21 Reasons to convert to Saks
There’s so much for salon owners to stay on top of these days… customers, staff, training, suppliers, finances, social media, website… the list goes on. Not to mention navigating all-things COVID related. Where to start? And how to fit it all in?
We believe we can provide all the business support and help needed to make life easier for salon owners and business more successful.
There are plenty of reasons why converting your salon to Saks could work for you. Here’s 21 for starters.
1.NO HASSLE NO FEE
There’s NO upfront fee and very little cost to convert. Plus, we’ll contribute to a salon makeover and we’ll be with you every step of the way to ensure a hassle-free, seamless transition. There’s a brilliant launch and ongoing support package too.
Andrew Gunner, who converted his salon in Addlestone says “the best bit about being Saks is the help from HQ. They made the transition quick and painless and continue to be right on it for us. Very reassuring, particularly during these turbulent times.”
2.RECRUITING AND RETAINING TEAM
Having a motivated and loyal team is vital to business growth. However, attracting and keeping the best people can be challenging so you need to be able to offer them more.
At Saks you’ll not only get help recruiting the right team you’ll also be able to reward them with amazing opportunities, from the on-going FREE industry-leading training to the amazing creative opportunities on offer.
3.UNLIMITED FREE TRAINING
Training your team can be hard work, time-consuming and seriously expensive.
Our Creative Director, Luke Pluckrose and Saks Artists lead inspiring, interactive hair training programmes for all Saks stylists and salon owners. This means as part of Saks you’ll be at the top of your game with our signature cutting and colouring techniques and ongoing advanced training. There’s also plenty of business, customer care and management training on offer too. And did we mention it’s all FREE for Saks salon owners and their teams?
Claire Denyer, owner of Saks Kingshill says: “there’s no stone left unturned when it comes to education at Saks; the training inspires and motivates, improves performance and ensures Saks people really are the experts in looking after the customer and all things hair and beauty!”
4.GET CREATIVE
Although salon life can be rewarding and fun, stylists often need more to stay inspired than the day to day demands of the job. They need to be creative and get out of the salon from time to time to feel motivated. Such opportunities are not always easy to come by unless you’re part of Saks.
We’ve got connections a-plenty meaning our people enjoy exploring their more artistic side and session styling skills at glitzy shoots, shows and awards. London, Paris and Milan Fashion Weeks, The Clothes Show, X-Factor, L’Oréal Colour Trophy, Kim Kardashian, Paloma Faith, Priyanka Chopra, stylist to the stars Karl Willet and celeb make-up artists Lan Nguyen-Grealis and Nikki Make-up. Just a few big names and events we’ve been involved with.
Zoe, owner of Saks Newark says: “I love the buzz of salon life and that feeling when your customer loves ‘the look’. My creative and backstage experiences with the Saks Art Team bring an added dimension and have made having my own Saks salon so special.”
5.SNAZZY SALON MAKEOVER
Customers want to spend their time in beautiful, Instagram-able spaces when they have their hair and beauty appointments. As a salon owner it can be hard to know where to start with transforming your salon interior from lacklustre to wow-factor. How can you create a look and feel your customers will love? There’s a lot to it and you’re busy enough right?
We’ve worked with a top interior design agency and done bags of research to really understand what our customers want and create a look that’s unique to Saks. Whether your salon needs a few simple changes, or a major glow up, we’ll sort it.
6.THE BEST BRANDS
Customers are savvy about hair and beauty products and expect their salon to use the best there is. But as a salon owner, how do you know if you’re getting the best quality and prices from your suppliers? How do you know which brands to work with?
We’re precious about who we partner with. After 45 years we’re allowed to be. And we’re over the moon to collaborate with an array of the very best global hair and beauty brands including Cosmedix, Decleor, Elemis, ghd, HD Brows, Jessica Nails, Kerastase, L’Oreal Professionnel, Mii, Nouveau Lashes, Racoon, Redken and Skeyndor.
