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How to Successfully Approach Salons

Mar 04, 2024, Update: Mar 04, 2024, author: Hairstrokes.com / Holistic PMU
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"Have you ever thought about becoming a guest artist in a salon but are still trying to figure out how to make it happen? Many artists need help communicating effectively with salon decision-makers. This guide walks you through the essential steps to engage salons, leveraging strategies that have proven effective for numerous brow artists. Embrace this method to pave the way for successful salon collaborations."

1. Background


Drawing from interviews with 79 eyebrow artists from various backgrounds who pivoted to specialize in powder brows, microblading, or hairstrokes, this article distills insights from research spanning 2019 to 2024. With 63 artists based in the EU, 9 in the UK, and 7 in the US, this piece zeroes in on strategies that kickstart salon collaborations. Aimed primarily at newcomers, the advice here is equally valuable for seasoned artists.

2. Identifying Ideal Salon


Choosing the Right Location

Beginning your journey in powder brows, microblading, or hairstrokes poses two main questions: finding clients and the ideal procedure place. For many novices, securing an optimal location can seem daunting. A tried-and-tested method is guest starring in salons. This guide breaks down this strategy, informed by successful artist experiences.

Partnering with Salons

Guest appearances in salons can evolve into strategic alliances. Aligning with salons that offer complementary services provides a workspace and client access, minimizing startup costs and offering location flexibility. The next step is pinpointing the perfect salon for this partnership.

Avoiding Conflicts

Selecting the right salon is critical. While established salons with professionals might be appealing, potential conflicts could arise, particularly with existing guest artists. The beauty industry's competitive nature necessitates a diplomatic approach.

Aligning with Complementary Services

Salons lacking hairstrokes, powder brows, or microblading services present an untapped opportunity, perhaps due to the absence of a specialist or a focus on other areas. Targeting such salons, especially those serving your demographic but lacking your services, can be advantageous.

To identify potential partners, consider the following.
  • Researching reputable salons within your travel preferences.
  • Targeting salons not promoting powder brows, hairstrokes, or microblading.
  • Evaluating their clientele, reputation, and services for compatibility with your offerings.

3. How to Make Your Approach


Reaching the decision-maker

Success hinges on contacting the decision-maker, often the owner or, in larger chains, the branch manager. Finding their direct contact is crucial to initiating a partnership in the powder brows, hairstrokes, or microblading niche.

Initiating Contact

Begin by calling the salon's public number to request the owner's details, using terms like "microblading," "business," or "financials" to clarify your intent. Focus on reaching the decision-maker directly.

Utilizing Social Media

Platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook can aid in finding and connecting with the salon owner. Use mutual connections if available, keeping your outreach straightforward.

Exploring Public Databases

Pay attention to public databases and Google searches for contact information, which can sometimes be readily found online.

Leaving Your Details

If direct contact isn't possible initially, leave your information and purpose for calling. However, actively pursue direct communication.

A Crucial Insight

Keep an open mind; the ideal salon might be one you still need to be aware of. Surprising opportunities often emerge, even in less expected locations. Exploring beyond familiar territories can uncover valuable partnerships with salons that have a dedicated, specific clientele, potentially leading to significant collaborations.

By adopting these strategies, artists can navigate the salon landscape more effectively, opening doors to new opportunities and collaborations.

4. The Initial Approach


Bypass Generic Outreach Efforts

Directly contacting the salon's decision-maker is critical, rather than using the salon's general email, Facebook messaging, or communicating through staff. Generic sales emails and pitches fall flat and may hinder future engagement opportunities. It's essential to bypass these less effective methods and invest time in finding and connecting with the person with the authority to make decisions, as this sets a positive precedent for potential collaboration.

Rather than feeling productive after sending out mass emails, recognize this strategy as inefficient and potentially damaging. Aim for a targeted, personalized approach to forge a meaningful connection and foundation for partnership.

5. Effective Engagement Strategies


Lead with Your Objective

Initiate communication with potential salon partners by clearly stating your purpose. Forego extensive introductions or unrelated information, opting for a concise statement of intent - for example, the following.

"I want to form mutually beneficial partnerships with distinguished salons in various regions. My research suggests your salon aligns well with my goals, prompting me to reach out about possible collaboration opportunities."

This approach underscores your aim to establish a productive partnership, emphasizing mutual benefits without diluting your message with extraneous details.

Clarify Mutual Benefits and Profit Goals

Be upfront about the advantages such a partnership offers the salon while openly acknowledging your profit objectives. Salon owners appreciate transparency, which can lay the groundwork for trust. Instead of weaving a complex narrative, focus on shared benefits, like the following.

"Integrating services such as powder brows, hairstrokes, and microblading into your salon could broaden our client base and enhance profitability for both parties."

This strategy doesn't prescribe exact wording but encourages a focus on shared financial gains, appealing to salon owners by being direct about the potential for increased profits.

