Category Archives: Management

Health, Hair and Beauty Franchises Facts and Statistics by Diane Shawe

Need a Hair Makeover Hair Extensions & Hairloss Specialist Salon Franchise

Is now the right time to invest in a Health, Hair & Beauty Franchises?

We all like to look & feel good, which is why regardless of the economic climate, health & beauty franchises for sale, and the beauty industry generally tends to be very stable.

This trend is set to rise with beauty products representing around 6% of all retail sales in the UK, sectors such as cosmetics. Makeup continues to grow.

Another growth area is the use of vitamins or supplements, including many people that like to use protein powders or other protein supplements to enhance their look & gym performance.

Some health & beauty businesses that are on the rise include tanning salons & fake tan products, Tattoo franchisesHair salon franchisesnail salon franchisesmassage franchises, Hai Extensions Franchise

With the industry trend of increased health & beauty, spending likely to continue a business within the sector could be highly lucrative.

Facts and statistics around the beauty industry:

NAHM Specialist Salons Franchise Ltd
  • The UK boasts £28.4 bn beauty product and services industry, a report reveals. The UK’s beauty industry contributed a total of £28.4 billion in 2018 to the nation’s economy. Resulting in a valuation of the UK’s consumption of beauty products and services in 2018 at £27.2 billion.
  • The industry itself directly employed 370,200 people. With a further 220,300 jobs being supported through its supply chain and wage-related consumer spending contributions.
  •  
  • The UK’s beauty industry contributed a total of £28.4 billion in 2018 to the nation’s economy. Resulting in a valuation of the UK’s consumption of beauty products and services in 2018 at £27.2 billion.
  • By 2019, this market was worth over 1.74 billion British pounds. On the retail side of the spectrum. Over the past decade, UK retail stores specializing in cosmetics and personal care increased their turnover from selling such products. Going from 2.7 billion in 2008 to over 5.3 billion British pounds in 2018.

Best Types Of Beauty Businesses For Sale To Invest In

What types of beauty businesses are the best to buy? As an investor, you have many decisions to make when choosing which type of beauty business for sale to invest in, but one of the most important factors is your own personal preferences and career goals. If you’re looking to buy into the beauty industry, it’s important to choose the right business model that will give you the potential to make money while still allowing you to enjoy your time as an entrepreneur.

Looking for a Hair extension salon franchise. Try need a Hair makeover

Going it Alone or Franchising

If your servicing a very exclusive sector and you just want a small exclusive business with you having sole responsibility then going it alone might be more appealing to you. But it is worth taking a course in small business management and marketing, it will help you enormously.

If you decide to go the franchise route, when you buy a franchise, you buy a system – an entire method of doing business. Franchises have an established system in place that you must follow to distribute the franchisor’s products or services using the franchisor’s trade or service marks. Having a proven system already in place eliminates the guesswork and errors a common business owner would normally face.

With the help of a franchise, you can:

A. Duplicate a real, genuine business that allows you to help others.

B. Set up a business that consistently provides an impressive return on investment.

C. Put together a business that helps you assist real people with genuine needs.

D. Develop a meaningful career path for yourself that has rewards for years to come.

E. Have a full supportive management team around you

F. Benefit from global branding and marketing

G. Benefit from established supply line, retail etc and much more

1) Hair Salon Businesses For Sale

The salon business is a booming market right now. If you are looking for one of the most lucrative beauty businesses for sale, it’s hard to top hair salons for sale. You can find everything from salons in up-and-coming neighborhoods to high-end salons downtown. An established salon with a proven clientele will always be in demand and is an asset worth taking into consideration when deciding what type of beauty business for sale might be best for you.

Start your own Hair e extension and Hair Loss Business

2) Hairdresser Businesses For Sale

Most hairdressers for sale are small businesses and can be found everywhere. The market for hairdressers is relatively steady, particularly if you’re looking at specific demographics and types of clients. Hair salons often specialise in a certain type of clientele or offer services that may not be as popular with others. Some salons specialise in hair colouring and require less investment than buying a full-service salon. Before you buy a hair business opportunity, it’s important to know what your options are; looking for specialist services such as hair extensions, hairloss treatments, wig making etc., are niche sectors that could yeild more from your investment than a traditional hair salon. When buying hairdressing businesses for sale, research those that might best fit your lifestyle and goals and attract high paying customers.

A larger hair salon franchise may be a good choice if you want to join an established team with experience, retail sales, clientele and branding.

3) Nail Salon Businesses For Sale

If you’re interested in buying a nail salon business for sale, it’s important to remember that different types of nail salons for sale offer different services. While some focus on manicures and pedicures, others might be focused on offering more specialised treatments like nal extensions, nail art or vn pedicures. If you want to work with private clients, you can find nail salon business opportunities that operate out of homes. A larger nail salon franchise may be a good choice if you want to join an established team with experience and plenty of clientele already built up.

4) Barber Businesses For Sale

Barbering is a business that goes well beyond cutting hair. The health and wellness of your clients are just as important as their looks. Barbering services can include relaxation and pampering, a haircut and style, hot towel shave or facial wax, tanning.. not to mention retail sales opportunities. If you’re considering buying a barbers for sale or other beauty business for sale, here are some considerations to make before signing on the dotted line: What licenses do I need? Can I afford to pay for any renovations required for compliance? Is there parking for my potential clientele? How does social media work into my marketing strategy? Are there potential leads out there that could convert into customers without too much extra effort from me?

