Outliers A/W20

FUTURE PROOFERS
Ashley Clarke Signature
Salon, South Queensferry
@ashleyclarkesignaturesalon
Enhanced client experience
“NOTHING TOO SERIOUS, nothing too
clinical.” That’s the vibe you’ll find at Ashley
Clarke Signature Salon, a gorgeous space that
enjoys a good mix of clients but sees plenty of busy
mums, just like founder Ashley herself. But a key
draw for many returning to the salon is the hair
bar, where clients can sit next to each other and
enjoy conversations with new and old friends alike.
“This is a high-end salon with a real
community feel,” explains Ashley proudly, who
sees her team’s personable approach as the point
of difference. “The clients have a lot of trust in the
team across the whole salon.”
It’s this communal, personable vibe that runs
through the strategy of the business, with Ashley
always laser-focused on improving the client
journey – something that prompted her to attend
a Salon Emotion workshop at the start of the year
to glean a little inspiration on changes she could be
making. So, what followed?
The traditional reception desk has been
replaced with a pod to make the entrance feel less
imposing and intimidating, with retail moving next
to it for a better shopping experience. “We make
sure our retail is clearly priced so it’s consumer
friendly,” explains Ashley.
Next up are digital screens in the salon’s
windows. “They’re so easy to update with our
latest launches and promotions – I don’t need to
go back to a printer and spend more on getting
materials reprinted, and they’re great for catching
someone’s eye, even at night when we’re closed.”
Catching the eye is one of the reasons she’s a
fervent Redken fan. “I love how Instagrammable
the brand is,” she says. “We get clients who have
been searching for Redken salons because of social
media. It gives you a certain cachet.”
“L’Oréal Partner Shop is really great
for budgeting – it gives me so much
more control and it’s so easy”
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