Optimising her business to maximise her happiness with Sara Jade of SJ&Co

My guest today is Sara Jade, owner and founder of SJ&Co, a boutique hair salon in Northcote, Melbourne. Having been in business for 15 years, Sara Jade has so much insight and wisdom when it comes to business. She has taken her salon to the next level by reimagining, simplifying, downsizing and getting really clear on what she wants. 

LETTING GO OF HER EGO TO MAXIMISE HER HAPPINESS

At the peak of her business, SJ&Co had 14 staff but Sara Jade was constantly drowning in debt from paying wages and the cost of product wastage. With the help of a business coach, Sara Jade stepped back to analyse her business and realised that the biggest thing to let go of was her ego. Once she let go of the need to prove that she was successful, Sara Jade was able to completely simplify her business down to two staff, putting her back on the tools and doing what she loves most. By taking away everything that wasn’t working, what remains now for Sara Jade is a thriving, simplified business and life. 

A REMINDER OF CONNECTION OVER PERFECTION

Not only is she my hairdresser, but Sara Jade is also a member of the Modern Marketing Collective. Sara shares how diligently working through the modules gave her the confidence to back herself and focus on connection with her clients instead of trying to do everything she thought she had to do. 

INTENTIONAL DECISIONS AND TAKING RISKS

A hair salon is quite a traditional business, so when Sara Jade decided to replace the receptionist role with her own app, it came as a surprise to a few customers. But, Sara Jade knew that the most important thing was to serve her ideal clients in the best possible way. 

A lot of Sara Jade’s clientele are busy CEOs and CFOs so she opened her books to accommodate early morning appointments and made booking simple. She also created an account with two local cafes so clients can pre-order a coffee instead of her having to spend precious time in the kitchen. 

Another huge change Sara Jade made to her business was removing apprentices and focusing on colours and no longer prioritising cuts. These creative changes were risky for the industry, but this iteration of the salon has not only simplified Sara Jade’s life but also enables her to provide an amazing service to her clientele. 

YOUR BUSINESS ISN’T FOR EVERYONE…AND THAT’S OKAY!

If you’re a business owner and thinking about downsizing or simplifying your business, you might have some fears or concerns around how to go about it. And perhaps you’re wondering if people would respond well to the changes that you make. The truth is, your business isn’t for everyone and that’s okay! 

One thing Sarah Jade has done so well is understanding what works best for her and implementing some really creative and somewhat drastic changes to her business to make it work. When you service your people, you attract more of your people and that’s how you build your brand.  

Connect with Sarah Jade:

Website: https://sjandco.com.au/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sjandco.au/

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