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A New Look to Your Salon May Give You the Competitive Edge You Are Looking For. An Indoor Fountain May Be Just What You Need.

You Constantly Give Your Customers a New look, Maybe It’s Time For One Yourself.

Sharon was unsure what she needed to do to help give her business a competitive edge in the seemingly cut throat business of operating a beauty salon in a small university town. It wasn’t like there weren’t enough heads in town that needed a hair cut, an update in styling or a new color on their nails. It was simply that a number of larger franchises had moved into town and it seemed that it was harder and harder to bring new faces into her doors. She had started the salon after college days and, at the time, the demographics pointed that she could likely do pretty well in a town full of young people eager to make a good impression.

She had been right. Seven years ago when she opened her doors she experienced phenomenal success for a young stylist ready to make it on her own. She still knew she gave the best value for the dollar in town for the services she provided but it was hard to compete with a well known franchise name that had the money behind them to move into and build in some of the prime real estate locations. With the transient nature of a University Town she was constantly loosing clients as they moved on to their next stage in life and as the new students arrived it was harder to get their attention with the added competition of the larger franchise competitors.

Sharon knew that the experience she provided their client was one of the best in town. Her prices were reasonable but not as low as the some of the larger chains. However, the customer experience was really not comparable either. She needed to set herself apart.

Because Sharon was passionate about running her business and not just about helping women feel better about their appearance, she began to explore her options in how she could distinguish herself and brand her salon as something different from the norm. It was during her trip to visit an ailing grandparent at the Sentara Hospital in Norfolk VA that sparked the idea in her head. There in the hospital was a spectacular water fountain constructed with glass mosaic tiles with the hospital logo in the middle in a brushed stainless steel frame. She was drawn to the feature wide eyed and knew that a change in décor using the uniqueness of such a feature would help her create the look and image she was looking for.

Within several months Sharon released the new grand reopening of her salon. In the front window all passersby’s could view the huge glass and mirror custom fountain with her logo etched in the center. With the addition of the water feature she also changed the interior look to a similar brushed stainless steel as the original feature she saw in Sentara. As she worked with the designer of the wall waterfall backdrop he also suggested that she incorporate a waterfall fountain into a glass hair product display case. Sharon jumped at the idea. With some simple changes to the lighting in her front waiting room and after several cans of paint the place came alive. The dull shine of the brushed steel and sparkle of the mirrors and glass really gave the salon a classy look identifying it as a salon that is on the cutting edge of fashion.

Sharon was amazed to see the difference in the décor of the salon and how it began to change the feel of the business. She noticed the other four ladies that worked in the salon seemed to have increased their performance and professionalism with the change in the look and feel of the actual bricks and mortar of the business. There seemed to be a fresh breath of life in the business. It did not take long for customers to comment about the delightful sights and sounds of the gurgling, trickling water. Many commented that they found it relaxing and soothing. It seemed to bring an air of serenity into the building that was not there previously.

Sharon noticed that there seemed to be more people being drawn to the interactive waterfall display cases. Sales began to increase as visitors were drawn to the unique display case and therefore face to face with the many products she was featuring on the shelves. In addition to the effect it played in the lobby, the custom water feature also illuminated and sparkled in the halogen lights at night drawing all road and pedestrian traffic eyes into the salon front window.

It didn’t take long and soon there was a desk top water fountain on the table tops at each of the work stations and in the nail tech room at the rear of the salon. Sharon figured that if the clients appreciated the soothing sights and sounds of fountain in the front, they would also appreciate the same thing on a smaller scale while they sat patiently to receive their beauty treatment.

With some creativity and willingness to take a risk, Sharon did what it takes to turn her potentially negative situation into an opportunity. She took the opportunity of her tough time to evaluate and revisit her business and then with an open mind try to recreate something that the public would not only invite but embrace. The new look transformed the image she portrayed to the public about who she was and what her beauty services could do for her customers. Sharon learned a valuable business lesson and since that experience she has always tried to view a potential threat as the opportunity to formulate her next business strategy or improvement.

Garth Epp is an entrepreneur who has been fascinated by the allure and mystery of moving water and also the inner workings of business online. He has combined both loves by creating Premium Indoor Fountains.com, an information based website introducing visitors to the wonder of what an indoor waterfall fountain could do for their home, their business and themselves.