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The Pricing Mistake 68% Of Hair Pros Are Making

The Pricing Mistake 68% Of Hair Pros Are Making

Advertorial

The Pricing Mistake 68% Of Hair Pros Are Making

Are you charging enough? We have the pricing tips you need

by AMANDA | INFORM

Salons are feeling the squeeze more than ever, especially those employers hit by the changes introduced in the Autumn Budget. The rising cost of living has impacted everyone, and you’ll know from your own bills how the prices of, well, just about everything are continually nudging up. The obvious step is to raise your prices too – even though salons hate to do it! But you can’t stop there. Now is the time to get savvy about pricing – incorporating ideas such as dynamic pricing and price reviews – to see a real impact on your profitability. We’ve asked Fresha, the go-to platform for beauty and wellness bookings, for the six steps you need to be taking right now!

Step 1: Set discounts that keep your salon’s profits healthy

Keep your profits in mind as you choose which services to discount with smart pricing and by how much. Making your off-peak prices and last-minute discounts too high could undervalue your services or impact your self-employed staff’s earnings. So, determine the perfect amount that will let you make a healthy profit while attracting plenty of clients.

Choose whether to offer a percentage or fixed amount for each discount based on the service’s original price. For example, with lower-priced services, a percentage discount may offer better perceived value; 15 per cent off a service that costs £20 may sound more appealing to your clients than £3 off.

Step 2: Identify the best times for off-peak prices in your reports

Check your sales reports to see when your least busy periods are, and set your off-peak prices to automatically switch on during those times. You can even set multiple off-peak times per day. For example, if your salon tends to be quiet right when you open and during the afternoon lull, set your off-peak prices for services booked between 10am to 11am and 1pm to 2pm.

Be sure to examine a big enough sample of your sales reports to identify patterns in your bookings. A few months or even a year’s worth of reports will give you the clearest possible picture of your off-peak periods and help you stay booked during those off-peak times.

Step 3: Offer bigger last-minute discounts closer to the appointment time

To create a sense of urgency and encourage clients to book quickly, offer bigger discounts for bookings made closer to the appointment time. Be sure to strike a balance with a discount that tempts clients to quickly book empty slots, without encouraging them to only book last-minute. For example: offer 10 per cent off bookings made between 24 to 48 hours before the appointment time, and 20 per cent off bookings made on the same day of the appointment.

Step 4: Switch your smart prices on and off at optimal times

Be strategic about when you activate your smart prices to maximise your revenue. For instance, if you get more walk-in appointments during the summer season, deactivate your off-peak prices and last-minute deals to avoid offering discounts on booking slots that would have sold at full price anyway. Then activate them again once walk-in traffic starts to slow down.

On the other hand, if you typically get booked by clients preparing for seasonal events like holidays, and weddings, you could switch on your off-peak pricing ahead of time to fill up your calendar in advance, then switch it off again once you’ve got a few weeks worth of bookings.

Step 5: Promote your smart pricing to as many audiences as possible

Make the most of your smart pricing and encourage clients to book by promoting your discounts at every opportunity. Ask your staff to mention your smart prices in their conversations with clients. Share your offers regularly on social media to make sure your followers are kept in the loop; always make your posts engaging and shareable to increase your chances of reaching new clients.

You can also use a blast campaign to instantly share your smart prices with clients who are most likely to book. For instance, you could send your most frequent clients a text message to promote a last-minute offer on next-day bookings. Or send an email highlighting your off-peak hours to clients who have more time during the day, like students or parents whose children attend school.

Use your off-peak pricing and last-minute offers to stay booked and get more value out of each day. For example, when your clients book through Fresha, they can only use one discount at a time, so you don’t need to worry about accidentally doubling up on discounts. Plus, you can switch them on and off in minutes, so don’t be afraid to try out different discounts to figure out what works best for you.

 

Not signed up to Fresha yet? Sign up now for free, and see what the go-to booking platform for beauty professionals can do for your salon. 

An Evening With ghd Sparks Networking And New Business Opportunities

An Evening With ghd Sparks Networking And New Business Opportunities

An Evening With ghd Sparks Networking And New Business Opportunities

Members of ghd’s Pro Salon Network gathered for unforgettable nights of networking, business insight and plenty of inspiration

by AMANDA | INFORM

Steadfast in their mission to support hair pros, ghd have been touring the UK, bringing members of their Pro Salon Network together over dinner and drinks to offer new opportunities for networking.

