Business Strategy for Salon Owners: Using Reflection to Make Smarter Decisions
Business strategy is often seen as something complex or reserved for large organisations, but in her Winter column, Kim Ford brings strategy back to where it belongs - everyday decision-making. In Business Strategies and Reflection, Kim shows salon, studio, and clinic owners how simple strategic thinking, combined with reflective practice, can lead to clearer direction and more confident growth.
The article introduces practical strategic frameworks, including the Ansoff Growth Matrix, Boston Matrix, and Bowman’s Strategy Clock, translating them into accessible tools rather than academic theory. Kim explains how these models help business owners assess where growth should come from, whether through existing services, new offerings, or diversification, while also understanding risk and financial pressure.
Importantly, Kim balances strategy with reflection. She highlights research showing that reflective practice significantly improves decision-making and productivity, yet is often overlooked in busy service-based businesses. By taking time to reflect on what has worked, what hasn’t, and why, owners gain clarity that no trend or template can provide.
The article encourages readers to review their services through a strategic lens: which areas act as steady “cash cows”, which are growth opportunities, and which may need to be refined or removed. Kim is clear that not everything needs to be kept simply because it once worked.
The final section focuses on reflective learning as a monthly habit. Kim outlines how simple journalling and evidence gathering can help business owners track progress, learn from outcomes, and plan next steps with intention rather than guesswork.
This article is ideal for professionals who want structure without overwhelm. Kim’s message is reassuring and practical: strategy does not require perfection, it requires awareness, reflection, and informed choice.
Kim’s full Winter column offers step-by-step strategic insight inside Salonpreneur Magazine for business owners ready to plan with clarity.
