I thought I would make a little post/diary here that I will update throughout this month detailing my upcoming salon refit.

I think that some of you know I was going to refit last October due to Phill and Prezz refitting their hair salons and telling me about it in the chatroom (their excitement was contagious), but I ended up having to delay until January.

Well, yesterday was our first day back at work and the festive season is well and truly over, so my refit begins.

Who is this diary good for?

I guess this diary (as it unfolds) will be good for anyone who has either;

Just bought an existing salon and want to put their own stamp on it;

Just about to open their own salon and want to see what can happen during the fitting out stage;

Already has a salon or works in a salon that looks like it needs updating.

Who knows what will happen, and where the costs will escalate to? Will my builders show up or let me down at the last minute? Will everything come together ready for opening day or will we re-open with one backwash and no reception desk?

Boy this will be fun!

Once I hit the builders stage, I will try and post pictures too.

Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Chris

P.S. If you spot anything I might have missed in my planning, or have any requests or questions, please do let me know by replying to my diary. Thanks.

The existing salon and my plan

What I have to work with

The existing salon is quite large and spread over 2 floors. It is in a nice little suburb of Liverpool in the North-West of England.

Downstairs, we have a reception and retail area.



From there, you go up 3 steps into the main salon. It has 10 styling stations, a laundry room, cafe-bar, 2 toilets, backwash area with one sink and a disused beauty room.



Upstairs, there is a large mezzanine/balcony with 3 backwashes and 6 colouring stations with a colour mixing area. There is also an office.



The whole place is decorated in green with aubergine feature walls. All of the salon features dark woods on the styling chairs, mirror frames, retail shelves and reception desk. The floor throughout is cream porcelain.

Changes to be made

New colour scheme - Black, Chrome, Cream and Greys.

Furniture to buy
New styling mirrors;
New styling chairs;
New reception desk;
New trolleys;
New backwashes;
New signage;
New retail shelves;
New reception seating;
New kitchen/self serve coffee bar;
New lighting;
New flooring in reception area;

Building to be done
Make the back styling area into the new colour area,
Build a colour studio in the back area with relaxing backwash area,
Lose one toilet and make it into a laundry area,
Make the mezzanine into the beauty area,
Knock through the old beauty room and make a corridor with cupboards and staff lockers for storage,
Install extra electrical sockets,
Demolish the coffee bar and erect a self serve coffee area with a "try me and buy me" area of products adjacent,
hang new mirrors etc,
Skim the walls, then decorate throughout,
Render the front of the salon and then clad,

Changes to the salon environment
New product lines,
New advertising,
Staff training,
Client awareness.

As you can see, there is a lot to do, so I best get started!

Putting it all to work and getting things moving

I will need the new retail products and corporate branding (posters, displays etc) ready for launch day so I have called a few reps today. I am meeting Keith from Wella on Thursday. Sounds like a nice guy. We will be discussing Wella System Professional, Wella High Hair and Wella Lifetex. Anyone got any experience using these lines? It is years since I used System Professional. I remember opening my first salon and being amazed at just how much retail can cost - we're talking thousands of pounds just to get a stand or 2. Let's see what happens on Thursday.

I tried a new colourline in November, so I have written back to the supplier to tell him my thoughts. Received an auto-response that he is away until Thursday 7th January. Let's see what happens there.

I pretty much have most of my new furniture sourced from what appears to be a good supplier. I called them up and we chatted for a bit and I negotiated a 10% discount on their already cheap prices. Problem is though, the styling chairs I want are on a 5 week special order. I will see if anywhere else has them and will price match, otherwise it looks as if I'll be using the existing styling chairs for the first 2 weeks of my refit. I will put together an order today and see what their competitors can do also.

Regarding the builders, I have placed an ad online for my requirements (1 weeks work for 2 guys). Already I am receiving replies (thanks to the credit crunch affecting the builders). Thing is though, some of these guys seem to believe that it is still 2006 when we had a building boom going on and builders were in demand. One guy quoted £350 per day LOL. I politely replied and told him not to be so ridiculous, we aren't building the eiffel tower here...just painting some walls and laying some flooring. He immediately dropped his price to...wait for it...£220 per day. Laughable or what? Thankfully, some of the others are more realistic and I am getting better quotes of around £70 per day. I will leave the ad running a bit longer, and then invite 3 of them to come see the job and let me inspect their portfolio.

I need a new sign, so I cheekily called one of the biggest signmakers in the North-West - they do Costa Coffee, Toni & Guy and the big corporate companies. I was hoping that he would advise me on a good local signmaker for my requirements seeing as I was small fry with a small budget. He asked how much I was going to spend on signage. I told him (as a joke) "about £850" LOL. He said, "We can probably do something for you, it's a bit quiet at the moment and you sound like a nice guy."

So I have sent him a pic of the exterior of the salon, and he's sending a guy to measure up. Let's see what he means by "something".

The coffee machine is broken, so I will have to get it fixed ready for making the self-serve coffee area.

