Buying Your Salon Equipment: Tips For New Owners
Opening your first salon is a big step and can feel like a dream come true. One of the main steps at the beginning of this process is buying all of the salon equipment you'll need, from chairs to washing sinks. The right equipment makes for an efficient, well-decorated salon -- but how do you go about choosing the right equipment?
1. Buy good-quality used chairs over cheap, new ones.
The chairs are perhaps the most important piece of equipment in your salon. Your customers will spend the majority of their visit in the chairs, and if the chair is not comfortable, the entire experience will be less enjoyable for them. High-end chairs are generally worth the price tag since they are not only more comfortable but also more durable and easy to clean. Do not buy chairs at the low end of the cost spectrum. Those $100 chairs are cheap for a reason. If you're on a tight budget, buy used high-end chairs instead. You'll pay a fraction of the cost of their "new" price, and you probably won't get the protection of the warranty, but your guests will be comfy!
2. Stick with one brand.
You may be tempted to jump from brand to brand, cherry-picking the best chairs from one brand and a good washing station from another. But every brand has its own aesthetic, and if you bring in too many different brands, your salon will develop an inconsistent, non-cohesive look. Find a brand you like and stick with it -- even if one or two of their pieces is a little less ideal.
3. Choose pre-assembled items when possible.
Especially when ordering your equipment online, pay close attention to how much assembly is required. Equipment that requires a lot of assembly is not usually worth the cost savings since you'll have to spend a lot of hours putting it together -- those are hours you don't always have when opening a salon!
4. Understand the return process.
This is more applicable when buying new equipment than used, but make sure you understand what equipment can be returned, and what can't. You don't want to order a wash station, get it into your salon, find out that it's too big, and be unable to return it. Measure very, very carefully if you are buying something that is not returnable!
With the tips above, you should have an easier time buying salon equipment. For more information, contact a company like Top Salon Furniture.