5) Beauty Salon Businesses For Sale

Buying a beauty salon business from a current owner is also an option. Before you buy, be sure to ask as many questions as possible so that you can make a fully informed decision. The best way to do that is by talking with other salon owners in your area who have purchased beauty salons and asking them what they did right—and wrong—as well as if their initial expectations for return on investment matched reality. If you decide buying a beauty salon for sale is for you, make sure to do thorough research before investing in any salon business opportunity.

Salon Awards winner 2021

Dream Big Have Faith. Lean In

My dream began in 2000, to set up a #hairextensions and Hairloss Specialist Salon Franchise model.

5 years later, winning several awards I am excited to report that we have just been accredited by the Quality #franchise Association and have gone live in the national and international Franchise Directories. It has been a challenging journey and just like when you pass your driving test, the real driving begins when your in the car alone.

Time to invest in your own franchise business

I am so looking forward to seeing replica of the salon and brand throughout the UK and Europe and assisting #investors in my initiative become viable #businesses within their own right. This is the link in the UK directory

Don’t let your dreams be crippled by doubt and fears. lean in!

Need a Hair Makeover hair extensions salon

Looking for Entrepreneurs to set up their own Hair Extensions & Hairloss business. Checkout our Franchise Opportunity which includes Business Plan, Raising Finance, Training and launching your businness with full support. Click to have a chat http://bit.ly/3jYM20b

TRY THESE TOP 10 DISRUPTIVE SME BUSINESS GROWTH STRATEGIES FOR 2022

Every New Year I have always checked for the top business growth tips and trends.

This year I have decided to present my own because we the business community are still living in unprecedented times of uncertainty, fear, transformation, deception, confusion, and outright disruption of the old ways of doing business.

I am Diane Shawe founder of Virtual Speedy Services Ltd (which I gave birth to during the first lockdown) and author of ‘Answer 77 Questions about your business to avoid business failure’ shares her top small business growth strategies for the year ahead.

2021 has been a year of rapid transformation across all industries as the business community has dealt with shifting customer buying activities and economic challenges, as well as mitigating hot-button issues such as the pandemic and people’s changing conception of work life balance. In a year filled with change, there are some trends which are going to be firmly fixed into 2022 that you and your business should seriously build into your growth plans.

To lead your business in the right direction as we head into 2022, here are my humble 10 small business growth strategies.[

1. Prioritise your business culture

Throughout the pandemic, businesses have been dealing with “The Great Resignation” as workers are quitting their jobs at record-high rates. One of the reasons for this is that people are changing their definitions of what they consider a healthy work-life balance and what they want in a company culture.

“The pandemic has shifted the way people incorporate work into their life, whether it’s moving to another county for cheaper housing or not going into the office every day and getting the opportunity to do remote or hybrid work,” Diane states.

Diane goes on further to state that “Not all solutions are made equal, and culture is now a part of that. “A big factor for employees, in addition to salary and benefits, is culture, so have a culture strategy in place.”

2. Consider hiring more freelance workers

The number of gig workers, freelancers and contractors has grown exponentially over the last few years and they make up a large portion of workers within the current market.

“Small business owners will now be able to bring in more specialised freelance workers to carry out tasks without having to deal with the hiring and training costs that are often associated with recruiting a full-time employee,” said Diane. “With the importance of being agile in today’s economic environment … as well as the rise of remote work, … skilled outsource

Peopleperhour.com and fiverr.com are great places to start.

3. Work with micro-influencers

While small businesses may be competing against larger businesses to work with online influencers, collaborating with micro-influencers is an option to consider.

“As influencer marketing is becoming more popular than ever… micro-influencers are going to be the best option for small businesses because they don’t cost as much and they are more open to collaborating with small businesses too,” explained Diane. “With a couple of these small influencers helping [your business] reach specific audiences, growth will not be an impossible feat in 2022.”

4. Leverage the way you supply your products and services.

Distributors and businesses across the country dealt with supply chain issues with the continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic and its subsequent economic disruptions. In 2022, businesses must be aware of scarcities within the supply chain and get ahead of manufacturing and transportation challenges by working collaboratively with their suppliers.

Checkout companies like Amazon who can provide a fulfillment service for your orders. Consider moving to a drop shipping manufacturer or warehouse so as to reduce your cash investment in slow moving stock.

5. Educate client and  partners your new paradigms

It’s important to inform your clients and partners about changes you’re making to better benefit your business across a shifting economic landscape. If the changes don’t land, it may be time to consider other options,

Many businesses are painfully aware how much the talent pool has changed. Working with potential employees, client partners to educate them on the new management styles needed, increased compensation packages and other aspects of recruitment and retention is very important.

6. Prepare for potential contracting opportunities

Almost 80 new businesses were created every hour across the UK in the first half of 2021, according to research by iwoca – one of Europe’s largest small business lenders.

Analysis of Companies House data reveals that 340,534 businesses were registered in the UK between January and June 2021, an increase of 32% from 257,243 over the same time period in 2019.

London dominates list of areas to start a business

iwoca’s Small Business HotSpots UK 2021 reveals that Camden saw the largest number of businesses registered out of all UK local authorities, with 19,755 new companies – a rate of more than four and a half new firms every hour.

The second largest number of new businesses were registered in Hackney (13,646) followed by 10,151 in Westminster. London’s local authorities make up half of the top 10, which also includes Birmingham in 5th with 7,442 new firms and Kent placing 7th with 6,504 businesses.

