Stefania Rossi’s 7 Top Tips to Becoming a Top Employer

susan routledge business balance calculator

Susan Routledge, Stefania RossiI’m absolutely bursting with excitement this week because we not only have the following Top 7 Tips from recently awarded Professional Beauty Employer of the Year, Stefania Rossi, but we also have the full audio interview, which absolutely oozes Stefania’s passion and drive. This passion has helped her transform Utopia from a salon surviving solely on offers, to the prestigious quality salon it is today.

Stefania is a true pleasure to work with. She’s such an inspirational entrepreneur who constantly thinks outside of the box to inspire her team. You won’t believe what she did in January! Find out at the 25-minute mark in the interview produced for us by Pete Scott from Spa Beauty Success.

So here goes….

  1. Have a clear business plan and vision.

    If you want to inspire your team you must have a clear plan in place so the whole team can see the journey you are taking them on. You build immense loyalty when a team feels part of your journey, and they feel that they have an important role to play. Stef has retained and developed the full Utopia team through massive change and transformation while totally rebranding Utopia.

  2. Take time to Implement clear systems and processes.

    It takes time to systemise a business, but this is invaluable. Stef can easily step away from her business now, safe in the knowledge that everyone knows what is expected of them and how to manage each process. The business continues to strengthen day by day due to the detail Stef has put into even some of the simplest procedures.

  3. Set The Highest Standards

    Once you raise the bar, you have to keep those standards. You must keep your whole team accountable to work to the highest standard, and have a full training programme so clients consistently receive the expected level of service.

  4. Empower Your Team as Individuals

    Spend time with each member of the team to really find out what inspires them. Then you can help them to become their best version of themselves in the workplace. Encourage each individual to be open and honest with how they want to develop within the business.

  5. Have a continuous training and development programme

    A team needs to constantly stimulated with new knowledge and ideas. This can take lots of forms, from supplier training through to attending trade shows, reading trade magazines etc. Always have lots of ways to stimulate new learning within your team.

  6. Build trust with clients.

    Ask clients what they want, don’t just guess! Find out what your target market really wants, and then develop your brand and team so that it resonates perfectly with your client base.

  7. Share your Vision

    It was January 2014 when Stef took over Utopia in Hornchurch. From the very first meeting with the team, she has inspired them to think of the business as if it were their own, and to realise how important they are to the business. Stef and her team have grown and developed the business together. This has been so much more inspiring to the team than to simply follow the owner’s dream with no sense of purpose for themselves.

Enjoy the Full Interview by clicking here>>

Susan Routledge Wins National Award

Finishing Touch Award Winning SalonA BEAUTY salon in the North-East is celebrating after winning a national business award.

Susan Routledge of the Finishing Touch Clinic in Consett, County Durham, was named Employer of the Year 2013 at a ceremony on Sunday hosted by Professional Beauty.

The award was presented by Strictly Come Dancing’s Claudia Winkleman in front of 900 people at the Park Lane Hilton in London.

Owner Susan Routledge, who employs a team of nine staff, said: “This shows that local businesses can do well in this climate and that businesses don’t have to be in large cities to

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Is Your Lipstick Making You Ill?

At this time of year everyone seems to be going down with repeated coughs and colds and it doesn’t seem long when you get rid of one, before you have another sore throat, and it all starts again. You hear people repeatedly say things like ‘Don’t breathe on me…I don’t want it’ or blame being stuck in stuffy environments surrounded by sniffling and sneezing people as the cause.

Have you ever thought that the person most likely re-infecting you is yourself? Think about it. You wouldn’t blow your nose and then smear the contents on your lips.. Yuk! Or drink from a glass of a person totally laden with cold…. because you would say ‘ You were asking for trouble’. Yet you repeatedly re-use a lipstick that is in direct contact with previously bacteria-laden lips.

One of the first things you tend to do to make yourself look a wee bit more presentable, even though you are feeling rubbish is to put a’ bit of good old lippy on’ to make you feel better…. And I do mean old in some cases!

How old is your Lipstick?

How many times has it come in contact with your Lips in it’s lifetime ? The composition of lipstick and lipgloss makes a huge breeding ground for bacteria due to it being dewy and moist. Therefore it is advisable to replace your lipstick regularly and most importantly, discard your old ones.

The fashion and cosmetic industry are constantly changing trends to encourage you to have the latest shade for the newest look. This of course increases sales for the cosmetic companies. But quite often women economise and put that winter look lipstick away, often laden in bacteria until next year. And there it sits in your dressing room drawer for months on end until called back into service.

If this sounds familiar then please ditch those old lipsticks. If you love the lip colour so much and you think it might get discontinued, then go and buy a new one and put that new sealed sterile one away until next year.

By the way this also applies MASSIVELY to lip balms too. When you do get coughs and colds you nearly always get dry chapped lips as a consequence, and you reach for the lip balm. Please remember all of these creamy comforters for cracked lips are a huge breeding ground for bacteria too, and even worse many get shared with friends and family. Don’t put yourself at risk. Please check out what you are exposing yourself to.

So here’s to a more healthy you!

Susan Routledge works with salons, spas and clinics to help them to get the most out of their businesses. You can contact Susan here>>