Comments on: Health Insurance for Salons

by: Brenda

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 21:37:28 +0000

I strongly belive in providing insurance health benefits to my emplyees .Beacouse I do I dont have any turnover. My staff is dedicated to their profesion and they love what they do. I dont understand why so many salons dont provide this important benefit . U.S is the wealtiest country in the world yet 40 milion Americans dont have insurance. Shame on eployers.shame on the emplyoees to accept to work in a place without proper benefits.
Brenda

by: jonathon

Sun, 28 Oct 2007 03:53:16 +0000

Survival of the fittest.Being fit for business in mind, body and spirit will lead us into the future.We cannot depend on others to provide an inflation proof retirement plan.Unify!

by: Diane

Sat, 27 Oct 2007 14:26:12 +0000

I am so impressed with Jonathon and Craig’s interaction here. You are discussing the evolution of the beauty professional and profession in a similar way that the real estate agent/broker relationship changed over time. Once the beauty professional understands their worth, the salon owners will suffer from not moving forward with their concept of a salon. The hourly worker and the salon owns the client concept will disappear and some salon owners will fail. Those that take Jonathon’s approach of partnership with the professional and the owner to promote growth and provide great quality service will be successful in the future. Take the Starbuck’s model as an unusual example to apply here but ownership works. When the professionals own their client and all are in it to be successful, salon and professional both benefit. Try it, there are good examples out there. As a CPA and Business Strategy Consultant I created a marketing set of tools called Cosmo Success Kit to get in the hands of these professionals to promote their business and the salon. That’s the key.

by: jonathon

Fri, 26 Oct 2007 03:50:19 +0000

It is the constant supply of workers being milled out by beauty schools that keeps the prices of services down.There is always the hungry hairdresser willing to compete on price points for a fast buck rather than build a business based on ownership and cooperative long term financial and business relationships.The only way to strengthen our industry is to provide a slice of the pie for everyone. This concept is very foriegn to most people. In fact, who would even think to look for such benefits.This type of the salon is able to bless the community by demonstrating that such ventures are possible and through funneling of funds for the benefit of local nonprofits.Financial stability through ownership of real estate and business deveopement that flourishes because of mutual benefits for all.This same type of business model can be constructed for product companies as well.Hairdressers and salon owners could be issued stock on a percentage of sales.Every thing is possible.Take care.

by: Craig Beckett

Fri, 26 Oct 2007 03:03:37 +0000

I’m a bit confused. The average salon in America is very small - 3 or 4 stylists and i bet few even bother to incorporate. In our area there are more independent contracters then employees these days. I’m for the little guy but maybe we could learn something from the corporations on how to run better businesses. Seems that maybe what’s wrong with salons and stylists is that we dont think like business people enough. I do agree that if there is one group that fits your description it would be chain salons.

by: jonathon

Tue, 23 Oct 2007 18:52:02 +0000

Pardon me.Modern slave would be more like it.Just a metaphor to illustrate the differences in economics created by the impersonal corporations which are the true managers of this industry.Solution: all workers must participate in ownnership of whatever segment of the industry segment they are in.Corporate ownersip must be expanded to give workers equity in their labor as a long term benefit to the commitment made to the “company”. Anyway, I welcome your freedom of speech on this one.

by: craig beckett

Tue, 23 Oct 2007 03:25:20 +0000

I think you are misunderstanding what being a salon owner is about. The failure rate is quite high and the profit margins low for most. Small business is a tough world to live in these days - owner or employee. So pitting one against the other is not the solution. Also, painting all with the same brush in unfair to all and does not show the true picture. This is an industry with many options. There is no right or wrong. And the ’slave’ analogy is in poor taste, sorry.

by: jonathon

Tue, 23 Oct 2007 02:31:51 +0000

Keep it simple.Slaves and owners, if you’re not an owner you are the slave.That’s why hairdressers build up “their” clientele and run out the door. They just want to be an owner.Ownership and opportunity are not instantaneous in this industry.There is always the possibility that you could lose your assistant position even after you put in your time and endured abuse at the hands of the owners. The carrot of success is contantly dangling from the corporate haircutting world that is luring young hairdressers into hard work and loser insurance programs.By the time these newbies know what they’re doing, it’s time for a new career before they lose their tiny one bedroom from eviction after the boyfriend moved out, because he couldn’t take all the complaining about physical aches and pains from cutting for nine hours a day.The salon manager, of course just tells you everybody has something to complain about so change your attitude.By the time you work youself up the ladder to salon ownership you’ll realize that unless you own the real estate all you own is furniture and a business plan.Clients , hairdressers, opportunity and fame will come and go.You are only as good as your last haircut.We all need to be owners not slaves.However, our industry is a is fair example of what is going on in the world.Look around, you might actually sense that there is an economic collapse coming.It’s time for the owners to collect.Say goodbye to SSI, that 401k, it’s going away.That home you say you own, the bank is who you pay.All these rising medical costs are due to a weakened US$.Did your haircut prices go up 140% in the last six years?Anyway,educate yourself because the owners already know what is up.Happy slaving!

by: barbara

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 04:00:47 +0000

I work for a MAJOR player in our industry. I currently work for a brand new corporate cosmetology school. The leader of our corporation, along with a few of the other corporate level big wigs arrived for our grand opening on a private jet. One of them had on a diamond watch I would expect to see on a rapper. This company supports several charities across the country. Yet, we don’t have health insurance. What is wrong with this picture? Our mission statement is “when people first, success will follow.” Exactly which people do they mean besides the ones at the top of the corporate ladder?

by: Diane

Sat, 13 Oct 2007 14:05:43 +0000

Health Savings Accounts and Health Reimbursement Accounts are really the way to go for the industry. The NCA should be working with companies like CIGNA so that salons can join forces and create a nationwide program spreading the risk rates accross the over 1.6 million professional. Since most salons believe that they own the clients vs. the professionals I believe the should take the lead here. Another fee on the customer when rates have increased for services considerably over the last few years may drive some customers to alternative ways of getting service or eliiminating services all together. Just think of the cost of bi-weekly nail service and every 6 week hair appointments - for me I need another mortgage payment just to take care of my hair and nails and I am part of the industry! The government is not the answer, private Health Savings and Health Reimbursement Accounts are the answer. Mention this to any CIGNA representative. At CFO Rising West, sponsored by CFO Magazine, the CIGNA presentation was brilliant and exactly what major industries can utilize to create insurance programs for their professionals.