At Ambitious Kind, we believe growth starts with understanding — not just numbers, but dreams, values, and goals.
This case study highlights how we helped a talented, creative business owner move from feeling stuck to building a thriving, sustainable business — even in the face of unexpected setbacks.
The Starting Point
This project began with a casual conversation.
A local hairdresser had posted on Facebook, seeking marketing advice. Out of curiosity, I asked more about their situation at my next appointment.
They explained that while they loved their work, they felt stuck. They wanted to grow but didn’t know how to move forward. They were working hard, but without clear insight of their performance or a strategic plan, they weren’t seeing the rewards they deserved.
Recognizing the potential, I offered to help.
The KIND Methodology
K — Knowledge Gathering
Our first step was to gather all the critical information.
We held a structured discovery session to fully understand:
- Their core values
- Their personal and business ambitions
- What had been tried so far
- The barriers that were holding them back
This conversation revealed some important challenges:
They weren’t tracking their takings or profitability effectively. Customer records were kept manually, and repeat business depended entirely on clients remembering to rebook — there were no automated reminders or customer nurturing processes. There was also no plan for consistently attracting new clients, meaning growth was unpredictable and reliant on word-of-mouth.
I — Investigate
With this knowledge, we dug deeper into the root causes and opportunities.
We assessed the gaps and potential solutions, including:
- Lack of performance measures — making it difficult to measure success or spot areas for growth
- No automated customer database or marketing system — making client retention and acquisition ad hoc and unreliable
- No online booking facility — creating friction in the customer journey
- No operational structure to support expansion — limiting the ability to scale
- No clear new customer generation plan — relying solely on loyalty and referrals
We also explored different growth models, weighing up options between renting chairs to independent stylists versus employing a team, looking carefully at both operational and commercial implications.
N — Next Steps
Based on our investigation, we built a tailored action plan that focused on:
- Sales Reporting Systems: Implementing tracking for income, expenses, and profitability to provide clear visibility.
- Customer Management: Setting up a customer database and marketing system to retain and engage clients with reminders and promotions.
- Booking Systems: Launching an online booking platform to streamline appointment setting and improve customer experience.
- Marketing Strategy: Introducing local marketing initiatives to attract new customers and reduce reliance on existing clientele alone.
- Operational Planning: Developing the full operational setup for a new, larger salon space, complete with processes, workflows, and scalability in mind.
This plan was designed to create not just growth, but sustainable, values-driven business success.
D — Delivery
Implementation began immediately.
However, shortly after we gained momentum, the COVID-19 pandemic forced salons — including theirs — to close temporarily.
Rather than allowing this to derail progress, we used the time strategically:
- Revisiting and refining the vision
- Strengthening financial plans and operational processes
- Building resilience into every part of the business
When restrictions lifted, the salon reopened stronger than ever, with:
- A larger, professional salon space
- A growing and engaged client base supported by targeted marketing
- Clearer, more profitable pricing
- Operational systems that freed up time and improved the customer experience
- Renewed focus, energy, and confidence for the future
Today, the business is thriving — a true reflection of their incredible skill, clear vision, and commitment to growth.
What This Case Study Shows
At Ambitious Kind, we don’t just help businesses grow — we help them grow well.
Through the KIND Methodology — Knowledge Gathering, Investigation, Next Steps, and Delivery — we support founders in building businesses that are profitable, fulfilling, and truly aligned with their ambitions.
If you’re ready to move from feeling stuck to seeing sustainable growth, we’d love to help turn your vision into reality.