Stylists Aren't Just for Celebrities Anymore - [read]
Everyone knows that celebrities who slink down a red carpet have had their clothes, makeup, jewelry, handbag and hair vetted by a professional stylist. Stylists like Rachel Zoe and Robert Verdi have become famous enough to land their own cable TV shows. But there's an entire branch of the business of styling that never appears at a movie premiere or Oscar ceremony. Female executives and entrepreneurs--and the just-plain-busy or those in need of fashion guidance--often turn to stylists to improve or update their look and wardrobe.  Do you (or does someone on your staff) have the fashion savvy needed to provide fashion and style tips or even assistance as an add-on service to clients to help move them to the next level professionally?  - forbes.com

Build Business and Big ROI with Wax - [read]
Waxing services are in high demand, and offering them to your clients can bring in a lot of money for a very small up-front investment: a single can of wax can yield up to $900 in professional service revenue. - skininc.com

Sound good? First you’ve gotta know what you’re doing!

Don't miss our first-ever interactive waxing class on Monday July 20 from 10 AM - 2 PM in Renton, WA led by Jessica Campbell, 12-year waxing veteran and owner of Spa Scotta, who will give you tips and tricks to get you started in waxing or enhance your existing expertise. The class begins with a discussion of waxing techniques and methods for making waxing treatments lucrative for your salon, followed by a hands-on application practice session and ending with a Brazilian waxing demonstration.

Body Language Decoded: Why Good Manners may be Holding You Back - [read]
Every twirl of your hair, crossed leg or micro-expression gives off a message. Learn how to take control over how people view you. - forbes.com

Find Your Blind Spot - [read]
How you make a decision is every bit as important as what you decide, says author Tom Davenport. Leaders often take the path that's most comfortable for them, he notes, instead of relying on data and logic to help them make the call. While it's important for leaders to become more analytical, he says, they also need to realize that most other people don't base their decision-making on rational processes. - wallstreetjournal.com

Employee Incentives on a Shoestring Budget - [read]
We have heard enough bad news to last a while; but what can you do to improve morale without spending a lot of money? Here are a few low cost alternatives that might inspire you with ideas to reward your staff. - fastcompany.com

What Might Be Too Touchy Feely - Even in the Salon - [read]
In an industry that requires high-touch, a few thoughts on the more touchy-feely aspects of the job. Every workplace seems to have at least one “toucher”—someone constantly doling out hugs, shoulder rubs or high fives. Some people hate this attention and quickly put an end to it. For better or worse, that leaves a lot more love for the rest of us. - wallstreetjournal.com

'Buy Local' Campaigns Can Protect from Recession - [read]
Buy-local campaigns can succeed when customers understand that "dollars stay home" when they support independent companies in their communities.  A survey released in January by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, a Minneapolis nonprofit research group, found that community efforts can often at least protect independent companies from the worst of the recession. Independent retailers in cities with buy-local campaigns saw holiday sales drop 3.2% from the previous year, compared with 5.6% in cities without them. There are about 100 such campaigns across the country, the group estimates. - wallstreetjournal.com

Add On Services? How About Add On Marketing- [read]
Just as you create add-on menus in the salon and spa, you can create an “Add-On Marketing Strategy” to help you discover new clients, pool resources with other business owners, build business, and increase profitability.
- Elizabeth Brown, Be InPulse Marketing and Design, 12monthsofmarketing.net

NAHA Finalists Announced - [read]
Don't miss the 20th Annual NAHA Awards as part of the best industry event of the year - PBA Symposium, July 19, 2009 beginning at 6:30 PM at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV. Register online to attend the Awards only or for the entire Symposium, and view the Finalist's portfolios online. - probeauty.org

“Good plans shape good decisions.
That's why good planning helps to make elusive dreams come true. "
- Lester R. Bittell, The Nine Master Keys of Management