Collaboration Over Competition: Why the Beauty Industry Is Stronger Together

I would be lying if I didn't admit I am very competitive, and I also really like to know my stuff. That can be a dangerous mix, and at times I have had to check my attitude and put myself back in my box. Why? Because being an arrogant know it all is lonely. It is a bitter place to be, and I don't want to be that person, the one always standing alone at the bar at an event.

The hair and beauty industry is a crazy, diverse, passionate and fun place, where you get to meet and work with so many interesting people, and I love it. So my motto is simple: collaboration over competition, all day, every day.

Why so many of us work alone

Ours is an industry of small businesses and solo professionals. According to the NHBF's 2024 industry statistics, there are more than 63,800 hair, barbering and beauty businesses in the UK, 58% of the people working in the sector are self employed, and 95% of businesses employ fewer than ten people.

That means a huge number of us spend our days in a treatment room, a home studio or a rented chair, with nobody to bounce ideas off, nobody to ask when a client presents with something we haven't seen before, and nobody to celebrate with when something goes right. Seeing every other salon down the road as the enemy only makes that isolation worse.

What lockdown taught me about collaboration

During the pandemic I was so lucky to spend a lot of my time talking to people within the industry, and from that I built a network of amazing professionals and friends who will always jump in to help me if I need it. We have a common goal: to get the industry on track and respected. We also want success for each other, and I love, love seeing them all succeed.

The things I am doing now could never have been achieved without all the brilliant people I spoke to over lockdowns, and they even put up with me when I was going through the sitting around in my dressing gown drinking gin stage!

I spent hours talking to people and sitting on Zoom meetings, and the result was lots of brainstorming, lots of different views and the start of a ripple effect. That ripple came from lots of people doing the same thing, and the result is a tidal wave. The industry is being shaken up, and real steps are being taken to strengthen it and get it the respect it deserves.

Competition versus collaboration

I see so many salons, brands and professionals go to war harder than Aldi and Marks and Spencer did over Colin the Caterpillar. But positivity breeds positivity, and I am so much more attracted to brands I see working together. It screams confidence and professionalism, and that is what I want for my businesses.

Clients notice it too. Nielsen's 2021 Trust in Advertising study found that 88% of consumers trust recommendations from people they know more than any other source. When another professional recommends you, or you recommend them, that is the most powerful marketing there is, and it costs nothing but a little generosity.

Find your missing links

The other amazing thing about collaboration is that you find your missing links. I am very creative and have lots of ideas, but I am not very logical, so people who are grounded and practical are a godsend to me. Together we achieve far more than either of us could alone.

Collaboration can look like lots of different things:

• Referring clients to a trusted professional when they want a treatment you don't offer,
• Sharing space, such as renting out a spare room or chair to a complementary business. We help you fill an empty room or find a space
• Running joint events or offers, like a pamper evening with a hairdresser, nail tech and therapist under one roof
• Learning from each other at trade shows, masterclasses and industry events
• Sharing advice honestly about suppliers, training providers and what is and isn't working

Ten minutes can change everything

I attend quite a few events, and sometimes I will only spend ten minutes with a person, but they might impact me for life. I have gained great friends around the world who share the same vision as me, and some of my best ideas have come from just chatting with them over a coffee.

Don't cut yourself off from these opportunities because your ego gets in the way of learning from others. And never think you know it all, or that you can't learn from someone who is new to the industry. A fresh perspective is enlightening and powerful. Investing in good education matters too, and it is worth knowing who is teaching you.

Be the change and create your ripple

Positivity breeds positivity. Negativity attracts negativity. Which one do you want influencing your journey?

I would much sooner be smiling, laughing, having new experiences and learning than looking for flaws in others and breathing in toxic air. So be the change you want to see, reach out to someone in the industry this week, and create your own ripple effect.

If you want to be part of a community that lifts each other up, you can list your business on the directory for free and stand alongside professionals who share the same standards.