Getting the Layout Right

Every successful salon has always got the balance between aesthetics and functionality right, which makes it convenient for staff and customers. To understand it correctly, we need to understand zoning and positioning.

- ASHATEET SARAN

Let us begin by focusing on positioning. Every brand which is successful understands, where they want to position themselves in a competitive market. Whether the brand aspires to be a family salon, or women-centric or wants to position itself as a luxury salon, or day spa, the genres are different and it is very important to know where to stand. Once a brand knows its end-user, it helps designers to go deeper into getting the balance right between aesthetics and functionality. I ask my clients what is Unique Experience Positioning (UExP) for their brand. What kind of experience do they want to give to their customers to make them unique in the market. This is the key to get you right positioning.

Let us dig deep into how to get layout right for a salon. Zoning is the first aspect to think while designing the layout of a salon. I always say its the job of a designer to bring beautiful solutions. Every industry is always challenged in someway or the other and therein lies the opportunity. When we started working with Naturals way back in 2008, there was no concept of a family salon. So, we had to rethink about zoning for the same. We had to zone out a women’s exclusive segment and it was not a common practice in those days, but it helped the brand carve a unique identity, as either there was a men’s salon or women’s exclusive salon. If it was luxury unisex salon, we were striving for an acceptable solution where the brand wanted to target middle and higher middle class where women stressed on privacy.