Career Development and Business Model in Hairdressing Industry in Japan

Career Development and Business Model in Hairdressing Industry in Japan

We studied the hairdressing industry from both a business and a career perspective. First, we determined that the barbers and beauty salons are in a difficult situation and that barber and beautician are not considered attractive professions in Japan. Second, we analyzed what kind of efforts are being made in such a difficult environment. Those who want to develop their business in this industry need to be familiar with the business environment as well as the needs of barbers, beauticians, and customers. Regarding the business environment, there are advances in digitalization and the sharing economy. Regarding customer, there are bipolarization of service needs and changes in salon selection behavior. Regarding barbers and beauticians, many of them want to train and improve their skills to run their own shop, but some dislike training as an assistant. Third, we showed that the industry should be considered from the perspectives of career and business. Successful entrepreneurs in this industry are not necessarily from barbers and beauticians. The entry of people from other careers into this industry has the potential to bring innovation. We found those kinds of cases. They also apply to Planned Happenstance Theory. From the viewpoint of Planned Happenstance Theory, we used case studies to propose the following seven career strategies in hair dressing industry. They are (0) Worker called an assistant, (1) Worker called a stylist, (2) Specialist called a stylist, (3) Manager of a salon, (4) Market seeker as an independent stylist, (5) Innovator of business model, (6) Investor in beauty industry. In addition, we were able to organize the types of business models in this industry into five such as (1) Low-Price Chain, (2) Quick-Cut House, (3) Franchised Business, (4) Share Salon Platform, (5) New Traditional Barber. Finally, one of the practical findings of this study is that the business model of the relevant industry should be considered when thinking career choices and strategy.

We studied the hairdressing industry from both a business and a career perspective. First, we determined that the barbers and beauty salons are in a difficult situation and that barber and beautician are not considered attractive professions in Japan. Second, we analyzed what kind of efforts are being made in such a difficult environment. Those who want to develop their business in this industry need to be familiar with the business environment as well as the needs of barbers, beauticians, and customers. Regarding the business environment, there are advances in digitalization and the sharing economy. Regarding customer, there are bipolarization of service needs and changes in salon selection behavior. Regarding barbers and beauticians, many of them want to train and improve their skills to run their own shop, but some dislike training as an assistant. Third, we showed that the industry should be considered from the perspectives of career and business. Successful entrepreneurs in this industry are not necessarily from barbers and beauticians. The entry of people from other careers into this industry has the potential to bring innovation. We found those kinds of cases. They also apply to Planned Happenstance Theory. From the viewpoint of Planned Happenstance Theory, we used case studies to propose the following seven career strategies in hair dressing industry. They are (0) Worker called an assistant, (1) Worker called a stylist, (2) Specialist called a stylist, (3) Manager of a salon, (4) Market seeker as an independent stylist, (5) Innovator of business model, (6) Investor in beauty industry. In addition, we were able to organize the types of business models in this industry into five such as (1) Low-Price Chain, (2) Quick-Cut House, (3) Franchised Business, (4) Share Salon Platform, (5) New Traditional Barber. Finally, one of the practical findings of this study is that the business model of the relevant industry should be considered when thinking career choices and strategy.