As part of Saks, you’ll get complimentary education, marketing resources, personalised business support, preferential rates and inspirational events… oh and products to wow your customers.
7.HQ EXPERTS ON CALL
Life as a salon owner is not always easy at the best of times but COVID-19 has brought new challenges and constant change. From sourcing PPE, to accessing financial support and keeping customers engaged while closed. Trying to navigate such tricky times on your own can be daunting. Reason 7 to convert your salon to Saks.
Our dedicated HQ team guides our salon owners every step of the way with expertise in everything from marketing and finance to business and HR. When you join Saks you’re not alone and there is always someone to turn to even in the toughest of times.
Anna Clinton is the owner of Saks Sedbury Hall and says: “Being part of a group of likeminded people during these times it is a huge comfort. It’s good to know I have support from our HQ team and fellow franchisees with their wealth of knowledge and experience. I’m so grateful to be part of such a supportive group of people.”
8.SHARE YOUR JOURNEY
When you run a salon on your own, motivating yourself and your team, creating a fun and exciting place to work and making the business successful is ALL on you. No mean feat. There’s power in numbers and at Saks you’ll be the boss but with all the support you need from Saks HQ and a friendly and professional group of salon owners.
Our Saks family is everything with hundreds of hair and beauty experts across the country sharing the same journey. We work, learn and play together and connect all the time on our private Facebook forums, via Zoom, or in person when allowed. This community spirit is invaluable.
Nikki, owner of Saks Chester says: “Winning Franchisee of the Year at a very challenging time for our industry is fantastic. Being recognised as a salon and a brand to aspire to proves hard work really does pay off! I couldn’t have achieved this without my family, team and fellow franchisees and the gang at Saks HQ with all their support – they’ve been immense at navigating this pandemic for us as well as everything else.”
9.LOVE SAKS APP
When it comes to technology for your salon it can be easy to get left behind. If your salon doesn’t have an app for booking appointments then you could be waiting by the phone for your customers to call when your competitors are literally taking bookings in their sleep. If you’re not making your customers feel special with loyalty rewards then you risk losing them to someone who is.
At Saks you’ll get to use our bespoke Love Saks Booking and loyalty app for your salon. Making it easy for customers to book appointments 24/7, the app also rewards customers for their loyalty with treats which gives treats along the way as customers collect digital stamps for visits.
Simon Folkes owner of Saks Barnard Castle says: “Our Love Saks App is a great way for customers to keep track of their appointments as well as earn rewards. Customers absolutely love it and it keeps us one step ahead of the competition.”
10.ALL THINGS SOCIAL
Social media is not for the faint hearted and lots of salon owners tell us this is an area they feel they need help with. What is a sponsored post? How much should you budget for social media advertising? Which platforms should you be on? So many questions, such little time.
If you’re a social media guru that’s great, if not, don’t worry. We do the hard work, so you don’t have to. From setting up your salon social media channels for you to adding exciting national content with beautiful imagery alongside your own local messages. Helping keep your customers engaged and loving what you do!
11.BEAUTIFUL WEBSITE
Building a website is complicated and even just hosting one is expensive. Not to mention having to update it all the time.
As a Saks owner, you’ll get your own salon website for your salon which is something to be proud of and helps attract the customers you need. We’ll also host and update your website regularly with your latest news, events, offers and team members. Your salon website benefits from being part of the main Saks UK website which attracts lots of traffic to the salon finder – sending more customers your way. So you can leave your salon website in the capable hands of our digital experts and spend more time in the salon.
12.EYE-CATCHING MEDIA SCREENS
If you’re not embracing digital displays in your windows then it will be much harder for your salon to stand out from the rest.
We’ve worked with one of the UK’s leading providers of media screens and created lots of amazing content which is exclusive to Saks salons. You could have a glitzy media screen with a bespoke retail display stand which comes in a range of colours. They’re a great way to maximise salon windows by showcasing what makes your salon special through dynamic, always-on content, which we also provide for you. Media screens will keep your salon looking relevant and help set you apart from your competition. All with the ultimate aim of attracting in customers.