Own Your Financial Interests Confidently

While highlighting what the salon stands to gain, don't hesitate to discuss your financial aspirations. Directness and brevity in expressing the profit-making potential for both sides can be more persuasive than lengthy explanations.

Salon owners often prefer straightforward communication, which helps build trust in the artist's intentions and transparency. Emphasizing a clear vision for shared financial success can make your proposal more appealing and trustworthy.

6. Further Advice for Outreach


Keep Initial Emails Open-Ended

Avoid locking in specifics such as exact pricing or definitive terms in your first email. Propose a discussion to explore potential collaboration, suggesting your interest in partnering exclusively with their salon, subject to mutual agreement. This approach avoids premature pressure and opens the door for detailed negotiations, demonstrating your readiness for further discussions.

Managing Lack of Replies

Not all outreach will yield immediate responses or collaborations. If your initial email goes unanswered, a follow-up with slight modifications is advisable, but keep this to at most three attempts to avoid seeming overbearing. Interestingly, persistence pays off, as salon owners frequently acknowledge and appreciate the third follow-up, often attributing their delayed response to being previously engaged.

Enhancing Emails with AI

Start your email with a basic outline of your key points, using AI tools for a polished draft. Personalizing this AI-generated content significantly increases its impact. This process yields a professional, albeit general, first draft that is a foundation for further customization, ensuring the final message aligns closely with your unique voice and objectives.

Utilizing Your Hairstrokes.com Profile

A public profile on hairstrokes.com (and powderbrows.com) can be a powerful tool for establishing credibility and trust. Make the most of the platform's verification features, including artist identity, audience authenticity, and technical skills accreditation, to strengthen your professional presentation. Salon owners, recognizing the value of these credentials, often regard Hairstrokes.com's verification as a benchmark for artist quality and reliability.

In essence, effectively leveraging your online presence, notably through platforms like powderbrows.com, enhances your visibility and appeal to potential salon partners. This strategic approach and personalized, persistent outreach lays a solid foundation for establishing fruitful collaborations within the PMU industry.

7. Expanding Your Perspective


When embarking on partnerships with salons, new artists often aim to address the immediate hurdles of attracting clients and securing early profits. While this approach has its merits, it's vital to recognize the broader implications and opportunities such collaborations offer.

Embracing the Role of an Active Artist

Remaining actively engaged in performing services and procedures not only sets you apart from a significant portion of your peers—specifically, the 80% who cease to offer services like powder brows, microblading, or hairstrokes within 18 months of training—but also solidifies your presence in the industry.

Skill Development Through Real Experience

Every procedure presents a chance to refine and expand your skills. The practical experience gained from working directly with clients far surpasses the benefits of mere practice on synthetic materials. Engaging with real-life cases and exchanging insights with more seasoned artists can dramatically elevate your proficiency.

Portfolio Building as a Continuous Process

Active involvement in performing procedures enriches your skill set and plays a crucial role in developing a comprehensive portfolio. The diversity and quality of your work, showcased through before-and-after photos, grow with each client you serve. This portfolio becomes a testament to your expertise and versatility, significantly impacting your marketability.

Viewing salon partnerships not merely as a solution to immediate challenges but as a strategic move towards sustained activity, skill enhancement, and portfolio development is essential. This broader outlook is indispensable for achieving long-term success and establishing a distinguished career.

8. Conclusions


Collaborating with salons presents a strategic approach for artists new to powder brows, hairstrokes, or microblading. Identifying the suitable salons - those where your services fill a gap rather than overlap with existing ones- is crucial. It's a common oversight for artists to engage with salons not aligned with their offerings, limiting the potential for successful partnerships.

Success in forming salon partnerships fundamentally relies on directly connecting with the decision-maker rather than casting a wide net with generic outreach, zeroing in on the individual with the authority to make business decisions, ensuring a more targeted and effective initiation of potential collaborations.

When drafting your initial outreach, prioritize clarity and conciseness. Your message should convey your intent, outline the mutual benefits of a partnership, and transparently express your interest in profitability. This honest approach often facilitates more open discussions about possible collaborations.

Don't anticipate immediate agreement from your first communication. The goal is to spark interest and open a channel for further dialogue. Understand that not receiving a response is common and shouldn't discourage you. Enhancing your message's credibility can be achieved by mentioning validations like your profile on hairstrokes.com and ensuring any AI-assisted drafts are personalized to reflect your unique proposal and style.

Serving as a guest artist in salons is an invaluable step toward establishing yourself in the industry, maintaining an active service offering, refining your skills, and developing a compelling portfolio. Embracing this broader view is essential for achieving sustained success and career growth in the PMU domain.
 
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Comments
 
Niki
Wednesday, Mar 06, 2024

Another great article, I totally agree to that and I think that when you have a plan then it makes you go for it. Most don’t and just wait forever :)

Mary
Monday, Mar 04, 2024

Very practical and easy toi implement article. I have used similar methods and I can tell those work well when approaching salons.


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