Beauty Services Go Gig with KLYP: cosmetology is the next huge industry to enter the gig economy
There’s a world where Beauty Service Professionals (BSPs) make as much as their former bosses. Each BSP, free of the constraints of the traditional salon model, cultivates a unique style and has a constant stream of clients at their fingertips. A client can schedule a day-of appointment in a new city with a new provider, who already knows the precise shade of brunette to dye their hair.
That world is KLYP.
Pronounced “clip,” this app is going to revolutionize the Beauty Industry. Following on the heels of companies like Airbnb and Uber, cosmetology is the next slice of the economy that is going gig. KLYP is leading the way as an all-encompassing platform that connects BSPs and clients, fostering individual empowerment of BSPs and increased confidence and clarity for clients.
Founder and CEO Steven Sylvester knows that when people look good, they feel good. He got the idea for KLYP while traveling to speak at a business conference. He needed some quick touchups on his hair, but couldn’t quickly find a reliable BSP on the fly. He had to settle for a less-than-ideal cut and lacked the confidence he needed to give the best speech possible.
This set Sylvester on a years-long journey to find a way to streamline the Beauty Industry for people on both sides of the scissors. He conducted hundreds of interviews with BSPs and did years of research, which culminated in the app that is currently available on the App Store and Google Play.
“Transforming someone’s look changes their confidence with a single service,” said Sylvester. “We all want more confidence, so let your barber, hair stylist, or cosmetologist give it back to you.”
KLYP is a complex app for a complex sector of the economy. How do you put the needs of corporate-salon-based hair stylists, mom-and-pop-business nail technicians, and mobile braiders all in one place?
KLYP has the answer. Well — more like many answers.
The easiest place to start to understand the KLYP world is with the community. KLYP has benefits for BSPs (called KLYPISTS on the app, pronounced “clipists”) and for clients. The clients can search for KLYPISTS based on geographic location, service provided, and availability. Each KLYPIST and client has a profile, which they upload photos on. This allows clients to see the style and portfolio of the KLYPIST and allows KLYPISTS to see what kind of looks the client has had in the past, so they can be more prepared for the appointment.
KLYPISTS make their own hours and set their own prices, and clients book through the app. Many of the KLYPISTS are mobile, so you can choose for them to come to your home. All KLYPISTS are licensed professionals who must undergo a screening process to be able to join the app and provide services.
Clients leave reviews on the app so KLYPISTS can build a reputation. Also, KLYPISTS can write notes on the clients that only other KLYPISTS can see. For example, if a client requests a sulfate-free shampoo, the KLYPIST can make a note and attach it to the client’s profile so others can have the product ready if that client books them.
Sylvester learned from interviewing BSPs that they often have to set aside an entire day of the week to do administration work, which is time they could be spending working on clients. Freeing up more time for BSPs to do what they love is exactly what KLYP aims to do.
One of the ways KLYP does this is by providing expense tracking through Taxbot and general liability insurance coverage. The app also streamlines the booking process with the calendar function, so BSPs don’t have to rely on the myriad of messaging apps they use now to do bookings. This will change the landscape of Beauty Services by making the clumsy routine of scheduling an appointment every six weeks via phone just a distant memory of the past. The KLYP app is a secretary, accountant, and marketing manager all at once.
KLYP is geared toward working professionals who don’t have time to do hours of research to find their perfect provider. Since KLYPISTS are located all across America, clients can schedule appointments anywhere they are, so a root touch-up on a work trip is now possible. Clients have confidence that they’re scheduling with someone who will give them the look they want, since the KLYPIST can see the pictures and notes the client uploads. The review system also allows clients to have greater confidence in the quality of work from the provider they’re booking with.
Today, salons open during traditional work hours are often too difficult to get an appointment with if you’re a working professional, since the evening slots fill up first. The flexibility of KLYP allows for professionals to access the beauty services they need at the time and place that they’re available.
KLYPISTS who cut hair or provide any cosmetology service for people of all genders, not just women, will be available on the app.
KLYPISTS also get the benefit of having tons of visibility so they can grow their client base. Because there are so many different types of services offered, many of the KLYPISTS can collaborate to create a full look for a client. Hair stylists, nail technicians, makeup artists, and eyebrow specialists can work together to give a more comprehensive service to a client.
One of the primary benefits of the KLYP app is that it gives KLYPISTS more power over their business. Most salons take a commission of 60–70%, meaning that most of the money from each service goes into the pockets of the owners, not the employees. But KLYPISTS are contractors and the KLYP app only takes a very small amount of transaction. KLYPISTS keep more of what they earn.
KLYP is an ad-free app that offers subscription packages to BSPs, but is free to use for clients.
KLYP also allows for increased individual expression. KLYPISTS create their own niche in the market by finding clients who want exactly what they can provide. Clients find an easier way to express themselves, too, since they can find people to give them the look they want without having to do tons of research.
Sylvester summed it up, “Providers will be more efficient in catering to their clientele while increasing revenue with individual branding. KLYP is the future of Cosmetology.”
It’s no surprise that cosmetology is heading in the gig direction. A study conducted by OnePoll for the popular coupon and event website, Groupon, found that on average, women spend $3,756 a year on their appearance. Men still shell out a hefty amount, coming in at $2,928 a year. The evidence is in the numbers: people love to spend money on their looks. And the KLYP team believes that, with more control over who you’re booking with, people will be even happier with what they’re getting for their money.
“The beauty of the industry is in the interpersonal relationship,” said Sylvester. He believes that KLYP’s emphasis on the human connection is what sets it apart from other gig apps.
The team at KLYP is a diverse group with a variety of experiences to bring to the table.
Ashlyn Buonocore has been with the company since it was just an idea. She started as an intern in late 2018 and is now the Executive Marketing Manager. She stayed on because she loves the atmosphere of working for a startup.
“We’re all involved because we truly believe in the product and believe that it will really change peoples’ lives,” she said. “KLYP isn’t just a company that I work for; it actually has a part of me in it.”
On top of working for KLYP, Kristina Guzman owns her own company, Kurl Up, which makes products to keep curls happy and healthy. She knows how to market to customers who are willing to invest in looking their best.
According to her, through the process of starting and growing her business, “I learned about consumer behavior, color psychology, branding, and advertising.” This knowledge, she said, “helped me understand what exactly KLYP is looking for in areas like social media, engagement, and more.” Kristina has naturally curly hair that she keeps healthy through methods such as eating a Curly Hair Diet. She has tons of knowledge to share on the KLYP blog.
The KLYP team is cognizant of how the pandemic will change the landscape of the beauty industry. “Amidst this pandemic, individual interactions will be the new normal,” said Sylvester. “KLYP’s focus is enhancing the interpersonal communication between client and Beauty Service Professional.”
KLYP is about confidence and clarity on both ends of the transaction. KLYP seeks to empower BSPs to grow their business to be bigger than they could have ever imagined, and introduce clients to a new world of BSPs who can create their perfect look anywhere, anytime. KLYP puts you in control of your style, your business, and your life.
Find more about KLYP at the company website, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