Also, I am going to have to look heavily at dates that I can co-ordinate everyone together, as the old equipment will need to be listed on eBay and collected during the re-fit week.

Well...wish me luck!

I'll update on Friday!

Diary Update Friday 9th January 2008

Ok. Since my last diary entry I have been up to a few things.

First off, I met with the sales rep yesterday to discuss the new lines. I'll need a few thousand to get the stands in, but I think it's the best way to go.

At the moment, it looks like we could be going for Lifetex (for the budget client), High Hair (for general styling) and System Professional for the premium end line.

The rep wanted us to think about also becoming a Sebastian Salon as they are relaunching the brand in April and seeking out suitable salons at the moment.

The problem with Sebastian for us though, is that it is VERY pricey for the clients (and for us too). I have told the rep we will think about that after it's launch in April, but he feels confident that we could be a great Sebastian salon.

I secured most of the stuff we need (good discounts, training, stands, backbar etc.) but I am itching for a bit more discount on the high hair products. Considering we are spending thousands, it hopefully won't be a problem. We need that discount to be able to put some opening offers on for the relaunch.

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Note to any hairdressers reading this who have never thought to ask for discount

Getting discount from a product company (above and beyond the discount that is standard for them to offer when you open the account) is a touchy area. Lots of salon owners moan about how big accounts or salons get their stuff cheaper, or such like. But my opinion on it is this. In a salon that charges for fringe trims (or bang trims as the Yanks call them), many stylists ignore the price and give it away for free to their regular cut and colour clients who need it doing between appointments, or they might give them a free treatment on the day of their cut and colour.

But I bet that the client who pops in every 3 months for a dry trim doesn't get offered free treatments and free fringe trims.

When dealing with any sales rep, you have to be clear from the beginning about what you want and or need in order to do business together.

In our situation, I have been honest with the rep and simply asked him if the styling can come in any cheaper so that I can shift more of it from my retail shelves and give my clients good value for money...but of course, in considering whether this can be done, he has the security that we are also ordering over £2,000 worth of other care products from 2 different ranges in their portfolio. If we were pulling a fast one, we would have been wiser to ask for more discount on those ranges as they cost us more, but we're not. We're just being honest and seeing if we can do a bit of business with each other.

So in conclusion, I am asking for the equivalent of a free fringe trim whilst booking in for a cut and colour. If you are cheeky enough to do the equivalent of asking for a free treatment and fringe trim whilst discussing the price of a dry cut with your rep, be prepared for a firm "No" and also for your rep to see you as a small time account without much ambition to grow.

None of the above applies however if your rep appears either; desperate, stupid or new to selling hair products (which thankfully mine was not). Feel free to ask this type of rep for everything and he will bend over backwards for you. Just don't be disappointed when he gets fired and the company sends in "SuperRep" to service you with her stern face, non-caring smile and an unusual ability to overstock you from her very first visit.

----------

So, moving on.

The builder situation is unreal. I wish I were building a housing estate right now as I must have had 50+ applicants for this refit, with more pouring in each day. I met with some on Monday but decided that I wouldn't meet with anymore until I have a daily price, otherwise they just suck air in through their teeth saying "That's a big job guvner. Gonna cost a bit that".
Hopefully, by Sunday night I will have whittled out 5 good applicants for the builders role and can invite them over to the salon for a look before picking one.

My furniture is more or less ordered (and I got discount on that too...albeit it took 3 phone calls to convince them it was worth giving me the discount as the items were already on special), but there is a problem with some of it not being available. I was told it could take 5-6 weeks for my styling chairs, AND my desk AND my waiting couch. Jeez, that takes me into the end of February, beginning of March.

So now I am in a quandry.

My sinks and mirrors can be delivered by next week.

Do I get all of the refit done ASAP (as in the building works etc) and continue using my old reception desk, styling chairs and waiting couch but with the new colour scheme, mirrors and backwashes...or do I wait until what could be the first week in March before I even start this thing? What would you do?

For me, closing for a week in March is much more costly than a week in January, plus, my builders will be getting busier then and be demanding more money (that's the way of it).
But if I don't wait, it means that the styling chairs will look rubbish compared to the rest of the salon, and my old desk in reception will look cack too. Please help me decide...

And finally, what is it with beauty therapists? I wrote on an internet forum about the fact I am considering renting out the existing colour studio as a beauty area. Someone suggested that I do a 65/35 split with the therapist. As in, I provide everything, including their clients, and give them 65% of the gross takings. Bugger me. I am surprised they didn't want me to write them into my will as well! And there was me thinking beauty therapists were more intelligent than their hairdressing counterparts?

Looking forward to any replies, and I'll report some more next Tuesday!

Diary Update Tuesday 13th January 2008

Well, this entry is late. It's Wednesday night (Thursday actuaaly, as it's 2AM). Sorry to those of you who logged on yesterday and are tracking this, but these last 2 days I was feeling so tired (especially yesterday) that I was beat.

