I ran out of time last week to record and so was a last minute Larry today and knew I needed to just get something down and was procrastinating over which subject I was going to cover today as had a few.  Then I started receiving messages in response to my first post in my local village group about my new home salon which was great, but 2 of them didn't read my information and started pushing my people pleaser buttons.  It took a lot of control and effort to say NO! 

The first one hadn't looked at my website/treatment menu wanted me to do a treatment I could do and have done for years, but have chosen not to anymore and the other hadn't read my opening hours and wanted to book an appointment on a Saturday which I don't work. 

My immediate reaction to both was one of perhaps I should, just starting out and I need to grow the clientele, but I also knew that if I said yes, I'd set a precedent and the whole of the village would know I gave in as soon as those people pleaser buttons were pressed.  So I responded to both with a polite no! 

I respected my own boundaries and I know I'll thank myself for it down the line.

As I return to providing services for a couple of days I do not want to end up back in a full time treatment role.  My salon is there to work for me and to keep me aligned with industry for a little longer, not the other way round but I've worked with the public too many years and know that the inch/mile and who gets which end will never work in my favour if I roll over and say yes everytime.  

Don't forget to like and subscribe and please share the podcast with friends and colleagues. 

You can listen to more episodes on the ISP website www.suedavies.org and you'll also find free guides you can download there too.

Following articles on the BBC platforms regarding UV Gel Polish allergies, I took the opportunity to invite Suzanne Clayton, owner of Nail Tech Awareness Facebook Group, onto the podcast to share the information behind the BBC pieces.

Allergy has been on the increase over the last 4-5 years following the emergence of a raft of new products and brands to the UK nail market.

Those affected by allergy to acrylates may have difficulty in accessing some medical and dental procedures in the future, however, with safe working practices, using a professional instead of DIY nails, allergy for most can be avoided.

There is a lot behind what appeared on the news and sound bites didn't provide enough accurate information on the subject leaving many nail professionals wondering what was happening and many clients scared and contacting their nail techs.

Today's episode is there for both professionals and clients and both Suzanne and I have tried to ensure that as much information as possible is there for you to listen to and to give some signposts as to how the nail industry can move forward and continue to provide gel polish and other services to their valued clientele.

Suzanne's Bio...

"I've been a nail tech for over 20 years, having first trained in Beauty therapy but finding nails to be my passion. I've had several home salons and high street salons as well as doing photos shoots and fashion shows.

Nearly 4 years ago I created a group called Nail Tech Awareness for qualified Nail Techs to come together to share and learn after allergic reactions were happening and on the rise. I have spent that time learning as much as possible about allergic reactions and why they happen to help educate the industry. 

I have since gone to work for Louella belle as their head of Education and Brand Development to help share my knowledge and expertise with a brand."

For further information or to connect with Suzanne on Facebook, please follow the links below

Nail Tech Awareness (Professionals group)

Nail Tech Awareness for CLIENTS

Federation of Nail Professionals Facebook page

CTPA (Cosmetic, Toiletry & Perfumery Association)

National Occupational Standards Here you can find any of the national standards that are for the nail, beauty and hair industry.

HABIA (Hair And Beauty Industry Authority) HABIA are the only authority for our industry and help direct and create the NOS and other important industry information and guidance.

Sam Blake's Safe Salon Space Facebook Group - connect with Sam here to find out more about working safely and implementing COSHH in your nail/salon business

If you want to connect with me or the Inspiring Salon Professionals world on socials please follow the following links

Sue Davies - Website - you'll find all episodes of the podcast here as well as free downloads and links to my socials

Inspiring Salon Professionals Facebook Group

YouTube Channel - where you can watch any interview episodes

When you're developing your business and have goals you want to achieve, make sure you use SMART goal planning to make sure they are...

SPECIFIC MEASURABLE ATTAINABLE RELEVANT TIMELY

In this episode we cover how to use SMART goal planning to ensure you keep your goals and projects in the right lane.  Keeping to the SMART system will allow you to keep the goal on track when one of those threats from your SWOT analysis pops up.  As long as you have it mapped you can adjust your plan.  Ill prepared goals may lead to failure and nobody wants that. 

Here's the infographic for you to download to keep those SMART goal planning features in mind...

You can join the ISP Facebook group here

Join me online at www.suedavies.org

What is SWOT analysis?   It's a simple business system to help you assess the following:

STRENGTHS

WEAKNESSES

OPPORTUNITIES

THREATS

In this episode I run through how this can help you when planning for your business.  If you want to expand, develop a new treatment line, take on a high street salon, completing a SWOT analysis can help you work out the viability of your plan. 

Here's an infographic you can download to help you keep in mind how SWOT works...

