Are you ready for the truth? Because unlike Jack Nicholson in "A Few Good Men", I believe you can handle the truth. And maybe this is going to get me blasted by the product community. Maybe I will end up wishing I hadn't said this because you will go ahead and, without fear of the product you've chosen being inferior, buy from them instead of me. But I don't think so. I am hoping that the opposite will be true. That you will appreciate someone finally being honest with you and then your loyalty will only expound.
Wow! Did you watch that? Pretty powerful message, right? Well, I have a few things I would like to share about diversion.
Are you ready for the truth? Because unlike Jack Nicholson in "A Few Good Men", I believe you can handle the truth. And maybe this is going to get me blasted by the product community. Maybe I will end up wishing I hadn't said this because you will go ahead and, without fear of the product you've chosen being inferior, buy from them instead of me. But I don't think so. I am hoping that the opposite will be true. That you will appreciate someone finally being honest with you and then your loyalty will only expound.
Diversion is a LIE! That's right. A lie.
There are some products that are outdated and expired or discontinued on every shelf. Probably even on a few salon's shelves. And the price mark up may be true. Not to say that a salon doesn't mark up their products though. How much they mark them up is totally up to the salon and retailers.
There are so many products that are superb quality and salon only products who truly support cosmetologists and salons with great marketing, research, products and education that you will never find at box retailers. These products tend to market for a higher price point (Redken's shampoos typically retail for about $14 per 10oz bottle while SurfaceHair as an example retails for about $20 for a 10oz bottle) which makes salon owners who have a struggle encouraging their stylists to sell products nervous. But they ARE higher quality. A few "non-diverted" brands to look for: SurfaceHair, Aquage, OrganicHairSystems, Unite, and a big one - Aveda. You will never see these products at Target, Walmart, Sephora, etc. And the reason?
Because the owners of the companies do not enter into contracts with retailers! That's the bottom line. A big company like Target is not hanging out in back rooms or dark garages making cash undercover deals with shady distributors for small quantities of product to put on their shelves. End of story. Target is a multi-million dollar business. It costs to be on their shelves. If L'Oreal, Redken, Matrix, Paul Mitchell and others didn't want their products on the shelves of these places, then they would pull them. But that isn't the case. Not by a long shot. Redken (et al) want their products available WHERE YOU SHOP MOST.
Remember who produced the video above too. These companies spend so much money on this diversion campaign and I believe it's because it creates this "special" feeling around their products. It gives them the "wow" factor that may not be pulled off on their own.
"If the folks at Paul Mitchell really wanted to stop these sales, they would simply question their distributors and find out who is selling to Kroger, or Target or Albertson." -Are Salon Products...by Left Brain 6/11/06
"Target, like other retailers, does not purchase from any vendor unable to product certificated proving the rights to use product trademarks. www.partnersonline.com" -TRTASPD
"These two companies, whose annual revenue is several times larger than the entire professional beauty industry combined, would not dedicate shelf space or take product liability risk for any product that is not being supplied directly from the manufacturer." -article by Organic Salon Systems
Ok so here's the bottom line for me. I love being a hairstylist and providing you with the best hair and hair care you can get. Which means that if you spend your hard earned dollars with me, I want you using products that make your investment last the longest. So I spend time playing with products, working with new releases, researching what's out there. All so you can take advantage of my knowledge and enjoy your products. When you purchase a product at Scissor Happy, you know that it has be tried and tested. And I can tell you how it will work best for your hair. I won't get rich selling products to you, but I know that if you use it and love it, you will love your hairstyle all the more, too. You get this assurance when you buy from me.
And I know that the big companies are going to continue to supply you with product where you shop. And that's ok. I am not bothered by this. You won't have me there to make a suggestion to you when you are at Walgreens.
So don't be fooled. I provide you with the best your money can buy. If you I suggest it and you like it, please continue to get it from me. Or at least continue to use it. If you don't like it, bring it back. I can then suggest something that meets your needs better. The beauty of a small business.
Buy smart! I have something I like to say when I am in classes and we talk about retail. I say, "If you spend $100 on a beautiful cashmere sweater, you won't go home and wash it in dish soap. Treat the fabric of your hair the same. If you spend $100 on your color (every month) don't go home and wash it with harsh, detergent laden shampoo. Treat it with love and your color and your hair will love you back."
-janet
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