Monday was a strange day. I was feeling really fed-up all day, as if I was getting nowhere, but when I checked back on my list of things I had managed to get a few things checked off as well as go shopping for essential salon supplies, so overall I was quite happy.

Yesterday I dropped into the salon and then continued to do work for the refit before entertaining friends in the evening (hence no update yesterday).

Today I have done hardly anything.

But here's where I am at right now...

The builders

We're still getting applications (can you believe it?), so I decided that seeing as I had my pick of over 70, that I would use that to my advantage and hammer them down on price. Some laughed in my face, and others nodded in agreement at the much lower labour costs I suggested.

So I now have it whittled down to 5 builders who have agreed amazing rates, have agreed to work right through their weekends (a Thursday to Wednesday fit) and are quite frankly, glad of the work offer. They have all told me that January is a quiet time for builders, so I guess I am in luck.

The furniture
Not so good news on the furniture side of things. The desk I want has to be manufactured for me (I need the wood surrounds to be different). This will take 6-8 weeks. However, after reading the fantastic replies full of helpful advice to this thread, I have decided I can wait that long and just use my old desk in the meantitme.

The waiting couch will be four weeks, and the rest of the stuff is available straight away.

I negotiated a better discount too, and that all helps towards keeping the costs low.

I have had a slight hairdresser moment though (meaning just as I have sorted things, I have changed my mind about the mirrors).

The mirrors I was going for are full length ceiling to floor mirrors with a steel frame. However, they have no shelf. Now the mirrors we currently use have no built in shelves, and we installed some at the side, but I do think that I would quite like a shelf built into the mirror.

I have found the same mirror (more or less) and it has a shelf built in, and it's £40 more (I need 10 of them).

What do you prefer? A mirror with shelf or a mirror without a shelf? Guide me...

The products
After more or less settling on Wella High Hair for my styling, and writing about it here on the forum, I read the replies and your thoughts about it. Afterwards, I couldn't get Phill's opinions out of my mind - "Sweaty Betty Brand".

Now as you know, I went to Sally's Hair and Beauty Supply on Monday night to do some essential salon shopping, and while I was there I checked out the High Hair products (in America they are called Liquid Hair BTW). I was thinking about what Phill said (as well as others) and I was looking at this product, in Sally's, thinking, "My clients can come in here and get this product. Will it therefore cheapen my own salon brand if I sell it and stock it on my retail shelves at the RRP Wella recommend? £9.95 for a crystal styler blowdry spray which is £6 in Sally's to the public and a bit less to trade?"

Let's face it, Sally's isn't known for stocking any premium lines, or truly professional brands. You cannot get a bottle of Redken, Sebastian, System Professional, Matrix, Serie.Expert etc. in there, for the simple reason those brands like to control their image and PR a bit more.

Add to the fact that the rep said he couldn't really move the discount on High Hair much more than he already has (the conversation is still ongoing with him).

But I got to thinking in the meantime...should I be thinking more along the lines of Matrix for my affordable brand? Their retail prices are very keen (better than Wella's actually), they are not available in wholesalers such as Sally's, and I have heard many of you say good things about Matrix over the years.

My problem is though...in 16 years of hairdressing, I have never touched one Matrix product. Honestly, I do not have a clue about the products. This is of course, solely down to the fact that they are not available to just pick up and try in any old wholesaler.

I have looked through their product ranges, and read great reviews on internet shopping and review websites. I also noticed they have relaunched ColorGraphics which is something I used to hear great things about.

So I need a hairdressers opinion on Matrix. What's good about it, what's bad about it, and how will my clients react to it?

The colour scheme
Finally, I have been sent 6 possible colour schemes by the designer. It is too late to post them now (I am dog tired) but I will edit this post tomorrow and see what you all think. help me choose the colour scheme, and see it in a finshed salon. This is getting to be like "Salon Idol" lol...vote for your favourite.

Once again, thanks for reading, and thanks in advance for your replies too. They are all helping to motivate me get this this salon refit done!

Yours,
Chris.

Diary Update Friday 16th January 2008

OK. I thought I would leave this one more day as I only did my last update on Thursday AM!

Since then, things have been moving along rather swiftly.

The furniture preview

The furniture is now on order (and we have gotten even more discount since Thursday too), and as an exclusive preview for the first time in this thread, here's a glimpse of the type of salon furniture we are going for. When you compare this mood board to the pictures of the existing salon, you can see that it is going to be quite different to what we have at the moment.



Vote for your favourite colour scheme

Like I said in my last diary entry, the designer came back with potential colour schemes (7 to choose from)!

Press reply and let me know which ones you like most, and why. They have to fit with the furniture in the salon moodboard and the cream porcelain tiles.

