The ShearShare app gets a makeover to help beauty and barbering small businesses address the increasing rates of lost revenue.
As beauty professionals become more independent, relying less and less on the traditional salon model, the industry faces a question: How can it adapt to this shift and keep pace with new work demands? ShearShare—a booth rental app that allows salons, spas and barbershops to list their open chairs and suites for free and pros to rent space to work on demand with no contract or commission—just underwent a rebrand, introducing new features that make it easier than ever to make up for missing revenue. Dr. Tye Caldwell, a 30-year industry veteran and ShearShare CEO, shares more.
How is ShearShare helping the beauty and barbering industry adapt to the changing behaviors of the professionals and clients?
From products to sustainability to tech, it’s important to note that our industry is experiencing radical change. As the second largest industry for independent contractors and freelancers—and growing by 8 percent year over year—we have to recognize that the future of work requires a hybrid approach. Between 2008 and 2012, I started noticing that fellow cosmetologists and barbers were making a shift from commission-based to solopreneurs, deciding to manage all aspects of their small business by themselves, including space to work. And with clients bolting their loyalty to the service provider and no longer the brick and mortar, but also expecting to still be serviced in a professional, clean, sanitized environment near them, there was no tech solution to fill this void. With the new ShearShare app, stylists book the chair of their dreams based on price, location, days they want to work, amenities and more; get guaranteed rental space on demand without the awkward money conversations; and get the freedom and flexibility all small businesses need to grow—minus the headache of upfront capital, commission clawbacks or lengthy leases. Hosts love ShearShare because we help them unlock brand new revenue; connect with local, vetted professionals who have their own clientele; staff up to full occupancy; get personalized analytics to help them stay competitive, and receive automatic, secure payments to their bank account. It’s the new definition of hybrid—designed by you, powered by ShearShare.
What should owners/operators be doing to adapt to these new behaviors?
Staff your weaknesses. There are so many pieces that go into running a successful business—operating expenses, promotion, products, sourcing talent, continuing education—that many owners/operators are constantly working in their business versus on their business. We’re working hard to build a pay-for-what-you-need model that helps run the more mundane tasks like: vetting a new stylist, filling a chair, obtaining liability insurance, selling products, optimizing the revenue a suite is producing, or using our dynamic pricing calculator to figure out how to stay competitive. This way, owners/operators can focus on the more creative aspects of their small business, such as marketing, client appreciation, floor plan and design, product partnerships, etc. In order to meet the autonomy requirements of today’s modern business owner, you have to have an open mind and look at the entire business, not just the client or rent aspect.
What was the motivation for ShearShare’s rebranding?
Our mission at ShearShare has always been to maximize the earnings potential of our fellow industry professionals. During COVID, we took a hard look at what our community needed and wanted and what we were and weren’t fulfilling. That helped us to rethink a few things. The old brand represented barbers and hairstylists only, and the new brand represents the industry as a whole. When you look at the new logo, you’ll notice that the S is a series of connecting lines, representing the often-circuitous path required in this industry in order to be successful. If you scan in a bit, the S resembles a hair follicle, skin under a microscope, a braid, or closeup of a nail. If you scan out a bit from the new logo, you'll notice a fingerprint, which is intentional. That is because ultimately, ShearShare is the support team helping YOU to leave your mark on your clients and on this world. Color-wise, the design went from dark to vibrant, giving us room to express our creative side as beauty pros express their creative side in their daily work. It’s all based on creativity, a heightened level of considered care, connection and growth.
What are some new enhancements?
The new ShearShare app puts the user experience first. The new user flow mimics the mind of the stylist and salon/shop owner. Hosts can onboard themselves, list their empty station or suite right from the app and update their profile or listing whenever they want with almost no effort. Hosts are also able to display the products they sell in their businesses with our virtual beauty supply store. With our dynamic pricing feature, hosts can make sure their listing prices are competitive for their area. Most importantly, we’ve created a host dashboard that helps salon and barbershop owners manage and analyze their business growth and see the revenue they are earning in real time.
Pros have the ability to showcase their portfolio with the in-app profile. We’ve also expanded our rental options to match how stylists want to work, whether by the day or long-term. Pros can also filter their searches by specific amenities, location or price range. There's also in-app message and, of course, our one-of-a-kind usage-based liability insurance.
Tell us more about the insurance component.
ShearShare has partnered with Lloyd’s of London—the No. 1 insurance company in the world—to offer professional liability insurance by the day. We’re the only app that provides an automatic $1,000,000 in liability coverage for salon, spa and barbershop owners at no cost, and our exclusive, $5/day usage-based insurance gives independent stylists instant coverage only for the days they actually work. Little-known fact: Lloyd’s of London also backs Airbnb.
How does the search function help pair professionals with the right salon?
With the new search function, pros type in a city on the ShearShare app and hit “Go.” They can select the day or days of the week they’d like to work, if they prefer renting by the day/week/month or long-term, their licensed specialty (hairstylist, barber, braider, nail tech, esthetician, makeup artist, microblading artist, massage therapist), workspace type (private suite, open station, entire salon/shop), and dozens of amenities. Our new algorithm allows stylists to truly customize their workspace based on what’s important to them. It’s on-demand space for in-demand artists.
What’s your general business advice for salon owners?
An old African proverb says, “If you want to go fast, go alone; but if you want to go far, go together.” At the end of the day, we’re a community of #stylistssupportingstylists. Even if it’s not a ShearShare-sponsored meetup or webinar, try out a local event or virtual demo to learn what’s working for your peers and what’s not working. Take advantage of our online business library filled with hundreds of free resources and our in-app messaging to connect with like-minded professionals, read what other pros are experiencing, and identify hidden gems in people and places. But also chat with other members to understand the alternating ups and downs of this industry. The day-to-day challenges in New York versus South Dakota are particularly different, but the solutions could be the same. And don’t be afraid to ask for help. During the COVID lockdown, we stepped in to help 150-plus of our community members keep their small businesses open by getting them approved for PPP funds after these solopreneurs had been denied. Use a trusted network like ShearShare for information and help. #communityovercompetition