Free Consultation

Every prospective client is entitled to my free KickStarter® initial consultation. It's a valuable way to determine which business or marketing alternatives are required for your particular situation. In addition, you will be able to determine if a consultant is part of the solution.  

Call today (949) 903-4805

UPDATE!

Professional fees and service pricing

Due to the ongoing economic sitution pricing is being adjusted to assist business owners meet current budget constraints. Since every salon is unique, and the scope of work can vary tremendously, we will create a scope of work and estimate the time necessary to complete each task involved to help owners better achieve required projects with limited budgets. The consultant will quote hourly, daily, or weekly rates depending upon your needs and budget. Thank you for your business.

Fee Policy

Most fees are determined on a per project basis, and are established and agreed to up front. However, I do offer a reasonable hourly rate for email consultantions (level 1) to help you determine exactly what your needs are and how best to approach them before moving to the next level. 

Again, since each salon is unique, please feel free use the KickStarter® consultation so we can discuss the specifics of your situation. I understand the importance of budgets and will work with you to reach your objectives affordably. At (level 2) I ask all clients to sign a Service and Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA), and I require 50% up front with the remainder due upon completion of the agreement.  All Business and Marketing reports include two revisions, if necessary; to correct information errors. Any additional work beyond the revisions will be charged at the reasonable hourly rate, unless otherwise stipulated in the agreement. In addition, there may be a $25.00 rescheduling fee charged for any agreed upon meeting times not rescheduled 24 hours prior to the meeting time.

100% Satisfaction Guarantee!

My goal is to meet the contacted objectives for your salon while exceeding your expetations. This is why all clients get the 100% satisfaction guarantee. Standing behind my work and delivering what is contracted is my promise to you. If for any reason I fail to deliver on contrated objectives, I will continue until the objective(s) are met at no additional charge. However, If the problem cannot be resolved I will gladly refund my hourly consultant fees for that contract.*

*Note: Hourly consultant fees are separate from other services or products that may be contractually agreed upon.

Remember, although my fees may appear high at first glance, compare fee rates, they are lower than most consultants in the same industry. After comparing fee rates you will need to determine what you are willing to invest in your salon to increase customer satisfaction, service and product sales, profit margins, and your success. Is $100 enough? Is $5,000 to much? Is some where in between the right amount? I help you determine that at a fair price, and with real numbers to back-up the results; not just something pulled from thin air. You will be confident that any money you invest will be used to make positive changes to your current situation, and give you the maximum return on your investment.

And remember, it does not cost you anything to take advantage of the KickStarter®, so start there to determine if a consultant is the answer for your specific needs.

Thank you,

Kevin

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Service and fee details 

Hourly: The Simple Way to Hire a Business and Marketing Consultant

Is your marketing as good as your product and service offerings? Does your marketing tell your story in a way that truly connects with your customer?  In down markets as well as up?  In a way that causes action? If not, use me as your Virtual Marketing Manager to get your marketing back on track and producing revenue generating results. Through my experience and education I have discovered a handful of reasons why most salon marketing doesn’t measure up to the products or services they offer to customers:

• No consistency: Customers aren’t educated often enough about their product and service needs; spotty customer follow-up; nothing looks or sounds the same depending on who they speak to; staff knowledge and training is lacking. 
• Me-too message: Everybody else is starting to sound just like you. You're really not that different from your competitors.
• Your message has “worn out": Your customers’ buying motivations have changed, especially in a down market, and your message has not.
• Cart-before-the-horse: Too much time is spent pounding away at features and benefits BEFORE any connection or trust is built. I see it time after time, especially on salon websites, and it can absolutely ruin your results when attempting to make positive changes. Customers want you to keep their hair healthy as well as beautiful, who knows more about the need of a customers hair than their stylist? You have an opportunity every time someone sits in your chair to educate and create a buying evironment.

Do any of these common issues sound familiar? You’re not the alone. Without a Marketing Manager with you, you begin “wearing too many hats,” not being able to keep up and failure is usually the final result. Sure, you say, you’d love to hire a Marketing Manager, but it doesn’t make financial sense. And you may be right, a full-time Marketing Manager would be too expensive.

