Your Questions Answered

Q      I just became manager of a salon. I've been asst. manager and haven't had the full responsibility of managing myself and I’m really scared that i won't do a good job. I believe my fear stems from the types of people I’m gonna have to deal with staff and customers. I really want to be qualified in handling situations that won't seem over barren to me I really need advice.

A       You need to do a swot analysis on yourself...

Strengths
Weakness
Opportunities
Threats

list all the things you can think of with these and then decide on some action to take. Now if your weakness is confrontation find some books or a course you can go on to help you make this a strength. Make sure that you are clear on what’s expected from you so that you can feel confident that you are doing things right. Normally fear stems form the unknown so the more you know the less you fear.

Oh... yes and keep organised and always, always use a to-do list other wise you will find that you become stressed trying to remember to do everything. Keep a clear head for decision making.
 

Q      What do you do when you can't seem to get your team members to get along? They constantly bicker back and forth and nobody seems to want to do their part in the daily chores of the salons upkeep. It seems to be only one or two people doing all the work when there are 6 people on the team.

A       Ok... been their with this one. Look focus on everything they do well. Catch them doing things right then really make a fuss of it and give plenty of positive feed back. Not just cleaning but start with their hairdressing. Make sure that you have your standards for the business clearly defined to your team. If I was to come into your salon and ask the first person I meet could they tell me what the minimum critical standards were for the salon in any area of the business not just cleaning but at reception, backwash, customer care or answering the phone. Some salons give out little cards with “Caught You Doing it Right” on them and then keep a log of who they have given these to so they can make sure nobody gets left out. Recognise good performance and reward them for example I had a stylist who made a client feel so special that she told several of her friends and the local News paper got the story and did an article on us. What fantastic free publicity for the salon so as a reward I took him and his wife out for a fantastic meal and a cool local restaurant. You know what he still talks of that and was over two years ago! A definite win, win situation Right!

So have a meeting with your team get them to t decide the standards (with your influence of course) and get them to all commit on paper. This will really reinforce the standards and also they’re the ones they made RIGHT! Then its really easy to reprimand them when they do not meet them. You then have taken away the he/she is always moaning at me because you are just making sure they are keeping up to the standards the whole team have decided on.

Then if you still have a problem with a couple of them and they have really negative attitudes then get them out fast........they will ruin your business and every thing the rest of the team and you have built up.
 

Q       How do I compete and still stay in business when benefits are skyrocketing and stylists are expecting higher wages and competition picks off your best with promises of more and better?

Kathy Sherman

A       Kathy take each stylist and do an audit on them find out the ones that make you profit and the ones that don’t and then work on them. Get them to increase their average ticket price, selling on treatments and colour, redesigns make sure the clients are happy really happy and make sure they return regular.

Yep benefits are skyrocketing and stylists do expect higher wages but it’s the same for all of us…… we just have to make sure that we are planning for it. Find out what the competition is offering and then attack there weak areas don’t attack there strengths. If you paid about the same in wages then what would you have to charge your customers to compete? Can you save 5% of your costs to run the business that will give you extra money for wages.

Salons do promise lots of things to grab good stylists but normally don’t deliver right!.

Take a serious look at what you offer to your stylists. Why should they stay with you if there is a better deal? Market yourself to your team! Its is OK to tell them you’re a good boss because sometimes if they have been with you for a while they don’t always here that. Look its like your clients right….sometimes you have to tell them they have made the right choice coming to you other wise they will try another salon just because they are curious!

Do you offer them a carer path so they can grow and develop in your business. Ask them what they want and give it to them ( within reason of course) sometimes it can be real simple things like a photo shoot once a month that keeps stylists, or extra time off, goals so they know where they are going and they can see the results. And this does not mean you have to splash out with loads of cash… get a good digital camera off eBay and get one of the team to do the photography they will love it I promise! Talk to your team regular hold one minute meetings every day keep em focused.

Q       What is the industry trend on employee compensation and benefits?  how to have a system that treats employees fairly and compensates for hard workers and yet keeps all happy in a competitive environment ?

A       Focus on profit and you will have the money to reinvest in your team. Employee’s want more time off and more wages so its up to us to look at creative ways of giving it to them. Because without a good stylist, apprentices, receptionists and managers we won't have a good salon.

Audit your team look who really makes good profit for you and those that don’t then it makes decisions fair and easy because you have the      facts.............. Right!

More Soon

Steve...