Getting Candid on Color Waste
Thinking of imaginative strategies to cut color waste at the five-strong Gordon Salon group in Chicago, IL, wasn’t difficult for the team leaders. Introducing individual waste jars and rewarding those with the least left-over color proved effective… for a while. Then there was the “swear jar” campaign, threatening to fine stylists a token quarter for every 50g of waste. It was fun while it lasted, but like almost all strategies to reduce waste, it fizzled out as the team returned to the systems that worked best for them in a busy, demanding environment.
It frustrated owners Tony and Pam Gordon, who opened their first salon in 1999. The group is renowned for its sustainability, especially when it comes to general waste. Non-recycled, non-recyclable plastic is all but banned. The minimal waste they produce is processed by a sustainable salon waste specialist. Even the award-winning new build-outs of the salons carried out over the past five years have included recycled materials.
The Software Solution
But despite the campaigns and extensive education, Tony and Pam couldn’t find a lasting solution for the color waste. The group adopted the POS software Zenoti, and shortly after began exploring solutions to color waste that could work seamlessly alongside the technology. Cue Vish, an easy choice for Tony and Pam.
”In the quest for significant reductions in waste and supply costs, Vish stands out in the efforts to achieve both environmental and business goals,” says Tony. “Its easy integration with our Zenoti software makes it even easier to hone in on the perfect formulas, ensuring our color purchases are modifying to world-class standards of efficiency."
At the end of the first 12 months, the team cut the value of color dispensed per service by $3.20, saving the group $15k in product costs, and reducing waste per service by $2.95, the equivalent of $13k in savings. In total, Gordon Salons saved $28,367 after just one year of using Vish.
Top Tier Team Morale
As well as cutting waste, the two systems together have made life in the salon easier for the team, explains Alexis Lopez, educator and Operations Manager within the group as well as master stylist and location leader at the Wilmette salon. She joined Gordon Salons 10 years ago as a newly qualified stylist, aced the two-year education program, and then never left.
“Zenoti gives us the reports we need to run our business effectively, and now, combined with the excellent Vish reports, we can monitor all parts of the business in real time,” says Alexis.
The group can see who has waste and then leverage that data at regular 1:1 meetings to discover the root cause and resolve it through education or support.
”Sustainability is a priority for every team member so they were determined to make Vish work in the salon,” says Alexis. “From the beginning, we had easily 80% of the team weighing and reweighing their bowls, which meant they quickly slashed color waste.”
“Stylists are visual people so the teardrop graphic works for us. It’s quick and easy to use, and the functionality of Mix More or favoriting your formula to remix as you need is so useful. It means we can get our assistants to do it for us without breaking off from the service.”
Sustainable Service Success
The integration with Zenoti has made it even easier for the team as they can check their client list in advance on the Zenoti app. Over the past two years, the group has seen color waste reduce to less than 10%. With education, the team leaders hope to get that down even more.
As Gordon Salons have extensive clientele, each location runs on a double booking system. It’s busy, but also exhilarating and profitable for the team because they have Vish and Zenoti, which together give the team the tools they need to work quickly to deliver a superb and sustainable service to every guest.
