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The Power of Networking: How to Connect with other Salon Suite Owners and Grow Your Business

When you think of “networking,” you might think of businesspeople gussied up in suits looking to build their careers in finance or similar avenues. But networking isn’t just important on Wall Street - it’s just as critical to the success of your salon suite ownership.

Whether you’re new to the world of networking or need some new ideas to network, this article can help. Below, you will find a comprehensive guide on networking as a salon suite owner to grow your business.

We’re not only sharing the top tips and tricks for successful networking, but we’re also exploring why it can be such a valuable tool—in the short term, long term, and everywhere in between.

Benefits of Networking Within the Salon Suite Community

Networking is an integral part of salon suite ownership and success. But if you haven’t yet ventured into this side of salon suite ownership, you might wonder if the extra time and effort are truly worth your while. Well, here are the top four reasons why networking needs to be a part of your routine as a beautypreneur:

Knowledge Sharing:

As a beauty professional, you likely have many areas in which you consider yourself an “expert.” Yet, you may have just as many areas you’re not. Networking can connect you with other beauty professionals who can share valuable techniques, trends, and practices, whether showing you the latest and greatest way to do an ombre hair color or new marketing and client retention ideas.

Business Growth:

Networking with other beauty professionals opens up the doors for potential business growth. That’s because salon owners can recommend each other for services they don’t provide. For example: if you’re a hairstylist and you network with a nail artist, they will likely share your info with clients looking for a top-notch stylist to get their hair done. In return, you can recommend the nail artist for those seeking beautiful nails. In this situation, every beautypreneur wins!

Collaborations:

This goes hand-in-hand with business growth, but in this situation, it’s acquired through collaborations rather than referrals.

How does this work?

It’s pretty simple, really. We can use our last example: if you’re a hairstylist networking with a nail artist, you can collab to create special promotions, events, or service bundles to attract more customers and boost revenue. For instance, you can make a bundle including a haircut, style, and manicure for 25% off the total value.

Cost Savings:

Yes, networking can even lead to cost savings. One of the most common ways is to network with other beautypreneurs and order tools and products in bulk. Most stores offer hefty discounts on large orders, leading to lower output costs. This can mean big things for your pocketbook at the end of the year!

How to Find Networking Opportunities Within the Salon Suite Community

There’s no denying that networking can be advantageous to your salon suite ownership success. But how do you find these networking opportunities? Don’t worry - although the term “networking” might sound complicated or overwhelming at first, it’s actually quite simple. However, in any of these opportunities, you’ll need to put in a decent amount of time and effort to be triumphant.

Here are some of the top methods for networking as a beautypreneur:

In-Person Events

One of the best ways to network in the beauty industry is to attend in-person events. And while there are many different types of events you can consider, the two most popular and effective options are beauty industry trade shows and conferences.

Beauty industry trade shows allow you to meet and network with beauty professionals of all kinds, which can mean big things for your salon suite ownership. Not only that, but you can contact the trade show organizers about setting up a stand to share your services and sell products, making this a viable option for any salon suite owner. Some salon suite owners may even find their future co-workers at these events!

While trade shows are focused mostly on individuals, services, and products, conferences are geared toward a more generalized look at the beauty industry. Here, you’ll learn insight into upcoming beauty trends, the latest industry research, and more. It’s best to find conferences geared toward your niche, though. For example, as a makeup artist, you’ll want to focus on conferences geared toward the makeup industry.

Aside from learning valuable information, you can also take the opportunity to network with other beauty professionals at conferences, making them a very practical in-person option for salon suite owners.

If you’re new to in-person events and aren’t sure where to start, feel free to join us at the SWFL Leaders Lunch, which is hosted every last Thursday of the month at Cape Christian. All of our members are welcome and encouraged to attend, and the cost is just $20. You can sign up for our December Leadership Lunch here. Keep in mind that although it’s hosted in a church, it is not a religious event. Instead, the luncheon is geared toward businesses in our communities coming together to hear speakers on how we can be better leaders in our communities, jobs, and personal lives. It’s also a prime opportunity to meet with beauty professionals from your current location or surrounding SalonPLEX Suites locations.

