The hair salon business is a venture many feel will be easy if you can do a good job for clients. They think client referrals will keep them in business and that is all it takes. True, client referrals are required but not every client thinks about promoting your business and many times have reservations because of other things that happen in the salon. I have outlined a couple major issues below.
Client referrals are not only based on the quality of the work you provide but also how you run your business. Think about it if you have an appointment to get you cable fixed and the person is 45 minutes late are you happy. Of course not but many salon book clients too close and they end up waiting a long time to be seen and the appointment time is more of a suggestion than an actual appointment.
This one factor can kill your business as much as a bad hair color. People are busy with jobs, meetings and family obligations. They make time in their schedule for you and if you don't respect that fact they will be looking for another stylist. Just remember in the hair industry there is always someone as good or better than you right around the corner waiting to be found.
Very few people want conflict and will simply move on the another service provider. They won't mention the problem to you because it is just how you do business. They will mention it to all their friends as they search for your replacement. about now many are thinking so what if one client is lost. $150.00 will not make or break my business. Actually that $150.00 represents several thousand is losses if you count the visits make every year and the number of years a happy client will return. It could be $1800.00 to $3000.00 lost.
The next biggest problem with salons is changing appointments. For me this is a killer and I won't put up with it. I book a appointment 2 weeks in advance and set my calendar around this appointment. The day before or morning of the appointment I get a call wanting to move it. Really, after I have adjusted and planned my schedule for 2 week so I could arrive at the time you gave me.
For many in the salon and spa business this is standard practice. Not a problem because they made a phone call and that took care of the scheduling problem. they never even realize how many clients don't return or long time clients quit calling.
Does this sound like your business? If it does you need to step back and make some serious changes before it's too late. It is expensive attracting new clients and costly when they leave, You need to know how many are one time clients, repeat clients and lost clients. Go after those lost clients and try to win them back. Ask what went wrong even if you don't like the answers it will help you grow the business in the long run.
Client referrals are not only based on the quality of the work you provide but also how you run your business. Think about it if you have an appointment to get you cable fixed and the person is 45 minutes late are you happy. Of course not but many salon book clients too close and they end up waiting a long time to be seen and the appointment time is more of a suggestion than an actual appointment.
This one factor can kill your business as much as a bad hair color. People are busy with jobs, meetings and family obligations. They make time in their schedule for you and if you don't respect that fact they will be looking for another stylist. Just remember in the hair industry there is always someone as good or better than you right around the corner waiting to be found.
Very few people want conflict and will simply move on the another service provider. They won't mention the problem to you because it is just how you do business. They will mention it to all their friends as they search for your replacement. about now many are thinking so what if one client is lost. $150.00 will not make or break my business. Actually that $150.00 represents several thousand is losses if you count the visits make every year and the number of years a happy client will return. It could be $1800.00 to $3000.00 lost.
The next biggest problem with salons is changing appointments. For me this is a killer and I won't put up with it. I book a appointment 2 weeks in advance and set my calendar around this appointment. The day before or morning of the appointment I get a call wanting to move it. Really, after I have adjusted and planned my schedule for 2 week so I could arrive at the time you gave me.
For many in the salon and spa business this is standard practice. Not a problem because they made a phone call and that took care of the scheduling problem. they never even realize how many clients don't return or long time clients quit calling.
Does this sound like your business? If it does you need to step back and make some serious changes before it's too late. It is expensive attracting new clients and costly when they leave, You need to know how many are one time clients, repeat clients and lost clients. Go after those lost clients and try to win them back. Ask what went wrong even if you don't like the answers it will help you grow the business in the long run.
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