How to Grow a Single Salon into a Chain
Every salon owner’s desire is to grow their business and duplicate their success. How easy or difficult is this to achieve? Can the success of one salon be replicated? India’s top salon chain leaders came together to discuss this important topic and share their success mantra for achieving your growth goals at the Stylespeak Beauty Conference in April 2024.
The Panel Discussion Chair Rahul Bhalachandra Co-Founder YLG Salon, opened by introducing the Panelists C.K. Kumarvel Co-founder Naturals Salon with 787 salons, Sneh Kotecha CEO of JCB and Bounce Salons (48 salons) and Mukul Pawar Founder LookWell Salons (26 salons).
1.Planning for Growth
The panel discussion threw light on the aspects that made their business grow substantially.
Rahul Bhalchandra: How did you start on your growth path?
Sneh Kotecha: JCB started as just an investment for us – we were the promoters. But as the business progressed, my personal interest grew and I became very passionate about the business.
We started in 2007 as a single 3 storey salon, now in 2024 we are 48! The 1st salon gets all the attachment and love, but then comes the rationale and business sense! Once we decide our business model, concept, and vision for the business to scale, the numbers start growing. To go from 1 to 50 is the slow, tough part.
C K Kumaravel: We began Naturals in 2000 with the goal of keeping Veena self employed and making Rs. 60K per month. Success comes in stages. As an entrepreneur, we want to stand on our own feet, create a self-identity and ensure a good lifestyle and comfort for the family. But as the business grows, priorities change and your responsibility gets reversed – the Customer comes 1st, Employee is 2nd, Vendor/Supplier 3rd, Financial Institution the 4th, Regulators the 5th, and finally 6th, is you – the Entrepreneur!
When you balance these six stakeholders in this priority, business does well. This is my learning.
Mukul Pawar: LookWell was founded in 1996 by my mother. Although I am an engineer by profession, and I was interested in this business, my parents took some convincing to allow me to join them. I joined full time in 2014, we opened our 2nd salon, and there was no looking back.
We always open on the ground floor. My intention was to start a LookWell salon every 3 kilometers so that the customers saw the brand repeatedly, and it helped us build the brand. This is how we grew – keeping the customer centric point of view.
2.Challenges and opportunities
Rahul: How do you trace the timeline of your growth?
CKK: When we started the 1st salon in Chennai, we had no clue of the business. That was a blessing as there were no rules to follow – we didn’t know the rules! l Take advantage of whatever you don’t have money, skills, or business knowledge. We took the opportunity, and grew by leaps and bounds.
Sneh: I didn’t even dream of being in this profession, being from a family in finance. But once we knew what market we wanted to cater to, there was no looking back. The 1st salon in Bandra was a 3 storey building. We knew we wanted to be ‘luxury’, focus on top quality and the best hygiene without compromise right from the outset. After some time business sense prevails, and the knowledge of responsibilities; and then we know how to do it better. It’s been a learning, and a journey.
Rahul: Key factors that contributed towards your success?
Sneh: No compromise! Either on product quality, hygiene, education, training, or ambience. “We should cater to the market and meet client expectations.
Mukul: A LookWell salon every 3 kilometers – dominate a territory! A lot of SOPs – from customer services to education.
CKK: If you dream big, you become big! “Business models to unlock the hidden potential using technology are going to be the new winners”.
3.Success through Leadership
The Panel Discussion concluded with views on leadership.
Sneh felt that the term ‘leader’ has to be earned and can’t be self-conferred. “ You show Leadership when you take care of every stakeholder in the company from employee onwards”.
For Mukul, ‘Leadership’ is being courageous and responsible – from a broader perspective. “A leader is someone who can make decisions for everyone”.
C K Kumaravel summed it up well with “If your actions inspire other people to dream more, to do more and become more, then you are a real leader”. We want the entire industry to do well. Together let us build a beautiful India.”
The Panel Discussion concluded with the appreciative delegates wanting more!