Go Next Door

This may sound kind of silly at first, but trust us, it's quick and (very) easy to make connections with other beauty professionals. This is especially true if you’re a salon suite owner within a larger compilation of salon suites, such as the case with SalonPLEX Suites.

All you need to do is go to your next-door salon suite neighbors and introduce yourself. Share what services you offer and how you wish to collaborate. For example, you may ask them to send clients seeking trendy haircuts your way. In exchange, you’ll recommend your clientele to head over to their suite for top-notch massages. You can include recommendation discounts, such as 10% off.

Social Media

Have you ever heard of the “power of social media?” It’s a real thing, and it’s an excellent option for salon suite owners who either don’t have the time to network in person or simply don’t want to (which is perfectly fine if that’s your prerogative).

If you plan to network via social media, there are three leading websites to consider:

Facebook: Facebook contains a plethora of beauty-focused groups for professionals and salon suite owners alike. Joining these groups can connect you with similar individuals as well as provide insight into vendor recommendations, promotional ideas, and so much more.
LinkedIn: LinkedIn is the go-to for those seeking a more professional and businesslike approach. You’ll need to post more on your behalf to get noticed by other beauty professionals, but it’s well worth the work. You can also comment and connect with posts by other professionals and salon suite owners and join helpful groups.
Instagram: Instagram is another great social media site for networking. To utilize this particular site, you’ll need to leverage hashtags, such as #salonsuiteowners, to get the job done. You can also comment on posts and live sessions, participate in challenges, and tag local businesses and stylists.

Virtual Events

Another way to use the internet to network as a salon suite owner is to utilize webinars and virtual events. These allow you to attend and network from the comfort of your home or beauty salon, which plenty of beautypreneurs appreciate. There are countless online events and webinars that occur around the clock - your goal is to stay on top of the latest options and join as many as you can.

Holiday Events

For some, finding local mingling events to network can be challenging. For others, it’s a breeze. Regardless of where you’re at in your networking journey, we can confidently say one thing: the holiday season is the perfect time to get ahead on your networking!

But why?

During the holiday season, plenty of business owners and beauty professionals organize holiday-themed events geared toward attracting new networking opportunities, clientele, and everyone in between.

For example, a local business may put together a mix-and-mingling event complete with delicious Christmas cookies and drinks and adorable decorations to set the mood. All you need to do is attend these events, “mix and mingle” with the crowd, and have a great time—all while networking to your heart’s content!

Effective Networking Strategies to Connect with Other Salon Suite Owners

Knowing where to go is only half the battle; you also need to understand how to appropriately and effectively connect to build networking. Here are six quick tips to create a strong partnership:

Start with a Strong Intro: There’s nothing quite like a first impression; you need to nail it. Your intro should include who you are, your services, and your specialties. Give a clear overview of your skills and what you’re looking for in partnership.
Bring Business Cards: While sharing info like phone numbers is OK, it’s not as professional or memorable as a business card. Ensure you have a professional business card with all your information, name, and contact details. Adding a QR code to your business card can be highly beneficial. These codes link to websites or digital portfolios where potential customers and salon suite owners can check out your work and find important information regarding your services.
Engage on Social Media: If you plan to connect on social media, you’ll still have to work and chat with those you wish to network with. This can be done in many ways, from liking and commenting to sharing and participating in challenges or contests.
Always Follow Up: While your intro is vital to your networking success, a follow-up can really seal the deal. Wait a day or two after the meeting to reach out and send a personalized and professional message.
Have a Digital Portfolio Ready: When networking, other salon suite owners and beautypreneurs will want to see you work before they give the OK to connect. That said, it’s best to have a digital portfolio handy - even if that means a line-up of images on your social media website.

Building Success in the Salon Suite Community

Are you ready to become your own boss and start networking with other beauty professionals to grow your business? Contact us today to get started on your journey! SalonPLEX Suites offers turnkey salons at an affordable price, making your dream of salon suite ownership more accessible and efficient than ever. We provide our salon suite owners with many convenient amenities and perks, including access to our Lead Generation App that sends you new client requests. What are you waiting for? Discover which specials we’re currently running, and get started today!

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