London saw over one third of the new registrations with 120,338, followed by the South East (37,573) and North West (33,640). The capital city also witnessed the largest increase in new business registration compared to 2019 of 59%, with the West Midlands registering a 49% rise followed by the North East (28%).

Christoph Rieche, iwoca CEO and co-founder, said: “It is fantastic to see the creation of so many businesses during the first half of this year, they are testament to the entrepreneurial spirit which characterises our vibrant economy.

“Many of these businesses will be unnecessarily constrained by cashflow. At iwoca we turn cashflow into a superpower enabling them to grow faster and worry less. We look forward to working with many of them.”-

Why is such a growth happening?

A survey I read stated that 39% of people in current jobs are going to quit within the next 12 months, which is not great for an employer, but suggests a start of a business revolution is happening.

What advice would I give to somebody looking to start a business?

There is never a good time to do it and you just must go for it.  It’s all encompassing and it’s a phenomenon. I just decided to go for it in 2000 and have never looked back. However you can be clever about it though – can you cut down your hours in your current role or could you work part-time initially? Explore your options wisely.

7. Get creative on sales and marketing opportunities

The digital marketing landscape has become increasingly challenging due to congestion and evolving regulations, said Diane Shawe of Virtual Speedy Services Ltd

“This is forcing many traditionally digital companies to explore other sales channels and marketing strategies,” she said.

To mitigate these challenges, Shawe said her company is getting creative by helping other companies engage with A.I. Conversational Marketing Technologies with its engaging methods.

8. Widen your business’s online footprint

Small businesses must adapt and be “practical” when it comes to sales, as consumers continue to favor online and mobile shopping.

“Businesses need to widen their online footprint to gain a significant proportion of customers from the current market,” said Diane. “A simple way to sell products is to have a sellers account on your popular social media or estore platforms.  To sell services, … list [your company] on freelance and contract websites.” Also create a blog and YouTube website for reviewing products, testimonials, advice and tips. Become the expert in your field. Entry competitions, exhibitions, network meetings.

9. Learn video SEO strategies to rank higher on search engines

Video marketing has become an integral part of a successful marketing strategy with the rise of live videos on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. It’s estimated that by 2022, videos will account for 82% of all consumer traffic. That’s why video SEO should be a top priority for businesses in 2022.

“Small businesses that incorporate short-form videos into their website posts will see more organic traffic coming from search engines,” explained Gilmour. “As TikTok continues to grow, search engine algorithms will shift to articles and posts that include short-form videos. Short-form videos from TikTok and YouTube may even become the main point of ‘how to’ searches.”

10. Utilise partnership marketing to reach a broader audience

Partnership marketing is a strategic collaboration that gives you and your partner company a chance to reach a wider audience together, explained Diane Shawe, founder of Virtual Speedy Services Ltd.

“Collaboration with another company can aid in the development of better marketing initiatives that benefit both parties, If your target clients are similar, you may pool your resources to better your marketing techniques, build your brands and expand your audience reach.”

Start to use smart customer acquisition techniques such as collaborating with discount giants such as wowcher, groupon or discount voucher websites to help get your business name, brand or services directly into potential customers mobile.

“Another example, if a consumer purchases a product from you, you can provide a discount coupon that they can use to purchase discounted products from your business partner,” said Diane. “Co-branding of a product or project can also boost both companies’ marketing power.”

get help with your business startup

Virtual Speedy Services Ltd is set up to provide a suite of services for Small and Medium size businesses to help them efficiently and quickly Setup or expand their business. Our core service is A.I technology by designing conversational marketing chatbots to generate quality business leads or engage online visitors in real time.   We populate and generate impressive business plan and 5 years projections for focus, raising finance along with smart eCommerce website, streamlined social media tools and an effective google verified website. We think of ourselves as your Virtual Personal Assistance who will help streamline your business development and growth without all the drama.

Let’s have a chat https://try-chatbots.virtualspeedyservices.uk

Your Guided Meditation Will Be More Successful if You Can Visualise In British Pounds Here’s Why

Guided meditation and affirmations with visualised images are very popular on Youtube.

Visualising in British Pounds will help Your Manifestation

Visualisation activates the creative powers of the subconscious mind, motivating it to work harder at creating solutions. If done correctly some people have noticed new levels of motivation and find themselves doing things that normally they would avoid, but that will take them closer to success.

Visualisation and affirmations can help you to change your beliefsassumptions, and opinions about the most important person in your life — YOU! They allow you to harness the 18 billion brain cells in your brain and get them all working in a singular and purposeful direction.

Click to start Listening to our Guided Money Meditation on Youtube

Your subconscious will become engaged in a process that transforms you forever. This happens intensionally or unintensionally because the subconcious mind absorbs everything every waking and sleeping moments of your life.

The process is invisible and doesn’t take a long time. this is why it is important to put in the time to visualise and affirm by practicing your techniques, surround yourself with positive people, read uplifting books and listen to audio programs that flood your mind with positive, life-affirming messages.

Listen to our video on how a coach could help

Negative Thinking is the Enemy

It is no secret that negative thinking is part of almost everyone’s life.

For some reason, it seems it is easier to think negative thoughts, than to think positive thoughts. The mind and emotions are vast, it is true that people are not taught to think expecially at school, so people tend to flip flop between thoughts and emotions.

Unpleasant situations, problems and difficulties arise in everyone’s lives, and these events cause negative thinking.

