Working alone in the salon

[champagne]

Hi Geeks

A quick question for anyone who works alone in their own salon.

Does it work for you....

Do you put a treatment in progress notice on the door with your phone number whilst carrying out treatments?

Would you answer the phone?

Do you have to close the salon whilst on holiday or do you get someone in?

Any advice or things i should bear in mind would be gratefully recieved...

Many thanks x

 

[LADY STARDUST]

I personally think it's more worthwhile to get someone in to take bookings, answer the phone, take purchases etc. It's the law of the sod that you'll get someone just popping in to have a quick wax or enquire about a treatment or even purchase a product. If you're not available they'll find someone who is.
If you take someone on whether part time or full time it's important to know you can trust them with the running of the salon if you are away. People will still want to book treatments even if you're on your hols, and as i said before if you're not there they're more likely to go elsewhere...
Good luck!:hug:
xXx

 

[mdskora]

Why dont you offer a "rent a space" to a young but trained and reliable person who is trying to gain some experience in this feild.... you can explain to them that your clients are yours but she can bring new clients in and service them but she is also to share the phone answering and small wax jobs etc just to help you out.... maybe from 10am to 2pm./. to be honest most people will make an apt.. and if they know that you are on your own out side those 4 hours then they will make sure they call or they will get the ansering machine and you will call them back..., plenty of people just put a message to say they are in the treatment room adn someone will get back to them within the hour., etc.... hope that helps you out a little
X Mel

 

[Martin Duffy]

I work on my own (after many years of working in salons with reception cover) and to be honest I prefer it! I put the phone on answerphone & phone back as soon as I can. I put a sign on the door & lock it whilst in treatments. To be honest when you're quiet it won't matter as you'll be there for walk-ins & when you're busy the odd lost client won't be so bad! As long as people know what to expect they don't usually mind; I've certainly lost no business.

 

[geeg]

In my salon I offered only nails and no treatments that required privacy.

As a sole operator/owner I did it all for the first 3 years and it was GREAT actually.

If I had to answer the phone during a nail treatment I did and kept it short and sweet - I didn't even have to move or leave my desk !! Clients were never perturbed by it that I could see. Any nail tech can work and make an appointment at the same time!

Holidays?? What were those? :lol: I never had a holiday for the first 7 years in business. By the time holidays came around I had 3 nail salons and a staff to go with them. I don't mean to sound smug at all but THAT is what it takes to build a business .. dedication to it.

I do think Martin's advice is good.

 

[realisticbeauty]

hi i work on my own and when i am with a client i just pop the phone on answer machine as personaly i dont feel it is professional to answer the phone whilst in a treatment and I have got a sign on my door to say that a treatment is in progress I feel this works well for me xx

 

[champagne]

I am debating going alone ...... the location & rent are both good.....Hmmm hard decision..

 

[Issy]

I work alone and my regulars are really understanding. They know to leave a message if I can't get to the phone and they love seeing the same therapist. I think it gives them a more personal treatment. However, it can be a little distracting when passers by ignore the 'in treatment' sign and continue to bang on the door!! XX
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[Martin Duffy]

I think it gives them a more personal treatment.

The other advantage is the only person you need to worry about is your client, not the people in the room next door! As a result I can let clients bring their babies & children in as the noise won't be bothering other clients. I've done pedicures whilst playing build-a-beetle with my clients son & did a half leg wax as a client breast-fed her baby - it all happens when you go it alone!!!:lol:

 

[appy]

hi
i have just started out with my own salon and although long term i would like more nail techs and beauty therapists at the mo its just me - i am getting lots of new clients as well as my regulars and its going well. i am really tired by end of the week as doing the cleaning,phone,door,gift vouchers, hygeine, prepping rooms and taking payments, next appointments ect. its very tiring but worth it. I think as long as people know your situation they are understanding and i make a point of letting people know its better for me just to come at their allocated time rather than 10 mins earlier. Alot of my customers have my mobile number as well so although i get alot of messages for appointments or rebooks ect it does mean i dont have to get into work in the morning and start going through a load of answer phone messages! And i do the same thing with locking the door when in treatments and i have a door bell but if i am in a treatment apart from waxing i will just ignor it, a paying client does not want to be left mid-treatment...and yes i have people peed because they carnt get in but when its them im doing the treatment on and the phone or door goes and i ignore it and carry on doing the treatment they appreciate it more so!!

 

[geeg]

I assumed that as this question was posted in the Nail forum that we were talking about nail salons as opposed to a salon offering a 'mixed bag' of treatments.

In a nail salon that is buzzing and busy, it does not make a scrap of difference to have to answer the phone during a treatment (unless you are in the middle of a massage or pedicure. In fact, I used to wear a headset at my desk so that I didn't have to manually pick up the phone. I could work along whilst taking an appointment without stopping (apart from the moment I had to write the appointment in the book). My Appt book was on the wall next to me and all I had to do was to pick up a pencil at the last minute.

Now .. If I'd only had a catheter and a feeding tube as well as the headset I would have been all set and not needed to leave my desk at all .. perfect!! :lol:

Those were the good old days when I was on my own. As soon as we had more technicians we needed a receptionist.

 

[adelekeegan1]

I assumed that as this question was posted in the Nail forum that we were talking about nail salons as opposed to a salon offering a 'mixed bag' of treatments.

In a nail salon that is buzzing and busy, it does not make a scrap of difference to have to answer the phone during a treatment (unless you are in the middle of a massage or pedicure. In fact, I used to wear a headset at my desk so that I didn't have to manually pick up the phone. I could work along whilst taking an appointment without stopping (apart from the moment I had to write the appointment in the book). My Appt book was on the wall next to me and all I had to do was to pick up a pencil at the last minute.

Now .. If I'd only had a catheter and a feeding tube as well as the headset I would have been all set and not needed to leave my desk at all .. perfect!! :lol:

Those were the good old days when I was on my own. As soon as we had more technicians we needed a receptionist.

Now, theres an image:green: