Tech magic

Few technologies developed in recent years have bolstered salon profits or cut costs quite like Vish, the Canadian disrupter bringing clarity and efficiency to salons globally for the first time ever. And being a tech company, it has the data to prove it. Featuring as our Technology of the Month, we’ve got the details.

In 2022, UK Vish users reported an additional £2 million in product charges captured on the pioneering colour management system, charges like a toner for balance or that extra bowl of colour. Previously, those products often went unpaid for at the end of an appointment. But data also revealed that before using Vish the average salon was throwing away nearly £15k-worth of colour mixed but not used every year.

The big reveal comes from Vish Rewind, a comprehensive database collected from 1.8 million appointments globally, which breaks down exactly what salons are charging for what services and how much waste they produce. All Vish customers have access to this data to use as a baseline to benchmark against their own reports and improve their pricing and productivity.

“At Vish, we’re on a mission to improve colour business for salon owners, employees, and customers,” says Josh Howard, co-founder of Vish along with his brother Tim. “Tim and I were driven to take on a major problem in the salon industry: colour waste, mismanagement, and a lack of communication leading to significant financial losses.”

Waste is crippling the industry and the shock stats from Vish Rewind expose the true extent and cost. The average stylist throws away £1.19 worth of colour at the end of each appointment, leading to significant financial losses for nonVish salons. That’s every appointment. It totals to hundreds of bowls-worth of colour per year per stylist. Or, to put it another way, £14,302-worth of colour is thrown away by the average salon every year, according to Vish calculations. Practically every non-Vish salon haemorrhages money this way. But it stops within weeks of the Vish scales and app arriving in the colour bar – the stats prove it. And let’s not forget all those additional product charges – the £2 million bonus that Vish salons shared last year - captured and costed on Vish and, due to integration with the salon’s software systems, automatically passed to the front desk.

“One of the key issues we identified was a lack of communication between the back and front of the house, and we were determined to find a solution that would benefit every salon owner,” adds Joshua.

For salons like Charlie Miller in Edinburgh, the Chapel group in southern England or Energy Salon in Exeter, it’s been a game-changer, cutting waste while enhancing performance so every service returns a guaranteed profit.

“Ultimately, Vish gives you more control over your business, so really it now affects stock control, expenditure, the cost of waste collection, pricing and profit,” says Joshua Miller, joint managing director at Charlie Miller, which now numbers five salons in Edinburgh.

The Vish approach to profitability not only reduces product waste and uncharged usage, but also opens the door to new pricing models that guarantee profit for every service, securing the long-term financial future of the salon industry in a manner previously considered impossible.

Many salons have incorporated colour thresholds into their prices, with additional charges automatically triggered at the checkout, if they are passed on. But often, like missed services, these don’t end up on the bill. In Vish salons, all excess colour is automatically captured on the system enabling salons to ensure all charges are billed accurately.

Some owners, like Energy Hair’s Nathan Plumridge, have gone even further, separating services into labour and parts, allowing more flexible charging for colour. The labour cost of the service may be fixed or based on time, while colour and other product is charged directly, resulting in consistent

Performance And Sustainable

“Being able to completely trust technology to not only deliver your usual colour mix, but improve it, is a gamechanger, and clients love it,” says Nathan. “Vish remembers only what you need, ensuring consistent colour performance that delivers loyal clients and sustainable profits for my salon.”

The greater ramifications of Vish datainformed colour management are not hard to see. When every colour service has a guaranteed profit and waste is reduced from £1.19 to pennies per service, revenue is secure and stable. Owners are setting targets confident they are achievable and will bolster the future of their business. In an incredibly short time, the breakthrough power of Vish has changed the future landscape for thousands of salons, with more joining every day. getvish.com

Benefits of Vish for a Salon Owner:

Separate Product and Labour Charges

Stop absorbing the cost of the product used during the service. Accurately charge for what’s being used by setting product allowances, or separating the parts and labor completely.

Ensure Consistent Pricing

Eliminate the guesswork and maintain a profitable service business, automatically.

Eliminate Waste and Excess Inventory

By eliminating waste, you’ll reduce your supply costs and automate the reordering process using accurate projections of future needs.

Lead Your Team with Calculated Coloir Confidence

Stylists love Vish not only because it makes their lives easier, but because it empowers them (and you) with analytics on performance. You can both rest assured knowing that you’re charging what their talent is worth.