When our salon first started implementing the Summit Salon coaching strategies, our cupboards throughout the salon looked much like Jill said — filled with a hodgepodge of products. Even on the hair side of the salon the storage areas were a mess, with several different color lines and a multitude of styling products.  Our area on the nail side was also filled with products that were not being used and various scents that would get used a few times and then put aside for a new flavor of the month.

It took us a while to use up those products and to get our stock situation organized.  Even on the hair side we had to choose a line that would meet our needs and get rid of all the mumbo jumbo of things that were being used sporadically, if at all.  Initially, as we discussed last week, our product budget was out of control.  We had more than one person doing the ordering, so it was confusing and things got ordered multiple times or not at all.  Once we learned how to organize our inventory and put one person in charge of ordering products on both the hair and spa sides of the salon we were able to almost immediately bring the budget down drastically. Now we only stock what we actually use, and store it with a place for everything and everything in its place. 

In the beginning our use was also overboard in the whole salon.  This has now been addressed and each member of the salon team is aware of how much product they actually need and uses the appropriate amount. This in concert with proper inventory control has brought our budget to what it should be for our salon.  We even often come in under budget and are able to use the money saved for upgrades to our department. 

— Sandy