Popping up in Edinburgh, London, Manchester and Nottingham, each evening has included a delicious three-course dinner and drinks, styling demonstrations and an exclusive preview at an innovation launching soon.  

For the London leg of the tour, the iconic restaurant Tattu played host to the Southern Pro Salon Network contingency, with attendees including Cos Sakkas of TONI&GUY, Jack and Ross Williams-Hirst of Williams & Hirst and Daisy Goord of Daisy Goord Salon.

Following welcome drinks on the rooftop, the evening got underway with an exciting brand overview from Janine Jennings (pictured, below), head of education UK & ROI for ghd. “The industry is changing. The way people buy is changing, so we want to make sure the Pro Salon Network feel supported,” Janine said, when discussing the brand’s omni-channel strategy. Dan Rathbone, head of sales for ghd, also echoed this message, saying: “We wouldn’t be here as a brand if it wasn’t for our Professional Salon Network.”

The evening also included a teaser of an exciting innovation launching imminently, as well as a demonstration of the new ghd wave, with a model sporting stunning, lived-in, beachy texture.

On hand to give a deeper dive into the technology behind the tool was Juliet Scott-Pritchard, a scientist for ghd who works on the hair science and innovation team. Juliet also demonstrated why the optimum styling temperature remains 185ºC, giving the Pro Salon Network plenty of food for thought as they headed to dinner!

Want access to exclusive networking events? The ghd Pro Salon Network gives you this and SO much more. Sign up now by contacting prohelp@ghdhair.com, calling 01924 423 400 or WhatsApp 0113 2615646.

Wella Professionals Hosts Destination 2025 In Malta

Wella Professionals Hosts Destination 2025 In Malta

Wella Professionals Hosts Destination 2025 In Malta

More than 1,000 hair pros from 52 countries meet to see reveal of new brand initiatives and trends

by AMANDA | INFORM

Wella Professionals has gathered more than 1,000 hairdressers, press and ambassadors from 52 countries in Malta to celebrate the craft, creativity and future of the salon industry at its annualcelebration Destination 2025.

A line-up of artistry on stage, hands-on education, brand experiences and trend reveals were on the menu, as Wella Professionals’ unveiled R.I.S.E. with Wella, a global platform dedicated to advancing Relationships, Inspiration, Science and Education.

Delegates from Wella’s RED club in the UK & Ireland joined the global gathering and were welcomed to Malta by Wella Company general manager UK & Ireland, Max Amen, at a gala dinner at Malta’s famous La Valette Hall. The sunset drinks reception and dinner were followed by a hair show by HOB Academy’s Akin Konizi, Nestor Sanchez and Elijah Hourrides, alongside business advice from HOB Salons chief executive, Natasha Grossman.    

HOB Academy

Jordanna Cobella

The main Destination event was hosted by Patrick Cameron, and throughout, guests were treated to immersive education sessions, brand booth explorations and the unveiling of Wella Professionals’ new global campaign, “Make It You”.

A Trend Reveal Show saw artists unveiling Surreal Color, the brand’s Autumn/Winter 2025 trend inspired by artificial intelligence and the tension between reality and fantasy. Global ambassadors, including James Earnshaw, Renya Xydis, Yuya Nara and Romeu Felipe, showcased colour and care transformations using Koleston Perfect, Ultimate Repair and more from the Wella portfolio.

Cult brand Sebastian Professional delivered session styling at its finest, courtesy of global ambassadors, Shay Dempsey and Anthony Cole, creative director Pedro Saldana, and ambassadors Angelo Vallillo and Bekki Delehedy.

There were also honours for the winners of the International TrendVision Awards from 2023 and 2024, which finished with the Make it You show, featuring hair creations from global ambassadors James Earnshaw, Nikki Lee and Romeu Felipe.

Mark O’Keeffe Is New President of the Irish Hairdressers Federation

Mark O’Keeffe Is New President of the Irish Hairdressers Federation

Mark O’Keeffe Is New President of the Irish Hairdressers Federation

Sugar Culture boss takes over from Lisa Eccles

by AMANDA | INFORM

Mark O’Keeffe, the founder of Sugar Culture Hairdressing and Beauty Group, is the new president of the Irish Hairdressers Federation. He was appointed at the IHF’s AGM, taking over from outgoing president, Lisa Eccles.

