[Answered] Common Newbie Questions About Running a Hair Business in 2024

I was on air discussing the Hair Business Breakfast with the outgoing hair business entrepreneurs and received a couple of questions I’d like to feature in this article.

Every new entrepreneur will feel lost and confused.

That’s healthy, because out of ignorance comes a question that creates knowledge to evolve into resourcefulness that makes her succeed.

The intelligent person doesn’t stop there, instead, she focuses more on what she doesn’t know, and over time she knows more than she doesn’t know.

That is what differentiates the persistent from the short-tempered.

And that is what can crown your trials with success, and you will feel like every mistake was meant to happen.

Lay down your road map to success with Hair Business Masterclass.

WordPress Vs. Shopify

In the old days when I started Private Label in 2014.

I used WordPress, the problem though, it’s not very sustainable.

I had to risk my traffic and SEO efforts, so I switched to Shopify.

WordPress was getting slower and pricey.

Shopify is considered to be the best e-commerce platform out there; your platform should support plenty of integrations alongside developers to help you.

It should be smooth and easy to navigate, and I think Shopify perfected that.

Apps for Dropshipping?

Wholesaling hair can be more profitable than dropshipping, however, the inventory can be risky and costly.

Dropship Beauty App is an affordable proxy to sell high-quality 100% human hair on your Shopify store offering 250 hair, beauty, and cosmetic products that import easily to your store in seconds to be sold immediately and shipped short after the order is fulfilled by your credit card.

It has been helping people for years by giving them access to Indian and Asian, raw and virgin hair.

That includes frontals, closures, tape-ins, ponytails, clip-ins, and lashes.

The great thing is that they’re branded and unbranded products that you can custom their branding via Private Label Branding without ever touching the product.

The team tags and packages using your branding assets and ship them to you.

SMS and Email Marketing Apps?

If you can’t afford a sophisticated email marketing platform, you can use Shopify Email.

They offer free 10,000 emails monthly that are suitable for decent lists to be utilized for abandonment flows, welcome series, and order confirmations.

If you’re more invested in, email marketing is really worth it.

It can drive in 30% of your sales.

Platforms like Klaviyo might be good as they have more flexible automation and flow to send multiple emails under various conditions.

Their SMS system is not the best out there.

I prefer PostScript, it is their area. And it’s a very reliable app for these kinds of flows.

Apps for Taxes Processing?

Shopify processes taxes using the Vertex app.

I have been using TaxJar for years honestly.

So, it’s up to you.

It calculates, reports, files, and remits your taxes gathering it from all the platforms you’re selling on.

This compliance is trusted by giant companies like Land Rover and Shein, so it might be a good choice.

Designing Apps for Social Media Flyers?

I would probably recommend PicMonkey and Canva.

But Canva is everything, you remember when you were confused by the Photoshop interface or shocked by the PowerPoint dullness?

You can make email templates, presentations, banners, flyers, social media posts, and literally everything else.

I edit my product pictures on it using tools like background remover and different add-ons.

I would go all the way for Canva.

What Tech Equipment and Gadgets I Need to Run a Hair Business?

To be honest, you have to work out your budget.

I wouldn’t recommend doing it all on your phone, but if you had to, do it.

Our starting points are different.

But make sure you have an outstanding camera on your phone because you’re going to need one.

If you’re able to buy a laptop, pick something essential.

Don’t head to the i5 and i7 Intel cores.

An SSD hard drive with a new generation i3 core can be more than enough for you as long as you don’t edit your own videos.

You will need to adjust the desktop website view for your website and you will want to be able to access all the features.

How to Turn Visitors into Customers?

Well, it is the question of the century.

And you will need a compilation of strategies.

You need to know who the audience is you’re able to communicate with.

That can start by analyzing the initial traffic.

Then craft a message using a creative concept that sums up your brand and positions it in the market.

Get your platforms ready and set up using consistent branding and a cohesive adaptable visual identity.

Starting by structuring campaigns to get leads and nurture them using personalized approaches and email marketing.

Set up your profit margins on Shopify with reasonable rates.

Get yourself a system for reviews and customer relationship management and develop a referral system.

And finally, make sure that your website is easy to navigate supported with valuable blogs, attractive imagery, and efficient customer service.

Do You Need to Hire Interns to Save Money?

We won’t get anywhere by being cheap.

At some point when you expand or have a decent workload, you can hire someone.

An experienced employee with a record of good work will take you to another level.

But hiring interns on a small allowance is going to tank your business.

Find reliable people, teach them your style, and learn from them what you don’t know.

That would be healthier than jumping between internships.

How to Manage Profit?

I didn’t get a penny from Private Label except for years later when I wrote my own paycheck.

First, you’re going to worry about getting the first sale.

And in a blink, you will have money that doesn’t feel right to be spent spontaneously.

Reinvesting in your hair business to reach a stabilized level that is expandable and profitable is the key to entrepreneurial life.

Don’t follow your instincts and be rational.

How Long Does It Take?

It can take a day, a week, a month, or a decade.

Patience really pays off even if it sounds like a cliché, sometimes the truth is in the cliché.

Keep reinvesting and learning.

And be consistent because it is what going to highlight you.