Join the ISP Facebook group here

Find me online at www.suedavies.org

In this episode I'm talking about how adversity sometimes allows the brightest of ideas to form and gives the opportunity for new projects to build.   One of the biggest and brightest light bulb moments in my career came from a second hand surgery following a not so nice car accident.  In the days after the surgery 5 years ago today, a series of conversations led to the idea for Nabuno - The Evolution of Education.  Nabuno is a one stop shop for all things education within the salon industry and itself has faced one launch in January 2020, being shelved due to the lockdowns and Covid and now is being reborn for the second time. 

Here I discuss what it is and how it can help the learner and the education provider to connect and grow knowledge, careers and businesses. 

It brings together a directory of education providers (our members), the Nabuno Oracle (our information library and blog space), and our Learning Management System for education to host their courses and resources on.  Our Education Provider memberships give varying levels of promotion across our platforms online and on our socials.

Find out more at www.nabuno.com or join us on Facebook.

After an unplanned break in recording, Inspiring Salon Professionals is back!  I've been away concentrating on a bit of self care and building on a long term project that is making its way back from the back burner to launch ready!  Super exciting time for me and my partner in crime, Di Hughes as we bring Nabuno to the salon industry after having heads down on the project for the last few months, hence, my absence from recording.   In coming episodes I'll be talking about Nabuno and what it is and I'll be covering many aspects of business start up within the salon industry covering things like price list creation, business types, legal obligations, client avatars and more.  

I'll also be joined by a great line up of guests for some interviews.  I'll be talking to Hollie Power from Salonology about their new online supplier platform and on my guest list I'll be adding other industry coaches, mentors and guests that will bring you insight, knowledge and push that grey matter into new ways of thinking.  During the recent Pro Beauty show in London I caught up with lots of industry friends and we all agreed it would be great to have a space to host our own version of Loose Women and so in the coming weeks I'll be reaching out to them to get on board and have some video round tables discussing on trend industry topics.  Can't wait for this as it will be an amazing opportunity to get views from across the industry and across the skill sets that make up the salon industry. 

This episode welcomes Sam Blake, the Salon Safety Geek, as she prepares to launch her all new salon wellbeing tools in the new year. This episode finds us discussing staff welfare, understanding when your coping pot is overflowing, challenges of the Christmas season for salon owners, teams and clients. How to help your team negotiate their work and sometimes personal issues that may be affecting them.

It is a great episode with lots and lots of really useful pointers and thoughts from two therapists and business owners who've been there and have a lot of t-shirts in their drawer. Learn to pause and allow your pressure points to pass as Sam talks you through the difference between stress and pressure and how to recognise that you may need to shift your patterns.

You can join Sam on her Facebook group to find out more about her upcoming launch of salon mental health tools https://www.facebook.com/groups/29219...

Apologies for the odd sound on the recording in the intro section, but all recovers as soon as the interview begins.

When setting up your salon business getting your branding correct is imperative to being recognised in a busy commercial salon marketplace.  Your brand is more than just your logo, business name or slogan. Your brand tells your potential clients who you are, what you do, what they can expect and reminds your existing clients of who you are whenever they see your strong brand message on social media or in the local area. 

Your brand strategy should shout to your ideal client what you stand for, what you will do for them and it puts across your business personality and for solopreneurs a little bit more of the who you are personally is often incorporated.

Your salon branding encompasses:

• Business Name
• Logo
• Colour Scheme/Palette
• Slogan
• Product
• Price Range
• Where You Deliver Your Service
• How you Promote Your Business
• Brand Values
• Brand Personality
• Brand Identity

There's a few questions you may want to grab a pen and paper for in this episode if you are on your brand journey currently, and even if you think you have your brand sorted, I'm sure there'll be something you can take away with you. 

Start your Branding 101 process here and develop a strong brand that tells your perfect client who you are and why they need to be visiting you.

To discover more podcasts, videos, free guides and more go to the Sue Davies website

Join me on my Sue Davies - Inspiring Salon Professionals Facebook page here 

If you want to start your own salon business, this episode is all about how to build your vision, look at you why and building the skills you need to make a success of your dream.  Grab a pen & paper as if you're looking to build that dream then you may want to do the couple of exercises included in this episode.

With more and more colleage/course graduates wanting to become solopreneurs the industry is awash with start ups, but if you rush in without planning you may find that you don't get to the giddy heights you see across social media (although, the here's a heads up - don't always believe the Insta reality - it's not always genuine, but sure you know that). 

Remember to build your own dream and not follow someone else's! 

Addressing 5 key questions to discover your vision and your why - Pen & Paper needed

Looking at how we all have transferrable skills that we can transfer into our new business and addressing our skill deficit so we can get the knowledge behind us that we need to progress - Pen & Paper needed

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