Staff Morale and Motivation

Introduction

No matter what industry you work within if your staff members don’t feel motivated and have low morale then this can create many issues for you as the manager and your business as a whole. With each busy season fast approaching it may become a difficult task to keep employees focused especially when the Christmas holidays are fast approaching. Regardless if they ate long term employees or new additions their efficiency will directly impact the company’s productivity. If staff lack in motivation then the business as a whole is bound to suffer. Therefore, it is important for you to ensure staff morale and motivation levels are at their highest at all times as this is beneficial for your staff, you and the business.

Work, life balance

One way to keep staff motivated is to help them and promote a healthy work life balance this may mean limiting their overtime unless they request it and not encouraging them to work from home unless it is a necessity.  If you as management promote a work, life balance it demonstrates to your staff that you are concerned and care for their mental and physical health and well-being which will allow them to feel valued. If staff members don’t have a work, life balance then this can cause them to become stressed as they feel that they have an outrageous amount of work to do but when they have completed it their hard work is not valued by the salon, because of this they may take days off for ill health which can affect client appointments. If a staff member works over time constantly the quality of their work will decrease piece by piece meaning their effort is a lot less productive. A balance between work life and home life ensures that the individual is focused during work hours on work, then when they exit work their focus should be on home life.

Positive Relationships Built Between Staff

It is essential that your staff members feel motivated within the working environment as it promotes a positive relationship with the staff members and management therefore creating a positive environment in which customers will feel invited. The lack of a positive relationship between staff and management members can create understaffed situations, lacking in turnover and staff leaving clients feeling less than overwhelmed by the service provided to them. This can potentially ruin the reputation of the business which may then lead to a loss of earnings for your salon. It is important for staff to form a positive relationship with other staff members as well as yourself and any other management members so that you are able to work together to provide excellent customer service to all customers. To create and promote this positive relationship it is essential that you and your staff spend time together outside of your working environment an example of this may be a work dinner arranged on a Friday night after work. Staff happiness will increase by creating these new opportunities for all staff to bond and build a trusting positive relationship.  Research has shown that staff members who enjoy being at work are likely to experience an increase in their levels of psychological well-being than those who don’t enjoy their work or the environment. You may organise a certain event every Friday so that staff have something to look forward to, or work towards every week an example of this may be a dress down day meaning staff are able to come in their clothes and not uniform or a bake day were a different staff member each time bakes or brings in treats for all the staff.

Why Setting Goals Is Beneficial

To increase staff motivation, it is important that daily goals are set as it provides them with a meaningful goal to work towards achieving whether it be collectively or individually it will push staff to excel in everything they do. This will therefore push your business forward so that you are able to thrive and take your business to the next level. It is important that staff have freedom within their job role as no members of staff work well by being micromanaged, it simply doesn’t help production or create a positive environment. If you want to achieve a happy, open team within your salon it is essential that you work alongside each of your staff to build a positive relationship, which will therefore allow them to confine in you. Outside of your salon you as the manager may be requested to attend meetings and events to attract more clients and set up different partnerships to benefit your business. Why not send your staff members to the event for you nor invite them to go with you to an industry conference or event or even a meeting at a local cafe rather than the meeting room in the salon. This provides each staff member with a different environment meaning that they have an increased freedom at work this will therefore benefit motivation levels as they will know that you have placed your trust in them.

Ensuring Staff Feel Valued

Everyone has those days where they feel down and fed up whether it be a work day or not it is likely that it will affect the way they present themselves however if they feel valued and involved within their work place then this may help to improve their mood and presence. To ensure that your staff feel valued it is important to arrange frequent meetings this could be done every morning or once a week to catch up on what has happened and if there are any important announcements these can be told to all staff members. The meetings may also involve each staff member reporting back of their success during the week or any issues they believe they have a solution too. This time can also be used to inform staff of any business or HR updates this may include opening another salon or working hours being adjusted. This will therefore allow staff to understand the activities within the company therefore allowing them to feel recognised and valued this will therefore ensure that they are motivated to work hard.

How To Prevent A Staff Motivation Decrease

If staff are highly motivated, they are able to increase productivity, performance and loyalty within your salon. To prevent staff motivation from decreasing members of management must organise a form of reward or incentives to provide to the staff members for their effort and commitment to their job. For example, as management you could pick out employee of the month or ask all staff members to vote for who they believe it should be the chosen employee can then receive a free treatment at the salon or a discount for one family member. Involving each staff member in decisions about the work environment and their specific job roles and responsibilities will allow them to feel valued and encouraged to work towards gaining more responsibilities. Having regular discussion with each staff member regarding feedback and coaching will allow the individual to feel supported by you meaning that they will respect you and have higher staff motivation levels because they know they have the support to push themselves to exceeding their goals.

