Retail is an important aspect of hairdressing; it allows us to recommend specialist products to our customers, which are specifically tailored to meet their requirements. Most hairdressers sell a range of salon-exclusive products, including shampoos, conditioners, styling products, brushes and electrical styling equipment. When these exclusive products find themselves on the shelf of a supermarket or other mainstream store, it can threaten the salon’s retail business and reduce customer loyalty.
For many salons, the GHD range of straightening irons is one of their most lucrative lines. However, some salon owners have reported seeing GHD ceramic irons on sale for just £99 in branches of the supermarket Tesco. As this is below the recommended retail price for these products, there is no way that an independent salon can afford to sell these irons so competitively.
However, after discussing the issue with Martin Penny, GHD group director, it has become clear that these low costs are certainly not supported by the brand itself. In fact, he said that the brand are opposed to their goods being sold in high-street stores and insists that they have not directly supplied them.
"From time to time we become aware that some high-street retailers obtain small quantities of GHD irons,” he said, “GHD has never supplied these retailers with our products since this would be a total contradiction of the strategy that has led to and continues to support the outstanding success of the brand.”
Therefore, it seems that the demand for GHD straightening irons is so great; some stores are trying to source GHD products for themselves. As GHD won’t supply them directly, they are turning to wholesalers and even salons in an attempt to get hold of these must-have hair stylers. In a bid to tackle this practice, GHD are fighting back and they want you to help them.
GHD have started a petition that asks major stores to stop sourcing and selling their straightening irons. As Martin Penny explains: "One way of sending a clear message to these retailers that we only want GHD products sold through professional channels is to sign a petition asking them to stop this practice.”
The brand has sent out letters to many hair salons asking them to join the petition, which will then be delivered to a number of major retailers. Alternatively, you can also sign the petition online.
Source:
Hairdressers Journal
This article is copyright protected and is not for republishing
|
del.icio.us
digg
Furl
Reddit
YahooMyWeb
blogmarks