Scheme 1 - Accessorise with black, cream and green (eg, cream and green flowers - lilies etc)

decorscheme1.jpg

Scheme 2

decorscheme2.jpg

Scheme 3(Indian feel)

decorscheme3.jpg

Scheme 4(Art Deco)

decorscheme4.jpg

Scheme 5(Oriental)

decorscheme5.jpg

Scheme 6(Classical / Georgian) Heritage

decorscheme6.jpg

Scheme 7(Contemporary)

decorscheme7.jpg

The salon signage

The sign guy rang me yesterday night to tell me that he has mocked up some ideas for our new signage! Woo Hoo. I am going to see him on either Monday or Tuesday so that should be fun. He also said that he might be able to save us even more money, which is cool. Every penny saved is a penny earned.

The products
I am 99% certain that we will be going with Matrix instead of Wella. Some of the Americans reading this have problems with "diversion" on both brands (as well as others) in their respective states, but over here, the word "diversion" generally refers to something that happens when there has been an accident in the road ahead.
Matrix has a much keener retail price than Wella, and is more exclusive. I have spoken with the rep, and looked at the opening deals. I will be meeting with him on Tuesday if he has time.

That's it for now. More next week. keep those replies flooding in though as they are helping me vastly in deciding what to do and where to go as I make this journey!

Diary Update Tuesday 20th January 2008

My goodness. I didn't realise exactly how tiring this refit was going to be, and I haven't even started yet! It is effecting the amount of time I have to reply to other posts here, or even attend live chat, but I am sure the pros on here understand!

The product choice

I am going with Matrix for definite. The replies to this post have helped me immensely to decide on the product choice. Thanks guys.
I also spoke with the rep yesterday and arranged a permanent 12.5% discount (a real one too, not like the one in my post about Wella in the salon management forum) so I am happy.

For those of you who have used, or are using Matrix products, I need to know which are the best sellers in both Matrix essentials and Matrix Biolage.

The colour studio and self serve coffee bar

I decided to go with black gloss slab for the kitchen units in these areas, but Oh My Gosh, have you seen the prices of the doors? They are averaging about £35 each! I need about 20 of them so that's £700 and that price doesn't include the cabinets or handles/hinges/plinths etc. In total I'd be looking at around £2500 just for cabinets. If I could save some cash on that I would have more money to invest in stuff that actually does something to the client's hair!

So here is my idea. Do you think I can get away with it? They do a cheaper door for around £7 each that is a standard black. I am thinking I can get these and either use a really good quality varnish to get them glossy and reflective, or simply get some black gloss Fablon and cover them. The visual effect will be the same, but the set-up cost will save a fortune. What do you think?

The lighting

Sometimes great things happen. It's almost as if someone is watching over you and sends stuff your way. We received a letter the other day at the main salon that was addressed to an old tenant's company from years ago. When we opened it, it turned out that the old company was registered with a lighting wholesaler as a distributor! When we looked at the prices I almost gasped. Chandeliers that sell for £50 in the shops are as low as £12. Regular light fittings can be had for £2.50 that are £20 retail.
Anyway, I called them and asked for a catalogue. Hopefully they will send me one and I will get my lighting cheap.
If not though, I have another supplier in mind.

The furniture arrives early
We paid for the 3 backwashes on Monday. The following day, a van arrives at my front door. It's the backwashes! Jeez, I guess that the supplier was trying to impress us with speedy delivery. Problem is, I don't need them for another 13 days! Regardless, we have stored them at the back of the salon and everyone is having to walk around them. LOL

The reception area floor
On Monday (whilst searching for a black gloss kitchen in B&Q) we noticed that they had a sale on in the corner of the superstore. When we approached the boxes of tiles that were on offer, I was delighted to find boxes of large polished black porcelain tiles reduced from £25 a box to £10 a box! What a bargain. So I had Vince come back with the van and we picked up 25 boxes. They weighed a ton! And to make matters worse, it was pouring down with rain when we got outside so we were soaked by the time we loaded up the van. But hey, it was worth it just for the cost saving alone! I am thrilled.

eBay
I really am going to have to get my ass in gear and start advertising some of our old furniture on eBay. I have no idea where we are going to put it otherwise. Desks, chairs, backwashes...it all needs to go.

Hair colour
I think I am getting carried away with having brand new everything, and am now thinking about getting a new colour brand into the salon (again!). I am looking for good performance and value for money. I have explained our needs to the rep, so let's see what he comes back with!

Still to do...order the kitchen units, pay for the rest of the furniture and arrange a delivery date that ties in with the kitchen delivery date, decide a colour scheme from the ones above, visit the sign maker and see what he has come up with, give the builders a definite starting date, get the tools and materials that we need to get the job done, think about the advertising that we will be doing when the refit is complete (i.e. when the desk and waiting couch both arrive too), arrange staff training, arrange PR and get my tax returns done.
Anything I have missed?



Thanks for reading and thanks to all who are following and replying to my diary!

Diary Update Friday 23rd January 2008

It's Saturday morning, and to be honest there has not been too much of a change since Tuesday.

The backwashes

You know how I told you on Tuesday that the Backwashes arrived early? Well I went and unpacked one to see what it looked like, and it turns out that the dimensions I were given were a little bit less than the actual backwash is.

