How Fresha helped WILLOMINA, the Sydney-based salon, navigate the ups and downs of running a business

“I think it’s quite beautiful, starting a business and not knowing what you’re doing, because you literally have to dive in and just swim.”

We sat down with the co-owners of WILLOMINA, Kassandra and Chris, to talk about their experience growing their business, how Fresha has helped them along that journey, and their advice to people starting out in the beauty and wellness industry. 

WILLOMINA sits in the hub of Woollahra Village, Sydney

As you walk through their doors you’re instantly struck by the floor-to-ceiling windows that bathe the salon (and its array of plants) in sunlight. The airyness of the place is thoughtfully contrasted with the exposed brick walls and concrete floors.

“When we came, it was basically rubble. So we got to design from the bare bones, which was really, really cool.”

“We were so excited to have a space that had so much natural light. I think the thing that makes people feel the best is natural light and nature.”

On starting the business Kassandra tells us “it was an enormous challenge because we’d never run our own business before.”

“There are so many things you don’t think about at first when opening your own salon.” 

But, while it was a struggle, Chris adds “it’s kind of beautiful to just swim and struggle your way through. I don’t think you’ll ever do it perfectly.”

Through the struggle, though, there are some huge benefits of owning your own business. Fresha asked Chris what his favourite part of being a small business owner was. He said “it’s being able to build a brand from scratch. WILLOMINA didn’t exist six and a half years ago. And now we have a brand that means something, and is worth something. It’s been incredibly rewarding for Kassy and I.”

It was about four years into owning WILLOMINA that Chris and Kassandra started working with Fresha to help them manage their salon, help it grow and tackle those challenges they were facing along the way. 

“We took on Fresha when it was really new” Chris says “and it's been incredible in terms of salon management, team management, inventory management. We’ve been using it for two and a half years: it’s an all in one management tool that has everything you need.”

Fresha is a salon software that helps with every part of running a salon, from paying team members, to taking bookings, to putting your business on their marketplace.

“The online booking function has been really good for all of our clients. It's decreased the amount of phone calls our managers have to take.”

“The reporting through Fresha has also been amazing, it makes making decisions really easy”

“I like being able to look at things and I can see my stylist's name and everything that they've done throughout the week right in front of me in the click of a couple of buttons,” says Kassandra. The Fresha reporting and analytics allows Chris and Kassandra to oversee everything across the business, including things like stock levels, commissions and sales. All in one place. 

But it’s not just about the day-to-day running of the salon. Chris and Kassandra use Fresha to draw in new clients and get current clients to book again. Chris and Kassandra use Blast campaigns to communicate with their clients through both email and text message, and they can see the return on investment straightaway. 

“The marketing function has been a game changer”

“We can now send out beautiful templates that are pre-done by Fresha” says Chris. “We can promote Valentine's Day, we can promote Christmas, we can promote Easter. And it's so easy. Literally a tap of a few buttons and it's done.”

And their profile on the marketplace has been drawing in more new clients

“The Fresha marketplace has really helped us with visibility in the space. We've got really nice photos up there. It means when people are searching for a haircut, they're seeing us and we're part of that consideration process. We’ve got quite a few new clients from it.”

It gives them the space to show off their beautiful space and what makes WILLOMINA different. And with over 18 million monthly users and 20,000 appointments made every day, the Fresha marketplace is the best way to reach new clients.

“What makes me proud about WILLOMINA? I think the whole thing. It's been enormous”. 

“We’ve built a community of hairdressers who still talk about it even after they’ve left. The energy and the vibes are incredible. So for me, it’s the community we’ve created, because it hasn’t existed in Sydney before.”

“If I had one piece of advice for a young professional in my industry, it would be enjoy the ride” Chris told Fresha

“There are a lot of highs, but there are a lot of lows. So when you’re having a high, appreciate it.”

“And because you can’t fully prepare yourself to start, you just have to do it.There’s never going to be a right time. But I think if you can get to the end of your life and know that you gave it a good crack, the worst that’s going to happen is that you learnt a few lessons along the way.”