When it comes to running a successful salon suite business, your service offerings are only part of the equation. Selling retail in a salon is another crucial revenue stream. You’re also helping your clients maintain the benefits of your hair, skin, nails, barbering, body, and tattooing services. Whether you’re just starting to introduce products or your shelves are already stocked, here’s how to sell more retail in the salon with success.
Why is Retail Important in a Salon?
Whether you’re selling hair products or barbershop retail products, as a professional, part of helping your clients look and feel better is enhancing their overall experience by offering products for retail. Let’s take a look at some of the vital reasons why offering products compliments your services.
Elevates Client Experience
Retailing products you’ve researched, believe in, and trust can help extend the client experience beyond the chair or table. Recommending products specific to their needs helps foster a trusting relationship, which increases client loyalty. Your clients will value your recommendations because they’re backed by your professional know-how!
Can Give You a Competitive Edge
While there’s nothing wrong with retailing tried-and-true brands, mix in lesser-known ones to differentiate yourself from the competition. This can also attract clients who seek an exclusive experience.
Helps You Stay on Top of Seasonal Needs
Your clients' needs will change with the seasons, allowing you to constantly expand your retail offerings and encourage new purchases. For example, encourage the addition of a UV-safe shampoo in the summer and a hair mask in the winter.
Increased Revenue
Of course, salon retail is a smart yet easy way to increase your revenue! The markup on products for retail can significantly impact your bottom line by providing stability and encouraging financial growth — especially if your clients regularly refill their products with you!
6 Tips on Selling Retail in a Salon.
Ok, now you understand retail's importance, but how you sell it matters, too.
1. Select Products You Believe In
To successfully sell retail products, choose brands and formulas you genuinely believe in so that selling feels like second nature. Consider what’s important to you. Do you want clean formulas that are cruelty-free? What ingredients do you think work best for your trade? Have you vetted the products for yourself? Do the products reflect your brand? You want to feel confident that you’re offering your clients the best!
2. In Chair Education and Product Experience
Sure, selling retail in a salon is about increasing revenue, but it’s also an opportunity to educate your clients, which helps them make more informed decisions about their purchases. Explaining how a product works, what it’s formulated with, and how to use it is a crucial part of your role as a professional. One of the best ways to do this is by layering in conversations about product in the consultation and reinforcing throughout the service to make the conversation feel more natural and less like a sales pitch. This education process helps strengthen the trust between you and your clients, showing your commitment to their well-being. Just remember that part of this trust comes with ensuring you’re establishing realistic expectations.
3. Strategically Place Your Products
When you’re working on your client, place the products you’re using within their view. Often, they’re curious about what you’re using, so this is an excellent time to start answering their questions and begin the education process. It’s also a more natural way to start the selling process versus bombarding them with product knowledge at the end of their appointment, which might make them uncomfortable.
4. Consider Sales Training
If you want to increase your product knowledge, connect with our Loft Owner Success Team who can provide guidance, product knowledge, and educational resources.! We’ll ensure you get the training you need to confidently discuss the products you’re retailing so that your clients are educated about their potential purchases.
5. Create an Inviting Salon Retail Display
How you display your products can significantly impact whether or not a client is interested in purchasing them. Keep it clean and organized and easily differentiate between the different types of products and brands. Set up a visually appealing display where clients are apt to take notice. Regularly change your displays to keep the client interested and discover new products you’re offering. Make seasonal touches, especially around the holidays when gift-giving is top of mind.
6. Take Advantage of Salon Lofts Marketplace + Rewards
Salon Lofts is here to help you succeed as an independent loft owner, including selling retail in a salon. We’ve partnered with top brands and major product distributors to create an efficient shopping experience and ensure your retail shelves are always stocked with the best. With each Marketplace purchase, you’ll earn rewards towards discounted rent with our exclusive Rent Rewards program! With Salon Lofts, you can feel confident in your retail strategy.
Selling retail is one key to running a successful business with uncapped growth opportunities. With proper education, retailing also enhances the client experience and encourages trust and loyalty. Keep your displays clean, streamlined, and in the client’s view, and don’t forget to regularly switch things up.
Get started in your own loft today and incorporate these retailing tips to pay your rent in retail sales. Contact us today to learn more about how we can assist you in setting up your salon loft and maximizing your retail sales.