It is HUGE!

It looks "very very posh" according to the team. Although it's not plumbed in, we all took turns to sit, sorry make that 'lie', in it. You do actually lie down in these backwashes, but the most unique thing ever (I have never seen this before) is that when you place your head back in the sink, there is actually a cushioned headrest sticking up INSIDE the bowl that holds your head for you as you are being shampooed. How irritating is that going to be for the person shampooing who has to constantly lift the client's head to wash the occipital area? LOL Fabulous luxury for the clients though!
I will take a close up pic once the backwashes are plumbed in!

The Colour

Ok, after speaking with the rep, I was pleasantly surprised to be offered a choice of 2 colour brands that fit my needs.
One is Affinage, which Phill was just telling me about last week in one of his replies to this diary (on page 2 I think), and the other is CDC which I have been hearing great things about from my American friends over the past 2 years.
Both colours are made in Italy, and both come in 100ml tubes. So I am looking for feedback from anyone who has used either of these ranges.

The Kitchen

Ok, so I have ordered the cheaper cupboard doors - and how typical is this? The only bloody door that is not kept as a stock item is the one I want.

I have been given a preliminary delivery date of Tuesday 3rd February. Nothing can start happening with building works until they are delivered so I hope that the prelimary date is confirmed and not delayed!

Well, I need to get off an get my tax returns done.

Thanks for reading!

Diary Update Tuesday 27th January 2008

I have until January 31st to get my tax returns in.

Right now I am in a frantic dash to find a box of extra receipts which seem to have disappeared since I moved house. I am still searching for them, after which I need to type them up in excel, along with the rest of the takings and expenses, forward them to my accountant and hope that she takes pity on me and works at the speed of lightening to get the annual returns done, otherwise it's a £100 fine and a 3% interest on any amounts due.

So I'll be concentrating on that until the last minute instead of the refit. Check back later in the week for more refit antics.

Diary Update Friday 30th January 2008

Ok, it is Saturday 31st January (I always seem to be a day late filling in this diary lately).

My tax returns are done and the amounts finalised. God bless my accountant. This year I am paying the grand total of £10.54 tax. Phew. Perhaps I should start giving her my returns at the last minute every year from now on?



Anyway...on with the refit...

I went to see the sign maker on Thursday afternoon to see what he has in mind.

I was under the impression that he would have a few ideas to show me, but actually, what happened is that he showed me a few materials he had in mind and then we sat down at a computer and he began designing with me. At first I was unsure about whether I had hit the correct signmaker, but as we worked together, I was glad he had decided to do it that way.

As a result, and after 4 hours work, we now have a completely new company logo and a completely new sign! This means new business cards, leaflets, website etc. just for the indulgence, but I am excited by the new look we have picked.

I will reveal some pics of the new logo next week...for now though I will say that it is retro yet modern. Classy yet artistic. Unique but not too different.

I have 2 options though when it comes to pricing, and I would like some advice.

Option A or Option B?
Both options are exactly the same sign design. One is coming in at £890 and has the option of being lit overhead at night.

The other is £1400 but has the option of being lit from inside the signage at night (as in the letters are cut out of the signage, and the letters themselves light up).

Now my business head says that Option A is the one to go for. It is £500 less than Option B.

I have to ask myself how many new customers would come to us just because they passed the salon one night when it was closed and were impressed by the fancier lighting on the sign B. It takes a lot of new clients to be done just to make make the extra £500 in profit, and I wouldn't be making anything back until that alone was done.

But my heart says get Option B purely because it will look a bit fancier at night with it's special lighting LOL. I admit, it will look a bit silly though, because directly underneath it will just be a wall of grey roller shutters (at the time it is lit) with the odd passing drunk who has left one of the many village pubs.

I am being ridiculous even thinking about it, because when it is daytime (i.e. when we are open) it will look absolutely no different to option A. LOL

eBay

I am yet to list all of my stuff on eBay, although the reception desk, styling chairs and backwashes are listed. I have done my usual trick (those of you who have known me here for a while will recognise this) of putting on the auctions at a 1p start and no reserve price. I recall some of you having a heart attack when I listed Vince's Range Rover about 3 years ago doing that, but for me, it always works.

I don't see the point in thinking that my chair is worth £10, if on eBay or in the real world, bidding confirms that people will only bid up to £5. I would only be kidding myself.

Lets see how it goes. I will list my salon reception couch later too. That one will be scary as we track the results as it was bespoke and made just for us. It's a one off.

Matrix products

I have got get my order in for these, but who here has tried the sleek.look shampoo and conditioner? Vince has started using it on his thick Italian hair and is VERY impressed!

I have started testing the Matrix men's range. I am using the "thick surge" shampoo. On the first wash, whilst I was impressed with the consistency and fragrance, I wasn't too sure about the results. My hair felt soft rather than thickened. But oh my gosh, the next day I used it again and I was VERY pleased! I didn't bother putting anything in my hair afterwards as it looked and felt so much thicker! I cannot believe I haven't tried them before now.

