talents that will help our business continue to grow, which is rewarding to see in real-time. A lot has happened since we first opened the shop 17 years ago. We have a strong team here that is always full of good ideas.

Q: What are some of the biggest challenges you face as small business owners?

A: Running a small business takes a lot of time—more time than I think we could have ever imagined. A big challenge is not only taking the time needed to run and manage the salon, but also finding the opportunity to fund additional programs or renovations, and deciding what changes need to be prioritized. We’re constantly reevaluating and improving to give both our employees and customers the best experiences.

Also, we remain mindful that not only are we the business owners, but we’re also HR. It’s our responsibility to make the rules and regulations and enforce them. If there are personality conflicts—and with a lot of people working in a small space together, there are guaranteed to be some—it’s our job to step in and manage that. Those issues aren’t fun, but luckily, they happen rarely.

Q: What advice would you give other professionals who want to pursue careers in the salon industry?

A: The biggest piece of advice we would share with salon professionals—or any professionals—is that you don’t want to micromanage your staff. You can’t be a control freak, despite how much you might want to be in this business. When dealing with very creative people, you must tailor your business style to each person. This can be tricky. You have to not only adapt how you deal with a situation but also anticipate how your staff member is going to deal with the situation.

Q: What tools do you use to best manage your business?

A: We’ve used Salon Iris—twice! We used it for the first time 10–11 years ago when we first transferred from paper to a computerized system. It was so user-friendly and made the transfer from paper to digital very easy. Then, an employee joined our team who had used another software, so we switched to that for about a year and a half. However, we didn’t like it as much, so switching back to Daysmart Salon was the obvious choice. Now, we’ve been using it consistently for about five years.

Q: How has Daysmart Salon software helped you grow your business?

A: Daysmart Salon has not only helped our business grow, but it has also allowed our staff to individually grow their clientele. All our employees have Daysmart Salon remotely on their phones, which gives them the ability to track their bookings, see their goals and meet them. Having the ability to check metrics at any time gives our staff the independence to control their work.

We also have forecasts as a salon and it’s wonderful that the dashboard allows us to see where we are financially or in accordance to our goals every day or week. It’s a good snapshot of where the business is going on a weekly basis and in the long term. At one point, our goal was to hit $1 million in annual sales. With the software, we were able to monitor monthly projections, and we met that goal within one year. It was a huge milestone for us.

Additionally, it’s helped us strengthen our relationships with our clients. They love the text and email appointment reminders rather than getting a call. The ability to make appointments online makes it easier for them as well.

To learn more about Daysmart Salon and its features, visit our product page, or visit our blog to read more Customer Spotlights like this one.

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Customer Spotlight: Whitney’s Love Nail Beauty Bar

As part of our commitment to supporting and educating entrepreneurs, we’re spotlighting Daysmart Salon customers who have been directly impacted by the pandemic to learn more about how they’ve adapted their operations to overcome the many pandemic-related business disruptions. This industry’s passion and innovation have never been more pronounced, and we hope this story might serve as a guide for those navigating difficult situations.

We recently spoke with Whitney Love, the namesake owner of Whitney’s Love Nail & Beauty Bar, to learn about how she’s innovating her offerings in response to the pandemic, and how software is helping her to do so.

Q: To start, we’d love to learn a little more about your business.

A: Whitney’s Love is a full-service, multicultural salon. There’s a lot of diversity at my salon, which is something I’m very proud of. We service clients from older generations to the new, of all different races and ethnicities. For services, we do everything from cut and color, to facials and waxing. We also provide educational opportunities; I mentor young women interested in the industry.

I’ve been in business for 13 years. I’m a licensed cosmetologist and was originally performing all the services myself. Then, three years ago, I realized the only way to be more productive was to have more “me time,” so I developed a glam squad to help me out. They’re truly an amazing team. We’ve since expanded into a second location, and last year we won best salon in our city.

Q: How long have you been using Daysmart Salon? What’s been your experience with it?

A: We’ve been using Daysmart Salon for about three years and started around the same time I hired the rest of my team. Daysmart Salon has been one of the major keys to my success. I use all its features, from the appointment book, to text marketing. I just took advantage of the memberships feature, which will save me if I have to close down again since I’ll hopefully retain those clients. It’s beneficial for me as a salon owner to have customers coming on a reoccurring basis, so the membership is an incentive for them to save some money while providing me business.

Q: How has the pandemic impacted your business?

A: Business is entirely different now. We had to completely shut down when the pandemic hit, but we were able to sell gift cards online through the software, as well as product packages and press-on nails. When we came back at the end of April, there were a lot of PPE expenses, especially since the demand for sanitation products was so intense. Fortunately, though, our customers came rushing back afterwards; from the day we reopened, I worked seven days a week for a month!

Q: Do you still perform makeup services?

