The summer months can be slow for stylists—but they don’t have to be! Joico Celebrity Colorist George Papanikolas has an enviable pool of A-list clients at Andy LeCompte Salon in Southern California, and he knows how to thrive in a competitive hair environment and keep the clients coming through the door no matter what the season! One of his suggestions for boosting your color profits this summer: think year-round. “Discuss highlights in summer months and lowlights once the temperatures dip. Knowing there’s a strategy in place will keep clients excited about coming back for seasonal adjustments,” George says. And color is just the beginning. “Be sure you’re offering seasonally-adjusted add-on services and products, too, like extra conditioning and sun-protection for summer strands and moisture-replacement in the coldest, weather-stripping times of year,” he says. Enter to WIN a Joico K-PAK Color Product Set—50 Winners Chosen at Random!

Flowers die, candy is fattening and she already has way too many scarves. What moms really love is personal services—the National Retail Federation says $1.2 billion was spent on service-based gifts in 2011. And guess what?! It just so happens you’re IN the personal service business and Mother’s Day is right around the corner. As a final push, make sure your whole team is on board to sell gift certificates and product and service packages to those last-minute shoppers. Encourage each team member to strike up a conversation with their clients about Mother’s Day, letting them know the salon has gift certificates and unique gifts available. Your phone’s “hold” message can even say something like, “Forgotten about mom? We haven’t! Salon ABC has plenty of gift certificates and packages available, so stop in and pick one up soon!” Speaking of packages, put together some “just for mom” service options like the “New You” package which may include a mani/pedi, facial and a hair extension application. Learn how you can add new service options to your menu with Great Lengths!

Reaching “Sam Villa-level” success doesn’t happen overnight, and it doesn’t come without a lot of hard work, dedication and preparation. One way Sam Villa preps for a photo shoot or to learn a new technique is by creating a mood board. Want to create one of your own? Start by jotting down key points, ideas and concepts on a piece of paper. Flip through inspirational magazines like Italian Vogue, V and BOMB and rip out images relating to your idea. Remember, there are no boundaries, so tear out anything that evokes a feeling or inspires you. Edit the visuals down to those you find most appealing and that relate to the subject. Affix them to a board with Prestik, a reusable glue that allows you to change or move images without tearing them. Attach key words or phrases to your board. When the board is complete, brief anyone involved in your photo shoot or project so they can prepare. Post the mood board somewhere you can see it, start the shoot or session with a review, then refer back to it regularly to stay on point. Get FREE video how-to tips from Sam Villa!

Chipped paint. Stained furniture. Dollar-bin prints of flowers in fields. You can tell when your salon needs help—but you don’t need to do a style overhaul to spruce up your space. Here are three easy ways you can breathe new life into your salon with minimal effort, from the pros at Takara Belmont:

Just add paint: It’s easy and inexpensive to add a splash of color to a wall! Don’t want to paint an entire wall? Try a strip of color instead. Pick a color that complements your decor and paint a thick band ¾ of the way up the wall.

Musical chairs: Need new styling chairs? Consider chairs with removable upholstery. They give you the freedom to change colors and easily update if your furniture is stained and dingy.

Business in bloom: There’s nothing like the look and perfume of a gorgeous bouquet of flowers. Hire a local florist to design arrangements for your front desk every week or two. Exchange bundles of business cards and refer clients to each other (especially those bridal clients!)—it’s a win-win.

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If your color business isn’t as…well…colorful as you’d like it to be, try hosting a color-a-thon! Cut-a-thons have long been a great way to generate new business, raise money for a good cause and put your salon on the map, and according to Paul DiGrigoli, salon owner and author of Booked Solid: The Ultimate Guide to Getting and Keeping Clients, color-a-thons are equally effective. “They not only benefit the community,” he says, “they’re a wonderful training ground for newer team members like assistants and junior colorists.” For a smooth color-a-thon event, Paul recommends designating a master colorist to oversee and coach the new stylists. Limit offerings to single process color services. “If clients are looking for foils, highlights, lowlights or corrective color, offer to schedule the service for them on another day,” Paul says. He also recommends offering the color-a-thon services at a highly attractive price point; at his events, he charges $20-$25. Win a FREE Keratin Complex It’s a Blonde Thing Lightening System!

Q: How can I motivate the younger members of my staff and help them establish a solid work ethic? At the same time, how do I make sure the “veterans” don’t get stuck in their ways?