Often, people are not very much aware of the thoughts they are thinking, and therefore, get easily immersed with negative thoughts and negative moods when listening to the news or to people talking about their problems.  There is also a tendancy to gossip and gossip is almosy always negative.

It would be a good strategy to avoid negative discussion which can contribute to negative thinking though, in many cases, it is easier said than done.

So for instance when you decide to start some guided meditation there is often 3 choices. a) music only b) verbal affirmations c) visual/images (There is an agruement for silent meditation but this is not guided but may be personally accomplished privately or in a group)

a) Music:  Often people will select a piece of music that either calms them, inspire or motivates them. If the music you come across grates on your nerves then it is unlikely that you will consider listening to it.

b) Verbal Affirmations: Words Matter and if the words you are hearing sound unbelievable then your subconcious mind and your inner self talk will start a negative debate about what you are listening too.  So it is important that the verbal affirmation you select empowers your inner self, does not cause resistance or sounds unachievable.

c) Visual Images: Most of you would have heard the term ‘Create a vision board’ the purpose being to solidify the visual image into your subconcious mind everyday reinforcing your desires, dream or wish to come true. There are lots of Guided meditation videos on Youtube and the stats show that a high percentage of guided money meditations are listened to each day around the world.

Do you need help with getting more appointments or leads?

However if you are british or european and your watching a guided money  meditation in dollars there is instantly a conflict because the image does not fit your currency reality.

You will succeed in neutralising your efforts if you think  positively about your goal for a few minutes, and have doubts or think about them negatively the rest of the day. So it is important to match your money mantra meditation with the currency you predominatly use every day, otherwise this is poor investment of your time, and is one of the main reasons why you are not getting results.

Meaningful Guided Meditation

Guided Meditation, Visualisation and Miracle Tones stimulate positivity which  are essential components to focusing your intentions in a quiet moment to bring about change, bring you clients, bring you business, cashflow and business growth.

No matter your business, startup, not for profit, online business or charity, taking time out to clear your mind and focus on what you want to achieve with a clear vision can be very enlightening.

The brain is still a membrain that needs rest, need oxygen and the right minerals to support it.  There is also lots of evidence to support that certain tones when listened to can stimulate deep into the brain. In this Guided Money Meditation, affirmations are powerful wrapped into the solfeggio tones and biennial beats with wads of british pounds tumbling towards you with a little added surprise.

Start your Guided Money Meditation Right Away

You can watch and listen or just listen to this guided meditation anytime. To help you manifest your goals which will translate into money for your business try this guided money meditation in british pounds for 7 days. Please do not use whilst driving.

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10 Ways to Boost your Hair Extensions Business by Diane Shawe

Article by Diane Shawe Author: Extracts from Getting Started in the Hair Extensions Business

Sometimes you find things are going great and then the big slump takes a hold. How can you evaluate what you have done right and where you are going wrong?

Doing a SWOT analysis will give you a true picture of how your hair extension business could or should be running. It is essential to work out why some things are working in your business and why some are

SWOT stands for ‘strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats’. It is a well-known term in business and marketing. Performing a SWOT analysis is a very important part of running the business. It must be taken seriously

It is your own audit of your business no matter the size of it and should be done on a regular basis, at least annually. It’s not very complicated but could help keep you ahead of your competitors.

You may discover problems that you had no idea even existed. These can be addressed before they get out of hand. It will also highlight many assets, which could be utilised better, even opportunities, which could be taken advantage of.

The results of your SWOT analysis will be the basis for your marketing plans and decisions.

‘What they don’t tell you about getting started in the hair extension business’ summary from page 20 – 35 author Shawe D 2007

1) Form business alliances

Join up with other businesses to help each other build a bigger clientele.

Form an alliance with another business that has the same type of clientele as yours, for instance a business which involves beauty, nails, tanning, or fashion.

You can take this alliance as far as you like. You could set up shop together, or just refer clients to each other. You could do some advertising together and share the cost. Another idea is to hand out gift vouchers for each other. Each gift voucher could be for a free service.

It’s best if you both cater to clients who are at the same end of the market.

There’s not much point in marketing to people who simply can’t afford to come to your hair extension studio or pay for your services.
2. Choosing a Business

Choose a business where the people have the same business ethics as yours and a good database of clients.

3) Network

Throw the occasional cocktail party and invite the surrounding business owners, managers and employees of your choice. If you can build relationships with these people you may gain them as clients. Remember most men have girlfriends or wives and most women have other lady friends also.

They might also refer some of their customers and friends to you. Do this especially with the staff of beauty and fashion shops in your area. They are ideal people to get referrals from.
4) Get Quality Training

There are over 36 different hair extension techniques in the market place. If you really want to plan to be a success in this market, then you have to choose to become totally proficient in several techniques. There are many types of clients out there with varying hair problems, plan to be of service to you target market. Restricting yourself is restricting your potential income.

5) Be Classy (even if your working from home)

It’s best to set your hair extension studio up so that the right impact is made right from the moment the clients make an entrance or you make an entrance. Remember that the more professional the hair extension studio looks, the more you will be able to charge, as you will attract a more up market clientele. I always advise that the overall look must not out way the warmth and welcome of the studio. Clients like to feel relaxed with the staff and environment, not as if they are on show.
6) Flowers at reception or at your home always add a touch of class.

