How to Cope With a Busy Salon

As governments around the world are bringing themselves in and out of lockdowns, our salons are going from periods of no work at all, to sudden frenzies of packed out days and even nights from deprived clients who need a treatment.

The periods after lockdown can be great for salon owners, as months without treatments mean that clients often want to catch-up, and catch-up big. But it can be super stressful. So what can you do to cope?

Stock take
You don't want to get short of products when your really busy. Do a stock take at the end of each week so you know how much you're getting through and what you need to re-order to keep stocked up. Consider checking your treatment diary and plan ahead for when you may need more of certain products.

Communicate
It sounds simple, but when you're rushed off your feet its easy for communication to start breaking down. Everyone in your team should be clear on what their roles and duties are for the day, and how that fits into your overall plan. If you need your team to take on extra duties because you are busy, make it clear on what those are before you start working so there is no confusion.

Allow your team to communicate with you, and make it clear to them that you are available. A quick group-together at the start or end of the day can help to allow everyone to voice their opinions on how things should go, or have gone.

Communicate your praise for your staff to help maintain a positive morale, especially if work is tough.

Get help
We can't do everything ourselves. If you're feeling overstretched then you may need an extra pair of hands to allow you to focus on the most important aspects of running the salon. Consider hiring extra help, trainees and apprenticeships can help to reduce some of the load on team members. You may also want to consider appointing another supervisor or assistant manager to help take some pressure off.

Take breaks
When your salon is super busy, lunch breaks can seem like a fantastical luxury; but burning out is no good for anyone, so make sure that staff are given what they need to remain relaxed and focused. It's also important to encourage your team members to support one another when your busy, and to be aware of each others well-being.

Staff often take cues from their managers, so if you're stressed then this may rub off on them. Make sure you take the time to take a breather and encourage your staff to do the same.

Don't forget the customer
When you've got so much work, it's easy to get lost in the motions of ā?odoingā?¯. This can be good for productivity, but it's not always the best for making customers feel special. Always remind yourself that the customer is most important and prioritise your customer service at all times; from welcoming them into the salon to making sure they feel listened to.

Article kindly provided by tnbskillstraining.co.uk