Giving you an example…when a new Fragrance is launched at Macy’s the Fragrance Manufacture signs an “exclusive contract” with Macy’s for a 6 months period that Macy’s will have the right to market and sell that Fragrance Line “exclusively” in Macy’s for that set 6 month’s period. After that anyone can order the Fragrance to sell on the open retail market. What this does is guarantee Macy’s the “sole right” to sell that product for a set time. Macy’s uses this concept to “LURE CUSTOMERS” into their stores using this Fragrance and the “Publicity” surrounding the Launch which most likely includes a “guest appearance” from a “Celebrity”. Everyone runs to Macy’s in droves in all their Stores to get to see the Celebrity and to attain samples of the new products. Right?
This is why Im giving you here an example of how now in the Industry things need to change. We as Beauty Professionals need to learn and learn quickly the mechanics of how those who have been living off of us for years make their money. Right now you and every other Beauty Professional in the Nation do not have “any Blanket Contractual” agreements between yourselves and your suppliers.
This is what needs to change to protect your investment in Retail Inventory and your “Good Will” you are creating in your Business. It doesn’t matter if your Business is just you as a sole Independent or as a Salon owner with Staff. Today in this business world if you are retailing and you don’t have some sort of “agreement” beyond an “assumed” arrangement then you must understand your suppliers have “NO” responsibility what so ever to honor anything you may be promised.

A “Salesmen” can and will say anything today to make a commission because they understand the challenges they have to conquer everyday against “their competition” and that is other Salesmen trying to get you to represent their line of products.
You Kimberlee and all Beauty Professionals are the Queens and Kings of commerce when it comes to what you use and sell everyday in your Salon. The big problem today is you don’t know that. You Kimberlee and every Beauty Professional just like you are the single most important ingredient in the formula that makes every Salon Product Successful. No one else is more important. It is you who went through the ordeal of going through Beauty School and now out there putting “Your Good Name” on your product and that is your service and work…don’t let anyone short change you on that! You are the center of importance to your Clients who trust you and you are the only one who can move the products that needs to be sold via Salons. The time has now come in this Great Industry that all Beauty Professionals need to Unite to make this happen. Like I said before “Don’t worry” that your fellow Stylist “at this time” don’t understand. Trust me “word” travels fast in this business when something good is going on they will come around quick to your feelings. While you are understandably hurt by your neighbors actions what you need to focus on now along with belonging to the NCA is continue to care and do great things for you and your Clients. You need to rise up and go beyond your Location and realize Big events are happening in this Industry so you and every Beauty Professional needs to become a part of it for this Industry to Survive as we know it.

Never before in the History of this Industry has this ever been more important to each and every Independent Beauty Professional and is the sole basis why we need to UNITE! When I say “Unite” I mean only the Beauty Professionals “themselves” uniting. All the way from every single sole operator in every little hole and holler in this Country up to every Beauty Professional in Big Cities. And that includes you Kimberlee and everyone you know who is a Beauty Professional as well.
It’s not about who can do the best work…its about joining together for “ONE Voice”. A Nation wide Alliance of all Beauty Professionals that has Never before been seen or done in this Industry on this Grand a scale.

United if “one” of us alone has a problem then the entire “Voice” can come to your aid. You will have the backing of 1000’s behind you if necessary. Pretty cool huh? Can’t be done you say? Some might say that…But…I say it can…an will!

What Im trying to get across to you Kimberlee and all Beauty Professionals to understand is… it is “US” who have made everyone else successful with our Talents and hard daily work but now its time for the rewards to be shifted in the right direction so the profits will be flowing into our pockets and not a strangers or outside Investors. I fully understand you are proud of your Salon..Ive been there too. You should be proud for the hard work you are doing…heck, I’m proud of you and I don’t even know you…but this Industry is needing radical changes now more than ever to push it to the next level.

You are absolutely right your fellow Beauty Professionals don’t understand and why is that? All Training right now comes from primarily who? Your Suppliers who are wanting you to use and sell their products. The problem is the “middlemen” are the ones who you share your profits with. You give them what should be your profit. Do they “finance” your Retail selling? No…you do! Do they Loan you the money to buy their products? No you do! If we as Beauty Professionals were “United” and had a “direct link” to the Manufactures we would be in a better “business” position to negotiate the profits structures. If that wasn’t fully possible at least we would have a better edge on what is going on now. Diversion would be reduced because its the middlemen who are manipulating the products to your “Retail Competitors”. You mark up your product now 100%. By “wholesale price” negotiations you could end up with 125- 150% markup potential. “United” we could demand “exclusive contracts” with Manufactures to lets say…1 year with sole right to sell a new product line from any of our current suppliers we use at a “reduced wholesale price”. Why shouldn’t we have this…”We ARE THE ONES LAUNCHING” the new products …right? We now deserve what is right and that is the profits to start flowing to the “TRUE CONTRIBUTORS” OF THIS INDUSTRY…the Independent and individual …Beauty Professionals that make up this Great Industry.

