Good morning, salon owners!
The news we bring you today points to two major trends that will hold the key to salon management in the future.
Two big trends to watch:
- The wave of digitalization
- Integration with the wellness field
In particular, the strong financial results of companies that provide reservation management systems have once again highlighted the importance of DX (digital transformation) to improve customer experience and increase operational efficiency.
Additionally, new entrants from the fitness industry suggest that relaxation is no longer simply a form of relaxation, but is beginning to be seen as part of "wellness" for maintaining health.
Furthermore, trends in overseas markets show that Japan's high technology and quality are in demand around the world.
Let's incorporate this latest information into our business strategies and use it to grow our salon.
Today's News Summary
1. Signed's interim financial results show a 15.6% increase in operating profit and a 16.2% increase in the number of contracted stores
Signed, operator of Beauty Merit, a reservation management system for hairdressing salons, reports strong financial results
Signed has announced its consolidated financial results for the second quarter of the fiscal year ending March 2026 (April to September 2025). The results show strong growth in both sales and profits.
Financial Highlights
- Sales: 13.1% increase from the same period last year to 1.221 billion yen
- Operating profit: 15.6% increase from the same period last year to 157 million yen
- Number of contracted stores: 22,193 stores, up 16.2% from the previous year
Of particular note is the steady increase in the number of contracted salons, which indicates that many salons are actively adopting digital tools such as reservation systems.
The company's new initiatives
- Release of ticket purchase and reservation function via LINE MINI App
- Strengthened collaboration with POS system "Salon Answer"
- Official release of smart mirror "BM Smart Mirror" planned
These efforts will strongly promote digital transformation in salons. The results show that the salon industry as a whole is accelerating investment in digital infrastructure such as customer management and reservation systems.
source
- Beautopia "Signed's interim financial results show strong performance with operating profit up 15.6% and number of contracted stores increasing 16.2%" Published on November 14, 2025
- Signed (4256) Second Quarter Financial Results Presentation for the Fiscal Year Ending March 2026
2. SD Entertainment opens new brand "Relaxation Salon STAR" within its machine Pilates studio
Fitness and relaxation come together!
SD Entertainment Co., Ltd., which operates fitness businesses, has opened a new brand, "Relaxation Salon STAR," inside the women-only machine Pilates studio, "STAR Pilates Sapporo Ekimae Studio."
Features of the new brand
This new salon offers "quick self-care" such as oxygen capsules, hydrogen therapy, and self-beauty treatments. By combining this with machine Pilates, the salon aims to support both the mind and body as a "comprehensive beauty and health salon."
Ingenuity to meet the needs of busy modern women
A major feature of the salon is that all menus are available on a ticket system that requires a short time to use, making it easy for even busy women to visit.
A new direction for the industry
This indicates a new direction for the industry, where relaxation salons are integrating with fitness, beauty, and other "wellness" services to provide more comprehensive services. We are entering an era where relaxation is offered not as a standalone service, but as part of a comprehensive health service.
source
- PR TIMES "Star Pilates, a women-only machine Pilates studio, launches new brand, 'Relaxation Salon STAR'! Proposing a new habit of beautifully toning yourself with oxygen, hydrogen, and self-beauty treatments" published on October 29, 2025
3. Cosmo Beaute 2025, Indonesia’s largest beauty-related exhibition, will be held, with exhibitors from Japan targeting the Halal market
Growing Asian markets attract increasing attention
Cosmo Beaute 2025, Indonesia's largest cosmetics and beauty-related exhibition, was held near Jakarta from October 9th to 11th, 2025.
Exhibition size and content
The number of exhibitors increased by approximately 70 from the previous year, and a wide range of products were exhibited, including beauty equipment, treatment tools, and related fields. This expansion in scale demonstrates the depth and growth potential of Indonesia's beauty market.
Initiatives by Japanese companies
Japanese companies also exhibited products that emphasized functionality and safety. Of particular note was the number of companies working to obtain Halal certification.
