Think back to some of the reasons you signed up for beauty school—is your career following the path you expected? Often, it’s the relationships you form in the industry that dictate the opportunities you have to accomplish your earliest vision.

Two salon owners explain how they realized career goals via one very important relationship—the one they have with their manufacturer.

1. Improved Retail

Eryn Wall, of Paradise, N.L., has always dreamt of opening her own salon. In the fall, Eryn and co-owner Patricia Malloy will open The Head Room Paradise, which is an exclusive Wella salon. “From a business perspective [when it was time to open our salon], working with one brand increases revenue through loyalty programs such as the Global Connections points program: the more colour or product you buy, the more points you get, and points can be redeemed for backbar, retail, travel or educational vouchers and discounts,” says Wall. “Ever since I’ve been in hair school, I’ve worked with Wella and love [that] P&G Professional carries a whole family of products—there’s something for everybody—so it’s good for all business aspects.”

Tip: Sign-up to receive the latest marketing advice and displays to make moving product easier.

2. Platform Work

Wall has been a fan of Wella products since she was in hair school, so it’s no surprise she looked to them for help increasing her profile as a stylist. “I’ve worked at The Head Room St. John’s for nine years, which carried Wella, and I was a Wella platform artist and member of their top stylist team for six or seven years—I’ve had a good relationship with Wella,” she explains. This experience gave her the confidence and skills to be able to open her own salon.

Tip: Ask about training and competitive opportunities to increase awareness for your work.

3. Staying Updated

Heather Wenman, owner of Studio H, in London, Ont. wanted her salon to become a world-class educational destination. Since January, Studio H was been selected by L’Oréal Professionnel to be a satellite location academy. “We host L’Oréal Professionnel courses and international educators and ambassadors teach in our facilities, which are open to industry professionals in the area. L’Oréal Professionnel has always been reinventing their programming, reaching for higher educational standards at international levels. To partner with them as an academy was to make a business connection with their [prestigious] brand.”

“Education is also very important to me, and Wella has provided educational updates for the staff so we can have the knowledge to stay on-trend,” says Wall.

Tip: Attend workshops and seminars with your team to increase your skill set and earning potential.

4. Greater Exposure

“As a business owner, the advantage is that our staff betters their knowledge and skills, and the public comes to respect that we’ve got the best of the best,” says Wenman of her partnership with L’Oréal. “Being a L’Oréal Professionnel academy reflects on the quality of stylists, and this increases client loyalty. Education has become popular, and it’s exciting to see stylists transfer what they’ve learned from a L’Oréal Professionnel expert to a client consultation.”

Tip: Inquire about events that may require a professional hair team to get your salon name out there.