www.scheduleem.com Online Appointment Books encourage you to
learn how to confidently do amazing short cuts.

I am loving the short hair fashion trend right now.  I have a few clients that need a wake up call and a fresh look.  But how do you convince them what is the right thing to do?   And if they suddenly show up wanting a drastic change from 'the usual" are you ready?

























Here is an article on short hair that I think addresses some of the fears my clients have.  Some of my favorite excuses are:

"My husband/boyfriend only likes long hair."
"I had a short cut once (when I was a kid) and I looked like a boy."
"My dad tells me princesses have long hair."
"It will make me look old."

And my favorite is from my newlywed nephew:  "Nothing says "MARRIED and COMPLACENT" like a short hair cut cut.  This coming from a kid that can't stand to go more than 4 weeks without a trim....  :)

I have my favorite responses for these statements that I routinely respond with..  but what are yours?

The article coaxes us to get brave because "hair grows back".  If there is NOT one person to say that to its ME.  My hair takes forever to grow... so I can definitely understand why our clients are nervous.  That said, we should all be well informed in how to make a great cut be an amazing look for each client.  And that takes confidence and skill on our part. 

Have you ever searched YouTube for techniques?
When was the last hair show you went to?
Watch the stylists around you.  Even if only to learn what NOT to do....

 

Learn how to confidently recommend

a great now look for your clients.

Add on services. Your hidden bonus income.

Use your Schedule'em online Appointment book to find extra chash.

Use your scheduleem online appointment book to earn a little extra padding in your pockets today.  Here are a few tricks that will add value to your clients visit and keep them coming back to you for more expert care.

The key to earning hidden money every day is to anticipating the gaps in your schedule and use them to make the most of your clients visit.  If you have unnecessary breaks such as you finish your scheduled work early, need to fill in the time while your client processes their color, or small gaps between clients,  make the most of that window of time by recommending additional services to your client that is already in your chair.

Quick services like nail polish, deep condition or eyebrow waxing take very little additional time, and can earn you a few dollars more on the spot.  Pre plan out at least two things you can offer for each guest to make the most of your free time.

If you have larger gaps to fill, get ready to do a spontaneous pedicure, upgrade them to a halo of highlights or clear glossy shine treatments.

Where possible, take another client to overlap your color processing time.  Double booking will make the most of your scheduled time.  Take care to communicate with your clients what to expect and never over process a color.  The clients deserve your attention even if you have a busy schedule.

I know all this can sound like additional busy work, but guess what?  Once I implemented this action of thoughtfully planning out what additional needs my client might enjoy, they appreciated that I was taking the extra time to take care of them.  Often I was treated to a little extra on  the tip line that day too. 

What list of "extra" services do you have to offer?
How do you approach your client when you want them to spend extra money?
How can you show your appreciation to your clients by creating thoughtful add on services that they can really use and enjoy?

Toady, take extra care of YOU and your clients.

Happiness... A Choice not a Circumstance

www.Scheduleem.com Online Appointment book

Today, I am quietly reminded of another inmortant thing to have on my schedule.  Grab a moment today and just be happy.

 You can order a poster like this one here.

Your Business Coach

As I write this I try to keep in mind the subscribers for Schedule'em.  You are small company like I have been.  You are a Booth Renter or working independently like I am now.  We are always trying to improve, grow and sustain our success.

If your reading this, you have desire to succeed and grow. You think about your little business all the time, looking for opportunities and trying new things.  Although my 21 years behind the chair has left me with much experience and perspective to share I recognize that your challenges are both the same as mine and yet totally different.  I write about my day to day behind the chair challenges to relate to yours, and hope that advice I give is relevant and helps you grow your clientele.

Schedule'em Online Appointment Book will help you grow your clientele.

One of my most eye opening experiences was when I ran a small full service salon.  Here, I was responsible for EVERY ONE'S paycheck and I felt the responsibility every moment.  I hired a business consultant.  One that specialized in the salon industry.  I learned.  I shifted my priorities.  I spent money differently.  I looked at our free time differently. 

It was inspirational.  And what I learned then still applies today.  Years later I am still applying those principles I learned.  I write here about those tools that were laid in my hands and drove me from mediocre owner to a leader.

I challenge each of you reading this to spring some of that hard earned money on a salon business consultant.  Surprise yourself. 

If you are already amazing, inspire someone in the chair next to you.  Be more amazing and mentor a younger staff member.

What is your next business challenge?
Who can you trust to assess your business and help you grow?
How will you plan for your growth?
Do you have a mentor?

