Whether you have one salon or 20, consistency is key to creating and maintaining a successful brand.
Your brand is everything you do as a company and needs to be represented by each and every member of your team. Creating consistent standards within your salon or salon group means ensuring every team member is aware of what’s expected of them, and of the brand values they are representing and upholding.
Here are some ways you can make sure your whole team is on board with your brand values:
· Have a company handbook and make sure everyone reads it. A company handbook outlines everything that is expected of your team, from punctuality, client service, how they present themselves and how they interact with other team members. It’s also where you should put down in black and white the core values of your brand.
· Hold regular team meetings. Monthly team meetings are a great way for everyone to chat about how they have represented the brand during the previous four weeks and for you, the manager, to draw attention to any ways you feel the team could change the way they are doing things to better represent their brand. It’s also a good time to give a shout out to any team members you feel have gone above and beyond in flying the flag for the brand. This makes them feel good and valued and instils the importance of upholding brand values into other members of the team.
· Get all your salon teams together. If you own a salon group, at least once a year hold a company day where all the salon teams come together. Use it as a chance to talk to everyone about how the company is progressing, give special mentions to the brand heroes from across the group – maybe in the form of an awards ceremony – and talk about how you want the brand to move forward, with their help. This is a great way of making everyone feel involved in the evolution of the brand and feel a pride in upholding standards.
· Hold one-to-one meetings. Some things are better said in private. One-to-one meetings are the best way to chat to individual team members about their performance, their personal goals and also offer support in areas where you feel they need development. Creating a team of skilled and motivated individuals is key to the growth and continuity of your brand.