Tuesday’s Technique
WELCOME Back! We at it again with ya girl RaShaun D. Ellison a.k.a. The Kitchentician. Today’s technique is a part of a never ending story within the salon environment. “Kids”… Now because this can be a sensitive subject matter, I have three points of view that I want to cover: Salon operation, Stylist to client management, and Parent to child communication.
GET Yo Kids Some Manners…
Many times over I have experienced when a child has been at the salon establishment and been unruly. It has even happend to me in my own salon… with my “own” children. It is totally embarrassing. It takes away from the total salon experience, and it can cost you a client. This is ultimately because most clients come to get services to relax and be rejuvenated… Not be entertained by children’s television, crying, or loud playing. Especially… if they do not have children themselves. So here are some FREE tips on how to manage children in a salon environment. Imagine a sign like this at the entrance of your neighborhood salon…?
~ Not every salon is privy to children unless they are being serviced. How many times have you seen signs on the door or inside the establishment that say, “NO CHILDREN ALLOWED UNLESS BEING SERVICED.” This is a turn off for some people to see. More so the mom that has no choice but to bring her 5-year-old. Usually this is not the case with a woman who has a small baby because they are not up running around and causing mischief. Yet there are those times that bordum takes over and the children have to let loose. So the salon can be a unsafe environment for children where there are spinning chairs that go up and down, HOT styling tools, potentially dangerous chemicals, and most of all salon traffic (strangers). This is all well warranted for salon establishments to have this dastardly decal at the entrance of the salon. 
So to defuse the air, why not create a child safe area within your business model. This has the potential to generate not only new clients, but generate additional service dollars as well. This is the same for those of us who work from home. Just because you are in your home, does not mean that you should slack in your professionalism. You need to have a operational plan in order as well, to maximize the client potential, especially because you’re at home. This will establish a system among you, your children (if you have them), and your client (and their children if it applies).
From The Mouths Of Babes
Just today as I planned for my clients for the week, I sat down to write this blog post. My husband and I have been practicing ways to better incorporate our children into the routine of the family online marketing business. It is a challenge, but the easier you are about bending the rules of parental authority… it all begins to flow. You know how it is… children are children and they are assumed to only be that… but Oh No… they are jewels in the rough… and in order for them to show how valuable they are, they have to be polished to shine, with proper etiquette.
Now my son came to me and asked… Mom what is this blog about? He read me the title and we began to discuss it. So throughout the discussion he posed this question in relation to when a client brings his or her children with them to the appointment, how do we make sure that the clients kids don’t leave our room a mess for us to have to clean up? We discuss it a little more. Then he asked another question… See questions are how genius’ are made right.” So he said,
“What if your client has a tight time schedule and they can’t stay here to help us clean up… what do you do?”
This in my eyes was a GREAT question. Especially since this is the subject at hand. So We decided to create a plan of action that we can use when, “we” schedule an appointment, with someone and they are bringing their children. I say “we” because, this is a teaching tool of leadership and business etiquette for them as well. He learns to be responsible for his own environment and he learns to govern himself professionally. Yaw better stop sleepin’ on these babies… But anyway..
~ The stylist and client should always communicate whether or not the client is going to bring their child with them to an appointment. This also goes for the stylist. Let your client know that your environment caters to children. You would be shocked to know that this is a load off for most of them. Mind you this can help keep your children at bay while you work also. That is why it is important for stylists that work within the home, to talk with your children, and make them aware of what’s goin on. I guarantee if you tell your kid that they are in charge of their space… OMG! It fosters such an independence that you will be glad and sad that you did it… Just kidding about the sad part … It’s rewarding to work with your children especially when they understand that they are a part of the family business. Like with our children… especially our 5-year-old he knows that when I say, “Alright RaMel, Jake is coming to get a service on Friday morning and he is bringing J.J. (Jake Junior) with him. Their appointment is at 10:00 am but he needs to be finished by 12 noon.” I can tell him at 11:30, “You need to tell your company that it’s clean up time”. This fosters good manners in your child and the clients child if they do not know to do so.
What’s Gonna Work? Teamwork!… What’s Gonna Work? Teamwork! ~ Lynnie, Tuck and Ming Ming of The Wonder Pets
Conclusion
Salon etiquette is an important part of business. The more that you know the more your business can grow. I have been in the business long enough to see failure and success. The hair industry can be a massively lucrative business. The reason why more salons and professionals are not successful is because they cut out alternative methods of creating revenue. That is were specialty services like what I offer come in handy. I am not just “The Kitchentician”, I am also a salon and stylist consultant. Just imagine what an awesome salon experience you could offer if this was handed to each client that brought in his or her children… It’s all about how you handel your business… SCHEDULE your private consultation today!
Thank you for reading this blog post… GET Yo Kids. (Like, Share, and Comment)
***We are no more than a team of art loving, Generation-X Hippie type, blogging, business professional, home-birthing, homeschooling, healthy, traveling homebodies… That works hard to keep our families close and connected to creativity and love… Oh… and we dabble in the business of Online Marketing Consultants as part-time affiliates with a team of FREEDOM Artists at Empower Network and GVO.
So if you think what we do is interesting, then SUBSCRIBE HERE.
P.S. Follow us on Twitter @GetTeamLove3000 to receive your link to our next blog post Work It Out Wednesday… Where we will unleash yet another workout technique through the empowering and motivational drive to be healthy, be fit, be you. We post in spirit, in truth, and in love… And it is our main focus for these posts is to inspire 3000 + individuals that are getting on tract their personal freedom or that needs accountability partners, to stay on track to maintaining their optimum self concept. So when you join up with, The GET 3000 Crew nothing is impossible. We believe in you!