A: Yes, we’re still offering all our usual services, including makeup. The makeup artist wears a face shield. We started offering just eye makeup for people who will be going to events wearing masks. There’s still baby showers and birthdays, and we have a few brides.

Q: How are you using Daysmart Salon to help you operate new health and safety guidelines?

A: The teleconsultations have been a game-changer. They’re a great option for us to see clients prior to their appointments so that we have time to formulate what we want to do for them before they come in, which cuts down on the time they’re inside.

Q: How are you preparing for the event of a potential resurgence?

A: We’re stocking up on products clients can purchase to keep business going, like nail care and pedicure kits and at-home facial kits. We’ll have those for sale on our website and then use contactless pickup through Daysmart Salon to get them to customers.

To learn more about how Daysmart Salon Software can help with your business’ reopening—as well as other key tips for business owners during this time—visit our blog.

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Customer Spotlight Studio Bleu

Daysmart Salon customers are passionate small business owners who excel at what they do. As part of our commitment to supporting and educating entrepreneurs, we created a Customer Spotlight series to showcase our customers’ expertise in growing a successful business.

For our latest Customer Spotlight, we sat down with Jacqueline Miller, the owner of Studio Bleu Hair Boutique in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Studio Bleu is an upscale private hair boutique offering a variety of services for an exceptional client experience.

Q: Can you tell us a little about yourself and how you started?

My name is Jacqueline Miller, and I am the owner of Studio Bleu Hair Boutique. I started Studio Bleu in 2017 and it was the best decision I have ever made! Before I opened my own studio I was a booth-renter for three years, and a commission stylist for a few years before that.

Q: What made you want to strike out on your own?

Working for someone else, or in someone else’s space, was definitely comfortable for me, but I had reached the peak of what I was going to be able to achieve financially. Growth comes from getting uncomfortable…so it was time to take the leap and get uncomfortable! I just knew in my heart the time had come, and so I found a space and began my adventure as an official business owner with a space to call my own. There’s a lot to think about and a lot of boxes to “check” when starting a business and at times I felt very overwhelmed.

Q: How does Daysmart Salon help you run your salon?

I operated for a while using another popular booking system and I had online booking, but I didn’t have an official website. I knew in order to grow and portray my professionalism to potential and current clients, I needed a real website, but I’m not super tech savvy so I shied away from doing it. Then Daysmart Salon came into my life! Once I heard a custom website was included, I was all in. I was nervous to try something new because change is scary, but Daysmart Salon has been a GAME CHANGER! I love how easy it is to customize my schedule, right down to color-coding services so I know exactly what my week looks like. The website was super easy to build and customize and I get compliments on it all the time. Daysmart Salon does every little thing I need a booking system to do and I couldn’t be happier.

Q: How has the pandemic changed your business process?

Returning to work post-Covid, it was crucial that I was able to let clients know what to expect and inform them of new Covid safety protocol procedures. Daysmart Salon allows me to customize reminder texts and emails so I don’t have to stress about reaching out to each client individually. My time is more valuable now more than ever, so having a system that saves me time and energy is invaluable. Being in my own studio puts me in control of sanitation and minimizes unnecessary traffic so I feel way safer in my own space with just my clients and not a salon full of people.

Q: Anything else you’d like to share about your Daysmart Salon experience?

Natalie is the bomb and if it wasn’t for her I’d still be trudging along with the four-cornered booking system that was holding me back!

To learn more about Daysmart Salon and its features, visit our product page, or visit our blog to read more Customer Spotlights like this one.

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Customer Spotlight: Rebel Salon

As part of our commitment to supporting and educating entrepreneurs, we’re spotlighting Daysmart Salon customers who have been directly impacted by the pandemic to learn more about how they’ve adapted their operations to overcome resulting business disruptions. Their passion and innovation have never been more pronounced than in their responses to the challenges posed by the coronavirus outbreak, and we hope their stories serve as a guide for those navigating similarly difficult situations.

We recently spoke with Gail Johnson, owner of Rebel Salon in Placentia, California, to learn about her experience running a business during a pandemic, as well as the ways in which she believes the salon industry is evolving.

Q: To start, we’d love to learn a little more about your business.

A: Rebel Salon is a Vegas-themed salon suite. I opened it two years ago, though I’ve been a stylist for 36 years. Over that time, I’ve seen a tremendous amount of change in the industry—especially in how stylists conduct business, and software is a part of that change.

Q: How long have you been using Daysmart Salon? What’s been your experience with it?

A: I’ve used Daysmart Salon in various salons for the past 10 years, so it’s been so refreshing to see how I can now use the software from the perspective of a salon owner. Even though I am a one-person business, I feel very professional. I don’t have a front desk assistant doing the clerical work for me; the software is my front desk. It gives me the reports my accountant needs, and it helps me keep track of salon products. And, if I were to add a new stylist to my salon, I could easily incorporate them into the program.

