Empowering Your SALON BUSINESS

The Salon Management Conference Delhi 2025 united India’s leading salon visionaries, innovators and educators to share strategies that shape the future of beauty business. Read on to know our impressive speaker line-up and key takeaways for each session.

SALON MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE DELHI 2025

Dates: 30th June and 1st July

Venue: Pragati Maidan, New Delhi

Theme: Empowering Your Salon Business

The Salon Management Conference (SMC) 2025 brought together industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and creative professionals from across India for two days of in-depth panel discussions, practical business insights and future-forward trends in salon operations. With topics ranging from customer understanding and supply chain management to branding, social media and sustainable skincare, SMC 2025 provided actionable strategies to help salon owners adapt, innovate and grow in a competitive beauty landscape. The conference was moderated by Kanishka Ramchandani, Editor, Professional Beauty Hairdressers Journal, while the welcome address was delivered by Vikas Vij, Managing Director, Professional Beauty India.

PANEL 1: UNDERSTANDING THE NEW AGE CUSTOMER

1. Aryan Sharma, Business Development Head, Affinity Salon

2. Ashwin Mahajan, Founder, The Opulent Salon

3. Kanchan Mehra, Celebrity Makeup Artist, Cosmetologist, and Salon Owner

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Shift in client expectations towards personalised, experiential salon services.

Increasing influence of digital presence on consumer decision-making.

Importance of understanding generational differences in spending patterns.

Using customer feedback to refine service menus and pricing models.

Building loyalty through customised aftercare and consistent engagement.

PANEL 1: BUILDING A SMART SUPPLY CHAIN

1. Mahesh Bavariya, Founder, Beauty Garage

2. Ramesh Tammana, Co-founder, Bellano Salon

3. Rayed Merchant, Founder, SSIZ International

4. Vibhuti Khunger, Manager, Hair Educator and Counsellor, Sunny Hairport

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Leveraging technology to track inventory and reduce wastage.

Partnering with reliable suppliers for uninterrupted operations.

Adapting sourcing strategies to address market fluctuations.

Streamlining procurement to reduce costs without compromising quality.

Building long-term vendor relationships for mutual growth.

PANEL 3: SALON STAFFING IN 2025

1. Disha Mehr, Founder, 5 Elemeents Consultancy

2. Monica Bahl, CEO, B&WSSC

3. Unnati Singh, International Beauty Educator

4. Vikas Arora, Owner, Hair Café

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Rising demand for multi-skilled salon professionals.

The role of training and certification in career advancement.

Strategies to retain top talent in a competitive market.

Balancing staff workloads to avoid burnout and maintain quality.

Adapting recruitment to meet changing service trends.

PANEL 4: BUILDING A TECH-SAVVY SALON

1. Amar Sachdeva, Director, Colour Lounge, Amritsar

2. JJ Savani, International Session Stylist and Educator

3. Karanbir Singh Sidhu, Owner, Headmasters Ludhiana

4. Sachin Kamat, General Manager – IMS, Zenoti

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Adopting integrated salon management software to streamline appointments, payments, inventory and client data under one secure system.

Leveraging data analytics to understand customer preferences

Enhancing customer engagement with personalised digital touchpoints.

Implementing contactless solutions for convenience and hygiene.

Investing in staff training for tech adoption to ensure your team uses the tools effectively, improving productivity and customer experience.

PANEL 5: CREATING A STRONG BRAND IDENTITY FOR YOUR SALON

1. Dr Bharti Taneja, Founder Director, ALPS Beauty Group

2. Rehman Arif, National Creative Director, LOOKS Salon

3. Richa Agarwal, Owner, Cleopatra Salon

4. Sushant Mehta, Co-Founder, Bellano Salon

5. Varun Attri, Owner, Varun Attri Salon

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Aligning salon interiors and service experience with brand values.

Leveraging storytelling to connect emotionally with customers.

