THE REAL HAIR TRUTH
Author: Joseph Kellner
Hairdresser/Mua/Photographer/Film-Maker/Artist in Orlando, Florida 34787
KEY IDEAS FOR CONSISTENCY FOR 2010
Recession rewards those who are nimble, not those who analyze and ponder until the opportunity passes them by.
If your organization is drifting into these bad practices, you need to make changes right now.
Delivery of new products and new services to existing customers.
Creation of the perception of increased value and worth.
Strong public and community image.
Strategic initiative to plan for inevitable upturn, no matter when it occurs.
Daily efforts to build trust, confidence, and interaction with CUSTOMERS.
Development of new markets for existing products and services, including global markets, even for smaller businesses.
Paying local and smaller suppliers first, to help keep them in business and become their priority customer.
Creation of banking relationships, credit lines, and financial reserves.
Industry/professional leadership, assuming a visible and assertive role and becoming leaders in discussing conditions and solutions.
Constant presence in the customers’ eyes through all available media which are relevant!
Customer Service? You Tell Me
If they are not trying to sell you something while you are TRYING to enjoy your hair getting done, they are over-charging you to dry your hair? It cost $50 dollars to DRY your hair AFTER you have already paid $120 for partial hi-lights and $90 for single color and $10 for some color sealer and $30 for some conditioner that you had no idea cost anything when they washed your hair. I mean, after shampoo does come conditioner..right? And shouldn’t they dry your hair to make sure they colored it right? Why should I have to pay for them to check their work? And forget it if they had to use a toner. You get to pay $70 dollars if you want your haircut. Add it up…All this and you get to wait for four hours to get it all done….and then they try to sell you stuff again! Fell for this for over a year and learned that there are not only better stylists out there but kinder and more reasonably priced ones, who haven’t forgotten that Customer Service is an art and valuable, and it’s about fairness in pricing (you are not remodeling my kitchen, just doing my hair) kindness and hair styling…I rather would not feel like I just ended up on a used car lot and pressured to pay for things I don’t want. I believe that this will be the downfall of this salon. Talent can only go so far when you are asking your clients to pay for your personal gain. I, personally, like to donate to more lasting and meaningful charities. Good luck, and keep looking. I don’t mind spending money; I just don’t like feeling like I am getting taken advantage of..every single time I go in. I fell for it but you don’t have to.
Underserving Consumer
If you were raised with basic good manners and along the way ever joined a service group, like the scouts or 4-H, then you’ve got the groundwork for providing great customer service. The foundation you need is one of courtesy, caring, willingness to serve, and an attitude that lets your customers know that you they matter-and that you care. There are skills and technologies that can help you put it all into practice, but don’t get your head turned by all the whiz-bang tools that are out there. Great customer service has its basis in good manners. See? Mom was right.
These days it is fashionable for companies to refer to customer service as “customer retention,” but that can lead to backwards thinking. To retain a customer, simply serve him and do it well. If you focus on retention you’ll miss what is important, which is the customer and his or her needs.
But here’s the opportunity. An unhappy customer will become a loyal consumer if you fix his complaint and do it quickly. Eighty percent (80%) of these folks will come back to you if you’ve treated them fairly. That percentage rises to the upper 90s if you respond immediately. Every day you have the chance to transform your mistakes into returning customers — the kind who will tell other people good things about you. Imagine that.
This Review was written by a consumer, who visited a salon in Orlando call ALEXANDER HAIRDRESSING.
HAIRDRESSING SCHOOLS MAKING HEADWAY DURING THE RECESSION!
Have you ever been to a student beauty salon? If not, you should definitely consider it, especially if you’re looking to save a few bucks during the recession. Student salons have become increasingly popular during this time and you’re definitely in good hands, despite what you may think.
In fact, student salons have experienced supervisors on hand to watch over and answer any questions students may have. And though it may take a bit of extra time, it’s totally worth it. You wouldn’t want someone rushing through a beauty service you’re paying for no matter how skilled they are.
Another advantage of a student salon is the great specials they have throughout different times of the year. For different services that suit you best, you may find great deals from students who really care about what they are doing. And you’ll be helping them out by giving them the opportunity to have more experience.
BOOTH RENTAL CONTRACTS!!
Booth rental is very important, and having a contract is the utmost of importance. If your problem is with walk-ins, many salons do not allow renters to take any salon walk-ins at all. You are responsible for your own advertizing and furnishing your own clients. If you are being treated as an employee, where you are required to answer phones, required to be in the salon specific hours, then you have a problem. First, you should never rent a chair in a salon without having a rental agreement which spells out everything in detail. Get the salons rental agreement BEFORE starting work and sit down with the owner and make sure you understand everything. The major things that should be in any rental agreement are, how much is the rent, when its due and when it can be changed and what exactly is furnished in your rent, how are walk-ins handled, when is the salon available for your use, do you get a key, can you sell your own retail, what services are you allowed to perform, what are your specific cleaning duties. As a booth renter you have certain basic rights. You have the right to schedule your own appointments, determine your own work hours, within the guidelines you agreed upon in your lease and very important, the ability to come and go as you please. You have the right to set your own prices and determine what products you use to perform your services. You also have the right to sell your own product lines. Cleaning of the shop is not your responsibility. Clean your work area, take out your own trash. And it would be good to start your own corporation, have tax ID, and occupational Licenses.
The Real Hair Truth 
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