Richard Nicholson’s ‘Ali Barber’ Photo Series
Richard Nicholson’s ‘Ali Barber’ photo series out of London is very cool! These zig zag haircuts are definitely worth taking time to look through!
http://www.richardnicholson.com/projects/ali-barber/
Saving Money
Saving money can be difficult for many salon and spa owners, but it is know that saving money is one of the necessary aspects of owning a business.
Living in this era of technology there are always solutions for any situation that may arise. Saving money for retirement, promotions, vacations, or any unexpected expenses just got easier. An automatic savings program, available through the credit card processing company Integrity Payment Systems (http://www.ipssalon.com), makes it effortless and painless. Integrity Payment Systems works with salons, spas, and businesses in the beauty industry to helping them save money. Their Auto-Save program automatically deducts a pre-determined amount from each credit card transaction and deposits the amount into a high-interest, no-minimum savings account. The amounts are small, but the secret to making it work is consistency on every transaction. Integrity Payments Systems also offers salon owners with low credit card processing costs, collectively saving their salon clients about $3 million in credit card transaction fees. Credit card fees are typically a salon’s fifth largest expense.
When Dean Parks, the owner of Salon GC in Vernon Hills, Illinois, was asked what he thinks about this program, he said he was really excited about it, and had signed up for Auto-Save in April, 2008, putting two percent of every credit card transaction he made directly into his savings account. When he realized he was not missing the extra money, he increased his savings to four percent, and later to seven percent. “I’m actually thinking of raising it now to ten percent!” Dean says. “This program provides us with a tool–a way to set aside money for promotions, vacations, and even to fund our IRAs.”
Quality Website for your Salon
Having a quality website for your business should be your top priority. It’s true, you can purchase a template and have it set up within hours. The whole process would cost you about $200. Do you really want to bank your business’ reputation and image on a cookie cutter approach? Working with a savvy full service web development firm is a wise decision that will pay itself in the long run.
The cost of your site depends on the size and complexity of the project. Are you going to need five pages or ten pages? Do you want each one of your stylists or staff members to have their own page? These are legitimate questions that need to be addressed. Make sure you have a custom home page that is unique to your salon’s colors and ambiance.
Search for a company that specializes in website design for the beauty industry. Website designers in the beauty industry are limited, but since they know the industry, they’re going to be your best bet when it comes down to consultation, website design layout, graphic design, and overall understanding of your specific business needs.
“Often times, business owners have a website and have been thinking about a revamp but haven’t taken the next step of contacting a firm that will handle their needs. It’s totally fine to have your own business image makeover. Start from scratch and have a website built that will grow your business and become the cornerstone of all of your marketing efforts”, says John Akopyan, VP of Marketing and Strategy at NexGen Web Studios. NexGen Web Studios is a full service web design and development firm in Los Angeles county.
Glamour Magazine’s iPad App
Using strategic timing with upcoming Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York (September 9-16, 2010) and Jennifer Lopez’s reported American Idol gig, Glamour Magazine’s iPad app goes on sale today. With the same per issue price of $3.99, it is Conde Nast Publication’s the app, GQ and Vanity Fair being the other two.
One of the more prominent features of the app is that it lets user save items to a shopping list as they’re browsing. Other cool interactive features include instructional videos on beauty secrets and tips
“If you’re a fashion and beauty magazine and you’re selling a September issue, I think the reader expects, ‘Of course I expect to be able to look and shop that picture,’” editor in chief Cindi Leive said in demonstrating the app.
The app is refreshed several times throughout the day and can be read offline.
Nail Polish Success
When it comes to nail polish, most of us don’t think much of it, and we over look all of the work that goes into developing and marketing nail polish. We tend to see nail polish as a simple product that’s applied to nails for appearance. In reality, there is more to it than just making the nails look pulchritudinous. Fiabila, a successful nail polish company founded by Pierre Miasnik has been growing due to the exponential growth of the nail polish market. Miasnik dedicated 10% of the workforce to research and development, and his goal is to place his company at the forefront of global manufacturers. With an increase in its turnover of more than 20% between 2008 and 2009 and a leap of 50% in the United States, facts clearly prove him right.
What is the secret behind Fiabilas success? Miasnik reports that nail polish is trendy and it’s getting trendier every day. At the same time, investing in new research and development helps with the success. They pay close attention to what’s going on around the world regarding the beauty industry and they make their moves based on their surroundings. With research, quality control and new development they produce products that are well respected and desired by the consumers. Every business has its own complexities but having implemented very stringent procedures at all production levels to ensure full compliance of products to regulations and standards across the world most businesses will be successful.