Kimberlee take what I’m saying here and plant it in your mind as a seed of thought. Imagine a future of you and your fellow Beauty Professionals not only enjoying more income for you and your family but a future of knowing you have 1000’s of people tomorrow who can “back you up” in a moment of need or just a whole lot of partners in life to get you through.
I know this can and will be done…

The Future is now.

Every one of you who made comments here are right but venting here is not the only answer. If you really want to beat the Big Retailers at there own game and you really want to put the profits back into your pockets where it belongs you need to play like they do. When Home Depot and Lowe’s negotiates “wholesale pricing” for the products they sell…yes they do negotiate…they tell their “suppliers” what they are going to pay for the products from them.They don’t ask…they tell them. Their suppliers sell direct from the manufactures and give higher margins to Home Depot and Lowe’s because there is no “MIDDLE MAN”. Home Depot has the major manufactures make them products just for them to sell. A special tool, a light fixture, a toilet, whatever..its make “exclusively” for them to sell not available to any other retailer.

“United” special “Retail Products” just for you to sell could be produced by any major soap peddler with a “high margin” and not available to Longs, CVC, Safeway, etc. Made just for private Salons to sell under “contract”. And that’s only the beginning.

“United” you would be buying directly from your Manufacture and the “Diversion” problem would be gone! You would now be making more money like you should…its your Talent…and its your “Clients” right? Its your hard work and your investment money in your business right? Would you walk up to a stranger on the street and hand them “Half your profits”? Thats exactly what you are doing everyday at work right now because you don’t have the negotiating power you deserve because you are not “united” with your fellow Beauty Professionals.

If all Beauty Professionals in this Country “UNITE” as one in terms of business dealings you would see a whole new World never before seen in this Industry. As it is now every Stylist is just “one person” and that is how all your suppliers look at you. They tell you they are going to sell you a bottle of product for 50% markup…guess what? When they sell the same product to Longs, CVS, Target, Krogers, whatever…the buyers of all those companies “NEGOTIATE THE PRICE”. YES YOU ALL…Diversion is a “MYTH” you are falling for from your suppliers. These big companies don’t buy 6 bottles at a time like you do they buy “BOX CAR” Amounts “NEGOTIATED” by their buyers directly from the manufactures warehouse. The same people you get your products from. They know you don’t have access to the receiving Dept. Invoices coming in the back door of your local “Drug Store” that is selling your Salons Products next door. Play their game…sell what they sell in your waiting area or at your stations…OTC Products (over the counter)products..Bayer Asp.,eye drops, Vitamins, Band aids,Candy, tooth paste, whatever…all these products have a 100% markup and you can get these from a wholesaler just like they do. Just do it with the same “Class” you now sell everything else with. Put out your “Bling” and sell the things! These are impulse convenience items the Drugs Stores sell for a reason…”PROFITS”. IT IS YOU…and every other Stylist like you that is making the little guys “BIG” without you as their vehicle they would be lost on the shelves of Retailers. The answer is to change “HISTORY” and turn the table of power over to the Beauty Professionals themselves instead of all of you being the “PUPPETS OF THE INDUSTRY”. Without the “Talents” of each and every one of you and the “Client Base” you build yourself these suppliers wouldn’t have a dime. Collectively its all Beauty Professionals buying that is making them wealth. This is a $BILLION DOLLAR INDUSTRY…and how much of that do you get…pennies compared to those making all the money off of you. Beauty Professionals across the Nation will soon be given the opportunity to “UNITE” as one to change History. The question is…are the Beauty Professionals of this Grand Industry ready and willing to join together? Uniting would mean you as Individuals would not be alone anymore. When one speaks it would be received as Millions Speaking. Your $40 in buying power would become $40million dollars in buying power. But first something in this Industry never before presented has to happen…Unify with your fellow Beauty Professionals and change this Industry yourselves along with those you join with. When the opportunity presents itself “JOIN” and watch your power and your profits rise. Stop putting your profits in everyone else’s pockets. All of you can and will control your futures together…the first step is to JOIN and UNITE.
If you’re saying why should I? The rest who joined will say why would you not?

Don’t worry what the other guy is doing wrong…do what is right and all of that will be taken care of by the power you all will have together. You are paying your License fees to the State for the “Hair Police” to do their job…if they’re not doing their job your power will fix that too!

The question is are you ready and willing to join?
Have a Happy and Prosperous New Year!
2008 WILL BE THE DATE!