Saturday, December 31, 2011

What will YOU do different in 2012?

Get Engaged 

What are you going to do different in 2012? 

It's a new year, and a new start. It's a time when we can dream big and set our sights on how we want our business to look one year from now. So what are you going to do differently in 2012 to make it your best year ever? Unless your long-term vision is for your business to look exactly like it does right now, you need to start doing things differently. It's time for new ideas, new systems and a new future for you, your team and your business. Strategies can help you get there with the most respected business seminars in the beauty industry.
Get engaged - Get re-energized - Get to work!

Extraordinary Guest Services - February 5 - 6, 2012 - Centerbrook, CT
This two-day seminar will inspire guest services staff to focus on efficient booking, up-selling, customer satisfaction and productivity.  Your guest services staff are the first and last point of contact for every client visit. They have an immense responsibility over the success of your business. Give them the tools they need to succeed! 

Topics include:
  • How to develop and use scripts to ensure results.
  • Efficiently selling service hours.
  • Dealing with difficult situations.
  • Converting client needs into booked appointments.
  • Improving communication with colleagues and clients.
  • Understanding how they impact overall salon/spa growth.
Tuition: $575 per person
 Register Now Button 

Get Found Online! - February 26-27, 2012 - Austin, TX
Whether you're an experienced social networker, or starting from scratch, this hands-on workshop will introduce you to a wide array of tools and techniques that will help you get the most out of your online and social media efforts, while streamlining your processes. The result? Your business becomes more visible, bringing new customers to your door and helping to retain loyal clients!   
  • What is Inbound Marketing and why your company should use it?
  • How location-based social media can generate more traffic.   
  • Introduction to RSS Feeds
  • Establish measures to convert internet leads to sales.  
  • Developing strategies for extending your web reach.  
  • How to optimize your website ranking with Search Engine Optimization. 
  • Introduction to blogging: Understanding the importance of blogging, how to do it and how to leverage SEO through blogging.   
Tuition: $299 per person
Register Now Button 
Strategies Incubator - April 1-4, 2012 - Arcadia, CA
Since 1993, the Strategies Incubator has been the most advanced management development seminar for salons, spas and medspas.
  • Stop flying financially blind. If you can't understand the "story" your financial reports are telling you and/or you don't have a cash-flow plan, it's time to learn.
  • If your service payroll percent is over 30% - 35%, it's too high. If you think it's scary addressing pay - the alternative is even worse.
  • Be a no-compromise leader. Be accountable. Hold everyone to task. 
  • Make everyone responsible for every hour available for sale. Cross sell, up sell, refer waiting list clients to competent team members. Unsold hours in any column on the appointment book hurts everyone.
  • You'll learn all this and more at the Incubator. It's easier than you think!
Tuition: $1,595 for single attendee
$2,195 for two attendees
$695 each additional
Register Now Button 

Hair News Network

Thursday, December 29, 2011

2012: The Year of The Dragon


2012: The Year Of The Dragon


According to the Chinese proverb, “Failing to plan is planning to fail.” This pretty straightforward concept definitely rings true now more than ever at the end of the year.

As a business owner, the next couple of weeks or month is the most critical planning time for your business. It’s a time for you to review what worked and what didn’t work in your business in 2011 so that you can improve upon it in the coming year.

In today’s Main Essay, I share with you a five-step process you can follow so that your business is even more successful in 2012.

In the Check It Out section, you will learn how to take action to prepare your business to become more profitable in 2012.

In the Quick Tips section, you will learn how to remain fit, how to clarify your thoughts, and how to lift your spirits by changing one simple thing.

We hope you enjoy this issue of the Business Thrival Newsletter.
Cheers,
Jynell Berkshire
Associate Publisher
Business Thrival, Inc.
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2012: The Year Of The Dragon
By Jynell Berkshire
According to the Chinese Zodiac, 2012 is the year of the Dragon. The Dragon is the mightiest of all signs symbolizing dominance and ambition. A Dragon is a powerful leader that is driven, unafraid of challenges and willing to take risks. So much so that a Dragon’s passion and enthusiasm can leave a Dragon feeling exhausted.

As a business owner, you too can feel exhausted, especially at the end of another year. As you sit back and reflect on 2011, you think about all that you accomplished and all that you didn’t accomplish. You wonder what you should do to make your business better and more successful in the coming year.

To help you with this, below is a list of 5 key steps you can implement to ensure that 2012 is a boom year and not a bust.

1. Review Your Goals

The first and foremost thing to do is to sit down and go over whether you met your goals. If you have been in business for a short time, did you grow according to what you had planned? If you have been in business for a while, how has 2011 compared to previous years? Did you have more revenue, more customer issues, or more operational complications in running your business?

If you did not create a plan, then do so. You cannot arrive at a specific destination without a plan for getting there. Do not let another year pass you by without getting the things you want in your business.

A great way to do this is to create a checklist setting forth each goal that you want to achieve. Your checklist should include what you want to improve upon, new initiatives to implement, expected outcomes, and your budget for such checklist.

If you don’t have a defined budget, you won’t be able to accomplish each item specified on your checklist. The best way to prepare your budget for 2012 is to review your budget from 2011, which is the next step.

2. Review Your Budget

Taking the time to review your budget can make or break your company in the next year. If you found 2011 to be a difficult year, then ask yourself what your budget aspirations and constraints were.

For example, if you are a newer business, may be you had difficulty in growing to the level that you had anticipated. If you are an established business, you may have had difficulty with expanding your company, such as hiring employees, office space limitations or even new product lines.

Whatever the case, take the time now to create a detailed budget for 2012 to serve as your roadmap. This roadmap will help you to deal with any unexpected issues that may arise.