The website builder has greatly helped me grow my business. Today’s clients want a salon with digital and social media platforms so that they can see what services are available and for what cost ahead of time. Daysmart Salon answers customers’ questions so quickly and helps me build an instantaneous connection with them.

Q: How have you changed the ways you do business in light of the pandemic?

A: Everyone in the salon wears a mask. I offer disposable ones so clients don’t have to get theirs dirty. They don’t cost much, and they could save a life from the virus. I don’t see us not working with masks after this, like doctors and dentists; that’s probably a part of our industry that’s going to stay, and for the better.

During the shutdown, I took the opportunity to take BARBICIDE’s COVID-19 certification course. The public doesn’t know that people in the salon industry are held to a high standard of cleanliness, so I display information about my certification on my website and in the salon so that clients know they’ll be safe in my space. I can also customize Daysmart Salon’ text reminders to inform clients about what precautions I’m taking.

Q: Have you been using Daysmart Salon to help manage business in any other ways during this time?

A: I used Daysmart Salon to consult with clients during the shutdown. Now that we’re back open, I’m blocking out extra time for appointments so that I can clean between clients. With the software, I don’t even have to think twice about scheduling that buffer because I can allocate it into the calendar.

Q: Are you preparing in case of a potential resurgence?

A: During the shutdown, everyone realized that a crisis like this could happen at any time. I’m currently booked about eight weeks out, since both myself and my clients are trying to squeeze appointments in now in the case of another shutdown. With Daysmart Salon though, I’m only a click away from pushing appointments out a few more weeks, so clients know they’re still on the books and they’re going to eventually get their services done.

Q: How are you planning for the holiday season?

A: Obviously, people won’t be going to parties, but they need to look great for Zoom calls with families, so I’m still planting the seed that the holidays are just a few weeks away and encouraging clients to prebook services. I’m also encouraging gift cards—whether electronic or physical—because those are a way to reach potential new clients. I put my logo and website address on them, so they’re a great tool for business building.

To learn more about how Daysmart Salon Software can help with your business’ reopening—as well as other key tips for business owners during this time—visit our blog.

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The post Customer Spotlight: Rebel Salon appeared first on DaySmart Salon.

Customer Spotlight: National Women’s Small Business Month

October marks National Women’s Small Business month – a time to recognize the accomplishments of women entrepreneurs and their contributions to the economy. DaySmart Software, makers of Daysmart Salon, has always been invested in the growth of women small business owners. In fact, 85% of our customers are female-owned businesses. With that, we wanted to highlight some of our most inspiring female customers.

Women Small Business Owners:

Belleza Hair and Nail Studio

Belleza Hair and Nail Studio was founded by Ann Tyler and Dawn Zimmerman in Downtown Frederick, Maryland. Ann and Dawn love getting to mesh their creativity with their leadership skills to run an award-winning business. Their biggest advice to entrepreneurs is to avoid micromanaging your staff. Every business owner should tailor their leadership style to each employee.

Ann and Dawn are very goal-oriented, which is why they use Daysmart Salon to track their goals, keep a close eye on forecasts, and use that insight to plan for improvement on a weekly basis.

A Charmed Life Nail Salon

Kristine Gault runs A Charmed Life salon with her husband Pete in Rockford and Lowell, Michigan. When Kristine moved to Michigan in 2006, she couldn’t find a nail salon that she liked in town. Seeing this need, or opportunity, in the community, Kristine opened her first salon in December 2007. She embarked on an apprenticeship, working 20 hours per week for six months, after which she took a test and got her cosmetology license.

Today, Kristine is busier than ever with two locations. With Daysmart Salon, her no shows have gone down from a couple per day to a couple per week, because she can confirm appointments with clients and eliminate any miscommunication.

Images Salon

Cynthia and Tiffany are the mother-daughter duo behind Images Salon in Butler, New Jersey. Cynthia always wanted to be a hairdresser but didn’t have previous experience running a business. So, for the first five to seven years, she did everything she could to learn from fellow business owners. She even joined the Women’s Entrepreneurs of America so she could take business classes and learn from other women who work in and outside of the beauty industry.

As part of running her business, Cynthia implemented Daysmart Salon and cut the time she spends on inventory and payroll in half in just two months.

Modesty Hair Studio

Naomi Richardson co-owns Modesty Hair Studio, a modern salon located just east of downtown Austin, Texas. Modesty is actively eco-friendly to conserve as much energy and waste as it can. With sustainability being a huge concern for a lot of consumers, the hair studio chooses its retail to be green as well.

Women Small Business Owners Infographic

Learn more about women small business owners in the salon and spa industry by checking out our infographic below. This infographic was created from a survey for small business owners conducted by DaySmart Software (makers of Daysmart Salon) in March 2019, we then filtered the results for women-owned businesses only.

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The post Customer Spotlight: National Women’s Small Business Month appeared first on DaySmart Salon.