So does a smiling face, which helps to make each client’s, visit a welcoming visit right from the start. You can make the waiting area more impressive by including a great retail area, some hair extension brochures, and a book containing before and after photos. Provide some new, interesting magazines and hair books. Toss the old or torn ones out.
7) Always protect the clients clothing.

There should be a cupboard or rack for coats, or like some hair dressers have, a small dressing room for clients, who are given a gown to wear. This is a great idea as it removes the problem of high collars being in the way and clothes being ruined.

8) Get rid of shabby items.

Make sure there is a place for everything and enough storage space, so that the hair extension studio can be kept tidy. Get rid of the old wraps, used or shabby towels, and worn brushes. Never have dirty combs or tongs lying around. All of these things make a bad impression on clients.
9) No Carrier bags or damaged cases.

If you are mobile don’t turn up with carrier bags or a damaged beauty case. Make sure you are presentable and that your hair looks emaculate.
10) Don’t be afraid to change with the times.

If your hair extension studio starts to look outdated give it a facelift. Invest in the latest equipment. Make sure that the chairs not only look good, but also feel comfortable. If you are mobile make sure your equipment is up to date in line with your techniques.

The most valuable ebook for your hair extension business Click to order

What they don’t tell you Visit www.needahairmakeover.co to view a selection of 1 day courses.

Call us on 0121 318 2880 to discuss our courses we train in over 14 different techniques or if you would like to book an appointment to have your hair extensions done

Undercutting your Hair Extensions Competition


Extracted from Getting Started in the Hair Extension Business by Diane Shawe

If your hair extension studio is a real under-cutter, care will have to be taken to keep costs as low as realistic as possible.

Don’t be shy when it comes to taking money for your services. Charge for the value of the benefits that you offer.

You must put a value on your services; look at your type of clientele, hair extension location, experience of employees, your clients’ needs and, the prices of the competition.

Price is sometimes seen as a sign of quality and value. Price can attract like-minded customers. They think that because your prices are high, the technician in your hair extension studio must be good. If your prices are high, it is important to promote to the high paying customers, the value of your service.

There are a lot of competitors, so low prices alone, might not be enough to keep the low paying customers coming back. Clients who look for bargains are not only looking for low prices, but they want to get great results too.

You must determine how much value you can offer. To be of value to clients, you must know what the clients’ needs are. Understand what benefits they wish to receive, what pain they want to relieve.

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The benefits they want might be a quick service with no waiting, or it could be that they want an expert doing their hair. They might prefer certain products used on their hair, or to know that they can be squeezed in at short notice occasionally.

Their pain might be that they begrudge spending time on their hair, or that they loathe technicians who don’t listen to them. It might be that they just haven’t found the right retail products to use at home.

Profit margins will be low, so a lot of clients will have to go through the hair extension studio, just for you to be able to pay the overheads. It will most likely mean offering fewer services and probably, rushing clients through. Even the employees will have to be paid a low salary.

In some cases, this could mean that the employees are much less experienced than you may like. You really need to decide on what sort of employees you want in your hair extension studio. You will find that the best technicians won’t want to work in a cheap hair extensions studio. Not only would it hurt their reputations, but they wouldn’t work for a low salary.

Your clientele will most likely be bargain hunters who probably won’t spend on retail products either.

Charge by experience
If your employees have exceptional skills or experience, you can charge more. If you promote these benefits well, you’ll find that clients don’t mind paying extra. A lot of clients don’t mind paying for the name, or the prestige.

Some hair extension studios charge by the experience of the hair technician performing the service. As employees reach certain levels of experience, they charge more. This seems to work very well for them.

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Taking a look at food Fads and Trends by Diane Shawe

I dont often write about food, but when you think about it, it plays a major part in our daily life.

I researched and found some observations from the Compass Group UK & Ireland, the Food People who compile a list of the top 10 food trends we can expect to emerge or, in some cases, continue into next year.

Multi-cuisine restaurants

Serving up dishes that take inspiration from all sorts of exciting and international sources are coming to the fore at the same time as nano-specialists that pour all their energy into mastering single ingredients.

When you look at the world of food, you realise that food trends are really being driven by consumers and what they need and want.

The other point that’s important to consider is the difference between a trend and a fad, A fad is confined to one category, channel or geography and usually just lasts for one season or year.

A good way to spot trends that will stand the test of time is to identify the ones that have one or more wider social drivers, such as health and wellbeing, or seeking experiences that support them.”

BBQ 2.0
Different barbecue techniques inherited from around the world will become part of restaurant theatre, Consumers will continue to crave the charred and smoky flavours from a barbecue.

As we see more chefs and barbecue operators starting to think of the barbecue or fire as an incredibly versatile cooking method, rather than an institution confined by history we can expect this momentum to continue with alternatives
to meats, such as fish and game, vegetables, new cuisines and desserts from the barbecue.

Who’s doing it: Temper, London W1F

healthy-food

Global larder
As travel has become more affordable and technology ensures the world becomes better connected, the lines that divide regional fare have blurred.

Chefs and home cooks are growing, buying and cooking with ingredients more typical of exotic cuisines than with their own flare, forget about geographical barriers – flavour profiles from across the globe are being used in our kitchens, as consumers become more aware of the unusual flavour imparted by these world ingredients.

Who’s doing it: the Providores, London W1U

Multi-cuisine cooking
This is a food movement that is less about fusion and more about choice,

Quantity and quality are key, as influences and ingredients move from specific regional classics to global favourites, taking their seat at the world table.
Who’s doing it: Caravan, London N1C

Nano-specialism
This is almost the perfect counter-trend to multi-cuisine cooking, focusing as it does on expertise, excellence and the narrative.

