School of Architecture, Building and Design Foundation in Natural Build Environment
School of Architecture, Building and Design Foundation in Natural Build Environment
School of Architecture, Building and Design Foundation in Natural Build Environment
Recommendation
Ho Zi Yan
Yong Ai Yi
LECTURER:
SUBMISSION DATE: 15 Jan 2016
PRESENTATION DATE: 22 Jan 2015
Page Number
No
.
TITLE
Key Summary
4-5
Description of Businesses
6-8
Comparative Analysis
Recommendation
9-16
17-18
Bibliography
19
Appendices
20-27
References
28
Key Summary
We have done our research on two similar businesses, which are hair
salon. One of the hair salon that we have chosen are Swiss, which is located
at Klang, Selangor. We have interviewed the owner of Swiss, Kelly. From the
interview, we get to know how Kelly operates and runs the business so
successfully. The other hair salon we chose is P & L hair salon, located at
Seremban, Negeri Sembilan. We have interviewed the two owners which are
operated by husband and wife partnership. They found this business without
any workers. We feel proud with their insistences and confidences. We have
learned how some obstacles affect their business as well as how they face
and solve the problems. Between these two businesses, we found that there
are major contrast on how they manage to run and maintain a business.
Before going for an interview, we have to call to their shops in order to
make an appointment with him or her. We have prepared approximately 20
questions in order to help us to collect and gather the information about the
businesses. After we have done the interview, we start to do our reports
using the information and knowledge we have learned from the visit.
Hair Salon seems like a very simple and easy business, but it requires a
lot of time to improve and maintain the skill and technique of barbering. To
retain the customers, owner has to find the ways to fight against the
competitors in the competitive market nowadays.
At the end of the 1800s, the transition from barber shops to salons are
all over the world. However, women were still styling their hair by their
servants. Salons started advertising in a big way to get women out of their
homes. Around this time, a self-made entrepreneur Martha Matilda Harper
opened the first public salon called The Harper Hair Parlor. She invented the
salon recliner chair, but never patented her invention. She started training
schools and employed the girls in her salon.
From the 19th centuries to 20th centuries, the demand of hairdressing
have been increased doubly in every year. Beauty salons became the go-toplace for women to escape from their mundane lives. All people, no wonder
the ages and gender, need to visit the salon and barber shops every month
to have your hair cut. The business of hairdressing became popularized
among the society.
The hairdressing industry in Malaysia is gaining popularity amongst the
younger generations. An increase in the establishment of hair salons in
Malaysia has made the market in the hairdressing industry much more
competitive. To gain high profits, the price of services such as colouring,
bleaching and rebonding cost a lot, ranging from hundreds to thousands and
above. It can be concluded that, nowadays, the youths in Malaysia are willing
to spend vast amounts of money for their hair, making the hairdressing
industry increasingly popular.
P & L Salon
The hair salon that we decided to interview in Negeri Sembilan goes by
the name of P & L Salon. This salon is owned by a man and a woman called
James Lee and Apple Peng, who happens to be in a husband and wife
relationship. The salon was established since the year 1994. P&L Salon is a
home based salon. They had a shop at first, but after the raise of price in
rental and model due to the implementation of GST, they planned to do a
home base salon and moved half a year ago in order to continue their role as
a hairstylist.
The owner, James Lee, took his first step towards the path of
hairdressing at the age range between 18 to 20. During the early stage in
1984, James went to Thailand and worked as a hairstylist. He started to gain
experiences and skills about hairdressing. After he graduated from high
school, he decided not to further his studies. This was because he realized
the excitement he has when he deals with hair salon and that his passion
had been excavated. When he first met with Apple Peng, they were working
in a same hair salon. They discovered lots of knowledge about the industry
together. During their time working together, they found many similarities
between the both of them. What first start of as mutual liking became
mutual loving. Soon, James and Apple had marriage and decided to establish
their own hair salon. They had nothing at first, no diploma, nor certificates as
their families were poor and unfortunately, they could not get loan for
education. They have no education but still had to earn a living. Therefore,
they chose to take up hairdressing skills which was initially their hobby, to
make profit. However, they had insufficient funds to accomplish that too.
