The Beauty Box. Diva Studio. Hannah and her Scissors. Each a salon, each very different from the others. And that individuality is one thing that has always fascinated me about this industry. A successful salon business can be a large bustling place or a small intimate hideaway. It can offer many services or just focus on a few. Its decor can be earthy, industrial or luxe, depending on its owner, location and targeted client base. And while there may be differences, salon businesses also share many common challenges, such as marketing, client retention, pricing and education, just to name a few.
 Robbin McClain |
To gain a better understanding of this diverse landscape, we are embarking on a groundbreaking research project: the 2005 American Salon Benchmarking Survey. With your help, we hope to compile the largest body of business information available on salon practices and share this information with you, so you'll be able to compare your salon business to industry norms and ultimately gain a competitive edge.
The information you provide will be confidential—not even I will see it. All data will be compiled by an outside research firm, and we will use the key findings—which will not be attributed specifically to any particular salon—in reports throughout the year. I also promise that you won't have to spend a lot of your valuable time filling this out—the questions are simple and to the point. If you participate, you'll receive a free executive summary of the survey results.
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We can't do this project without you. In order to help us help you, here's what you need to know about participating in the survey:
ONLINE
- Go to
- Log in with the password ASB2005.
- Take the survey online.
- We'll enter you in a drawing to win an iPod Shuffle, iPod Mini or tickets to IBS New York.
HARD COPY
- Look for the survey packaged with this issue in the outer plastic wrapping.
- Complete the survey.
- Fold, tape and mail back using the postage-paid response.
- Include your return address to receive the executive summary and be included in our prize drawing.
I hope you'll take a few minutes to join in and help us create an in-depth look at this ever-changing but always fascinating industry of ours.
—Robbin McClain, Editor-in-Chief
E-mail Robbin at rmcclain@ advanstar.com