Salon Furniture
DirGroup Salon Furniture & Design Articles
Benedict
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Posts by Benedict
The latest trend in salon and spa design: sustainability
Jul 26th
In order to address the challenges of climate change, businesses in nearly every sector are taking steps to make their operations greener and more energy-efficient.
This trend for sustainability has also been adopted by the beauty industry, with certain salons leading the way with cutting-edge eco-friendly design and the use of organic products. Salons ‘going green’ not only benefit from the knowledge that they are helping the planet; their customers appreciate it too.
The following are a couple of the most inspiring examples of sustainable salons:
Revitalize Hair & Beauty Spa in Bolton
Run by Francesca Cragg, this salon is heated by underground boreholes in winter and solar panels in summer. The salon uses eco-friendly hair, beauty and make-up products. Francesca says about the green design:
“I’m really proud of the salon, and the publicity it has generated has certainly brought in lots of environmentally aware new clients.”
Recess in Los Angeles
Although principally a nail salon, Recess offers a number of other beauty and well-being treatments. The salon is lit by energy-saving lighting and as much natural light as possible, and water is heated by a long-lasting, energy-efficient gas heater. All salon equipment and appliances are designed to be energy efficient and even the fabric on the salon chairs is made from 100% recycled polyester.
Three salon design mistakes to avoid
Jul 24th
The reason salon design is so difficult to get perfect is because you often don’t notice problems until the decorating is finished and you’ve opened the doors to clients. By this time, there isn’t much you can do about these issues expect to learn to live with them or use makeshift solutions.
To avoid this, the most important thing to do before the design process starts is to imagine yourself as a client in the finished salon. You’ll then spot and correct problems like:
• Glare – This problem occurs when your client has his/her back to the window, meaning they may experience a glare in the mirror in front of them. The client can’t see the stylist or what is being done to their hair. Prevent this by pointing styling units away from window or fitting a two-sided window decoration.
• ‘The walk of shame’ – This is where your clients head to a backwash unit then face a long walk back to the styling chairs, where they are paraded past other customers and even the front window looking bedraggled and wet. The best way to avoid this is to plan the flow of your salon space so that clients can move seamlessly from one station to the next.
• Personal clutter – This creeps up on you if you aren’t careful. Don’t permit yourself or your staff to hang up personal photos or nick-nacks in the salon, as it makes the place look unprofessional and cluttered.
The psychology of salon design
Jul 22nd
Salon design isn’t just about improving the appearance of the space anymore; the very latest design schemes in successful salons are focused on influencing the client’s behaviour. Similarly to the techniques that retail stores use to affect customer purchasing behaviour, salons can also be designed with psychology in mind, to the benefit of your business.
Overall, you want to design your salon with a new few goals in mind; to communicate the ethos of your business or brand, to entice clients to purchase products, and to give them the most relaxing experience.
Design consultant Leon Alexander, speaking to Salon Today, explains how these goals can be achieved. He discusses what is called ‘environmental psychology’, where factors such as colour, scent and spatial relationships can influence customer or consumer behaviour.
For example:
• Colour plays a large part in influencing clients’ behaviour, but salon owners need to understand the therapeutic aspects of each colour on their target customer base (e.g. young people tend to prefer the vibrancy of bold colours, sky blue is a familiar and comforting colour etc)
• Placement of merchandise is very important if you want to increase sales. Similarly to the way supermarkets place staple items like bread and milk at the back of the shop so customers will be tempted by other products on the way, salon owners can place product displays in reception areas or on the path to salon chairs or the bathroom.
How to update your salon on a budget
Jul 21st
Tired, outdated salons are a real turn-off for clients, meaning that your business could be harmed if you don’t attempt to freshen up your salon’s look.
Not everyone has the cash to blow on a full salon refurbishment, but there are some revitalising tips and tricks you can try even on a budget. You’ll be surprised at the difference a few small changes makes to the whole feel of the place!
For example:
• Backwash units and salon chairs
One of the main impressions clients will take away from your salon is whether they were comfortable during their visit. Replacing old salon chairs and backwash units with new, luxurious ones is relatively inexpensive (compared to a full refurb) and it could make all the difference.
• Clean up
You’ll be surprised at how much a difference a good spring clean will make to both the interior and exterior appearance of your salon. Ensure that floors, walls, mirrors and all those nooks and crannies are sparkling, repair anything that’s broken, and update magazines and newspapers regularly. You can even add a fresh lick of paint if you want.
