What's the best-kept secret in the salon industry? Retail drives income. How?

  1. Commission. Most salons offer about a 10% commission on what you sell; in addition, some tie commission steps or salary increases to your retail/service ratio.
  2. Client retention. Surveys show that more clients who purchase retail products return to the salon. The theory is that they're more satisfied with their cut because their hair continues to look good, and they credit their hairdresser.
  3. Referrals. When clients who look good between visits, their family and friends and even strangers ask them who did their hair, which results in more referrals for you. Word-of-mouth is the best way to build your book, and the words coming out of her mouth will be the name of the salon and her stylist.

"Retail is the link to building trust with the client," says Julie Vargas, director of career opportunity for the SportClips salon chain. "It's what makes clients happy between visits."

3 Ways Retailing Hair Products Make You Money

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