If you’re the owner or manager of a salon store, have you thought about offering at-home haircare, nailcare or skincare services? Or if you’re the owner or manager of a beauty supply, have you considered adding mobile salon services to your selection of products?

Your customers will likely appreciate it, the workforce—all those booth renters—is certainly available and the move differentiates you from all those other beauty retailers in the professional, mass, prestige, masstige and other channels. If done right, it can enhance your business as the local beauty experts … and make you more money.

Lately, I’ve been contemplating this for three reasons: An interesting Fashion & Style article by Dana Schuster I read in The New York Times last week headlined “Why Go to the Salon If It Can Come to You?” in print and “Hairstylists Who Make House Calls” online; a visit by me this past weekend to once again explore my local Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy as well as the independently-owned and -operated integrative medical clinic within the store, where one can schedule a massage at certain times yet a professional will also travel to a customer (within a certain geographical limit for a higher fee); and another look I took at the excellent “Customer Service Done Right” feature by editor/online editor Manyesha Batist in our April issue (page 46) now out.

See you soon,
Marc

A growing trend in our industry involves partnerships between celebrity stylists and manufacturers. The latest such pairing—announced last week—involves Fromm International and Kim Vō Enterprises.

Fromm International is now managing distribution for the Kim Vō brand. With Fromm’s experienced sales team dedicated to building effective programs for distributors, watch for the Kim Vō brand to take off. Craig Shandler, KVE president, notes, “Fromm’s long and successful history in the professional beauty industry brings the added resources and expanded domestic and international distribution needed to build on our current success.” Fromm president Kevin Johnson adds, “We look forward to building growth in our industry by combining Fromm’s knowledge of professional beauty distribution with Kim’s vision for inspiring stylists through education.”

KVE will continue to oversee marketing of the Kim Vō brand, including product development, publicity and advertising. Master colorist and celebrity expert Kim Vō has made a name for himself in professional beauty with salons in Las Vegas and Southern California, and regularly colors the locks of such celebs as Katherine Heigl and Brittany Spears. His luxury line is free of sulfates and sodium chloride, and provides care and protection for color-treated, keratin-treated and chemically-treated hair. It features 13 products for cleansing, conditioning, styling and finishing, and ranges in price from $23 to $55. Check it out at kimvo.com.

See you soon,
Shelley

Increasingly, more beauty businesses are paying attention to the evolved customer arising from this era’s recession. These businesses are taking note of the fact that today’s customer is no longer sold on product alone. She isn’t specifically looking for the latest must-have object of her desire to beautify her lips and tresses.

Research is finding that for today’s customer value is trumping cost and compulsive consumption. And shopping habits for many a customer are becoming more and more intertwined with holistic, all-encompassing experiences. For many, their purchases now represent their lifestyles and values—a choice of healthful, high-quality products and experiences that coincide with an overall healthier lifestyle. And alert beauty businesses are beginning—or continuing—to tailor their branding to this interesting concept.

For example, John Paul Mitchell Systems is meeting customers where they’re at, according to a recent article posted by WWD.com. As reported by WWD, the major salon-industry manufacturer has launched an ad campaign titled “What Inspires You,” sans a product appearance. That’s right. It’s running ads that do not feature any of its products, but rather promote its values by highlighting people overcoming obstacles and those making a difference in the world around them. At least one of its ads has already aired on FOX, The CW and MTV networks, with more to come, possibly on other networks.

Clearly, JPMS is now imprinting its brand in both customers’ minds and hearts. That’s just one more reason JPMS is among the salon industry’s leaders.

See you soon,
Manyesha

Savvy beauty retailers these days know the value of Google Maps and Google Street View. But what if a potential customer could go one step further, peek inside your brick-and-mortar on a computer or a mobile device and view the products you’re offering?

Sound far-fetched? Well, there have been some reports online—where else?—that Google is reportedly experimenting with such a new service.

Check out the two places where I first read about this:

Click on this link to the Feb. 18 post on StorefrontBacktalk, the retail technology blog of Evan Schuman.

And click here for the Feb. 4 post on Search Engine Land from news editor Barry Schwartz.

Google “Google Store View” to find other comments regarding the alleged experiment too.

If there is such a program and it’s given the green light, watch for leading beauty retailers to take full advantage of it. Yes, it’s a whole new retailing world today—including for beauty products.

See you soon,
Marc

These days, it’s wise to watch your expenses and to maximize the value of products and services you invest in. A great investment that’s sure to pay off is a visit to the upcoming America’s Beauty Show at McCormick Place in downtown Chicago March 27-29. Admission is free if you’re a member of America’s Beauty Network.

Hundreds of the world’s top manufacturers and distributors will be present, and many opportunities for education will be available to attendees. Some highlights of the show include the 3rd Annual Salon Sustainability Summit, backed by ABS’ commitment to continued economic development, social progress to protect communities and an active concern for the environment. Master classes, manufacturer product knowledge classes and exclusive America’s Beauty Network-sponsored Continuing Education seminars will be offered, and six salon professionals will be guests of Cosmetologists Chicago for a master class with Nick Arrojo, Damien and Sue Pemberton, Scott Cole or Ruth Roche.

Additionally, the 2010 L.E.O. Awards will be presented to five salon industry leaders: Robert Aubin, CEO, Pivot Point Australia and New Zealand; Ann Bray, The Masters, Huntsville, Alabama; Michael “Rhani” Flowers, creator and proprietor of Van Cleef Hair Salon, Chicago; Gretchen “Gretta” Monahan, beauty and fashion entrepreneur, Boston; and Diana Schmidtke, men’s grooming, style and haircare specialist, Los Angeles. The L.E.O. Awards represent leadership in the salon industry, excellence in designer education and outstanding Pivot Point alumni, while also honoring the founder and chairman of Pivot Point, Leo Passage.

The exhibition floor hours are Saturday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Monday 9 a.m.-4 p.m. For more information on America’s Beauty Show 2010, to register online and find details about special events, visit AmericasBeautyShow.com or call 800.883.7808 or 312.494.3040.

See you soon,
Shelley