“Now is the time to be a specialist in your field,” says Banks. “Make your food shine, showing it off to its best possible potential. These specialists are showcasing individual ingredients and creating surprising and delicious dishes with only one main ingredient.

“These nano-specialists are becoming masters of the humble avocado or bag of crisps, as boundaries are pushed and experimentation takes over.”

Who’s doing it: Yolk, London EC2M

Provenance
Consumers are more interested in where their food comes from than ever – from the breed to the farm and the farmer’s name. But why do they want so much information?

Gorgeous Group’s Bargh says: “In a world of consumer distrust, knowing the back story helps to create an element of trust and transparency between the consumer and the retailer, brand and chef, and gives consumers the ability to create a real emotional connection.”

Compass’s Davies agrees: “People seek honest stories they can trust in an uncertain world. It feels good to know who made your food or drink, where it comes from and how it was cared for.”
Who’s doing it: Lyles, London E1

Authenticity
Simon Parton, Compass Group UK & Ireland’s head of food and beverage innovation, says: “Authenticity is a delicate balance. At the very top level, it means total authenticity of the recipe and the ingredients. This is expensive, so to most of us authenticity means capturing the essence of the cuisine, the flavours, the key ingredients, the colours and smells; not breaking the rules by using the wrong meat, for instance.”
Who’s doing it: Hill & Szrok, London E8

Veg-centric cooking
Meat-free dining has become a lifestyle choice for today’s health-conscious and environmentally aware consumers and it’s one that they’re choosing to dip in and out of.

“Veg-centric cooking is a trend that’s been bubbling away for a while,” says Nick Vadis, culinary director at Compass Group UK & Ireland. “That’s why we’ve developed our new vegetarian Root Kitchen concept for the business. But the people asking for it are not necessarily vegetarian.”

Vadis describes this group as ‘flexitarian’, while the Food People refers to them as ‘reducetarians’.

“This isn’t about being perfect, it’s about moderation of our carnivorous side,” says Banks. “Reducing any processes that harm the planet and finding cleaner ways to live and eat is better for our bodies and better for the world.”
Who’s doing it: Root, Bristol

Waste not, want not
The arguments for reducing waste are so compelling, for both the planet (less waste to landfill; conservation of natural resources) and hospitality operators (reduced costs), that the real question should be why not?

So it’s little wonder that food businesses are becoming increasingly innovative when it comes to lowering the levels of waste they produce.

“Restaurants are promoting themselves as having ‘no food waste’, using not only nose-to-tail but also root-to-tip [of fruit and vegetable]. Never before has so much of every plant and animal been used,” says Banks.

“There are a few operators that are responding to the desire from consumers to live within a sustainable food ecosystem. And it is extremely difficult to do if it is done properly. To quote Doug McMaster from Silo: ‘I don’t have a bin in my kitchen.’ Just think about that for a moment. Nothing is thrown away – no food, no packaging, nothing. That would completely change how a kitchen operates. He admits it’s very difficult, but it does mean you get very creative.”
Who’s doing it: Silo, Brighton

Craft carbs
We can kiss goodbye to ‘plastic white bread’, says the Food People, as the craft of bread baking returns and a trend for artisan, flavoured and luxury loaves emerges.

Of course, craft carbs go well beyond bread, as Banks explains: “Forget about cheap and cheerful, carbs have taken on a luxurious edge, elevating their position from midweek staple to fine dining. Fresh, authentic pasta made with finely milled ancient grains, or bright, vibrant tagliatelle coloured with vegetables.”
Who’s doing it: Trullo, London N1

tacos

Food by occasion…
… rather than food by type because, says Bargh: “Consumers are choosing to eat according to their mood, rather than the nationality of the food.”

This means, for example, that diners are looking for dishes that can provide a kick-start to their day, rather than food that is typically associated with breakfast. Banks says this is a trend that is particularly prevalent in the health space, but from an operator’s perspective, it’s not necessarily an easy appetite to satisfy: “The challenge is getting consumers to understand and articulate what they want at a more functional level.”
Who’s doing it: Detox Kitchen, London (various locations)

Food on the go
The grab-and-go food trend is expected to evolve in 2018 and it’s an opportunity not to be missed by hospitality businesses. The market was valued at £20.1b in 2016, with robust consumer demand for quick and quality food leading to substantial growth and no signs of it slowing down.

“On-the-go is the buzzword driving this trend,” says Parton. “We are all busy people – the average lunch in the UK is only 34 minutes – so we insist on eating on the go. Research we conducted found the sandwich has remained the favoured lunchtime choice, chosen by 63% of the UK workforce. We’ve done a massive amount of work to make sure we’re leading the way in delicious and convenient food. ‘On the go’ must not mean we compromise on quality and enjoyment.”
Who’s doing it: Pret a Manger/Leon, various locations

Whilst I agreed with some of the findings I was not overly surprises. The UK is becoming one big cultural melting pot, but you would think the only place this is happening is London.

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Discrepancy in pay exists despite the proportion of black men with bachelor’s degrees increasing

Black male graduates in the UK earned £7,000 a year less from 2007 to 2017 than white males.
That’s according to a report by the Resolution Foundation, which highlighted that this discrepancy in pay exists despite the proportion of black men with bachelor’s degrees increasing 24 percentage points over the past two decades, compared to a 15 point increase for white men.