Once you have created your budget for the coming year, stop and look back at what worked and did not work with your marketing efforts.

3. Review Your Marketing Efforts

Marketing is a key component for any business. We all know that you really never get a second chance to make a first impression, so make sure that the first one counts.

For example, did your brand meet your customer’s expectations? Meaning, if you made a promise, did you deliver? If not, then ask yourself what you can improve upon to make sure that you do so in 2012. Can you automate your marketing?

With technology today, it is easier than ever before to get in front of your customers. From collecting email addresses to sending out discount coupons electronically, to integrating your marketing message with mobile devices, or to using social media to network. By incorporating technology into your marketing strategy, it will help your business to have long-term success.

4. Review Your Social Media

Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, these are the three social media giants today. With millions and millions of users, social media continues to grow and is not going anywhere anytime soon.

So, how much social media presence did your business have in 2011? If the answer is not much, you need to look at how you can utilize social media in 2012.

For example, look at how you can use social media to promote your products or services, to post links to your newsletter, articles you have written or industry news, and to network with others to introduce your business. By using social media, you can quickly and effectively increase awareness about your business, increase traffic to your web site, and reinforce brand recognition, to name a few.

Besides social media, you should also review your web site to make sure it is up-to-date.

5. Review Your Web Site

Often times, web sites become stagnate. You get busy doing other things that you forget to review or even update your web site with current information.

So, take a close look at your web site and ask yourself some of these pertinent questions:
- Do all of the hyperlinks work?
- Is all the information contained on your “About” page still relevant?
- Have you optimized your web site with keywords to help Google find you?

If you answered “No” to any one of these questions, then it’s time to take action before 2012 and update your web site.

By implementing these 5 key steps in your business, 2012 will be YOUR year of the Dragon!
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Check It Out

If you plan to make 2012 better than 2011, then now is the time to take action!
It’s time to look at hundreds of ways to increase your sales to make your business profitable…
It’s time to advertise you business in lots of different channels…
And, it’s time to learn about 25+ free and inexpensive ways to market your products or services where millions of people shop every day.

So, DON’T wait – Watch this short presentation NOW!
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Look What Others Are Saying

Hope you both had a Merry Christmas and hope you have a profitable New Year! Denise, I just read your post on the 2th and I really like to say how sorry I am about your house fire. Hope no one was injured! My daughter and were just discussing how horrible to lose personal items would be especially pictures.

Very nice post on achieving goals! Hope to get some new sites up and running and it always helps me to set a deadline date, so as to pace myself and feel as if I am getting something accomplished. Thanks for your thoughts!
J.B.
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Quick Tips
Body:
Are you making bold resolutions on January 1st to “eat more healthy”? If so, then stop and think small. Trying to reach any diet goal does not happen overnight. Create a weight loss plan and work towards your goals every day. Before long, any excess weight will be gone.

Mind:
Creating a list to clarify your thoughts, resolve any problems or to generate ideas is good for your mind. For example, take a blank piece of paper and draw two columns. In the left column, write down any specific issues or question you have. Then in the right column beside each issue or question, write your answers. This not only helps you to become better organized, but provides you with a checklist to hold yourself accountable.

Spirit:
Not everyone finds the holiday season to be a joyous occasion. In fact, the holidays can be depressing and extremely stressful. So much so, that you may become irritable and grumpy. Don’t let this happen to you. A quick way to improve your mood and to lift your spirits is to surround yourself with people who have a positive attitude.


Hair News Network

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

2012 Stars Photo Competitions: Enter Now


Enter the 2012 STARS Photo Competitions!

HAIR, MAKE-UP & FASHION for the PROFESSIONAL.
STUDENT & NAIL competitions too!


GET THE RULES, REGULATIONS & ENTRY FORMS NOW !

Show your creativity and win great PRIZES , including cash, educational opportunities and runway recognition!

NEW THIS YEAR! Professionals* may enter All Three Hair, Makeup & Fashion Categories For a Chance to Win The Leo Passage Gold Trophy! Cosmetologists Chicago celebrates the life of Pivot Point founder Leo Passage – a member, hairstylist, entrepreneur, international competitor and dear friend; Cosmetologists Chicago will annually award The Leo Passage Gold Trophy to the top cumulative winner in the Stars Photo Competition. Crafted after the prestigious Original Gold Trophy of Cosmetologists Chicago's Midwest Beauty Show®, The Leo Passage Gold Trophy will be engraved with the name of each year's winner and at Pivot Point headquarters. Each Gold Trophy recipient will receive a replica of the trophy plus $1,000 and Cosmetologists Chicago Lifetime Membership!

DEADLINE All entries must be received by Friday, January 27, 2012

FEES (per entry)

Professional Competition (3 categories to choose from):
$75 for Cosmetologists Chicago members
$125 for non-members

Nails Competition:
$35 for INTA & CC members
$50 for non-members

Student Competition:
$25 for Cosmetologists Chicago student members
$55 for student non-members

*Leo Passage Gold Trophy open only to those entered in all three categories of the professional hair, makeup & fashion photo competition.
Winner's from left to right - Student Competition - Adrian Dime, Steven Papageorge Hair Academy, Chicago,IL; URBAN EDGE - Winner: Chrystofer Benson - Salon Tantrum, South Weber, Utah; RED CARPET GLAMOUR -  Winner: Joanne Hogg - Headfirst Hair Design, Geelong, Victoria Australia; MAKEOVER -  Winner: Katharina Mark & Jessica Line -  Trio Salon, Evanston, IL;  2011 NAIL STARS WINNER- Michelle Sproat, Inspirations Salon, Ontario Canada.

Judges, artists, presenters, times and locations subject to change without notice.
Hair News Network

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