Clients that become friends/acquaintences?

[sarahpoppy24]

Hello! After reading bagpuss's thread about helping out clients in hard times I thought I would write a thread addressing the general issue of clients that kind of become friends. I dont think this really applies to people with big salons (well it may do) but when you are mobile or home based, it is like a really personal service; they tell you everything and they are always offering tea coffee cakes etc. Because I live in a very locally, I see clients when I am in Tescos and out for a pub lunch etc. I get loads of business just from going into town. Does anyone else have this happen or do you only see your clients when they see you for treatments or do you see them all the time outside of work? xxx

 

[Bagpuss]

I agree with you when you say that being mobile/home based does make a difference....In my room there is just me and the client....its total 1-1....and I live in a village where we all know one another....so i often bump into my clients at the shops, dentists or at the school....and we do say hi and often chat.

I do get invited to certain nights out and parties and sometimes i go and sometimes i dont....but i would never expect an invite...meaning if i didn't get invited i wouldn't feel upset at all.

Sat in that 1-1 environment with a client for 1.5 hours every 3-4 weeks means over the months/years i get to know them very well....they probably tell me more than they do their partners...:lol: and as they see my girls here in the evenings and rob pops in asking if we would like a drink...they also get to know my family.

What i have been told many times is that coming to me is like having a coffee with a mate and getting your nails done at the same time....i take this as a huge compliment and can only assume its why i get so booked up...apart from the nails..

I had a client come once with a friend....after half an hour the friend left....I asked my client why she brought her friend only for her to leave 30 mins later...and she said "I have been to salons before and felt uncomfortable because of the way i look, so i didn't want to come alone, but you are so friendly and i felt at ease right away so told her she could go" ohh and by the way, IMO there was NOTHING wrong with how she looked.....but its just how she felt....and I can totally understand because i have felt the same way in some salons.

At home or mobile its far more personal, relaxed and less going on and therefore its more probable to feel a "connection" with someone after a length of time....not ALL of them...but some...just as you would in any other circumstance.

I think it also just depends on the sort of person you are....if your a warm and friendly person anyway who makes friends easily then its bound to happen....if not then ... not......I personally couldn't switch it on and off like a light switch...I'm a peoples person but that doesn't mean i don't take what i do seriously....I don't do mates rates...never have...and everyone is treated the same regardless of whether i click with them or not.

 

[shedunlop]

I totally agree with everything Angie says. You cannot spend 10+ years of your life seeing clients every 2-4 weeks for an hour and a half in their homes or your own without becoming friendly with them. We see eachother's children grow up, marry, babies born, family deaths, illnesses etc. I love every minute of it and would not have a high street salon as I feel I would lose this special attachment to my clients.

Everyone is different, I am sure there are some geeks on here who would go running for the hills if they had to get so close to clients. The downside is, of course, that if you don't like someone it is so much harder to keep them as you have to spend that one to one time with them!

 

[twid]

Once I wanted to open up my own salon, but funds prevented this so I decided to adapt a room at home and go mobile too. Now I wouldnt change my situation for the world as I love the 1-1 homely feeling. I find it really easy to talk to people and have no worries about going into their homes and setting my stuff up as I feel necessary, they seem to like the fact that Im their friend but professional at the same time.

I love all my clients, as you say Sheila, you get to know about their lives and families and visa versa - I find peoples "stories" fasinating.

In 5 years Ive only had one that I didnt get on with (very demanding old lady, who made me feel inadequate and small). Needless to say it didnt last long and she went back to her old salon, who in her own words were useless! My loss their gain - hell no they probably thought oh goodness not her back again!!

A client who I've been seeing for the last 6 months for Gel NNO has asked if she can start playing golf with me. We're about the same standard (really bad LOL) and get on really well, so Im hoping it work out well and not only will I have a lovely client but also a great golf partner!

Karaxxx

 

[sarahpoppy24]

This is ace!! I thaught it was just me who kind of made friends with my clients!! I love seeing them but becuse I dont know any other mobile people I thaught I was wierd maby being over friendly and that. I am the same everyone gets charged the same! I always remain professional at all times and some have actualy become friends not close friends who txt each other out side nails etc but still someone i would have a good chat to if I saw them out and about xxxx

 

[leonnib]

i have a little salon but its in the centre of london and people do generallly want to get in and out so dont really talk etc.. cant say i know much about them even the ones that come very 1/2 weeks.. and ive been there for a few months now. but when i was abit further out of london the atmosphere and clients in general was different and i did get to know a few people very well in the few months i was there and they are still with coming to me..


i also have a mobile side to the salon which i do on some days also and this is totally different to the salon and i enjoy talking to my clients and getting to know them more...
also when i had my daughter it was only my mobile clients who sent me cards and texts etc..

you defintely get closer doing mobile then being in a salon and i dont see anything wrong with being friends outside your working relationship..