My focus will be on advocating for initiatives that support the industry’s growth and creating pathways that provide valuable opportunities for aspiring professionals, he said. Healso announced Nicola Lawless, from The Hair Company in Broadstone, as the Federation’s new vice president.

Left: IHF vice president Nicola Lawless; right: IHF president Mark O’Keeffe

Left: outgoing IHF president Lisa Eccles; right: Mark O’Keeffe

His speech underscored the IHF’s ongoing commitment to advocating for the industry, from presenting pre-budget submissions and engaging in government lobbying to initiatives such as the Save Our Salons campaign. The launch of the IHF Art Team, led by Steven Kelly, has also upped the creative dimension of the IHF’s efforts, celebrating stylist talent and giving back to the industry by spotlighting exceptional work produced in Irish salons.  

Mark thanked outgoing president Lisa Eccles, declaring “I wouldn’t feel prepared for this role without the privilege of learning from her.” His presidency holds a particular personal significance, as he follows in the footsteps of his father, Frank O’Keeffe, who served as IHF president in 1982.

Revealed: New HMRC Guidance On Rent-A-Chair Models And Employment Status

Revealed: New HMRC Guidance On Rent-A-Chair Models And Employment Status

Revealed: New HMRC Guidance On Rent-A-Chair Models And Employment Status

Fresh assistance from government comes as many salons consider changing their employment models to survive increasing costs

by AMANDA | INFORM

HMRC has unveiled new guidance in a bid to help hair businesses determine employment statuses for tax purposes.

The new guidance is focused particularly on those using the ‘rent a chair’ model, where hair professionals pay an agreed fee or percentage of their income to use a chair or space within a salon.

Developed in collaboration with industry stakeholders, the guidance includes information about common working practices and how they relate to employment status. Included is the HMRC’s Check Employment Status for Tax (CEST) tool, designed to help determine whether an individual is employed or self-employed for tax purposes.

HMRC has described its guidance as user-friendly” and includes examples of common scenarios that indicate whether an individual might be employed (such as having set working hours determined by the salon) or self-employed (such as setting their own prices and maintaining their own client list). 

The new guidance responds directly to requests from the industry for clearer, sector-specific information at a time when an increasing number of salons are exploring the move to rent-a-chair and collective models, in part due to the increased costs associated with running an employment model following the Autumn Budget.

“We understand the hair and beauty industry operates with various working arrangements, and it’s vital that both salon owners and professionals get their tax status right,” said Kelvin Shorte, deputy director, Taskforces & Specialist Compliance, HMRC. “Whether you’re a salon owner with staff or someone who rents out chairs in your premises, this guidance will help you understand your obligations, so you can get your tax right first time.”

Included in the guidance is a new video, clarifying that employment status isn’t a matter of choice and outlines the different tax obligations for employed and self-employed individuals. It also includes information about VAT registration requirements and the importance of written agreements when renting salon space.  

25% Rise In Salon Tips

25% Rise In Salon Tips

25% Rise In Salon Tips

New tipping technology helps boost gratuities during tough economic period

by AMANDA | INFORM

Salons have seen a 25 per cent boost to team earnings over the past seven months, thanks to new tipping technology. 

In the seven months since the launch of PhorestTips, more than £5.7 million in tips have been paid directly to staff across 591,717 transactions. With 95 per cent of associated fees are covered by Phorest, there are instant payouts to team members and the system is tax compliant. The platform’s launch follows the new UK Allocation of Tips Act in Autumn 2024. The legislation mandates that 100 per cent of tips go to employees, and employers cannot deduct fees or admin costs.  

With 80 per cent of tipping now via card, and fewer clients carrying cash, PhorestTips allows customers to easily add a tip to their payment via the PhorestPay Card Terminal. The chosen team member receives it directly and instantly into their personal bank account.   

“Salons are being squeezed from every direction: higher wages, increased national insurance and shrinking client spend,” said Luke Doolin, country managing director, UK & Ireland at Phorest. “PhorestTips is one of the simplest, most effective ways for salons to boost morale, retain talent and drive financial stability.  It’s compliant, fair, and delivers real, measurable benefits, immediately.” 


“The recent budget has put significant pressure on our sector,” he added. “We’re seeing salon owners seriously re-evaluate everything – from apprentice hiring to service delivery. Solutions like PhorestTips, our Ads Manager, and retail goal tracking tools are all about finding ways to lift revenue without compromising service or increasing workload.”