With part-time training, flexible working hours and the option for self-employment, the hair and beauty industry can fit around your lifestyle right from the very beginning. During your time at The Norwich School of Hair & Beauty, you’ll learn everything to help you set up your own career path, from the technical expertise right through to the employment skills. And, as part of your course, you’ll also learn the essential business tips that can help you start your own company.
Here, Andrew Dark, Director and Co-Owner of Custom Planet, gives his five top tips to help you brand your own beauty business.
Creating your own business can be very rewarding, and it also gives you full flexibility over your work. If becoming a self-employed sounds like the job for you, your branding is going to be very important to your success, so here are my five top tips to help you get started.
Decide on a name
Creating a name and logo is an essential starting point for your business. It develops brand recognition and gives you a chance to get across your brand values. It’s often said that your business name is the shortest version of your company’s story, so you’ll want to think about the message you’re looking to convey to your customers. For instance, if your focus is on all-natural products, you could pick a name reminiscent of plants and nature.
Try to stay away from names that have no context or clear link to your expertise, as this can be confusing and those who see it won’t fully understand what it is you do. It’s also wise to avoid using your own name for your business— unless it’s very unusual — as this can make it difficult for you to find a free URL for your website and you can find yourself lost in a sea of similarly named companies.
Design your logo
Once you have your name, it’s time to start creating your logo. There are a few things you’ll need to bear in mind here. Again, you’ll need to think of the message you want to convey to your audience, but you’ll also want to think about your name and company colours, too.
Your logo needs to fit seamlessly with your brand name, so pick something relevant. But remember that the best logos are usually the simplest, so try not to go overboard with the graphics. Staying with the nature example, you could choose a leaf logo and have a specific focus on green as your company colour.
Order your branded uniforms
Any professional needs the perfect uniform, so when you’re looking into buying yours, consider going for ones that fit in-line with your brand. This means finding uniforms that follow your company colours and adding your name and logo to each garment. If your company colours are very specific, black or white tunics work well for a luxurious beauty therapist feel and any logo can usually stand out against these backgrounds.
Make use of websites and social media
The internet is a great tool for you to advertise your business and develop your brand. Think about which social media pages your customers will be on and which will allow you to show off your work best. For example, makeup artists do very well on Instagram, where they can post and share pictures of their happy customers.
Brand voice is also important, and it’s something you need to think about when you’re creating your website and social media pages. Do you want to be friendly and informal? Do you want to create a sense of calmness and serenity? Consider what your brand is and what your customers will expect from you, and tailor your content and comments to this.
Advertise at trade fairs
Trade fairs are great for businesses because they allow you to get your name out to like-minded people and establish yourself as a brand. Think about who would want your services: you could consider attending wedding trade shows, as well as hair and beauty exhibitions, to target bridal party clients. These are also a great way to make business connections, so other companies that offer a different service can recommend you to their clients.
For trade fairs, it helps to have a selection of marketing and promotional materials, like business cards and roller banners, to give your pitch a professional look. You could even consider giving away relevant products with your branding on them that your potential customers can use in their day to day lives, like lip balms.
Whatever your skill, the tips in this guide can help you to develop your beauty brand. Soon you’ll be well on your way to creating your own business!
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