Other stuff

The kitchen arrives on Tuesday for our colour bar and also our cappuccino area.
The builders I wanted booked for Thursday start...well one of them cannot start until Friday (the joiner), but hey, what can we do?
The furniture arrives on Friday (except the desk and couch which will be another 2-3 weeks).

Oh, and both the washing machine and tumble dryer have decided to stop working within 4 days of each other. Another expense. Luckily we have a launderette across the road, becuase right now I haven't had time to get Vince to take a look at them. I am still sure that they are being used incorrectly. I have never known laundry equipment to break down as often as ours does.

More next week...

Diary Update Tuesday 3rd February 2008

It's Wednesday night. The refit starts tomorrow. I am very tired and I have 7 days of solid hard work ahead of me.

What have I let myself in for?

Vince rang around all day yesterday and the day before and has managed to source the same shop sign in the same materials at half the cost...wanna preview of our new logo?

Here's the old logo:

Here's a preview of a bit of the new one:


Funnily enough, it was inspired by a magazine title font (cut&dry) that Jazz was kind enough to send me through the post...so thanks Jazz! What do you guys think?

And believe it or not, we still haven't decided on a colour scheme! What we ended up doing was painting a choice of 2 behind the reception desk and asking the clients to vote for their favourite. So far it is neck and neck!

Well, I have to get off and have an early night as I am knackered!!!

See you all soon.

Almost forgot...remember the lighting catalogue that we came across? We just placed the order today and my god are we saving hundreds of pounds. Someone up there is watching over me

Diary Update Friday 6th February 2008

Well, we are two days into our salon refit.

Has anything gone wrong yet?

You bet it has.

Yesterday it was one man and Vince, as our joiner called off until Friday. Not only that, but the one man who was actually starting at 9AM arrived thinking that he was just "seeing the job" - so he had to travel back for tools. We didn't get started until 1pm!

We got a call from the washing machine repair man at 5pm to say that our salon washing machine was basically good for nothing but scrap, and the belt was broken on our tumble dryer! So off we went searching for a suitable machine at the right price and that entailed a 30 mile round trip!

As for today...well the joiner we made allowances for and waited on, decided not to show up at all this morning. No messages, no phone calls, and wouldn't answer his phone when we called.


So we were one man and Vince again! Thank goodness Vince can turn his hand to anything.

The laundry room was successfully moved and plumbed in elsewhere, but right in the middle of the day (at 1pm) the salon furniture arrived. All of it! We had nowhere to put it except in the salon (which is still open) so the clients have had a field day laughing at our misfortune, whilst navigating their way around cardboard boxes just to get to a station. Tomorrow we are fully booked, so goodness knows how we will cope!

Luckily, our man is asking a couple of friends if they are available and if so, when? So tomorrow might bring a better day!

Forgot to mention...the lighting arrived too...boxes and boxes of the stuff. They are currently piled up in front of our retail section.

Right now, I am wishing I had closed for these 3 days, but then again, I suppose if I had it wouldn't have made any difference due to Mike the joiner being an asshole and not showing up!

Tired now though and about to go to bed.

The only good thing that happened today is that the CDC colour arrived for me to try. I love new toys. Wish us luck for the next 4 days of the refit until my next diary update.

Diary Update Tuesday 10th February 2008

Well everyone, I sit here with a glass of wine at 12.15am feeling quite good about the refit so far, although if you had asked me at this time this morning, I would have replied in a different manner.

I have taken some pics over the last few days of what's happening, hoping it can help you feel more involved. I have none of today - simply because I left the camera at work; sorry.

Polish people
I have to start this by saying that Polish people (at least the ones I have come across) are the most respectful, hard working and friendly people you could ever wish to have on your team. Our 2 guys, Gregor and Tom are so good with us. Today for example, they could see how far we were running behind after the British Joiner let us down, and they stayed until 11pm to get as much done as possible. They really are an example of what's wrong with a lot of British people and their mentality of "I knock off at 5pm". Polish builders want the job completed. I just wish I could find a polish beauty therapist!

English hairdressers...in particular, mine!
My manager and assistant manager came in today to help. God bless my assistant manager, she was so bored with all the DIY, but she stayed and made cups of tea, had a go at sanding, found tools, lifted up flooring.

And my manager? She even roped her fiancé in to help after he had finished work. She has never used a drill before today, but stayed until 10pm tonight (came in at 9am) to finish her "starlit ceiling" task that I set for her that will hang above the new backwash area. 120 holes to be drilled, 2 coats of paint and a painstaking job of poking LED's through each hole in a sequence. She even had to drive to the DIY store to pick up more paint, but she did it and got it finished. I cannot wait to show you the pictures of it. If you want plans to make the same, I only charge a back-rub (LOL).

Both of these girls started as salon assistants with me some years ago, and as you know, I always prefer to "grow my own", but I truly feel that someone up there blessed me with these two girls. We are a great team, and I love them to bits!

