Ex-Realtor runs beauty empire
In an industry that continues to evolve and spawn new business models in response to consumer demand, Daniel Sadd has landed on a winning formula. In fact, what Sadd first created in Columbus with Salon Lofts has been so successful and personally fulfilling, it led him to change careers from commercial real-estate development to focus on building his beauty-salon empire.
Salon Lofts’ approach is to provide independent beautycare providers with the space and behind-the-scenes support to operate their businesses however they wish. Customizable marketing tools and client database management are part of the services that come with the salon space.
Growing from a single location acquired in 2003, Salon Lofts are now spread across Ohio and into Florida, Georgia, Indiana and Missouri.
Salon Lofts has put a lot of emphasis on technology since Sadd bought his first location. Its website does much more than schedule appointments; it lets would-be customers compare prices among its service providers, search multiple locations and read about the stylist who is available to perform the requested service.
The company offers the independent business owners who lease space in its buildings access to its online scheduling and marketing programs. Salon Lofts’ independent operators have access to computerized client-management systems that track salon visits, service preferences and stylist notes. The company works to balance creating a website that is consumer-friendly and helpful to its loft owners, Sadd said.
“We’re trying to please two parties,” he said. “It’s important we do a good job for them.”
Q: How does Salon Lofts differ from other salons that rent chairs to service providers?
A: Our difference is we really do concentrate on giving lots of support to the people that lease space from us. We’re about lead generation for them; great customer service and building really cool technology to make their life easier.
Q: What’s the relationship between the company and the stylists who lease lofts from you?
A: We really respect the freedom of our loft owners. We never try to push anything on them. We give all the power to the stylists where they can pick and choose the services they want to offer, the price points,
when they work.
Q: What role do you see technology playing in the future of the salon?
A: Technology gives stylists the opportunity to be really findable and more transportable than ever before. It provides an opportunity for them to make themselves known and market themselves. The days of big brands are over. Our role is simply to find a point of connection for the people that associate with us — whether it’s the consumer or the provider.
Q: Following the lead of opentable.com, you purchased the domain name openchair.com. Like opentable.com, which provides users the ability to make real-time restaurant reservations, openchair.com allows users to schedule hair, nail, skin, waxing and massage appointments at any of its locations. How important will on-demand services be for the beauty industry?
A: It appeals to a segment of the consumers. Some want convenience. Openchair.com offers convenience. It allows the consumer to find a stylist at a certain location with a particular price point. That appeals to a certain demographic.
Q: How does your background in real estate help the company?
A: Well, it helps us identify where the best places are to put a hair salon where the stylists who rent from us will be successful. If you put salons where consumers want to go, smart stylists will follow. That’s the biggest way it helps. Also, (it helps in) understanding construction and costs.
Q: Why did this business appeal to you?
A: At first I thought — and I was dead wrong — that it was about real estate. As I got more involved with it, it became more exciting and interesting to work with small-business owners and help them grow their business. The business seems so right. Everything about it is so right. It’s right for the stylists. It’s right for the consumers, and it’s right for me (as) the landlord. It feels to me like a legitimate, nongimmicky business. It’s an easy business to fall in love with.