Sport Clips: Some Salons Just "Get It"

"Niche Marketing Is Your Key To Riches"

Getting a killer name to brand your service can really set your company apart from your competition. The following idea is so unique and yet so simple anyone could have thought of it. But the critical factor here is that someone did... and took the ball and ran with it.

This comes to us from Bossier City, LA.

At the Bossier City Sport Clips, they may just have solved the age old question for men — how do I get a haircut and massage and still watch the last quarter of the all-important game? Sport Clips is a national franchise and the "official hair cutters of the Texas Rangers" (and a few other sports outlets).

Founded in 1995 by franchise veteran Gordon Logan and headquartered in Georgetown, Texas, Sport Clips is a sports-themed hair care place for men and boys with nearly 350 stores in 28 states. In Bossier City, it's off Airline Drive (in Shreveport, there's one in University Place).Although, hair stylist Nikki Lott said, the cutters still cut women's hair, Sport Clips is very much a new take on an old theme: the corner barbershop.

Except this shop has extras like plasma screen TVs and facials and sports — all kinds, all day long.Samantha Barnes, an assistant manager with the Bossier City store, said she's never seen anything like it."We just opened three weeks ago and we've been busy ever since," Barnes said.Inside the shop, the stylists wear referee uniforms.

There also are lockers with televisions built inside of them that broadcast football, baseball and even NASCAR throughout the day."Guys like to sit and watch the sports events while they get a haircut," Lott said.But haircuts are not all these metrosexuals are getting.

She said both area Sport Clips give back and neck massages, scalp massages and even facials — all at comparably affordable prices. For children under age 10, a haircut runs $10. For men, the entire works including a day of sports, back rubs and shaves can run $20.

For Hayden Harrison, 10, of Bossier City, it's the back and scalp rubs that make the experience worthwhile.For Kirk Thomas, 12, who likes his hair spiked, it's the televisions and steamed towels."Just the word sports in the name made us have to stop," said Michelle Thomas.

The concept seems to be working for a lot of men."I just cut a guy's hair who was in here to get a haircut on his way to play basketball at Loyola University," Barnes said.To heighten its image Sport Clips has partnered with a variety of top names and organizations in the sports world.

In addition to its partnership with the Texas Rangers, Sport Clips is also the official haircutters of the San Antonio Spurs.Earlier this year, the company tapped into auto racing as well, sponsoring Paul Tracy's No. 34 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Busch Series.

Source:
Shreveport Times

As I write this there is another service very similar to this for the cigar - martini mindset that works very similar. The guys get a massage and get to get pampered by beautiful women in metro Detroit.

And yes.... these services are offered to the consumer at a significantly higher price.

Ted Cantu posted this on May 13, 2007 and can be found at http://www.1seomichigan.com

“Here’s How To Increase Your Salon Profits,Work Less Hours, And Build Up More Appointments in 30 Days Or Less”

Building a profitable salon business begins with getting quality ingredients. If you want a serious UNFAIR ADVANTAGE then you know as a professional that all begins with building a fabulous backbar.

If you want return customers then you have to use QUALITY products.

Windsor Beauty Supply is committed to the BIG SEVEN BEAUTY SALON SECRETS… These customer pumping tactics are guaranteed to generate more customers, get people talking about your salon and bring back return business.

SECRET 1 – USE SPECIAL INGREDIENTS
Start with using quality ingredients that are rare to find. That is the best way to distinguish yourself from other salons. Get products that encourage conversation. Our Bonacure products have some incredible ingredients in their formulas including Papaya. This extract pulls out dead hair follicles and makes your hair look and feel fantastic!!!

SECRET 2 – CREATE A BEAUTIFUL BACKBAR
Get products that you can feel good showing off. There are way too many backbars out there that look like trainwrecks. Set yourself apart from the crowd by creating a beauty salon backbar that you can be proud of. Distinguish your Michigan beauty salon by doing things a cut above the rest.
SECRET 3 - ENCOURAGE CONVERSATION
The T-shirt technique is a winner. Follow this simple but effective strategy and your Michigan Beauty Salon business will be a winner… guaranteed.

Give out free t-shirts with your logo on it, (include phone and web address on it)

Make one day a week T-SHIRT DAY
Give out 20% off every time a customer wears it, (on that day)
Great way to give away stock your trying to get rid of
Encourages conversation with their friends and colleagues
Creates new customers
Retains old customers

** Source: Windsor Beauty
Click here for the entire article.....
http://www.windsorbeauty.com/michigan_salon_business.html

This is a very interesting article and it encourages you to go for the unexpected. There are a lot of money that customers tend to leave on the tabel. This can be very damaging to your business. There are so many missed opportunities when you run your own salon.

There are two things you never want to do:

* Create marketing that is BORING
* Watch money walk out the door

Tsk tsk... You need to have an open mind and always be in the mindset of inviting customers back into your business. This is what is going to keep your business alive and thriving.

Ted Cantu posted this article on May 4, 8:17 am. He can be found at http://www.1seomichigan.com

New Schwarzkopf Classes Have Been Announced

"Where Can You Get The Scoop ON Great Schwarzkopf Hair Products?"

Why waste time with imitators who try to copy off the great Schwarzkopf hair color? Go straight to the source for Money Making Blondes and Hot Reds with Igora Royal, Igora Permanent and more. There is only one source for this kind of quality.

Check out the new lines coming in at:
http://www.windsorbeauty.com

The folks at Windsor Beauty Supply is going to be posting some hair color charts that show you the right color combinations that you should use. These will be helpful in picking out a shade that will work just for you and your clients. This comes to you in multiple formats. One is an animated cartoon that you can watch on your computer and it shows you the pages in close detail..... The other format is in PDF and these can be downloaded to your desktop.

** Make sure you pick up the new PDF schedule on the front page of their site. Of course if you don't know what a PDF file is and need a reader then you will want to visit:

http://www.adobe.com

Ted Cantu posted this on April 4, 1:33 am and can be found at http://www.1seomichigan.com