Luckily, they managed to raise enough money with the assistance of
relatives and friends. They finally established their own hair salon, P&L Salon
in 1994. James is the key founder of this hair salon.
It has been approximately 25 years since they set up their hair salon,
James & Apple did not expand their business to a franchise. They just need a
hair salon for just the two of them and also have a proper job with loving
passions. Besides, they didnt employ people because they have only a small
salon and he also said that the pay for a hairdresser is very high. They need
to try their best to minimize the costs while maintaining their salon. Both of
them had the experience, the skills and techniques of hairdressing that is
suitable for the customers. So, they gained the loyalty and trust from their
customers which led to an increase in the consistency of their customers.
His career is his hobby, to make people beautiful on the outside. When their
customers are happy with their hairstyles, they would also feel happy within.
They feel accomplished after making people satisfied with their skills. P & L
Salon is their livelihood and also their achieved target.
The second strong competitor is Depelo Hair Salon, which is just the
second shop beside Swiss. Depelo is a stylish salon with modern and elegant
interior design which gives the customers a comfy and enjoying surrounding.
The soft and relaxing music releases are played throughout the salon,
attracting many customers. Most of their customers are young adults
because most of their hairdresser are aged similar with the young adults
which is between 18 to 30. They are often concerning and exploring the most
fashionable hairstyle in every season. Therefore, they could content the
demand and expectation of a young adult.
focus on its customers. Kelly, the owner feel that the attitude and behavior to
a customer is most important in order to maintain the result of business.
They will also provide professional suggestion on the types of haircuts they
should give a try. Sometimes, they feel pleasant if the customers recommend
their salon to their friends and relatives.
The nature of the market of Swiss Hair Salon is perfectly competitive as
the number of hair salon in Klang is really high, where competitors compete
with each other to attract new potential customers. This market also lacks of
monopoly, which means when one business controls the whole market.
Secondly, this salon is named after his own name, Raymond Hair & Beauty
Salon. This salon has beautiful interior design inside the shop itself. It is true
that customers are attracted by the modernized design of it as it draws
attention. People who visit the place would recommend their friends and
relatives to go there because it also provides friendly services. However, the
salon sells its products at a much higher price than any other shops.
Thirdly, the third salon is the One & One Salon. This salon is located
at two streets away from P&L Salon. It has received popularity because of
the extra services that they provide such as pedicure and manicure services.
Nowadays, youngsters are more likely to do manicures because it beautifies
our fingers and it keeps our fingers in a good state. There is not much shops
that includes manicure and pedicure services, but this salon has provided.
Customers always come back again and again for hair treatment and also
manicure.
Summary Table
Swiss
Differences
2010
1994
females
One branches, which is Branches
just located behind the
first-founded salon
space
waiting customers
for
None
Local customers,
some are from
Kuala Lumpur
Families
of Products Variety
task,
to
workers
provide
all
Latest music
Music System
Radio music
Facilities
old.
High
Low
Establish
branches
Shop Lot
Prices
Location
are
None
visually
Recommendation
Like every business has its strong advantage point, every business also
has its down point. Those down points became a major setback in pulling
down the full potential and capability of the businesss profit. After
interviewing the salon owners, knowing their background and also their
environment, we come out with some suggestions that can make
improvements to their business.
SWISS SALON
The first salon we interviewed was a hair salon named Swiss located in
Klang, Selangor. Throughout the interview, we find that there were some
things the salon could change to make the salon more approachable. One of
the suggestion we gave was to renovate the salon. We saw that the salon
is quite old and although it has been renovated before, the floors havent
been covered up with suitable tiles, just plain cement. Proper tiles should be
installed to make the place look brand new and cleaner. Cleanliness is very
important as nobody would want to come to a dirty salon. Besides that, we
feel that the place is a little bit dim. Proper lightings should be used so that
the environment of the salon would look brighter and more lively. That way,
more customer would be likely to walk into the salon.