Causes Of Low Morale And How It Can Be Prevented

Low morale within your salon can be caused by a variety of different reasons these can include reasons such as a lack of trust or respect, lack of growth, lack of clarity, change in leadership and potential leadership issues. If there is no growth within the business then staff may feel that they are stuck in a job with no progression therefore will feel demotivated to attend or try hard at work. A lack of clarity means that employees are unsure of what their roles may be within the salon and what the manager expects from them. A change in leadership can cause staff to become demotivated as change can be hard for some especially when it is a drastic change of management, to prevent this affecting low morale it is important to ensure that management is trained correctly so they are able to communicate with staff, this will create a positive working environment. Collecting feedback from employees can also prevent low staff morale from occurring as it shows you are taking their opinion into consideration and putting things in place to create a healthy work environment.

Why Communication Is Essential Within Your Salon 

Communication is key to ensuring that staff morale and motivation levels are on an increase instead of a decrease. Team building activities allows staff to communicate with each other including staff from the different departments or sections within the company, it ensures the fluidity of your business therefore allowing each staff member to understand their individual role within their company and how they influence and affect their team. It also provides each staff member with an opportunity to develop positive relationships with other staff members within the business, it also strengthens the bonds that currently exist. Regular check-ups on your staff members for example a one to one meeting for an hour every three weeks it will provide them with an opportunity to discuss any concerns they may have as well as you being able to discuss performance and promote development. Staff members must be trained this will allow them to feel empowered as this training will provide them with opportunities and rewards within the business.

Salon Tracker. X

Are You Ready For Black Friday?

Black Friday is the most popular day for shopping in the whole year, and it gives salons a perfect opportunity to increase footfall and ensure for a full Christmas Calendar! Black Friday has been known across the pond in America for a number of years, but only recently made its way into the UK. Here’s out top tips on how you can make the most of the weekend!

Gift Vouchers

A great way to get people coming back to the salon is through the use of gift vouchers. According to vouchercodes.co.uk ‘gifts for others’ made up a massive 63% of black Friday purchases in 2016, so this is the market you want to be putting your salon in. A great way to use gift vouchers is by offering your customers an extra amount or something else added in when they purchase a gift voucher. For example, if they bought a £30 gift voucher you could include an extra £5, or if they were to buy a £50 voucher, you could include £10 plus some old stock that won’t sell or is no longer needed. This will make the client feel like they have been rewarded in some way, and will give them more reason to return in the future. You could even state that the voucher is only available to use within certain months, for example when its quieter in January and February.

Package Bundles

At any time of year customers are always going to be on the lookout for any offers or deals you are doing on treatments, and this is especially the case on Black Friday. By offering customers a bundle it not only means that they are getting more value for their money, which increases customer satisfaction, but also helps to fill up your calendar! Even if it’s just smaller bundles such as an Eyebrow Wax/Thread and an Eyelash Tint, or if you’re wanting to offer bundles that take a little bit more time and money then you could offer something like a Facial, Gel Nails and Hot Stone Massage. The main point of the bundles for the customer is that it makes the treatments more accessible, but for you as the salon owner its mainly about increasing your footfall and making the most of the weekend, and even going into Cyber Monday. By using our marketing suite, you could even send out an SMS message to your customers explaining that you have some great package deals available, and this will further help to increase your revenue.

Stock

I’m sure most of you have outdated stock or just stock that you wouldn’t mind getting rid of. So, this is a great chance for you to de-clutter your stock room! Little beauty products make for great stocking fillers, so I’m sure any products you may have will catch the eye of your customers. Make sure to present them on the reception desk, so that all customers see them when they enter and leave the salon. For any of you that own tanning salons, I bet you have loads of different sachets, so why not put any that you no longer sell into a bowl and just sell them off for 50p each. With the retail products, if you are wanting to get rid of most of your outdated stock, then it might be a good idea to start selling these cheaper a few days before Black Friday and a few days after Cyber Monday. It also super important that you indicate to your customers the saving that they’re making, to make it even more appealing to them.

Open Earlier & Close Later

Just for this one weekend, it might also be a good idea to increase your opening times to allow for more bookings. Although you’ll have to pay your staff a little bit more, it will definitely be worth the extra cost if it means that more customers are able to book in for treatments. Even if its just for an extra hour or two it will be a massive boost to your overall footfall! This will also help to beat of the competition, as your salon will be open for longer.