The importance of the halal market
In Indonesia, it will become mandatory to display halal certification on food products and other items from October 18, 2026, and responding to the Muslim market is becoming increasingly important.
What it means for Japanese salon owners
This trend shows us the importance of understanding halal standards and trends in the Asian market when considering capturing inbound demand and future overseas expansion. As the number of tourists from Asia increases, we are entering an era in which understanding and responding to diverse cultural backgrounds is required.
source
- JETRO, "Cosmo Beaute 2025, Indonesia's largest beauty-related exhibition, to be held, with exhibitors from Japan targeting the halal market (Indonesia)" published on November 14, 2025
Practical Tips for Salon Owners
Here are three practical pieces of advice that can be gleaned from today's news and will be useful for salon management.
Tip 1: Accelerate digital investments to balance customer experience with operational efficiency
Investing in a reservation system or customer relationship management (CRM) is no longer a cost, but a necessary infrastructure for increasing your competitiveness.
As Signed's strong performance shows, many salons are moving towards digitalization.
Priority investment areas
In particular, prioritize investing in touchpoints that customers find convenient, such as LINE mini-app integration and cashless payment.
Aim to improve customer satisfaction and repeat visits by streamlining the process from reservation to payment and return visits.
Specific benefits
- Fewer missed reservations
- Centralized management of customer information allows for more personalized service
- Reduces administrative work for staff, allowing them to focus on customer service
- Improving the accuracy of business decisions through data analysis
Digitalization is an investment that benefits customers, staff, and management.
Tip 2: Redefine relaxation as part of wellness
As can be seen from trends in the fitness industry, the value of relaxation is changing from "something to do when you're tired" to "a habit to maintain and improve your health."
New value proposition ideas
By introducing self-care options that can be used in a short amount of time, such as oxygen capsules and self-beauty treatments, and by collaborating with local fitness facilities and medical institutions, salons can expand the value they offer to "total wellness."
Expected effects
- Developing new customer segments (approaching those who are health conscious)
- Increased frequency of use (visiting as a regular health habit)
- Increase in average customer spending (multiple service usage)
- Improving the salon's brand image
From "a place to come when you're tired" to "a place to go to stay healthy." This shift in awareness creates new value for salons.
Specific examples of initiatives
- Partnership plans with yoga studios and gyms
- Mutual referral system with osteopathic clinics and acupuncture clinics
- Holding health seminars and workshops
- Wellness-themed social media posts
Relaxation salons become hubs for promoting health in the local community. Why not try to imagine such a future?
Tip 3: Be aware of overseas market trends and inbound demand
Beauty trends in the Asian market, especially in growing markets like Indonesia, are directly linked to the needs of inbound tourists to Japan.
The importance of consideration for diverse cultures
Consideration for customers with diverse cultural backgrounds, such as Halal food, is important in capturing future inbound demand. Creating an environment where Muslims can use the service with peace of mind is a service that will be needed in the increasingly globalized Japan of the future.
Leveraging Japan's strengths
In addition, let's use Japan's strengths, such as "functionality" and "safety," which are sought after overseas, to appeal to domestic customers. The angle of "Japanese technology recognized worldwide" is a message that will resonate with domestic customers as well.
Preparations you can make now
- Creating multilingual menus and guides
- Check Halal product information
- Hiring foreign staff and language training for staff
- Multilingual information dissemination on social media
- Regularly gather information on overseas beauty trends
Inbound demand isn't limited to Tokyo and Osaka. There's a good chance that foreign tourists will stop by salons in the provinces as well. By starting preparations now, you can be sure to seize that opportunity.
lastly
The three news stories we have introduced today indicate that the salon industry is at a major turning point.
- Improving customer experience through digitalization
- Providing new value through wellness
- Responding to globalization
Instead of thinking of these trends as something far away, try to think of them as something you can do in your own salon.
Starting with small steps will surely lead to big changes.
We hope that your salon will continue to be a place that is loved by the local community and enjoyed by customers.
Have a great day today!
