‘No matter how broke, the average woman would still do something to her hair’
-Amanda Etuk
You cannot argue with my logic whether you say she will wash it at home, she would buy the shampoo. If she is going to cut it, she would need scissors and a clipper. If she is like some people I know she would need to steam it, dye it, straighten it, relax it, install a weave, braid it etc. You get the picture. Woman must make hair. Would it not be great to be part of the industry servicing this need? Let me rephrase. Don’t you want your share of the cake?
Owning a salon in Nigeria is a very lucrative business. It is a business that can be done on the side or full time depending on your availability, goals and projection. It is also a business one can start even if you do not possess any beauty skills.
My friend and I have had this idea to set up a salon for the longest time ever. So I am sort of a self-proclaimed expert on what needs to be done. Holla Investors!
What are you drawn to about salons; the ambience? The expertise? Location? Convenience? Cost?
These are some of the factors people consider before choosing salons. The salon I currently patronize is close to home and the stylist does my hair okay at a good price. Is it fancy? No but it serves me well. You have to first think of what type of salon you want to start. What kind of clientele do you want to attract? (The sort that would cough up more than I would or the regular folks or even students).
Start by making a list of what you need which will include:
A business plan:
If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Sorry for the cliché but it is true. A business plan helps you know the pitfalls of the business before you begin. It also helps you know how much capital you have to invest.
A unique selling proposition:
What will set your salon apart from the stylists in Mushin and under bridge Ikeja? It could be customer service.
Salon equipment:
You need to invest in a standard generator, hair curlers, flat irons, hair products. You can add spa equipment to have additional services available for your customers.
Hired staff:
The idea my friend and I had was to run the business sort of in partnership with the stylists. This idea could work for you. You could simply rent out chairs in your salon and collect monthly rent from the stylist and even nail technicians. This way they are under more pressure because they would need to make extra for themselves after paying you rent. Imagine you had 5 spaces for rent at N30,000 per month that’s pretty decent. Though you would have to pay electricity and utility bills.
A location:
Do you know you can run a salon from your home if you can’t afford to rent a shop? Or offer home service if you have hair and beauty skills. You could even start making wigs and hair products to sell
No idea works except you work at it. Clients will not magically appear; you should market it to your target audience every way you can. Social media is the way to go especially these days. Push your idea, make it work.
Remember me in your kingdom.