Social Media

As I’m sure you all know, social media has become the best place to promote and boost your salon deals. So, this is the perfect place for you to post about any deals you are offering over the course of Black Friday. If you use our online booking system then you should make sure that your offers are available and visible to the customer so they can book in. Or if you don’t have our online booking system, then make it known to the customer that they can message you on Facebook to book, call the salon or pop in and make a booking. You also want sure that you post your offers well in advance to give your customers a better chance of seeing them. Facebook posts and Instagram stories are a great way to tell your customers if you have any remaining slots in your calendar, and will help to further encourage customers to book a Black Friday treat. 

If you are interested in taking a look at the software, we are running a Black Friday offer, in which you will receive 30% off your first 3 months subscription, up to 30% off hardware and a reduced price on SMS bundles. Don’t hesitate to call if you are interested in taking a look at the software on a free demo and 2-week trial, alternatively you can email us at info@salontracker.co.uk. 

Salon Tracker x

How your Salon can help Children In Need this year!

Children In Need has come around again and we've only got just over two weeks to get prepared! Here at Salon Tracker, we want to help children in need as much as possible and I'm sure you do too. Your Salon is a perfect platform to raise awareness, with clients coming in and out everyday you're bound to make a difference. If you're unsure how, here's a few ideas on how to get started...

Getting in the spirit

Getting in the spirit of Children in need is always a good place to start. Simply dressing up in the Salon works wonders and definitely brings good vibes to the Salon for clients and your staff - you could even get your clients involved and use a Pudsey photo booth to spread awareness on your social media. Dressing up doesn't mean you have to be extreme, just some Pudsey ears would make the cut as the more Pudsey your clients see, the more they will want to donate! Buy your Pudsey ears from the official shop - Official Pudsey Shop

Everybody loves a bake sale

Bake sales are the most mainstream way to raise money, but also the most enjoyable! Getting each member of staff to bake a small batch of Pudsey-themed bakes will go a long way, charging clients a small amount per item and giving all profits to Children in Need will work wonders. If you had 10 members of staff, and each member of staff baked 12 cupcakes sold at £1 each, you'd raise £120 for children in need! £50 worth of donations is enough to pay for specialised equipment for an assistance dog supporting a child on the autism spectrum to reduce anxiety and increase his confidence - that's amazing!

Be involved

Getting involved doesn't have to cost a lot, if anything at all! You can order your free supporter kit from the BBC children in need website which includes a money box, posters for your window display and around the salon and stickers to put wherever you like, loyalty cards perhaps? It also comes with a free guide, so you're all covered! Click Free Supporter Kit and order yours now!

Donate a small portion

Why not donate a small percentage such as 5% of any treatment to children in need. Not only will your customers love that you're doing such a generous thing of your own back, it will also encourage new customers to come and have treatments with you because they can be happy for some of their money to go towards such a great cause whilst getting a treatment out of it too! And you know what new customers leads too... repeat customers! It's a win win situation. You could even start doing Pudsey themed treatments such as Pudsey nails and donate a bigger percentage to the charity for these treatment which will encourage more clients to get them hence spreading more awareness for Children In Need!

Social media works wonders

Your social media platforms are perfect for advertising about anything, so why not use it to your best advantage and advertise about Children In Need? Simply put a link to the donation page on the official BBC children in need website, even if you don't know who's donated and who hasn't, at least you're raising awareness to all your followers. 

These are just a few ideas of what you can do for Children in Need this year, and with just over 2 weeks to go, you've got plenty of time to get organised! Good luck!

Just so you know, Children in need will return to our screens on BBC on Friday 15th November, so tune in to find out exactly what your donations can do!

Salon Tracker x

Feature of the Month: Stock Ordering

For those salons that have a large retail section, whether these be creams, hair serums, moisturising sachets and so on, our software has a built-in HQ stock ordering system that helps to speed up and improve the accuracy of managing your retail products.

Whether you are a single or multi-site salon, we have implemented a thorough system, where an order can be made from the salon itself by any employee, quickly and simply. If you are already familiar with our stock management system, you will remember that we have a ‘low stock quantity’ field (where this amount is chosen by the salon owner) and then we also have a ‘default re-stock quantity field’ for easy re-ordering.

The benefits of these fields with our system is that once a certain product reaches its low stock quantity level, when an employee comes to make a stock order they can simply click ‘autofill’ and the default re-stock amount will be ordered automatically.

Once the employee then submits this order, it then has to be ‘accepted’ by a head office member. So, for example, if they don’t have the adequate amount of stock at HQ in order to send the required amount to the salon, they can then pick & amend this order accordingly, before actually processing it.

