4 Ways to Bring Down Your Insurance Premium | Business Memo

The Consultation Queen: Holly Fairley’s Secret Weapon

After a long, hot summer of sun, salt and styling, many clients return to the salon with hair that’s definitely seen better days. Faded colour. Dry lengths. Thirsty ends. Frazzled fringes. Sound familiar? Holly Fairley (aka @_riohair_) explains why now is the perfect time to remind your clients – and yourself – just how powerful a great consultation can be…

“Consultation is everything,” says Holly, who’s known online for her honest, content-rich approach to client chats. “It’s the moment a client decides if they’re going to trust you with their hair or not. First impressions matter, and they need to feel heard,” she explains.

For Holly, aftercare is never an afterthought; it’s something she weaves in from the very start. “Talking about home care during the consultation helps clients make better decisions,” she explains. “Take summer, for example – the sun, salt water and chlorine can really fade vibrant colours faster than usual. If someone wants a bright red but isn’t ready for the maintenance and aftercare it demands, that’s a chance to redirect the plan. It’s about honesty – helping them understand what their hair really needs to survive and thrive after the summer season.”

Holly tailors her consultations to the person in front of her. “I read body language a lot. Some people know exactly what they want and take control, whilst others need more support, more information. Either way, comfort is key – I need them to feel relaxed and heard.”

One area where Holly keeps things real is retail. “I do find it uncomfortable sometimes,” she admits. “I never want clients to feel like I’m forcing a sale. So, I just speak from experience and recommend what I use myself.”

Her top picks for postsummer repair? “K18 is my goto – I’d never bleach without it! Clients love it too; they always comment on how soft and strong their hair feels afterwards. And I’m all for a good purple shampoo, but it has to be the right one. My absolute fave is Schwarzkopf Professional BLONDME Purple Shampoo – it’s consistent, never patchy, and it feels amazing.”

Ultimately, a great consultation sets the tone for everything that follows, and after a season of sun and styling, clients need your guidance more than ever.

“Remember, great hair doesn’t stop at the backwash, and great advice starts with a conversation.”

4 Ways to Bring Down Your Insurance Premium

Dean Laming, Managing Director at Salon Gold, the UK’s largest specialist insurer of hair salons, simplifies the ways you can get the most from your policy without paying over the odds…

1. Insure All Stock for Its Wholesale Value:
   In the event of a loss, insurers will cover you for the cost to replace your items. Any loss of profits would be covered under the business interruption section of your policy. However, customers often make the mistake of insuring the retail cost of goods, which will increase premiums. Insurers will only pay out on the wholesale price, so get this checked and make sure you’re not paying for cover that you can never claim on.
2. Beware of Under-Insurance:
   Some insurance policies include an ‘average’ condition. Meaning that, if you were to insure your stock for 50% of its value, you will only get paid out for 50% of the claim. For example, if you have a total loss of stock worth £10,000 (wholesale cost), but only insure for £5,000, your claim value will be reduced by 50% if your policy has an underinsurance condition. So, rather than having £5,000 paid out (your sum insured), you will only get £2,500. Instead, you should include ALL items when calculating your stock sum insured.
3. Consider Seasonal Increases:
   Some insurance policies may feature an automatic sum insured uplift around busy times of the year. This means that you can keep costs down by insuring for the average value of stock you will be holding at any one time, safe in the knowledge that this will automatically be increased (at no extra charge) during busy periods. For example, the Salon Gold policy for salon owners includes a 100% seasonal increase for stock. This allows you to hold twice as much stock during November and December, and for 15 days prior to any Bank Holiday.
4. Never Hold Too Much Stock
   The best way to improve cashflow and reduce insurance costs is to only hold as much stock as you need or actively use. Some salons hold huge amounts of stock which does not move quickly, therefore leaving them with cash tied up in products which are not regularly used or sold. To avoid this, keep an accurate inventory with regular stock takes and don’t hold stock which doesn’t sell.