Apparently, I can expect the manager's fiancé back in again tomorrow night after work to help us finish off. How cool is he, and how great is she?

And to top it off, my friend Dalite came in this morning and kicked our asses to get us moving, and boy did she?

Anyway...moving on...

Since my last salon refit diary update

I am now living on takeaways, sleep, and work. My house is a complete mess, my money is dwindling fast and sometimes I wish I had never started this thing (blame Phill and Prezz for motivating me to do it).

I am knackered yet energized with excitement.

The laundry room is now moved, the coffee bar I was so adamant to have just over 5 years ago is no more, and the salon looks like a bomb site. It's 00.38AM on Wednesday and we are fully booked on Thursday. God help me.

One of the "competing" salon owners came in today to tell me that she hears there will be ANOTHER salon opening in our village soon (that makes 7 on 2 roads), and this salon will be directly opposite ours (as in mine and hers). She seemed very worried about it and wanted to take some kind; any kind; of action to prevent it.

Her worried look reassured me that my business is doing better than hers in this terrible economic climate. In the last 2 days I have sent a "mole" into every salon in our village for a price list and a consultation (including hers). I'll use the results to formulate our front desk, offers and points of attack. Boy am I excited!!!

I really do wish that all of the salon would be finished tomorrow but it won't. We are going to have to concentrate on backwashes, mirrors, electrics, and somewhere to pay the bill ready for Thursday. I probably won't be able to post pics of our "100% finished refit" for another 3 weeks yet (remember I have the desk etc. arriving then) but I am feeling confident that we are doing the right thing.

Here's some pics for those of you who are interested and following this...Goodnight!

Photos

Because not enough people here pressed reply and voted on my colour scheme, I ended up taking the 3 most voted for that you guys did like, and I ordered tester pots. I painted them on the wall behind the reception desk and for 1 week I asked the clients to vote for their favourite! You can see their votes written in pencil beside each scheme.



The lighting wires are in, and Vince was cursing me for DEMANDING it! LOL


Getting my new shelving constructed.


It's not a refit so much as a bombsite!


This particular builder loves posing for the camera! Quite lucky for us really seeing as we needed photos for this diary!


Down comes my beloved coffee bar!

Here we are starting to build the new "wash area/colour bar"

And it is coming together slowly but surely!


More on Friday!!!!!!

Thanks for reading and thanks for your replies/comments!

Diary Update Friday 13th February 2008

Well, since my last diary update, lots has changed. The salon is back open, albeit with only 7 mirrors, 2 working backwashes, half painted walls and no reception area as well as no paint on the doors and no new lighting. LOL

Quite frankly, the fact we got it open at all was a miracle. It involved calling on all my family and friends for help. We worked from 9AM Wednesday morning through to 6AM Thursday morning, and the salon clients arrived just 3 hours later at 9AM!

Should I have cancelled them? It was too late to call them. We had 51 clients booked in. Could I have taken them to our other salon just down the road? Unfortunately not. That salon is smaller and only has 7 stations, plus it's own bookings for that day. We had 7 booked in the main salon from 9-9.30AM so there was no room at the inn!

Instead, I went to Walmart and cleared them out of boxes of chocolates (brazil nuts, truffles and Bailey's creams).

As each client got finished and came to pay their bill, we gave them a box of choccies and a 20% voucher for their next visit so they could come back and see the salon finished. They were all thrilled, and whilst many said that it really wasn't necessary, they all agreed that it was a nice gesture.

Today is Saturday, and I have the builders back at 3pm-11pm, and then tomorrow all day as well Monday too. Hopefully we should make some headway!

For now though, here's some pics from Wednesday!

---------------------

It's Wednesday morning, and we are meant to be open the following day to do fully booked columns. Here is reception:


and here is the salon (see why we were so panicked!)


The floor tiles start going down in reception


And we start opening the new styling chairs on the balcony while my Dad takes the boxes outside when we throw them over the railings (meanwhile, Greg is painting the walls grey, as SYL's daughter suggested to me in live chat here on the site)


Uncle Ted comes down and unwraps the new backwashes, plumbs them in and begins wiring in the boilers for them


Meanwhile, Lisa (our manager) grabs a piece of MDF and proceeds to drill 120 holes to make her starlight ceiling for the new wash area


Lisa also telephones her fiancé, Lee, and gets him down to the salon as it is getting late. Here are Vince and Lee making progress with the floor in reception


While all this is going on, Dawn and Ian arrive to help begin hanging the mirrors. They are a real bugger to hang!



The floor gets finished and Greg starts grouting


While we hang the rest of the mirrors. This pic is interesting as the "old salon" is on the right (styling chairs, sink, green paint etc.) and the new salon is on the left (mirrors, grey painted walls etc.)


Here's my friend Dalite unwrapping the plastic coating from the chrome surrounds on the mirrors.


