With six locations across Western New York, new ISBN member Bangs Salon & Retail Centers offers high-end service without the high-end price—no appointment needed 7 days a week! Amazing everyday prices, plus special promos and coupons, keep the price right for their clientele.
Co-owner Rainer Hoeglmeier is a veteran of the beauty industry with expertise in distribution, marketing and product sales. His partners are Joe Freitas, a hairdresser, who brings the artistic eye to the business, and Richard Laski, the financial guru, who put the systems in place that Rainer credits with their success. “The three of us are a perfect trifecta,” he says.
The first Bangs Salon & Retail Center opened on September 11, 2001, with moderate pricing and a no-appointment concept that the company still relies on today. With locations in strip centers, clients sign in, then go shopping til a stylist can see them. Bangs specialty is hair color and the menu includes full hair care services. With huge retail areas in each location, many strip center customers first walk in to buy products, then end up becoming service clients, as well.
“Our clients like to be able to walk in on their schedules,” explains Rainer. “With today’s busy lifestyles, it’s challenging for clients to book out several months to ensure they get their color or cut on time. With our walk-in policy, we’re ready when they are.”
While Bangs marketing targets women from ages 24 to 42, what they’ve learned is that same marketing often brings in older clients, as well. “Older people want to feel young, and being with younger people helps them do that,” says Rainer.
Team-Based Pay (hourly wage plus bonus) is the compensation model for the team of 75 and having a guaranteed paycheck works for everyone—especially during the snowy winters. Even when the salon has to close due to weather, stylists are still paid. The leadership team meets with employees one-on-one twice a year for reviews and feedback. The management team includes a general manager, marketing manager, education manager and a floating manager.
Continuous education keeps the team up to date on hair color, cutting, business, retail and motivation. “We train everyone the same, so our clients are comfortable with all of our stylists,” explains Rainer. Another perk? “We’ve had stylists apply to work with us specifically because of our training program.”
Retail is a priority at Bangs Salon & Retail Centers. Key lines include Goldwell, Paul Mitchell, Matrix, L’anza, Kenra, KMS, Agadir, Amika and more. Every day, Bangs offers buy-one-get-one 50% off retail promotions to entice clients to take home more than one product. Clients can mix and match across the various lines. Bangs also offers additional promotions.
“We’re in the retail business,” says Rainer. “You’re either in or you’re not. For us, it’s a way to capture new clients when they come in to buy retail. We even have stylists from other salons come in to buy from us!”
“I’ve been so lucky, and the professional beauty industry has been so good to me,” says Rainer, who was hired by Goldwell of New York right after moving to the United States from Germany in 1988. He continues to work for the distributorship today.
Rainer is looking forward to ISBN’s Conference. “We’re currently in a holding pattern. We don’t know if we should stay at this size or get bigger,” he explains. Chances are, he will find many new colleagues who are willing to share the expertise and success stories that will help drive great decisions.
