TECH FOR Techs

REBECCA HITCHON gets the scoop on high-tech launches, decodes hot topics & sources tech-savvy tips for your business

6 brands to watch in 2024

Abi Bright

Polishpad

Nail technician, Abi Bright, launched nail-focused booking platform, Polishpad, to help professionals streamline operations, automate administrative tasks and access tools to facilitate efficient business management, so they can focus on their craft. “Launching Polishpad was more than creating a booking system; it was about building a community, fostering creativity and contributing to the growth of the nail industry. We want to equip nail technicians with the resources they need to build profitable businesses,” Abi tells Scratch.

Via the webapp, techs can create a personalised one-page website, where they upload services and showcase a visual portfolio of work. Clients enjoy a user-friendly booking experience with Polishpad, where they can view portfolios, read reviews and book nail appointments 24/7, as well as cancel or reschedule them. Abi aims for the app to be a hub for diverse artistry, offering a variety of nail specialities.

Polishpad has big plans for the future, with Abi revealing that a reports page is in the pipeline, which will allow techs to set goals and track performance. “The ultimate goal is to create a comprehensive ecosystem, where users can not only book nail services, but nail products can be sold seamlessly,” she says.

Polishpad

www.polishpad.co.uk

Hue

Have you ever struggled to find the right beauty products to suit your skin tone, type or complement your hair colour? When three friends in the US, Janvi Shah, Nicole Clay and Sylva Guo, noticed that it was an issue that they and other beauty enthusiasts faced, they decided to launch Hue. The company helps brands embed user-generated videos featuring authentic customer reviews on their marketing channels, building trust with consumers who can see evidence that products will work for their beauty needs.

Founders, Janvi Shah, Nicole Clay and Sylvan Guo.

Brands define who they want to review their offerings, then send products. These chosen Hue creators produce video, photo or written content based on their product experiences. For Hue’s Shade Matching Technology, the creators answer questions that are used to inform AI product recommendations. The Hue app can be integrated into a brand’s website – and from there, testimonials can be viewed and their results measured, along with those of ads using Hue content. Hue reports that websites featuring Hue’s technology see a 29% increase in their customer conversion rate.

Hue.

www.poweredbyhue.com

KIKI World

US beauty brand, KIKI World, places the customer at the heart of its production process, by inviting them to vote on which products the company should create, from picking shades to fragrances and even packaging. KIKI launched its first customer-voted product in May 2023: Pretty Nail Graffiti (PNG) in shade, Pearl. PNG shade, Liquid Chrome, was announced as the next voted product launch in August 2023.

Pretty Nail Graffiti is a peel-off, odourless nail polish housed in an airtight pen, allowing for on-the-go application. Using SmartPen technology, PNG pens can be paired with customers’ accounts to earn rewards every time they are used.

They also feature refillable aluminium bodies, and products returned for refills are rewarded with points. KIKI members who voted for the Pearl colour to be made last year were given a non-fungible token (NFT) collectible to unlock customer experiences in future, as well as $5 and double the points they received for voting to their accounts. Members who voted for other colours received a different NFT.

At present, KIKI World only ships to the US, but invites people globally to join its community.

www.kiki.world

Salon Manager

Salon Manager encompasses business management tools in one handy software. Features include online booking and appointment management, customer experience tools (such as digital consultations, reminders and loyalty programmes), staff management, inventory tracking, accounting, marketing, reporting and analytics. Its goal is to enhance hair and beauty companies’ operations and elevate client satisfaction. The software is cloud-based, meaning it allows salon businesses of all sizes to access its features anywhere with an internet connection, including on mobile phones.

A range of packages are available to cater Salon Manager to a business’ size and budget: Essential, Premium, Premium+ and Elite, and all include bespoke setup, unlimited online training, SMS and Salon Manager support. There is also the option to subscribe monthly or sustain prices for up to three years.

www.salonmanageronline.co.uk

EcoWise

Do you want your beauty business to be more environmentally friendly, but aren’t sure where to start or how to involve employees? Download the EcoWise app from sustainability consultancy, SaveMoneyCutCarbon, which helps small and large companies track their net zero progress. SaveMoneyCutCarbon research reveals that acting on climate change is important to 93% of employees’ sense of motivation and wellbeing, and 34% would increase their loyalty to employers if more information on how to be greener is provided.

EcoWise offers a programme for businesses to audit, track and lower their carbon output in the workplace and at home. Widely accessible, via customer support and financing, it features interactive assessments and 52 educational articles per year. It also shares tips on how staff can be more sustainable, while offering them discounts on eco-friendly homeware. Mark Sait, CEO & founder of SaveMoneyCutCarbon, comments: “It is crucial for employers to understand the generations who are increasingly turning away from roles that do not prioritise ESG (environmental, social and governance) goals. This will not only help boost productivity and retain talent – it will ultimately build trust and value for business.”

www.savemoneycutcarbon.com/sustainability-services/employee-education

Lucy Fulbrook

COMING SOON: My Salon Angels

My Salon Angels has been launched by Lucy Fulbrook of Lucy’s Salon, Academy and Glamourvan in Deal, Kent. During the pandemic, she conceived the idea for the cancellation-focused app, which she believes will solve a huge problem in the beauty industry. “Marrying cancellation spaces with a need for last-minute appointments can be hard. For nail and beauty pros, it is difficult to find last-minute replacements for cancellations, and this involves excessive time spent answering requests: problems that My Salon Angels serves to eradicate,” Lucy explains.

“My Salon Angels will also be ideal for tourists seeking beauty treatments, who are not familiar with businesses in the area they are visiting.” The app will be free to download on mobiles in 2024, with a small percentage charged as and when appointments are booked for both professionals and clients. Once a client is booked in, they will be asked to pay for the appointment upfront. Lucy hopes to launch My Salon Angels across the UK, to be accessible to all.

www.mysalonangels.co.uk