By this time it was very late, and I lost the will to keep taking pictures, but here is one last photo to make you giggle.
Problem:
What do you do with the couch you left outside while you tiled the floor, considering you cannot walk on the floor tiles yet?
Solution:
Here is the Polish solution! Balance very long ladders from the steps to the front door, and then balance your couch on those overnight! That is some initiative! LOL


I'll take more pics over the weekend as the salon continues to develop. Hope you are enjoying this thread!

Edit to add: Saturday Night Update

We got quite a bit done tonight, and we are back in tomorrow at 11AM.

Here are some pics:

Gregor starts painting the windows and doors black on both the outside and inside

And get's it finished in time too!

The old coffee bar gets ripped out

And gloss porcelain tiles placed underneath

Sometimes my shorter friends need a ladder, but are so innovative that they make their own stilts to reach high places!

It was getting late when this was taken LOL

Here's how we left it today. The look of the new salon is really starting to come together. I cannot wait until it is finished!

Diary Update Tuesday 17th February 2008

Wow everyone. I am actually updating my diary on time...can you believe it?

Since my last diary update we've been working really hard. Basically, what happens is that clients get attended to through the day, and then we go in at night (5pm to 1AM (or later if needs be)) and carry on working.

The builders are getting too settled
Over the weekend I had an issue with the builders. They showed up on Sunday at 1.20pm when we were meant to be starting at 12 midday. They were met with a very firm "Good Aftertwelve!" and were full of apologies, but I did let them know I was not very pleased.

Anyway, on Monday we were meant to be starting at 5pm, and they showed up at 8.10pm! I told them that whilst they might prefer to work into the night, I personally was waiting since 5pm and so would be ready to leave by midnight. Today we would do only a half day and they would be paid accordingly.

I told them in no uncertain terms that when I say 5pm, I mean 5pm British time and not Polish time. I dropped them off after work and told them that today would be a 3pm start. They asked why so early (as in the salon would still be full of clients) and I explained that perhaps they might get there for 5pm if I tell them 3pm? I think they got the message. When I say 5pm, I mean 5pm!

Today they arrived at 4.55pm. But wouldn't you just guess? I was delayed at the sign-writers and didn't get to the salon until 5.35pm. I had to endure some jibes about keeping good time, but it was whilst they were working so I took it in good stead.

Computer says No
OMG. I nearly burst a blood vessel today in my local DIY superstore.

Yesterday I had them mix me a tin of egg-shell paint for the retail shelves and when we applied it, it did not match the wall colour at all.

This shouldn't have happened, as the colour is mixed there and then, and I asked for the same shade as we have been using on the walls.

I called the manufacturers today (Dulux) and they told me that the store had mixed the wrong base with my tint specification (should have been a medium base instead of a light base). So in our terminology, they mixed half a tube of red mix-tone with a level 9 instead of a level 7 - obviously leaving unexpected tones in the result.

I called the manager of the store who told me "No problem. Bring it back and we will mix a new one and do a swap".

Well, by the time I got there, the manager had left and I was presented with some doddery old fool who told me that "The computer says no."

According to him, their computer tells them to mix it with a light base, so therefore he not only wouldn't swap it, but wouldn't mix me a new pot with a medium base, even if I paid for it.



Well quite frankly, I lost the plot. I was almost yelling at this guy in the middle of the store. Screaming at him, "Look. This colour looks nothing like the swatch. Get a pot of medium base, put it in that machine and mix it. I'll pay for it and then I'll sort it out with either your head office or Dulux another time."

He replied, "But the computer says no. Come back tomorrow."

I started getting really stressed. And that's not good! "I NEED TO PAINT TONIGHT! JUST MIX IT FOR F*CKS SAKE".

So you know what he did? Opened my tin that I already had, painted it on a piece of paper, dried it with a hand drier and then came back and said, "Looks alright to me".

I felt like dragging him by his drab grey hair all the way back to the salon and screaming at him, "How can you say that those 2 colours match, you piss arrogant, doddery, old, tunnel visioned fool?"

Luckily though, Vince stepped in and allowed me to leave to go for a cigarette outside and calm down.

We ultimately got our paint mixed the way we requested after Vince threw a wobbler on them, but please...take a lesson from this. "Computer says no" is no answer for a frustrated customer. Computers do not make decisions, only the people programming them...and people can make mistakes. I have been left with a bad taste in my mouth about this store over a litre of paint that retails at just £11. I think I will learn from that for my own salon customers!

Friends will be friends
I have to write about this incase I forget in future. I was knackered and starving in the salon the other night, when my friend Dalite showed up at the salon completely out of the blue with a home cooked roast chicken dinner each for Vince and me! I was flabbergasted. It tasted divine; roast potatoes, chicken, sprouts, yorkshire puddings and a scrummy gravy. I really think that it's probably one of the nicest surprises anyone has ever done for me in years.

Progress...finally!
And finally, before I get off to bed, I am assuming that you will want to see if we are making any progress yet? So I took a snap of the salon tonight before I left (sorry I did not have time to mop the floor but it was VERY late), and here is what is starting to take shape. Hope you like it. I cannot wait to finish this refit!