Sustainability tips and tricks from Lacey Hunter-Felton

When it comes to sustainable initiatives, tips and successes, Lacey Hunter-Felton, Co-Owner of Hunter Collective, is a woman on a mission. We caught up with her to discover what we can doing smarter…

Small but mighty

“Taking small, manageable steps is my biggest tip, as choosing to do things sustainably can sometimes feel really overwhelming,” says Lacey. “It’s amazing how focusing in on one change can really add up to make a big impact such as hair disposal.”

Lacey informs us that hair can take 5-10years to decompose in landfill, so as hairdressers it’s a great sustainability initiative to explore and introduce. She explains: “There are brilliant providers like Green Salon Collective who manage the waste and make positive change. Green Salon Collective has just awarded Hunter Collective for the removal of one tonne of hair waste from going into land fill, we couldn’t be more proud and motivated by this accolade.”

Green fees

Although, referencing green fees has simplified the need for explanation and passing on the associated costs, there are still ways of disposing of hair without such fees. For example, you can put it in your plants or make hair booms and donate to local waterways charities.

“Sustainability is one of our core values at Hunter Collective and it filters through our approach to everything we do from waste dispose, through to the brands we engage and the service providers we use e.g. energy suppliers & banking,” says Lacey. “I always encourage staff, clients and other business owners to share our pledge do better. Together this collective impact can be very powerful in keeping us all accountable whilst promoting the sharing and access of ideas and ways to do more as a community.”

Business tips & Elevate client experience

As well as sustainability, we could all learn a thing or two from Lacey’s business acumen. “Consistency, communication and attention to detail is my winning formula to elevating the client experience (as well as retaining staff and nurturing those relationships too).

Be consistent – in every part of the client experience from booking, to welcoming them, the services you provide, and the exit and goodbye. Each part should be a seamless journey, and be consistent in its delivery every single time a client visits, this is a key piece of the puzzle to securing repeat bookings and the client’s perceived value for money – it is founded in the comfort and reliability of consistency.

Communication – how easy is it for your clients to book? How easy is it to remind clients their appointment is upcoming? How easy is it to pay? At Hunter Collective we have worked on every step of our client communication and digitalised each touch point through the customer journey. Making every element online and cash-free has both guaranteed a level of ease for the client, as well as the stylists who run their business from our space. This allows the team to have trackable data to manage their diary, business and services. 

Attention to detail – of course attention to detail in your hairdressing work and service, but also attention to the little things that make a difference. I always recommend to my mentees or the members at Hunter Collective to keep notes: Where they are going for dinner that evening, how old their child is, their favourite drink, the date of their birthday. Attention to these kind of details counts for so much; it is a way to connect and make people feel special, memorable and valued.