Salon owners and beauty manufacturers are increasingly facing competition from online suppliers, who are offering easily accessible goods at cut prices.
Retailing represents between 10% and 30% of turnover for most salons, so the products stocked are critical. However, salons are are constantly coming up against less scrupulous suppliers selling professional brands to cheap online companies. These suppliers are lured by large volumes and offer commercially
unviable prices to retailers, which is a cause of concern for the professional
retail market.
Salon owners need to be aware of what they are up against and prepare to be undercut by online outfits. Customers are ever more price-conscious, particularly in this economic climate.
If you work in a salon, it's worth asking suppliers what their policy is. You have a choice whether or not to stock the products.