Tabatha says: Such a great question! It all boils down to building a culture. Bringing like-minded people into your salon will make your business successful. Start at the interview by asking relevant questions to determine if the candidate is a good fit. I ask questions like, “What makes you happy about being a hairdresser?” or “Why do you want to be a hairdresser?” If someone can’t answer those questions, I know they may not be very serious about their career. Young stylists want to learn, to get their hands dirty. Keep them motivated by constantly teaching them. With your “veteran” staff, you must never compromise your rules. Stay on top of everyone. Delegate work. Communicate clearly. Rattle cages. To find out what really motivates your staff, conduct monthly meetings and discuss their goals. If they’re unsure, help them set goals. Help each person find the right career path. Engage the younger staff members in particular with education and creative opportunities. Do simple photo shoots. Participate in a cut-a-thon. Discuss the type of mentorships they need. Pair senior and junior staff to promote mentoring relationships. Get out into the community and get your staff involved in rewarding projects. If your culture values education, involvement, creativity and personal growth, people will work hard and be engaged, no matter how many years they have been in the business! Register for TONI&GUY 2-Day Classes!

To keep your business running like a well-oiled machine, it’s important to create a culture of rebooking, says UK salon owner and educator Antony Whitaker. “Never say, ‘Do you want to rebook?’ The answer will almost always be no, so don’t bother!” Here are four things you SHOULD say to get your clients to rebook on the spot:

1. “I would love to cut your hair again.” Remember, it’s about building relationships, so tell her you enjoyed seeing her. Make her feel wanted and appreciated.

2. “You hair will need a cut in six weeks.” Don’t assume she knows how long her haircut will last or when her color will need refreshing.

3. “I get booked up often in advance.” If possible, anchor an event as to why she should rebook, e.g. you’re going away, the salon is closing for work, etc.

4. “I notice you like coming in on a Wednesday afternoon. I suggest you book your next appointment now so you’ll get the day and time most convenient to you.” The emphasis is on accommodating her needs.

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BTC Facebook Fan Danielle recently asked about an early morning bridal party she had on her books that turned into a no-show. “The morning came and went, and they didn’t show up,” she says. “Later that day, I happened to check my email and discovered they had sent an email the night before saying they wouldn’t be coming. I don’t check my emails frequently—is this an acceptable way of canceling an appointment?” Jason Stiller, co-owner of Tres Jolie Salon in Minneapolis, says you must be proactive when running your business and keep clients accountable. “At Tres Jolie, it’s made very clear at the time of booking that we require a 24-hour cancellation. We secure a credit card number to assure we’ll be compensated if such an event should occur,” he says. “Upfront, clear communication is key so no one assumes anything.” However, he does contend that if the bridal party cancelled 24 hours ahead via email, and you neglected to check your emails in a timely fashion, the mistake was yours, not theirs. “That said, any salon needs to weigh the pros and cons of every situation,” Jason says. “Sometimes we have to bite our tongues and smile and do what’s best for guests to keep them coming into our doors.” In the market for new salon software? Receive special pricing on Millennium!

BTC Facebook BFF Marie Lockwood Phillips from Mar-Miss Hair Salon in Magnolia, DE has a problem with clients who don’t tip accordingly, a practice that is affecting her income. George Stockman of Showoffs Hair Salon in Connellsville, PA, feels Marie’s pain and offered this advice: “We have little sealable envelopes that are stamped ‘Please accept this gratuity in appreciation of a job well done’ and they’ve helped to increase client tips.” According to the pros at Salon Swipe, it’s important to have a simple system in place to allow for tips, which should generally average between 10 to 20 percent of the service fee. Assuming your annual income is $35,000, client tips could add about $7,000 to your pay. Imagine losing that income because you don’t have a system for collecting tips! An easy way to ensure the largest tip possible, they say, is to accept credit cards. If you’re not accepting credit cards because your clients are “trained” to bring you a check or cash, you’re likely limiting the percentage of tip you receive. Studies show that if a client can tip using a credit or debit card, he or she will typically tip a greater percentage and also purchase more services! Get a FREE credit card reader and app when you sign up for Salon Swipe!

What’s 15 minutes to you? It’s a phone call to a friend. It’s a commute into work each day. Or even the time it takes a frozen pizza to develop the perfect crispy crust. Fifteen minutes can also be your chance to improve your life and your business, says Alan Austin-Smith, salon business expert and author of the “Fantastic Hairdresser” book series. “I’ve always felt I should read more,” he says. “But I got bored with learning books and rarely finished them. I also always had the excuse that so many people have: ‘I don’t have the time.’” So Alan set a goal for himself. “I would read a learning book for a minimum of 15 minutes a day.” When you do the math, that’s 90 hours a year—a lot of learning for someone who had no time! The beauty of the system, says Alan, is that it breaks your learning into small chunks. “It’s not always possible to concentrate for much longer than 15 to 20 minutes. It’s also a fact that we remember more from the beginning and the end of a learning session, and less from the middle,” he adds. If you read for an hour, there’s a huge chunk of time you might find difficult to recall. Reading for 15 minute sessions will not only increase your concentration, but you’ll find you remember more of what you’re learning. “Anybody can find 15 minutes,” says Alan. “Try it. It will change the level of information you take onboard dramatically. And it will change your life!” Now, learn 10 ways to get your gang to meetings!