The think tank also revealed the average pay gap between white and Pakistani and Bangladeshi non-graduate men is more than £4 an hour.

So Is #Adult #Education Broken?

#DianeShaweAuthor explores the main failings in education for an economy—powered by #technology, fueled by #information, driven by #knowledge and becoming #automated.

As Isaac Asimov—a master of science fiction literature—once said:

“No sensible decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the world as it is but the world as it will be.”

What has happened?

How can we make this new economic age enhance, rather than diminish, our quality of earning? How can we make this amazing innovation advance the prospects of all people especially those with experience and not just for the youth?

It is clear that at this moment most educational systems are not keeping pace with changing technology and the ever-evolving world of work.

Not enough people are thinking strategically enough in this area. Fundamentally, we need to change what people learn, how people learn, when people learn, and even why people learn.

We must get beyond the traditional model of students sitting passively in classrooms, following instructions and memorising material that they are tested and scored on which sometimes turn out to be of little use in an every changing economy. It is evident that computers can do that for us!

Will the current type of Adult Education keep you in Employment?

Diane Shawe’s latest publication ‘Is Adult Education Broken suggests that a 21st-century educational system must focus on the areas where humans can outclass computers—such as in cognitive skills, interpersonal skills, fine motor skills, or sophisticated coding skills.

Download your copy from Amazon today

More and more top fortune company’s are giving way to automation primarily to drive costs down, improve reliability, security and accuracy.

Diane believes that we need to make sure that the type of education supplied can keep a population in work or self-employment, performing meaningful tasks relevant to todays and tomorrow needs.

Education has to become student-centric and move away from solely institutional constructs that are not fluid to change.

Maybe we need to remind ourselves of the purpose of education by looking back in order to move constructively forward.

There has always been a great deal of lip service given to the idea of learning by doing, but not much has been done about it. Diane recommends John Dewey book, Democracy, and Education 1916.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Adult-Education-Broken-Diane-Shawe-ebook/dp/B07BWBMGFM

A thought provoking read get your copy today

Why Hair, Beauty & Hair Extensions Salons should Update their S.W.O.T Report

SWOT your personality & management style could save your business.

Article by Diane Shawe Author

Changing trends, diverse client base and increasing competitors are all hallmarks of change. How easily do you adapt to change and when was the last time you looked at your salons Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threaths.

One of the hardest things you will ever have to approach is getting an overview of how people perceive you after running your business for over a year. It is often said that sometimes the business owner can be the biggest obstacle to their business developing and growth. It’s worth getting an honest appraisal about yourself from a staff or clients. I don’t recommend family or friends as we often behave differently with strangers.

You might not like what you hear and you should make it easy for them to tell you. But Just like you would want an honest reference about a person before you employ them, you should seek an honest appraisal of how you are perceived by others.

This may help you make some adjustments before you embark on new business development and growth and help you get the best out of yourself at the earliest stages.

Swot analysis pointers

Your SWOT analysis should be made up of a separate SWOT for each component of the business. You must really examine each segment, probing every detail.

Determine the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for:

• hair, beauty and hair extensions business sector in your region

• the services you provide

• staffing issues

• clients

• competition

• market

• current marketing strategy

The following are a few examples of areas to look at:

Hair, beauty and hair extension sector in your region

• direction headed

• management

•Hair, Beauty and hair extension ethics

• customer service

• goals

• sales targets

• profit margins

• resources

services you provide

• cost to produce each service

• quality of services

• range of services

• demand for services

• pricing

staffing issues

• demand

• staff training

• potential

• communication

• cost to employ

• rapport with clients

• expertise

• attitude

• your management style

• what are your business values

clients

• most profitable target market

• customer profile

• quality of existing clientele

• quantity of clients

• needs and wants

• buying motivations

• how potential customers could perceive you

competition

• number of competitors

• their strengths, weaknesses

• your strengths, weaknesses

• their target markets

market

• the larger economy and how your business fits in

• market trends

• legislation changes

• position in the economic cycle

current marketing strategy

• position of hair, beauty and hair extension products and services in the market

• market perception of hair extensions and hair enhancement products and services

• advertising methods and relationship to social media

• advertising cost

• sales strategies

• sales promotions

• retail display

• market perception of retail

Performing and updating your SWOT analysis will give you a true picture of how your Hair, Beauty & Hair Extensions business could or should be running. It is essential to work out why some things are working in your business and why some aren’t.

You may discover problems that you had no idea even existed. These can be addressed before they get out of hand. It will also highlight many assets, which could be utilised better, even opportunities, which could be taken advantage of.

Discover the staffs’ perceptions of the business. Don’t be afraid or get upset to hear their criticisms, use them wisely. Some of your staff could have ideas that if used, would make huge differences to the hair extension studio. Quite often it is the smallest changes that make the biggest impact

The results of your SWOT analysis will be the basis for your marketing plans and decisions.

Extracted from Getting Started in the Hair Extensions Business by Diane Shawe’s eBook available on Amazon right now at: https://www.amazon.com/Diane-Shawe/e/B0052WG8V

IQ scores are falling -It’s not that dumb people are having more kids than smart people

IQ scores are falling and have been for decades, new study finds

Guest Blogger: Rory Smith, CNN

IQ scores have been steadily falling for the past few decades, and environmental factors are to blame, a new study says.

