Bringing in Clients With Goodwill Promotions
Goodwill promotions work like homeopathic medicine—a bit slower, but permanently. Just the kind of loyal clients you want.
Carlos Valenzuela
Contributor
Carlos Valenzuela, initially trained in London and Chicago with Pivot Point International, has a master's degree in international management and forty-six-plus year's experience as a hairdresser, ex-salon/school owner and worldwide spokesperson for professional beauty brands. He is the author of numerous success and personal development programs and published the novella Letters to Young Carlos, about a gay boy growing up along the US/Mexico border in the 1960s. Visit him at carlosvalenzuela.online
The Skinny On Salon Jobs: A Beauty Mentor for Students Who Need Beginning Advice and Career Stylists Who Need a Shot of Inspiration
"As a former school owner, I feel for the student who asks for a job at our salon without the interviewing, technical or social skills needed for the job. Although I felt badly, I was powerless--until now."
Is it Time to Reinvent Yourself? 5 Signs It Might Be Time to Transform
Deciding to stick with a situation, or go for something new, is one of the hardest decisions.
What Really Brings A Client Back?
Major industries like real estate, finance and consulting know the answer.
Empower Men to Wear Makeup
When I shoot photos or do a video, someone will dust my face with powder, maybe a little concealer, apply a nice vanilla flavored lip balm, and voila—yes, I look a lot better. I leave the photo shoot pretending I forgot to take off my ...
A Salon Professional Should...
A Salon Professional Should...by Carlos Valenzuela Have enough cash to live six months with no income.Save more as you advance in years. Know when to push the envelope and when to walk away.Spot and avoid what’s none of your ...
Before You Move to Another Salon
We creative people like variety, fresh perspectives and new starts. We look for the support we feel we need to express our creativity. I personally cannot justify all my moves except to say it felt like I was moving toward something better. ...
Secrets to a Great Clientele
When I returned to working behind the chair a year ago, I set a goal to really understand who my client is, what they want, the time they spend on their hair, and what makes them happy and feel beautiful. Overshadowing this goal, like a tent in ...
Are Salon Clients Guests?
Is someone who hires you for a specific job a guest? Not in my opinion. People who sit in my salon chair are clients, not guests. I can fire a client—and they can certainly fire me. Isn’t a guest someone you invite into your home, ...
How To Deal with the Moody Client
We all experience the moody client in our chair. You know you are in for it as you approach the reception area. The receptionists sit huddled and silent after attempting a cheerful greeting. Not good, you think. You have two basic choices: ...
Image: Are You What You Look Like?
If you are what you eat, are you what you look like? Does the image you create, or overlook, influence the quality of your results? Is there need for a professional image, or can you just go from your laundry room to the salon?You are a believer ...
Rockin’ Grannies in My Chair
An 80-year old woman marched up to my styling chair with curly, fire engine red hair, long nails, and in better shapes than most women forty years her junior. “I don’t want an old lady ‘do’ she said as a conversation ...
How to Sell to a Hairdresser
So much information – so little time.Do you at times feel so overwhelmed that you just pass on all of it? I do. Maybe well-meaning providers of information misunderstand the hairdresser mindset. Why? If you want to catch and hold the ...
Why Clients Don’t Like You
Ever dealt with someone who, even though going through the paces, you got the distinct feeling they really didn’t like you? I have. This is not someone I would come back to, would you? A client needs to like you or at least approve of you. ...
My Take: Commission vs. Booth Rental
Recently, I added three days in a salon to my forty-three year beauty career. I waited a couple of months before sharing anything with my readers, because random observations are usually not what’s really happening. In order for me to ...
Persistence Outweighs Resistance
As often as we hear that mentors motivate new professionals, there is no doubt that beginners are also a source of inspiration for many of us seasoned professionals.Last weekend I attended Tucson Fashion Week, a multiple-venue event promoting ...
My Return to Working Behind the Chair
In my forty-plus years as a beauty professional, I have reinvented my beauty career multiple times. Three weeks ago, after more than a six-year absence, I returned to working behind the chair, after all, isn’t it all about the salon? The ...