But how about a virtual Marketing Manager at a fraction of the cost? Literally! Yes, someone who brings new ideas, steers you clear of mistakes, maximizes the impact of ever dollar you spend, and measure the outcomes so you actually know what the results of your investment. But without a desk, office, benefits or full-time salary. You can have that type of relationship with me. It’s a great relationship, one I am building with a handful of salons.

Here are the details:

We have phone meetings once a week for 30 minutes. Clients normally hire me because they have a list of issues they want to address.  In those cases we get started by determining which are the priority issues. If not, I have a process I take you through that evaluates your message and methods.  One step at a time and figure out the best approach for your situation. At the end of each session you’ll leave with answers and, typically, some assignments. I’m available between our weekly meetings via email for questions. I can add consistency to your marketing, save you hundreds, if not thousands, by avoiding mistakes up front, get you on the success track, and keep you there.

Cost: $1,000 per month

After a one month trial period we do quarterly commitments.  Either party can cancel at the end of the three month period worked.

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Business and Marketing Examination

I believe, right now, people like you need people like me more than ever. . .

A business and Marketing examination is a two month process designed to uncover what about your business and marketing is working, what’s not working, and give you a sense of what your customers are thinking and create solutions to be more profitable.

The results can be amazing! Amazing for such a simple and fast process that is. You’ll hear many things you already know, but just haven’t done anything about.  You’ll also hear some new insights, especially regarding how your customers feel about you and your offerings so you can provide better service and products to them. I'll show you why they don't buy more of your services and products, and how to fix it. The goal of the process is to give you new information and talk about what you can do about it; simple, doable steps that will improve your business and marketing investments.

The process:

I start by interviewing your staff.  I ask your staff questions about their customer perceptions and beliefs, and about your marketing methods and message, both past and present. I find out what they want and need from you to keep them happy and loyal to your salon. What their goals are for the future. These are all important questions because as the owner(s) you need reliable information on where change might be needed and how best to achieve it successfully.

I use telephone and face-to-face interviews from your current customers. I ask them about the process they went through when they selected your salon, about the criteria they used and the concerns/fears/objections that were part of their decision process.  This isn’t a report card on you.  It’s a way to gain information for my recommendations. Why do they or don't they buy you services or products more frequently? Why they come to your salon? Why they don't rebook follow-up appointments regularly. What they really want when they come to your salon, and if you are delivering.

I write up my analysis and recommendation report, and then we have a meeting to brainstorm my ideas about how best to implement the changes that are needed.

I keep it simple and inexpensive. Business and Marketing examinations start at $2,500 and last up to two months.

What you get:

Things to consider 

Business owners call me when they aren’t sure what to do next. I help them figure that out, and help them implement profitable solutions. How? Some owners need to bounce ideas off someone for an hour or brainstorm for a day. Some want a comprehensive marketing plan. Everybody else is somewhere in between. I will work with any budget to help you achieve your goals.

Below are some interesting business concepts that owners often neglect to ask when opening or running a salon. See if any of them apply to you and your salon.

Company Vision
Do you even have one? Are you feeling like you lost your original purpose? Employees don't seem like they care as much as you do? Even if you're just opening a new salon or have been in business for sometime, it's important to have a clear vision, purpose, and strategy for why you, your employees, your customers, and vendors should care about your business.

Logo / Brand Development
Do you feel like the logo or brand image you have could use a tune-up? Customers bad brand design and come to the same conclusion, only about your stylist skills. Bring your visual identity into the present. Remember, brand image is based on the customer perception of the brand, not what you think the brand means.

Product Line Selection
Lost as to which product lines are aimed at which target market? Let's make sure that the right products are on your shelves (and selling quickly). If you have an established product line let's make sure your customers are educated about all the benefits, attributes, and cost saving of purchasing your products over competitions.