The research suggests that genes aren’t what’s driving the decline in IQ scores, according to the study, published Monday.
Norwegian researchers analysed the IQ scores of Norwegian men born between 1962 and 1

991 and found that scores increased by almost 3 percentage points each decade for those born between 1962 to 1975 — but then saw a steady decline among those born after 1975.

Similar studies in Denmark, Britain, France, the Netherlands, Finland and Estonia have demonstrated a similar downward trend in IQ scores, said Ole Rogeberg, a senior research fellow at the Ragnar Frisch Center for Economic Research in Norway and co-author of the new study.

“The causes in IQ increases over time and now the decline is due to environmental factors,” said Rogeburg, who believes the change is not due to genetics.
“It’s not that dumb people are having more kids than smart people, to put it crudely. It’s something to do with the environment, because we’re seeing the same differences within families,” he said.

These environmental factors could include changes in the education system and media environment, nutrition, reading less and being online more, Rogeberg said.

The earlier rise in IQ scores follows the “Flynn effect,” a term for the long-term increase in intelligence levels that occurred during the 21st century, arguably the result of better access to education, according to Stuart Ritchie, a postdoctoral fellow in cognitive ageing at the University of Edinburgh whose research explores IQ scores and intelligence and who was not involved in the new study.

Researchers have long preferred to use genes to explain variations in intelligence over environmental factors. However, the new study turns this thinking on its head.

Intelligence is heritable, and for a long time, researchers assumed that people with high IQ scores would have kids who also scored above average. Moreover, it was thought that people with lower scores would have more kids than people with high IQ scores, which would contribute to a decline in IQ scores over time and a “dumbing down” of the general population, according to Rogeberg.

Anyone who has seen the film “Idiocracy” might already be familiar with these ideas. In the scientific community, the idea of unintelligent parents having more kids and dumbing-down the population is known as the dysgenic fertility theory, according to Ritchie.

The study looked at the IQ scores of brothers who were born in different years. Researchers found that, instead of being similar as suggested by a genetic explanation, IQ scores often differed significantly between the siblings.

“The main exciting finding isn’t that there was a decline in IQ,” Ritchie said. “The interesting thing about this paper is that they were able to show a difference in IQ scores within the same families.”

The study not only showed IQ variance between children the same parents, but because the authors had the IQ scores of various parents, it demonstrated that parents with higher IQs tended to have more kids, ruling out the dysgenic fertility theory as a driver of falling IQ scores and highlighting the role of environmental factors instead.

What specific environmental factors cause changes in intelligence remains relatively unexplored.

Access to education is currently the most conclusive factor explaining disparities in intelligence, according to Ritchie. In a separate study that has not been released, he and his colleagues looked at existing research in an effort to demonstrate that staying in school longer directly equates to higher IQ scores.

But more research is needed to better understand other environmental factors thought to be linked to intelligence. Robin Morris, a professor of psychology at Kings College in London who was not involved in Ritchie’s research, suggests that traditional measures of intelligence, such as the IQ test, might be outmoded in today’s fast-paced world of constant technological change.

Morris states that “we need to recognise that as time changes and people are exposed to different intellectual experiences, such as changes in the use of technology, for example social media, the way intelligence is expressed also changes. Educational methods need to adapt to such changes,” Morris said.

Diane Shawe author of ‘Is Adult Education Broken” goes on to state in her publication that “No sensible decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the world as it is but the world as it will be.”

In her thought provoking book she explains that we are living in a new economy—powered by technology, fueled by information, and driven by knowledge which increasingly is increasingly becoming automated. We are entering the new century with opportunity on our side with huge problems that require new thinking.

How can we make the new economic age enhance, rather than diminish, our quality of learning?

How can we make this amazing innovation advance the prospects of all people especially those with experience and not just for the youth?

Fundamentally, we need to change what people learn, how people learn, when people learn, and even why people learn.

Inside her publication she explores

: Failure to find a fomular to develop teachers convergent and divergent facilitatingskills

: failure to consider cultural relevance

: failure to develop enterprising and entrepreneurial skills

: failure to prepare students about taking personal responsibility

: failure to encourage international engagement

:failure to manage growth of academic misconduct

Download your copy today https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07BWBMGFM/

Finally a frightening statistic:

“If unemployment formed a country it would be the 5th largest in the world” Isaac Asimov

Why Having The Right People Around You Matters To An Entrepreneur

Starting and running a business can be very lonely and exposes you to bouts of isolation. When this happens the need to be loved, needed, and pampered is very strong and there is nothing wrong with that.

Ones self esteem can suffer and this can be compounded by historical experiences (childhood, family etc) and frustration and exhaustion when trying to lift your business of the ground and working a 12 hours day.

Being an ideas person, being creative and wanting recognition for that is achieved when the evidence is people buying your services or products.

The people you have surrounding you is very important, they have to be of a similar stock because they get it, they move into activities that support your dream and help you benefit from your hard work.

Many women are brilliant because most of them run several things at once if they are mums, wife, daughters, designer, marketeer, sales person, social media expert, bookeeper, packer and distributors and the list goes on.

The main point is to have total confidence in who you are, listen to tapes and watch video that continually empowers you. Mix with the pack that stimulates and motivates you and you them. When you live like this all who is to be in your life will gravitate towards you and give you joy and support.

You will easily be able to then identify anyone around you that does not naturally fit into your gang because they don’t naturally make you feel better, they add weight to your life and focus on distracting you.

But we are born with free will and you can use it to experience your life in what ever way YOU want.

The ultimate responsibility is your.