13.FEELS GOOD TO DO GOOD
Linking with a charity partner… other than giving something, is great for business. We’re a proud supporter of The Eve Appeal, raising vital funds for and awareness of gynaecological cancers. Being a part of Saks means you can get involved and shout about the huge amount of money already raised towards our £250,000 target This will really set you apart from the competition – how many local salons can say they’ve helped raise that much for charity?
14.CUSTOMER INSIGHT
Our customers are at the heart of everything we do and making them feel special is our number one priority. As a Saks salon owner, you’d be part of our National Mystery Customer Programme which helps monitor the customer experience levels in your salon and provides tools to help you maximise your customer journey and keep customers coming back for more.
We’ve done bags of research over the years and we know our customers and what they want. EVERYYHING we do is about appealing to her and making our customers look and feel amazing.
15.NATIONAL MARKETING CAMPAIGNS
Saks salon owners get a full national marketing calendar each year which shows the marketing focuses for the year and seasonal campaigns and events. We also provide beautiful national campaign imagery and promotional materials designed and produced by our Marketing team – nothing else like it in your town.
16.THE IT CROWD
We’re tech savvy and have lots of ways to connect with our salon owners via Zoom meetings, Webinars, email and social media and of course phone and in person. We can help ensure that IT is doing what it’s supposed to and making your life as a salon owner easier.
Our salon IT system also has everything you need to manage your salon in one place. It can be accessed via your mobile, laptop or tablet and links to your online booking and digital loyalty scheme too as well as endless possibilities for reporting and marketing templates so you’re ready to go. We’ll get you all set up from day one with training and ongoing support too.
17.MONEY MATTERS
Your finances have never been more important. When you’re run off your feet in the salon it can be hard to keep track of them. If the unexpected happens (such as a global pandemic) there can be a whole world of new financial decisions, paperwork and budgeting to do. Our finance team can support you with all of this including your salon cashflow, sourcing and applying for funding, keeping on top of your money and tracking your performance.
18.BUSINESS KNOW-HOW
Our expert operations team know a thing or two about business and can help you with all aspects of running your salon including business planning, recruitment, HR and suppliers. All that and you’ll get operations manuals, guides and resources as well as regular updates with the team.
19.EXIT PLAN
Even if you are planning to retire or move onto pastures new, it’s worth a chat as we could support your exit plan. Maybe you have someone interested in buying the salon but they’re not sure – working with an established brand could give them the reassurance and the support they need. Or perhaps we can review your business and help you to create a more exciting opportunity.
20.ESTABLISHED BRAND AND VALUES
Creating a brand for your salon is a lengthy process which takes years (or decades) of research and experience to perfect. It’s not an overnight task. But maybe you don’t want to wait that long to give your salon a glossy rebrand and refresh. This is where we come in.
We’ve grown from one hair salon in the north east of England in the 1970’s to award-winning salons all over the place today, with a whole lotta hair and beauty-love and top-notch education along the way. Today, our ethos is simple. We’re here to deliver a special salon experience. Every time. Joining Saks means you will benefit from all of our experience and our tried and tested brand.
21.BETTER TOGETHER
There’s strength in numbers and being part of a bigger brand gives you all the support and guidance you could need not to mention all the fun you can have along the way with a network of colleagues. For us, we get to continue growing our network of expert salon owners and collaborating with like-minded people.
Did we mention there are other ways to own a Saks salon. As well as converting an existing salon you can open a brand-new salon or take advantage of a rare opportunity to takeover one of our existing salons.
Interested? Get in touch and we can talk through how your salon could convert to Saks – no hassle and no fee. Even if you’re planning on retiring or moving onto pastures new as we could support your exit plan.
Call 0845 678 0290 or email collaborate@saks.co.uk to arrange an informal chat via Zoom or telephone.