MAKING AN ENTRANCE
First impressions are lasting, so it's important to have the entrance area of your salon set the proper tone. "The entrance is where a client is introduced to a salon," says Michelle Koster, an interior designer in Takara Belmont's Iselin, NJ, office. "It's all about curb appeal." With Koster's tips, you can draw clients in and keep them happy.
 David Michael Hair Studio, Paramus, NJ |
ATTRACT STREET TRAFFIC. "Illuminate the retail area and strategically place it in the front of the store so the salon will catch the eye of walkers or drivers who pass by," Koster says. "The potential client will be drawn to the store with her mind tempted and curiosity jolted." Takara Belmont creates backlit retail units with LEDs behind acrylic shelving, which give a glow to the products and make the area stand out.
CONTROL FRONT DESK TRAFFIC. Busy salons can have chaotic reception areas, so it's important to utilize design elements to establish a sense of order. Koster recommends creating specific lanes for each receptionist by using a piece of glass, a metal shelf or an opening to separate their workstations. This will help clients know where they should go when it's their turn.
ENCOURAGE PERSONAL SPACE. Many of Koster's clients remark that their customers complain about people sitting too close to them in the seating area. Koster suggests sectioning cushions with a raised cord wrapped in fabric along each upholstery seam and placing a button tuft in the middle of each back cushion. "These techniques actually separate one seat from the next, creating an imaginary denoted space," she says.
For more information, visit takarabelmont.com —L.M.