Differentiating through niche services and signature treatments.

Consistency in visual branding across online and offline channels.

Creating memorable brand touchpoints that encourage loyalty.

PANEL 1: AGE OF INSTAGRAM: SOCIAL MEDIA RULES

1. Aankith Arora, CEO, Streamline Beauty

2. Karan Deol, Creative Director, TWEAK Salon

3. Karan Patiyal, Founder, Style Inn Salon

4. Samir Srivastava, CEO, LOOKS Salon

5. Manish Chawla, Founder, ViralBulls

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Building a cohesive visual identity on social platforms.

Understanding Instagram algorithms and trends.

Leveraging influencer collaborations for brand amplification.

Tracking engagement metrics to refine content strategy.

Converting social media followers into loyal customers.

PANEL 2: MAKE MEN’S GROOMING GREAT AGAIN

1. Deepak Jalan, Creative Director, LOOKS Privé Salon

2. Sanjiv Sharma, CEO, Grey Trendy

3. Prannay Dokania, MD and COO, Truefitt and Hill

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Reasons for the rising demand for premium men’s grooming services.

Introducing specialised treatments for male clientele.

Positioning men’s grooming as a lifestyle upgrade.

Marketing strategies to target male audiences effectively.

Creating dedicated spaces in salons for men’s services.

PANEL 3: FRANCHISE VS INDEPENDENT: WHAT’S MORE IMPACTFUL?

1. Brij Kishor, Founder, Brij Hair Artistry

2. Gunjan Taneja, Salon Management Guru and Author

3. Rachit Malhotra, Founder, Femina Plus Salon

4. Raghav Bhambri, TONI&GUY

5. Taranpreet Singh, Founder, TRS Consultancy & Co-Founder, Expansion Masters

Brij Kishor, Founder, Brij Hair Artistry

Gunjan Taneja, Salon Management Guru and Author

Rachit Malhotra, Founder, Femina Plus Salon

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Comparing operational challenges of franchise and independent models.

Brand recognition benefits of franchise systems.

Greater flexibility in service innovation for independent salons.

Profit margin considerations in each model.

Choosing the right model based on location and target clientele.

Raghav Bhambri, TONI&GUY

Taranpreet Singh, Founder, TRS Consultancy & Co-Founder, Expansion Masters

PRESENTATION: GET TECH-SAVVY WITH ZENOTI

• Sachin Kamat, General Manager – IMS, Zenoti

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Streamlining appointments with digital booking tools.

Enhancing customer experience through CRM systems.

Automating payment and billing processes.

Using analytics to track business performance.

Data security and compliance best practices for salons.

PANEL 4: THE FUTURE OF SKIN: CLEAN BEAUTY AND CONSUMER AWARENESS

1. Ankit Virmani, Director, Esskay Beauty Resources

2. Neeraj Yadav, Owner, Belle Amie Unisex Salon

3. Nirmala Randhawa, Director, New School of Beauty

4. Rakesh Gogna, Her ‘N’ Sir Salon

5. Shubham Virmani, Director, Esskay Beauty Resources

Ankit Virmani,Director, Esskay Beauty Resources

Neeraj Yadav,Owner, Belle Amie Unisex Salon

Nirmala Randhawa, Director, New School of Beauty

Rakesh Gogna, Her ‘N’ Sir Salon

Shubham Virmani, Director, Esskay Beauty Resources

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Increasing consumer preference for clean and sustainable beauty products. Educating clients on ingredient safety and transparency. Sourcing eco-friendly products without compromising quality. Positioning clean beauty as a premium offering.

• Building credibility through certifications and authenticity.

SMC Delhi 2025 presented the delegates with knowledge, case studies, experience-based analogies and departmental expertise, thereby equipping them with actionable ideas. We are now gearing up for the Mumbai edition of SMC, set to take place on the 6th and 7th of October, at Bombay Exhibition Centre. To register, visit www.professionalbeauty.in.