Salons are not just about good service, talented staff members and plenty of bookings. However, all these things have one important aspect in common: Good Organisation!
Success often starts at the front desk and therefore it is important to keep it clear and organised, as well as have a clear strategy on how it is managed. However, you should not be too busy to class front desk management/ organisation as trivial.
Managing your front office effectively is often not a primary business objective; but it should be. If your reception or front desk is unwelcoming, it will portray to customer that your salon is not very 'service oriented', meaning you could be driving customers away with this. Organisation does not mean what goes behind your desk but also how your front desk organisation portrays to customers and the business. A well-organised appointment book prevents you from making mistakes that have a negative impact on the customer and therefore the business. Keeping an eye on finances and reports can help to create an annual action plan and develop strategies for quieter periods.
“Reception management influences your atmosphere”
A well functioning reception area leads back to a good salon atmosphere. Often the reception is the first thing people see when entering the salon. Therefore, it is important that this area reflect positively to customers as well. Make sure to keep things tidy. Not only for the customers but also to keep everything under control.
Imagine going to a salon as a customer and finding the front desk is filled with clutter, paper and rubbish. If the receptionist or whoever is responsible to welcome you then also has to go on the hunt for your customer details because there is no system in place I would doubt that anyone would come back after that.
If salons are that careless with their front desk what else are they careless. As a customer it would make me nervous that services also might not be taken serious. In the end, as a paying customer, I want to feel satisfied and good about a salon.
This does not reflect an organised business approach if you ask me and could affect the customers decision if they would re-book with you.
A well-organised desk saves time and prevents staff members from making mistakes and you loosing business.
That’s why so many salons are switching to salon software these days. The reason for this is the constant change of technology and devices, which allow you constantly connect with your business anywhere you are, whenever you want. No need for paper client cards and an actual appointment book when everything can be done on your laptop.
Furthermore, systems such as Salon Tracker save time and compile all information in one system. Meaning you can keep all client records, including history, notes and other important information securely saved on the computer.
Moreover, the system gives owners full control over bookings, stock and business reports. Not only does this saves paper but it also lets you manage every aspect of your salon without losing track.
“Salon Tracker has drastically improved the management of our salon; everything is managed by one system cutting out paperwork and client cards” G. Holder (Salon Owner).
Planning ahead is key!
Have a clear plan in mind on business goals and make sure staff are aware of it and follow it. As a small salon to even the bigger chains, focus on your business goals and also make it a priority to recruit the right people but also let staff go if it doesn’t work out for you and it’s damaging your business. Don’t feel guilty if it’s not the right match. A bad employee can have a negative impact on your business.
Regular meetings with everyone are great to discuss relevant issues and give staff the opportunity to raise their opinion together as a team.
Time management
An effective and organised front desk requires good time management by staff, receptionist or by the salon owner. Therefore, it is important to time wisely and plan ahead. If you get into the habit of keeping an eye on bookings, takings and staff working hours you avoid any mix ups and can even fill empty slots. Use quiet periods to organise everything accordingly to when it does get busier, then you don’t lose track. If you use Salon Software, you can easily rely on the system to keep track of everything important for you, with the knowledge that the information is only a few clicks away.
As you can see it all starts with the front desk. Management is crucial to grow your business, retain clients, managing change and improvement and generally lay down your action plan for the year ahead of you.
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