Advice
Jun 28, 2024
What Makes Your Salon Unique?

If you’re not sure what makes your salon stand out from the crowd, here are some of the things that make for a memorable salon experience.

Quick Answer

What makes a salon stand out from competitors?

A salon stands out when clients remember the experience as much as the service itself. Consistent customer care, a clear salon identity, and personal touches often matter more than offering the lowest prices. Your team, communication, and client experience are usually what make your salon different.

  • →Define your salon style clearly so clients know what to expect.
  • →Create consistent client experiences across every appointment and staff member.
  • →Focus on your strengths instead of trying to appeal to everyone.

It’s a crazy competitive world out there! Standing out in a sea of other salons can be really difficult. No one wants to run a boring, run of the mill salon. We want to stand out! We want to be memorable! And we want to have a lasting impact on our favourite people – the customers!

Figuring out what makes your salon unique is a really important step in the journey to running a successful business. When you know what makes you unique, you know how to position yourself in the market. You learn how to stop going after the wrong type of customer and how to become the number one choice for your ideal customers.

If you’re not sure what makes your salon stand out from the crowd, these are just some of the things that make for a memorable salon experience. Ask yourself which most closely matches your salon personality…

1. Everyone is a VIP

Your customers are your entire business. If you don’t generate repeat bookings, you’ll soon struggle. Learning to treat every person who comes through the door as a VIP is a great way to make your salon stand out.

And the thing is, anyone could be a VIP these days. You might be a high-end salon helping celebrities get red carpet ready, or you might be a small town salon helping ladies get ready for a Friday night. The arrival of micro-influencers levelled the playing field and made both just as relevant. A local beauty vlogger with 10,000 highly engaged Instagram followers could bring huge attention to your salon.

Anyone who walks through your door has the power to rate or slate your salon. So don’t just reserve the best treatment for the obvious VIPs. By using the right salon software, you can keep track of regular customers and reward them for their loyalty. 

2. Trend-setting services

Do you follow the trends or do you make the trends? Being the only salon in town to offer that crazy new treatment is a great way to expand your research. People might not know your salon, but they know their treatments. And if you’re offering it, you can guarantee more people will flock to your door.

Offering something new and unique also gives you something to shout about on social media. And if you’re the first to offer something, people will always remember you as the home of that particular treatment. This can give you a huge boost in search engines, as you’ll always have a long-standing reputation for offering that service.

And it doesn’t really matter if people lose interest in the trend. What’s important is that your salon is the one that is willing to try something new and daring. Never stop exploring new treatments and new ways to make your customers look and feel great. 

At a Glance

Which option fits your situation?

Option A

Build a specialist salon brand

  • ✓Your salon is known for specific treatments or styling services
  • ✓You want to attract a particular type of client or market
  • ✓Your team has strong expertise in one area of beauty or hair
  • ✓You want clearer marketing and social media messaging
  • ✓You prefer quality-focused pricing over competing on discounts
Option B

Build a reputation for client experience

  • ✓Your salon offers a broad mix of services and appointments
  • ✓You want clients to return because of service and atmosphere
  • ✓Your team focuses on communication and consistency
  • ✓You want stronger client loyalty and word-of-mouth referrals
  • ✓You aim to make every visit feel smooth and personal

3. The instagrammable salon

Two-thirds of 18-34-year-olds will think about the “instagrammability” of a travel destination before booking a trip. It’s no secret that we love sharing our lives with the world, and a trip to a stunning salon is pretty high on the list of things you should definitely share online.

Do you bring out beverages in super adorable teacups? Do you have an awesome mural on your wall? Do you have a giant neon sign that visitors can’t help snapping a picture of? Being an instagrammable salon is now enough to make you stand out from the crowd – own it!

4. The home of the impossible

People love a good time-lapse video on social media. And nothing is quite as addictive as watching incredible stylists work their magic to fix home hair dye gone wrong. How you engage with people on social media can be a unique selling point in itself. Turning these small victories into inspirational videos can be hugely empowering for your salon. 

Rather than joining in with those who might ridicule someone for attempting an at-home balayage, you’re the salon that makes dreams come true. So when someone is having an awful hair day and they think no one can fix it, you’re the port in a storm.

5. Eco-friendly/organic products

There is a whole movement of people turning their backs on single-use plastics and hard to pronounce chemicals. But just because they’re weekend eco-warriors, it doesn’t mean they don’t want to feel special and pampered every now and then.

Finding ways to make your salon more eco-friendly will not only help you to cut down on costs, but it can also help you attract a whole new crowd of fans! Organic and natural hair products are also a huge draw for many people who want to rid chemicals from their lives.

You don’t have to choose one way or another, but you can offer your customers a choice and they’ll absolutely love you for it!

Whatever makes your salon unique, from eco-conscious products to standout service, make sure your booking system reflects that professionalism. With Salon Iris, you can streamline operations and offer a seamless client experience from the moment they book. View our pricing page to find the perfect plan for your salon.

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