BABTAC'S (British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology) country-wide roadshows (BEST - Beauty, Education, Seminars and Training), begain in Leeds.  Sasha Lill sits in on HR consultant and employment law expert, David Wright's lecture.

LEARN HOW TO MANAGE YOUR STAFF EFFECTIVELY

Salon owners spend thousands on premises and products but miss the chance to maximise the benefit of their human resource - their staff, who determine how good the salon is.

As an HR consultant and employment law expert, David Wright knows that employing staff can be a nightmare and employment law, complex. With 100,000+ tribunals held each year, he stressed the need to know what the employment risks are before you start.

Subjects covered included: how to appoint the right staff; using a long probationary period with tough targets to make sure you keep only the best staff; and minimising the disruption of holiday entitlement by ensuring leave isn't taken at your busiest period.

Recognising that staff need motivation, David touched on training and how to recover costs from staff who leave within a short period of time, plus how your conditions of service can reward good performers and loyalty, as well as help minimise costs. He discussed the benefits of flexible hours and part-time working as a positive not a negative, giving practical examples of how this works for a salon. Holiday entitlement, notice periods and maternity rights also featured, as well as disciplinary issues and procedures.

Whatever employment issue you face, get advice before you start - ignorance is bliss but no defence, warned David.

Whether you're looking to renew your present policy, or take out cover for the first time, it pays to study what's available when it comes to insurance. But where do you start in this minefield? Marc Loud, director, Park Insurance, finds out more

The internet is a well-developed platform for specialist brokers in this field, who promote deals they have negotiated with insurers. But you must be satisfied with the policy offered and any quotation before you commit - you need the policy to perform if the worst happens, so the more time spent on research will enhance your knowledge and ability to make the right decision.

Buying insurance is not just about claims, but it is also a tool for determining how risk can be minimised. Some brokers highlight risk management, so any measures taken will help to maintain competitive premiums and minimise consequences.

One of the main points to consider is the insurer, and I advise using a specialist broker, especially for salons.

Many brokers offer cover with insurers with little security and policies with low liability limits. I have also seen some insurers cover risks they don't understand.

For example, thread vein removal is covered under many policies, but by laser removal only, and not sclerotherapy.

A broker will advise the insurer that the salon offers this treatment - acceptable on their list - but don't understand this can also be done by injection. Most policies have a clause stating that treatments that pierce the skin are not covered. So in this instance, the salon owner assumes they have cover, when in reality they don't.

SPECIAL OFFERS TO BOOST SALON COFFERS

Zara Elliot is the owner of Essence, a three-treatment room salon in Sutton, Surrey. The business opened in November 2005 and she employs four other therapists (full- and part-time), offering Dermalogica, MD Formulations, Caci Chromaclear MDA, Bio Ultimate non-surgical facelift, Fake Bake self tan, Jessica nailcare, and Bare Escentuals mineral make-up.

While increased profits were expected, business at Essence is on a par with last year as a result of clients tightening their belts. So, to further promote her salon, Zara is re-working its website and embarking on e-marketing - collecting email addresses for her new, informative newsletters.

To encourage clients to register on the site, she is offering an introductory 50% first treatment discount during specified times.

Other salon offers include a free MD Formulations facial - a £25 booking fee is redeemable against further bookings or retail products to encourage clients to try the glycolic treatment.

Clients can also benefit from getting any third facial free
when they pay for two treatments. This helps boost business during office hours.

Approaching Mother's Day, gift vouchers proved popular, but these are usually used for facial treatments as Zara says people now consider skincare as a necessity, whereas body treatments are still regarded as a luxury and more associated with spas. However, she hopes new bodycare products from Dermalogica will help this area.

After training with LaStone's Jane Scrivner, Zara's team have been practising their hot stone massage techniques. This will be introduced in the next couple of months to tie-in with the new website launch. Zara experienced the treatment on a trip to LA with Dermalogica and couldn't wait to introduce it to the local area.

She met many other salon owners and therapists on the trip and has made some fantastic friends, of whom she can bounce ideas off and keep herself in "the know".

Looking to the future, she is investigating laser hair reduction, but her main aim is to rid the industry of its fluffy image. Her well-trained staff are respectful and help solve people's skincare problems. They really make a difference, she says.