Here at Nova Insurance we often discuss how salon owners need to adapt their businesses in order to attract new customers and ensure their success for the future. In fact, just last week we posted a blog post containing four ways in which salon owners can add little extras to their salons in order to appeal to a wider client base.

It is therefore not surprising to hear that a number of salons across the UK are also coming up with new ways to attract customers, such as offering extended opening hours. One salon in London has even gone so far as to open 24 hours a day between Tuesday and Saturday, and so far it seems as though it is proving extremely popular. The Neil Cornelius salon is based on Bond Street in London, and in 2012 the owner decided to keep the salon open for twenty four hours every Thursday.

Due to the positive reaction Neil Cornelius received from his customers, he then decided to extend the twenty four hour opening times to five days a week. Discussing how it all began in an interview with The Metro, Cornelius said: “When we first tried it, we just kept the doors open but we’d get drunk people wandering in asking for hair cuts and we couldn’t get rid of them. So we changed it so that people can come in whenever they want but bookings for very late or very early appointments have to made during normal opening hours. We take payment there and then.”

Unsurprisingly, a number of Neil Cornelius’ clients are extremely happy with the fact that they can get their hair cut late at night or early in the morning, especially those that have occupations which mean they can’t attend a salon during normal opening hours. One client, a florist from Hackney named Marianne Johnson, said: “Being able to come here at the crack of dawn works perfectly for me. I normally get up about 3am, go to the flower market then come here afterwards, at 6am.

“I’ve been coming for several years and love my early appointments the most. It’s always nicer because it’s more peaceful – it’s less manic.” Another client named Carina, who works for a family in central London, said: “I love coming here after a hectic day. Late appointments are perfect for me because I can’t go during the day. It’s also something I look forward to.”

The fact that most people’s schedules are now becoming less structured means that businesses are opening earlier and closing later in order to cater to their customers’ needs. However, Professor Gail Kinman, a psychologist who specialises in work-related stress, has warned that keeping your business open constantly can be bad for your health as well as the health of your staff. She added: “Our job performance and personal life will suffer if we’re constantly on the go and trying to fit things in 24/7.

“The difficulty is that hairdressers and beauty therapists may end up extending their hours in order to satisfy demand but, over the long term, their personal work-life balance and health could suffer.” So how can salon owners satisfy their customers’ need to have appointments available at all hours but at the same time not burn out their staff? Firstly, meticulous organisation of your rota will ensure that each member of your staff works a reasonable amount of hours as well as has enough time off to relax.

In order for your salon to offer extended opening hours it is likely you will need to hire additional staff, although during the later hours you will probably need fewer employees than during standard busy periods such as Saturdays. It is also important for salon owners to protect their businesses if they are planning on being open late at night, especially as you may receive unwanted customers akin to Neil Cornelius. Your salon insurance policy may also need to be amended in order to make sure you are covered late at night, otherwise you could find out too late you are trading illegally.

With the amount of people now working later hours and struggling to find free time it is anticipated that more and more salons will soon be offering extended opening hours to their clients. As long as proper organisation goes into the planning and implementation stages of having your salon open for longer hours, you could soon start see an increase in customers and ultimately income, securing your place in the salon industry for the future.