Software Recommendation
Ok, so you've finally realized that paper book is bad for business and belongs in a museum. But which computer software to replace it with? I'll help you figure out what’s best for YOUR needs. If you have already integrated a software platform into the salon but have not used it to its full capability I'll help you get the most value out it. I can help you turn your software investment into real value for you, the salon, and your customers. 

Employment & State Board requirements
From employee manuals to board violations, I will help you navigate the convoluted waters of state board requirements and avoid violations to make sure you stay out of trouble and in business. What you don’t know might hurt you.

Gift & Loyalty Programs
Looking for a way to retain more customers, reward those who refer new ones, and many other innovative marketing vehicles? I make it easy, and keep it affordable as well. Incentivize your staff to motivate more sales. Make ever employee care as much as you do through empowerment, responsibility, accountability, and a fair reward program. 

Retail Therapy
Wondering why your products don't sell? Employees shy about doing a "hard sell"? There are solutions to these problems. I help you create processes that ensure that customers WANT to buy your products. Do you know about relationship selling?

Receptionist Bootcamp
The reception desk is should be a customer's first and last contact in your salon. Bad manners or procedures will drive customers away. Good reception desk make customers want to come back and buy more of your services and products. Turn your front desk into a profit center.

Brainstorm Marketing
Need to stand out from the crowd of salon ads or just plain ran out of ideas? Get some new ideas on how to reach (and keep) new customers.

Hot Web Sites
Need to step your salon up with a website? Customers do associate how you present yourself to how you perform services. Take control of your image on the web, keep it fresh more easily, and make it look like the pro that you are. I can help you set one up on the cheap or assist you in getting a top of the line designed website, whatever your budget constraints. 

Online Marketing You've got a good website going, now you need people to go there. That's where search engines optimization (SEO) comes in; because that’s how most everyone ( if they use a computer) will find you. Can your customer Google you? Are you Twittable? Can they become a fan of your salon's Facebook page? And if they can what do they find, is it value? Does your current internet technology create the consumer behaviors you desire?

Press Relations
Spending hundreds to thousands on print and radio ads and not seeing the return on your investment? There's a better way: Get in the eye of the news media; be in the paper or magazines and guess what? Its all free, if you know what you're doing.

Salon Radio
Want to turn the background music into a sales tool? Turn up the profits (and the fun) with in-salon jingles; custom music line-up; and in-salon advertising.

Recruitment and Hiring
Stumped as how to get new staff? Don't have time for lengthy interviews and searches for the perfect fit? I'll teach you to hire the best and dump the rest!

Employee Relations
Afraid that your staff will just walk out on you soon? Be loved. Let's develop company policies, procedures, and programs that create a truly enjoyable environment where your employees look forward to coming to work every morning.

Employee Orientation
Do you keep losing the new employees? Want to get them started on the right foot? I help you effectively integrate the "new" employee with your salon culture while setting the tone for expectations with the first step. 

Salary and Benefits
What should be fair compensation? Don’t give away the farm! I help you design an employee salary, benefits, and incentive plan that works for everyone.

Staff Motivation
Does your staff seem to not care as much as you do? Let's face it, they never will, but they should care at least a little more than they do now. I can work with you to find out what's lacking and help motivate them. Happier employees means more productive employees creating more sales.

Staff Training and Development
Does everyone seem to do everything their own way, creating confusion for customers and everyone else? Invest in devising procedures everyone agrees on.

Industry Contacts
Because I speak to many people in the beauty industry regularly, yep! that's right, I become a very good networking and industry trend resource for you. If you need an industry contact, I may know them or know someone who does, if no one I know knows them I will make it my business to find out who does. That's one of the benefits of being one of my clients.   

I work best with salons that:

• Want to deliver quality service to their customers
• Have a well defined target market  of customers
• Have employees who care about customer service
• Have employees who want to make more money by selling your products 
• Have a unique story

You’re this far into the page because something I said has struck a chord. Call (949-903-4805) or email me right now, while you’re thinking about it. I hope I hear from you. Remember, you can’t expect different results unless you try different solutions.