Planning for you and your beauty business in 2023

Salon & spa consultant Helena van der Vyver shares her tips on how to start the process of planning for the year and what the roll-out should look like

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Preparation is never wasted. In the beauty industry, however, this often lacks as so many owners work within the business itself or have other businesses that they need to attend to. They are thus challenged to prioritise working on the operational aspects of their business and preparing for the year ahead through proper planning. We all have varied personalities and weaknesses that can limit us. For instance, there are the over-thinkers, the procrastinators, the perfectionists, those who fear failure, and others who are poor at admin.

So, I hope that the following information will empower you to be strong and brave enough to plan your business year to do better, rest more, and actually enjoy what you do.

Your business plan doesn’t have to be overly complex, but it does need to be organised and give you a framework to map out the year.

“Do yourself afavour and learn all you can. Then remember what you learn and you will prosper.”

Remember that it is crucial to invest both in yourself as well as your team.

‘Wheel of Life’

It is important to access your personal ‘Wheel of Life’ and to look at the eight areas of your existence in terms of where you are, and what you want to focus on so as to grow in 2023. The eight areas are: 1. Personal Growth 2. Family and friends 3. Finances 4. Health & Wellbeing 5. Romantic Relationships 6. Career and Life Purpose 7. Confidence and Self-image 8. Happiness and Creativity

Once you have identified the main one-to-three areas for growth, be very specific what action/s it will require and book dates (or set timelines) to ensure they form part of your year.

For example, let’s say I want to grow my career and life purpose, then what am I going to do differently and specifically this year? The answer: I will schedule a full day per month and spend it in a remote setting where I can write, study or strategise. In addition, I will set myself up for specific exposure in term of engagement, which I’ve never done before and in an area in which I want to grow.

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Eat and exercise

This is so crucial for us in order to operate energetically and be consistent in our day-today work. Be practical in terms of how you can eat better. This can mean the following: eat more regularly, drink more water, eat healthier options, drink less alcohol, eat less sugar, opt for more clever carbohydrate options, drink less carbonated water, aim for 100gram protein goal per day, and/or doing meal preparations, etc.

Exercise helps us to cope better with stress and sleep better. Decide what it is you want to achieve. Be more consistent in terms of exercising; build muscles, increase your fitness, and perhaps opt for swimming or Pilates/ stretching as these are more calming forms of exercise. Other suggestions are to join a grit class at the gym to be more social, or to go on a nature hike monthly to get fresh air and inspiration, etc.

Knowledge

If we only have the same knowledge this year as that of 2022, then we are moving backwards. In which areas do you want to grow your knowledge? Where will you gain this knowledge, i.e., through training, google, people, books, a mentor, etc.?

“Enthusiasm without knowledge is not good… He who hurries with his feet acting impulsively and proceeding without caution or analysing the consequences misses the mark. “-King Solomon (Proverbs)

Socialising + spirit

Covid-19 left us with a craving to be more social. So, how will you restore the social aspect of your being this year? Will you go to social events, invite friends/family for a meal, or engage in some other activities?

We are also spiritual beings. What will you do on a daily/weekly basis to feed your spirit? Will it be meditation, readings, prayer, fellowship, journaling, spiritual books, etc.?

The ideal client

Acquiring new clients continually and retaining these new clients, as well as looking after existing clients, is key in business.

Do you know who your ideal client is? Or do you just take any client to ensure income, often driven by the fear of not being able to pay the bills. It is key that you start identifying who your ideal client is. What does she do, what is her budget, how much time does she have, does she respect my business boundaries, does she appreciate my service, does she refer clients to my business, does she buy home care products from my business and not online, etc.? These are a few questions to consider as a way of categorising your ideal clients in order to grow them specifically.

Thank you’s

Gratitude opens doors and keeps us humble. How do you show this towards your clients? Do you have a thank you aspect to your annual birthday celebration, or with the Christmas season? A hand-written card goes a long way. This can be given to a client in her birthday month, if not all clients, then at least your regular clients.

Loyalty

So many businesses reward loyalty these days that it has become a general expectation of your clientele. I believe you can give up to 5% back. Decide what you want to grow and reward purchases based on that. It’s always best to give back in treatments through loyalty rewards.

Reviews

Do you have an easy platform for clients to post reviews and do you ask clients to review your business regularly? Word of mouth is still the most powerful marketing tool and when this appears online, it is doing your marketing while you sleep, which is obviously the best possible scenario.

“Get all the advice you can, and you will succeed; without it you will fail.”

In terms of planning better in 2023, make sure you detail, set dates and action everything. Start with less actions rather than more, but do get them done. You can always add more actions with time. Start with those actions that will impact what is most important to you and enjoy them.

Helena van der Vyver has been a beauty business coach for almost 10 years. Her 30 years’ of beauty industry specific experience sets her on the level of ‘Beauty Industry Titan’. Van der Vyver coaches aesthetic doctors, beauty/hair salons, spas, brands as well as non-beauty entrepreneurs, having herself gone through the ranks of beauty therapist, assistant manager, manager, operations manager and entrepreneur. Email info@1nespa.co.za