• Lighting
After comfort, lighting is the next most important thing in your salon. If you don’t have the funds to redo everything, focus on excellent, flattering lighting and your whole salon will look better in an instant.
Six steps to setting up a beauty salon
Jul 19th
Setting up a new salon is no easy or quick task; it takes a lot of work, money and time to get everything up and running. However, there are a few basics, the order of which you should keep in mind throughout the whole process of setting up your salon.
These steps include:
1) Sorting out the paperwork – Choose a name for your new salon and go through the process of getting it registered with the right authorities. You also need to complete all of the legal paperwork relating to licensing etc, and it’s also a good idea to get business insurance for your salon.
2) Make a budget – Take your time to work out a detailed budget of exactly how much it will cost to set up and operate your salon, taking into account everything from salon furniture and redecorating to staff, utilities and rent.
3) Choose a location for your salon, based on where you can afford and what kind of customers you want to attract. Make sure the demand for your type of business is there though, or you may face stiff competition for customers.
4) Advertise your salon in newspapers, fliers, on TV etc
5) Decorate – Ensure you keep comfort, cleanliness, professionalism and practicality in mind when designing, to create a great atmosphere.
6) Hire the friendliest, most qualified staff you can afford, ensuring that they are all licensed to work.
Top salon design mistakes to avoid pt. 2
Jul 17th
Following on from our advice about flooring, plumbing and disabled access, here are some more mistakes to avoid when designing or remodelling your salon:
• Poor lighting
Salon owners wanting to save money may hold back on spending when it comes to lighting, but this can be a mistake. A good lighting scheme can be an investment, enhancing the atmosphere of the whole salon, helping you to sell merchandise and flattering your clients’ appearance.
• Unflattering colour
In the same way as lighting, the colour of your salon can affect how your clients see themselves in the mirror. It’s no good choosing the season’s most fashionable colours (i.e. lime green or canary yellow) if the reflection is unflattering. Consult a colour expert to figure out which colours will be the most complementary and you can then add matching or contrasting salon furniture to finish the look.
• Silent treatment rooms
Not all silences are relaxing, especially in treatment rooms. Piping in ambient, relaxing music can really add to the clients’ experience, but make sure to soundproof treatment rooms so that salon noise doesn’t filter through disruptively.
Why perfect pedicures need the right salon furniture
Jul 15th
Choosing salon furniture means balancing style and functionality to get products that your customers will appreciate and your staff will find easy to use.
As treatment furniture – such as beauty beds, massage chairs and pedicure stations – is directly used by clients and customers, comfort should always be your top priority when buying. This is especially important when you consider that the client’s comfort level can actually affect the quality of the treatment.
What to look for in pedicure stations
Pedicure stations have moved on from being just simple salon chairs; some of the newest available types offer some incredible features at reasonable prices. After considering factors such as comfort and ease-of-use for treatment staff, look out for the following client-pleasing features:
• Massage function (roller back offering shiatsu, flapping and kneading settings
• Built-in foot tubs with remote temperature control and massage function
• Adjustable recline angles, height, footrests and backrests (some products using hydraulics to do this)
• Sumptuous leather upholstery (also easy to clean)
• Ergonomically designed chairs (extra comfort for clients)
Remember that high-quality treatments create more pleasing experiences for clients, who are then likely to return to your salon again and again.
Storage solutions for uncluttered salons
Jul 14th
Colourful decor aside, most salon owners know that the best look for their business is a clean, uncluttered one. This makes the space and your business look professional, ordered and competent.
The problem is, however, that all of the salon equipment and tools you need to actually run your business takes up a great deal of space. You need easy access to everything, but just don’t have the room to accommodate it all.
The solution
The best way to overcome your storage problems is with cleverly designed salon furniture. There are many innovative products available these days offering both stylish design and a deceptive amount of storage space, making everyday operations a lot more simple and convenient.
Salon trolleys
An example of this sort of handy salon furniture is the Trolley Diavoletto. The cutting-edge black and white styling of this trolley means it will fit in perfectly with the rest of your salon’s chic decor, but it also gives you numerous storage options in the form of drawers and a cupboard. It is also very easy to clean.
Another reason this product is so useful is that it has wheels, allowing stylists to access the trolley as and when they need to and lock the wheels when it is stationary.