Furthermore, we feel that the salon is lack of things to entertain the
waiting customers or other customers. For example, there is only a sofa
placed for the waiting customer. That is barely enough when peak season
arrived such as Chinese New Year, Deepavali and Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Or,
when a mother is straightening her hair and asked her daughter to wait for
her at the sofa, her daughter will most probably be bored to death. Thats
why I think there should be more entertainment. For starters, they should
have a larger waiting area. In that waiting area, there should be reading
material that can be read by people of any age like newspaper, storybooks,
magazine and more. There could probably be a television for the customer
who waits. Moreover, proper music can be played during the hair sessions to
ensure the salon is more lively and enjoyed by both waiting customer and
occupying customer.
Another recommendation is that there should be more stylist on
duty. Although booking services are a good way to manage time, what if
there is more customer who wants to book the same time? If you take in a
customer, then u must reject another customers booking. That means the
salon would lose another customer. And that customer might look for other
salons and hairstylist to cut, straighten or colour his or her hair. Then, this
would cause less customer to book the salons time and the customers would
then disperse. Therefore, effective measures should be implemented. They
Blibiography
Lewis, W. (2002). Hair Affair. Quadrille Publishing Limited.
Hatton, P. (1990). Foundation Hairdressing. Blackwell Scientific Publications.
Tezak, E. (2012). Successful Salon & Spa Management. Erin O'Connor.
Moren, S. (2004). The Ultimate Guide To Spa & Salon Ownership.
Brondt, C. (2009). Read Research and Write.
Marsh, C., Guth, D., & Short, B. (2012). Strategic Writing.
Appendices
We were able to interview two salons after a couple of rejection of
other business. We tried many other businesses but failed to interview them.
This two hair saloons bosses are friends of member in the group thats why
we were able to get them to interview for our English project. Here are some
photos and interview Q&A that we took in both shops:
Interior of the
salon
A photo of a member
interview the owner
of the salon
Interview session
The regular costuer and the owner
Certificates
Certifications
10. Who are your usual customers? Where do they usually come from? (Are they locals
or foreign customers?
Mostly Chinese. The people who come in various age group. ( usually one whole family
goes to the same salon). They come at least one month time, some they do treatment.
Costumers recommend friends to come so we also have people from kl come over here.
Or even overseas, they come back and do their hair.
11. How many customers you have for each day?
Roughly 10 costumers. Weekend usually has more people than weekdays.
12. How many employees are there in this hair salon?
We have no workers, because we are a small salon and to minimize the cost. The pay for
a hairdresser is very high.
13. How many facilities approximately are there in this salon?
We have 4 sits in their home base salon and one to wash hair.
14. Is there any other branch or franchise of this hair salon?
No.
Activity
Study of the brief
Business selection
Appointment
Remark
We go through the brief on
the task
We choose on (siew pau)
bakery shop at first. We
picked two places which is
Seremban
and
Klang
valley.
We called up the shop but
got rejected.
Activity
Business reselection
Appointment
Business reselection
Appointment
Remarks
Optic shop. A member of
ours has contact within
Klang valley
We called up optic shop in
Seremban and again, got
rejected by many shops
A member has some
contacts within Klang and
Seremban
Klang
appointment
made on Monday
Seremban appointment
made on Wednesday
Reference
The Rise of Hair Salons Through the Ages. (2014, June 23). Retrieved from
http://www.curioushistory.com/the-rise-of-hair-salons-through-the-ages
Hairstyling Tool. (n.d.). Retrieved February 28, 2009, from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hairstyling_tool
The Shaving Historical Timeline. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://haircuttingstories.net/Story/SingleStory/55b83e96e8f05328db60702d
Schmidt, J. (n.d.). The History of Hairdressing. Retrieved from
http://www.datehookup.com/singles-content-looking-your-best-the-history-ofhairdressing.htm
Small Business Interview Questions. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://condor.depaul.edu/pkemp/businterviewq.htm
The qualities, knowledge, and skills it takes to be a successful hairdresser.
(n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.hairdressersinsurance.org.uk/hairdresserskills.html
Advanced cutting techniques. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://hairdressing.ac.uk/lessons/howtocuthair/advancedcuttingtechniques.ht
ml
6 Smart Hair Styling Tools. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/hair/hair-styling-tools
MHA Home. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.mha.org.my/home/
The 21 Best Short Hairstyles and Haircuts To Try Now. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.marieclaire.com/beauty/hair/g409/short-hair-how-to-hairstyles/