Salon owner trims budget as his customers cut back
OLD TOWN | Merger with another salon saves on salaries, taxes
Hair designer Paolo Bivona is finding ways to save money at his business now that clients are trimming their spending.
"We've seen clients cut back by 20 percent," said Bivona, who charges $60 to $85 for haircuts. "If they come back every six or eight weeks, they are scheduling two weeks later."
(John H. White/Sun-Times)
Bivona, 39, recently merged his business with Maria Paonessa to create Maria & Paolo's Compagnia della Bellezza at 1500 N. Wells. By combining staffs, reducing the number of employees to 10 from 12, they're in a better position to deal with rising sales and employment taxes, Bivona said. "Taxes were one of the big issues we were dealing with," he said.
The salon also is paying more for hair coloring, shampoos and conditioners. To ease the sting of higher prices, the salon offers free beauty consultations, espresso and soft drinks.
Bivona, a newlywed, has started saving a portion of his income every week. He said he and his wife, Lola, 28, are redoing their house and saving to buy a new car.
He drives to work later than he used to so he can avoid rush-hour traffic, and he carpools when he can to save gas.
"I haven't gone out to eat much," he said. "I'm so busy I don't have time, and I've found I'm saving money."
How do you make ends meet? Write to psmith@suntimes.com.