Draw up a budget. Calculate how much you can afford to spend on making your own product line and how long it is likely to take you to recover your investment. Avoid the trap of ending up with bills you didn’t expect for the product or the labels.
Do your market research. Find out how much stores and other salons charge for their hair care line. Ask your customers if they would buy your hair product line, and how much they would be willing to pay for the items to get a feel for the prices you might be able to charge.
Experiment with the products you want for your line. Contact different hair product suppliers and find out what they have to offer and how much the supplies cost. Ask if they have trial sizes and try them on your customers to see which ones they prefer.
Design your own label. If you are artistic, see what you can come up with for a logo or font that makes a statement about your business. You may want to include a picture of yourself or the salon on the label so customers associate it with you.
Start small. Rather than stocking everything from hairspray to mousse, pick the products – shampoo for oily hair and conditioner for dry hair – that clients are most likely to buy. As the interest in your line grows, add more products.
Organize the logistics. Ordering the products – complete with your product line label – may be more efficient both in terms of time and money than filling them yourself.
Have a product line launch. Invite the press and your customers to come for coffee and cake. Make an announcement about what you have on offer and cut a ribbon to officially launch your product line.
Tips
Get small sample bottles to give your regular customers. Mark it on their clients cards and ask them what they thought of your product the next time you see them, as it may inspire them to buy a regular size.
