Taking Radical Responsibility in your Hair Business | Maddi Cook

Owner of Boss Your Salon, coaching platform that supports the industry through business education, masterclasses and the renowned pricing calculator, Maddi Cook sees business through the eyes of the hairdresser. An ally, confidante, teacher and friend, her approachable manner and straight-talking skills are empowering a generation. She’s here to help Pro Hair readers with her exclusive series…

To quote the great Taylor Swift, ‘It’s me, hi, I’m the problem, it’s me.’ I get asked all the time about the state of the hair industry, and usually, it’s from someone looking for backup in blaming something (or someone) for why things feel tough. The usual suspects? Chain salons undercutting independents; self-employed stylists working from home and ‘driving down prices’; the cost-of-living crisis making clients stretch out their appointments longer than ever; the rising tide of non-professional TikTok influencers and DIY box colours being pushed on primetime TV.

Sound familiar? If you’re feeling like the industry is going down the pan, you’re not alone! Sure, there’s plenty to blame, if that’s the route you want to take… but here’s the thing – what’s the biggest factor that determines your success? You. And before you roll your eyes, hear me out!

This isn’t a kick in the teeth, it’s actually great news. It means that, while you can’t control the economy, competition or clients suddenly deciding they’re ‘embracing their greys,’ there’s still a tonne of things you can control…

1. You control your pricing.
   If you’re still charging 2018 prices, it’s time for a rethink.
2. You control your marketing.
   No, you don’t need to dance on TikTok, but you do need to know your ‘rockstar client’ inside out, and effectively articulate the value in what you do.
3. You control your client experience.
   Which, let’s be real, is why people really come back).
4. You control your boundaries.
   Yes, even with that client who ‘can only do Saturdays’ but cancels last minute every time!

So, how do you take back control?

Let’s say you’re feeling down because yet another new stylist has popped up in your area, charging next to nothing for highlights. ‘Old you’ might have had a panic spiral about losing clients, thinking, “No one will pay my prices when they can get a full head for £40!” But the new you? The one taking radical responsibility? They know there are more than enough clients to go around. They take an hour next week to check their numbers and make sure their pricing actually covers profit (not just product costs).

They refresh their social media to highlight their unique selling points, and make it easy as pie for a potential client to find them, to have any burning questions answered and to book in. They stop stressing about what the cheap stylist down the road is doing, because they know their ‘rockstar clients’ aren’t looking for a bargain; they’re looking for the best.

It’s easy to feel powerless in business when you focus on what you can’t control, but the minute you shift that focus to what is in your hands? That’s when things change. So, ask yourself: what is in your control that ‘future you’ will be grateful for? It’s time to take the wheel…

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