Here is an overview of the great qualities I saw in this Salon:
- A coffee shop attached to the salon. What better experience then to have coffee shop right there. When I was working behind the chair my clients loved coffee especially while their color was processing. When I used to work as a shampoo assistant in Downtown Downers Grove at 15 years old I used to run to Starbucks and get coffee for the Hairstylists and their clients. Let me tell you those clients we got coffee for were on cloud-9 they thought it was the nicest thing ever to be treated like the team. I also can't think of anything else that salon owners, hairstylists and clients love more then coffee. (Wait I just thought of one- Shoes!)
- Atmosphere. So, simple but yet clean and elegant. Ok, so its not hard to get this look but you still need a designer and a plan. Everything flows I also think it looks better in person. There is also a really cute chalk board outside of the door that welcomes walk-ins with walk-in specials on it. It's so welcoming it would make me want to walk in if I was walking by for the first time.
- Web presence and ease of website. I talked to the owner Tawni (she is really great and so nice) and she said it was going to be updated soon but it's so important to have an easy website. Someone who knows what their doing has been working on there website I can tell. The site is not over complicated and the pricing is available. I can't stand it when you don't know what the prices are you need to know what you are getting your self into when you are a new client. I understand there are some situations where pricing may be more but that should be addressed durring the counsltation with the client before the service is done. Also, this is one of the first salons that I have ever seen that is using the internet in a really great way. If you have hairstylists working for you you need to make it easy for them to build a clientele. I have heard form other hairdressers that the salon invest in there web presence and it pays off. New clients are walking in all of the time and are prepared for the experience.
Website link: http://www.alteredegosalon.com/
- Advertising. Being a new client myself I got a referral card from my hairstylist and it includes $20 off the referred clients service and $20 off for my next service. It was so easy to give those away. If I was the hairstylist I would be happy to get more people in my chair especially when you have a nice client I want them to send their friends. I also like on their website that they are working together with the other businesses around them. They also update it with specials so you keep coming back. ( So Smart!)
- Easy to find. The salon comes up on my Android phone very easily I got a little lost yesterday. I was able to type in "Salon in Tempe" and it came up. I also think its really good that they have a lot of reviews. If you are a good salon get lots of reviews and don't be afraid if you have one or two bad ones because people will pay more attention to the fact that so many people took the time to write something.
- Great location. The building looks good the businesses next door are fun and unique. You can't get a better location than that. Its also right off the highway.
- Family friendly. They came up with this new concept called "Little Egos." If you are a client you can have your child babysat for 7 dollars an hour. What a great idea. It really got me thinking about our industry more and what a great idea would it be to help employees with having an on-site daycare. I really started thinking about this more because I'm going to have a baby soon but it would be so great for our industry that is 90% women to know that this can be an option for them and their careers. One day when I own a salon I would love to offer this to my employees.
- Family Atmosphere. When you walk in you really get the sense of a team atmosphere between the employees. I sensed it right away. I never got a chance to ask Tawni if there was a type of culture she has there but I get a sense that there is something. She did tell me that this salon was second generation and it was owned originally by her mother. It was also much smaller but has grown a lot recently. (I can see why)
- Hairstylist are great. I don't know if this is across the board with them but the sense I got from them is that you have to be tested in. They start you out one day and see how you do. There is no extensive 2 year training program where you work for $7 an hour after you attended your 1,500 hours of beauty school. You start off building your clientele and your prices grow with you. One of my biggest dissapointments about salons and this is only my opinion- I don't care how much I will make but start me at $7 and hour that affects my salary 5 years later. I could have made more money somewhere else and enjoyed my job more. We are all different if salon can find hairdressers that want to make $7 an hour after they completed their education then good for them. They stylist that was doing my hair was also telling me how excited she was that there was an in salon Aveda class coming up. What a great topic to talk about with clients and it's great for her to be excited about it.
- Prices are reasonable. Working up in North Scottsdale and expensive resorts I have seen some outrageous pricing from our industry. I think that Altered Ego salons prices are right where they should be. Just like other women you need to talk to your husband about the family budget and men will say something if they feel like you are paying to much. There is always an exception to this if you can get clients that pay those outrageous prices go for it but no matter how much money we make that will not happen with my family.
Thank you for reading.
Katie Villapudua
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