Learn. Grow. Succeed.

Business by the Numbers

70% of all salons operating out there are not profitable. What that says to me is that we aren't making choices about our money that keep our business self sustainable.  A business coach will tell you to always run your business by the numbers and not your emotions. "Numbers don't lie, we do."

Use your Schedule'em Reports page and run a monthly report.  Now look at your monthly view of the calender.  Its important to take in all of the months viewpoint and recognize how the bottom line fits on the appointment book. By including a visual of what days are busy and what you were doing will give you some perspective on what is really bringing in money.  Now all you have to do is figure out where it is going.

Ask yourself: What percent of the income you spend is dedicated to replacing your supplies?

I do mostly color from day to day.    My business coach suggested that my product cost should equal no more than 10% of the total of my service.  That means if I do a $100 color, my product cost including the sundries like foil and my special after color conditioner should equal ten dollars or less. 

Surprised?  I was.  Here is how I made my numbers work out for me without compromising my preferred products, or raising my price:

Always measure and record the amount of color used.  You can keep your notes about this specific client in your notes section of the Edit Appointment page of Schedule'em to reference next time.  The goal is to use as much of the color you mixed up without washing excess literally down the drain.  To prove a point to one of my apprentice's, I made her collect all her extra color in one bowl for the day.  The amount of color in that bowl and the one next to it at the end of the day spoke for itself and we both made adjustments of how much color to mix.

Schedule'em Online Appointment Book has a notes section to record how
much and what you are using on each client to reference next time.

A color scale will fine tune the amount of color you use.

Another thing is to make sure you are charging appropriately for color.  Determine the average amount of color needed to complete a service.  If your client has thick hair, it won't surprise her to have an additional charge for the extra color needed.

Consider charging additional amounts for each color if you are using more than one shade.  Even if the total amount of color is equal to one application, charge for each shade.  Why?  Inventory is valuable.  If they had to pick these shades and bring them to you they would still be paying for each of the different boxes.

If you aren't charging appropriately make adjustments to your price list and address it with each client before you begin the service to avoid any surprised customers at the check out point.

Do you know what your bottom line is?
Are you willing to commit to do what it takes for a healthier bottom line?
Do you need to raise your prices?
How can being a better business person help you be a better at serving your customer?

Should I raise my prices?

Today is  April 15.

If your like me you kind af avoid your bottom line report, because the more I worry about the bottom line, the less bottom line there is.  Once a day or week is all I like to check in.  I'm afraid.  Need to be in a happy spot.  Always.   I do this job for fun, not income......... right?

So I go to my Schedule'em reports.  And I stare at the bottom line.  And I see it there in black and white.  And it causes me to think about how this last year went.

I think:
Are you kidding me.

Schedule'em Online Appointment Books for your Financial Reords

..............
So now that we are coming to terms with that end of year number our next assessment is whether or not to accept it for the year to come.  Its a good time to consider everything that we are doing right. And what we are no longer going to accept.

Its a good time to consider changing our prices.

This should make us all a bit nervous.  In this industry we are often advised that you should only raise your prices if you want to lose clients.  Ouch.  But that reality means we keep clients that value our experience.  Those clients love the way we work and will send us more clients if we ask them to.  Just don't forget to ask!!!  Put that Send your friends! sign right next to our new price list that is going into effect on April 16!

And we will continue to impress our valuable clientele and let the mediocre ones step it up or slip away at their own choice making room for more amazing choice clientele. 

Have a little faith. 

Next:  Charge according to your price list.  Don't dismiss that last $5 worth of product you used on her today.  Every time you dip into that inventory is another time you need to adjust what you are charging.  If you decide you are going to gift it to that client, say so.  "My treat today" is so great to hear!  Then they won't worry if the charge is different next time.

Then: Up Sell.  Don't walk away from and opportunity to earn extra money while she is sitting there with a purse and free time.  Do something new to upgrade her ticket.  Deep condition. An extra shade of color.  Paint nails.  Eyebrow waxing. 

Are you ready to change your prices?
What factors lead you to this choice?
How will you inform your customers?
What can you do to retain everyone, even though your prices just changed?

You can do this.

Awkward or fashion?

I guess it simply boils down to how you sell it.  What Hollywood pens as the ever fashionable "The Lob"  Has always been "the awkward stage" in my chair. 

Schedule'em online appointment calender

Still, its good to know that there is a name for those of us too chicken to go Anne Hathaway short still have a fashion niche.