Do You Have a Wicked Problem?
You may have a Wicked Problem if you are unsatisfied with your answers to any of the following questions:
- Is your website up-to-date and relevant? Do you know how to utilize it to help you make money and fill your appointment book?
- Are you effectively managing your social media accounts, like Facebook and Twitter, to attract new customers and grow your business?
- If products aren’t exclusive anymore and you can’t use products or services as your unique point-of-difference…what else is there?
- How can you retain and keep an educated, driven staff?
- With all the competition in the area how can you be unique and tell a different story that is all your own?
- Should you use Groupon or not? Do you know what marketing methods will work best for you?
- What do you do when your retail to service ratio is down and you need to generate more retail sales?
- As a beauty professional with extensive experience in services, where do you turn to for the business and marketing knowledge that you need to control the business?
You Are Not Alone
You’d be surprised by the number of clients we work with who have the very same problems. Our industry is evolving. Once upon a time, opening your salon or spa in a populated area, in a prime location, and putting up a sign was more than sufficient to launch a sustainable business. But times have changed…with an ever increasing number of competitive businesses all working to carve out their own customer base, it’s become harder and harder to assure a profitable business. The wants and desires of clients also continue to evolve. From the unique needs of today’s male clients to the demands of hyper-connected young business professionals to issues of product diversion, staff recruitment and training, the need to offer unique products and services all make it more and more difficult for today’s small businesses owner to be different, keep clients for a lifetime and continue to attract new ones. Sometimes the root cause of these problems lies in one or more of the following:
- Increasing number of salons and spas in the area, siphoning business away that may otherwise be walking in off the street
- High staff turnover
- Low customer retention rates increasing the need to market to more and clients just to keep even
- The Recession and all that has changed since
- Lack of a predetermined marketing and promotional calendar
- A stagnant, predictable service menu
- An overly complicated service menu
- An old, outdated website or no website at all
- Not using social media to its full potential
- Limited business and marketing knowledge to make your business successful
- Lack of software and technology to automate and streamline processes and help follow up and communicate with clients
- Needing help defining brand and corporate message and image
- Needing to set your company apart to gain recognition and interest
- Lack of personal insight into all that is possible in terms of support and options
- A Living Brand on life support
Here’s where we come in. We are an enclave of talented, imaginative and experienced innovators who help entrepreneurs and visionaries within the beauty industry breathe new life into their Living Brand. We help your brand to walk, run, love and be loved. Whatever your Wicked Problem, the team at Élan Marketing and Events will offer a variety of solutions customized and tailored to the unique needs of your business.