If the correct amount of stock is there at the HQ, then a member of staff at HQ will set the order to ‘accepted’ and then this moves on to be picked from the warehouse.

During the picking stage, there is another checklist that requires the staff member organising the stock from the warehouse to double-check the amount before signing the paperwork off to send the stock into ‘transit-mode’. This is so there are no areas where the stock is unattended, or hasn’t been checked, in order to ensure accuracy is maintained throughout the whole stock ordering process, from order to delivery. Also then ensuring that no malicious behaviours can happen, as if there are any anomalies identified at any time, the sign-off reports at each stage of the stock order; 
Salon order > HQ acceptance > warehouse pick > in-transit > delivery
It is then easy to identify where the variances are happening and this can be resolved accordingly. 

Once the stock is in transit, this then has to be re-counted again by the delivery driver, to take responsibility for the stock on driving before it is delivered at the salon premises. Again, this is part of the process of double-checking, in order to ensure stock accuracy is 100%.

This is then delivered successfully to the shop, where whoever the staff member at the salon is taking the stock order in, they also then have to re-count and sign for their stock to make sure everything is as it says against the order, proving that there isn’t anything missing (or too much of an item also).

Once the salon is happy with the order, this can then be amended and saved in the products section of the software, in which this the auto-updates the amounts on the stock control list so that the salon stock is correct for the next retail purchases.

If that’s been a little difficult to follow – here’s some screen shots below to help you to identify the stock ordering journey. 

Step 1 - Auto-fill stock order from default re-stock quantity using stock management order form

Step 2 - Order form is sent to & then accepted by HQ if they have correct stock

Step 3 - Head office count & pick stock from warehouse ready to send - then move in to 'transit' for delivery

Step 4 - Order is delivered to salon, staff member accepting stock has to check & mark that they have correct amount

Step 5 - Once salon staff accepts stock & is happy with quantity, stock management system auto-updates values

Our stock management feature is included on the Professional package & above, with HQ ordering being part of our online Enterprise package. Sound like this could help your salon? Download your free trial at www.salontracker.co.uk/freetrial.aspx.

Salon Tracker x

Salon Tracker's Halloween Hot List!

It's getting around to one of our favourite times of the year again… Halloween! Here at Salon Tracker we love everything about Halloween, from the decorations to dressing up with some funky hair and makeup looks. For this week’s blog we have decided to do you a little look book of some of our favourite Halloween looks and also give you some Halloween decoration inspiration for your salon.

Makeup

Whether you’re looking at transforming yourself into your favourite character or just want to look downright terrifying, makeup is the way to take your look to the next level.  When it comes to makeup this can add to your already out-there outfit or if you’re last minute like some of us, it could be the whole outfit.

 Here are some of out favourite makeup looks for this year:

We love this classic Violet Beauregade look from the classic Charlie and the Chocolate Factory film!

This devil makeup is perfect for if you want something a little different but don't wan't to go too over the top with your makeup this year. 

This terrifying Pennywise look would be great with just a simple white dress. 

We think this skull makeup would look great with a full black outfit!

Hair

Hair is another aspect, just like makeup where you can add to your outfit or put your hairstyle at centre stage. You could rock Harley Quinn’s signature dip dye or style your hair into thing such as devil horns and cat ears.

This classic red and blue dip dye could be done with semi permanent hair dye or even a wig! (here's one we found on amazon https://amzn.to/2BcTrTM) 

These DIY devil horns would look great with the devil makeup above and a nice red or black dress

Outfit

The outfit will always be our favourite part of Halloween. Whether you choose to go with one of the classics like a devil or witch or if you go more modern and decide to go with something new from a film like Pennywise the clown from IT you can put your own spin on any of these outfits. We also love a matching outfits with your besties!

Here’s some of our top picks:

We love this simple but stylish devil look from PLT! (Check it out here https://bit.ly/2ppBoHl)

We love the idea of matching your costume with your friend so this dark and light angel idea is perfect!

Decoration

One way you could encourage all your staff and clients to get into the Halloween spirit is to decorate your salon. This could mean just adding some small details such as pumpkins outside and allowing your staff to wear some Halloween themed accessories or you could go all out at turn your salon into a Halloween haven with cobwebs and all the decorations you can find.

Adding small details like this to your Salon will really lift the atmosphere for staff and clients!

We hope these tips give you a little bit of inspiration for Halloween this year Be sure to DM us pics of your halloween looks and decorations on instagram @salontrackersoftware

Salon Tracker x