In my opinion - Professional Products

Hairdressing relies on supplier relationships. Our suppliers (Wella, L'Oreal, Schwartzkopf, etc.) provide us with not only our colours, bleaches and peroxides, but also their own professional ranges of shampoos, conditioners and treatments. Add to this that they are also our primary source of post-qualification training and education and you see how important this relationship is.

Competition comes in many forms, and perhaps I've become flippant over the years but competition from other salons does not bother me in the least. Competition brings market-led pricing and a general improvement in industry standards (at least at a local level). I also expect and accept competition from suppliers for profit margin - that's what business is about. What does annoy me, however, is that the suppliers we work so closely with are also our high-street competitors - walk into any chemist and those same brands are on the colouring, shampoo and conditioner shelves PLUS they get better placement in magazines and higher promotion budgets. Now that just seems a little rude.

It's true that if you trace the ownership of almost every salon brand you'll find it's owned by a huge multinational which also has chemist products in its portfolio, but let's at least choose brands with no high street equivalents. So I'm calling to salon owners everywhere - let's vote with our feet! It's not our job to build brand awareness and give professional credibility to these dreadful products (leave that to Myleene, Davina and the rest of their breed!). Let our shelves be filled with exclusive, salon-only brands and ditch those with copy-cat nasties lurking in 3-for-2 land. Our customers deserve better!

Phil x