Sally Glover is sales and marketing manager at software company Salon Genius, in charge of business development opportunities, planning and developing marketing opportunities. This week she brings she’s breaking the fundamentals of salon and spa management

1. You’re not a bank

When managing a salon or spa, it is important to remember that they are not corporate environments. As a manager of your salon or spa, always keep this in mind as many therapists like freedom and to express their creativity, so implementing corporate rules and regulations can have a negative impact and cause problems for a manager.

2. Get everyone on the same level

Keep in mind how many staff you have working for you. Spas and salons will employ different people with different skills and techniques, however, with training and guidance, you should be able to ensure that every person you employ has the right skills to meet all of your customer’s needs.

3. Get the customer service right

While looking after your staff is key to the successful running of your salon or spa, your customers are equally as important, because if you don’t have them, then you don’t make a profit. Managing your clients’ expectations, experiences and feedback will enable you to provide a great service, meaning they will stay loyal and return.

4. Understand what your clients want

Effective marketing is very beneficial to the running of your salon and to keep your customers returning, but remember to really know your audience and the best way of reaching them. For some of your clients, it isn’t always about getting a bargain – when marketing spa services, it’s important to make the right pitch to the right people by understanding what motivates them.

5. Stay on top of stock

Finally, while effective salon management of people is key, don’t forget other factors that can have a big influence on the running of your business, such as stock. By researching and keeping track of what products your customers purchase, this means you won’t have excess merchandise you need to get rid of at a cheaper price you bought it for.