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.
To get a client to refer a friend or associate is not easy. You not only need to provide high quality service but also make the whole experience a smooth procedure. Many book clients too close together and every one who is on time for their appointment must wait as much as 45 minutes because of your booking mistakes. Do you like to wait when you have an appointment, of course not and neither do your clients.
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.
Many of you are thinking you would know if a client is unhappy. Not true, many prefer to avoid the situation and simply find another salon that has better service. They only people they will tell are friends as they look for referrals. This kind of loss is what will destroy a business. It is not the one time $150.00 gone but the long term lost profit that could have been make over the next 1-3 years a happy client would stay around. that $150.00 is really $2000.00 - $3000.00 is lost sales and profits.
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.
Now many of you are thinking I seldom run late because if I do I call, and move the appointment to another day. This is just as bad if not worse than being late. People with a busy schedule arrange their schedule to be on time for your services and a call the day before to cancel is not good. You are now costing them time and money which no one likes.
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.
If this sounds like your business you need to make changes fast. You need to identify lost clients and find out why they are not returning. they answers may be hurtful but at least they could save your business.
To get a client to refer a friend or associate is not easy. You not only need to provide high quality service but also make the whole experience a smooth procedure. Many book clients too close together and every one who is on time for their appointment must wait as much as 45 minutes because of your booking mistakes. Do you like to wait when you have an appointment, of course not and neither do your clients.
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.
Many of you are thinking you would know if a client is unhappy. Not true, many prefer to avoid the situation and simply find another salon that has better service. They only people they will tell are friends as they look for referrals. This kind of loss is what will destroy a business. It is not the one time $150.00 gone but the long term lost profit that could have been make over the next 1-3 years a happy client would stay around. that $150.00 is really $2000.00 - $3000.00 is lost sales and profits.
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.
Now many of you are thinking I seldom run late because if I do I call, and move the appointment to another day. This is just as bad if not worse than being late. People with a busy schedule arrange their schedule to be on time for your services and a call the day before to cancel is not good. You are now costing them time and money which no one likes.
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.
If this sounds like your business you need to make changes fast. You need to identify lost clients and find out why they are not returning. they answers may be hurtful but at least they could save your business.
About the Author:
Looking to find the best marketing ideas for Hair Salon Management, then visit http://salonchaircafe.com to find the best advice on Marketing For Hair Salons.
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