These Stylists Jumped Ship
Where have all
the good ones gone? They have left the industry to find better paying jobs.
In a survey that
I conducted across Canada I discovered that over 30% of the beauty school
graduates leave the industry within the firs 2 years. After interviewing a
number of the graduates who had left the industry they disclosed that they left
to make more money.
The salon jobs
they got paid minimum wages and being that most of them had around $15,000 in
student debt they had to get second jobs just to make ends meet.
They were also
aware that when they were moved to the floor they were going to start with the
same base salary with promise of a commission which left them worried because
they had just spent the last year sweeping floors and washing hair.
Their bubbles
really burst when they also saw the senior technicians getting all the new
clients when they had no way to compete with their talents and skill.
Now the biggest
question that pops into my mind is where were the salon owners during their
apprenticeships? Who was teaching them the skills of the trade? You know the
ones you really need to really be successful. Why are we leaving these
graduates to figure it out on their own when we are the ones paying their wages
and then complaining when they don’t bring us any revenue?
It is the sole
responsibility of the person who apprentices the technician to provide them
with the tools, resources and skills they need to get up, get going and build
their career. If you are going to hire the person out of beauty school then be
sure you are also willing to help them succeed.
Here are some
things you can do to help the apprentices in your salon:
- Have them serve
clients at a discounted rate while overseeing them during their apprenticeship
- Give them the salon’s
marketing tools to get new clients
- Provide them
with the salons resources to market to the existing clients
- Show them the
steps involved with each client visit from the greeting to closing
- Educate them or
on the product and color lines your salon uses
- Encourage them
to display their work either in a brag book or in a photo shoot
- Take them to
trade shows and provide them with industry education
Seems like a lot
of work, it is but look at the quality you get to bring this industry and your
team!
Categories: Articles
Tags: beauty school graduates salons resources salon marketing apprentices in the salon
Ok...well heres what Im dealing with...I have owned my salon now for 4 yrs, and when I bought it, I inherited the stylists that worked for the previous owner...which at the time, seemed like a great thing. Well..I had this one stylist who was a work horse..a huge money maker..but she was so difficult to work with and in my opinion bi-polar..no joke. She would run every new stylist out of the shop. I was allowing this woman to hold me hostage in my own salon..and I am not proud of that..but she brought in a great deal of money. I know..I know..bad move. But, finally, things came to a head and it was absolutely time for her to leave..so I asked her to pack it up and SCOOT! Heres the real zinger...she is now employed at the salon across the street. Ahh..yes. Isn't that lovely. Luckily, I have been able to retain a good amount of HER clients who were rather pleased to be able to sit in my chair without her glaring at them...a luxury they could have never had with her in the salon. Im being the bigger person in this situation by not getting into the details of the problems we had..I simply tell the clients that it was time for a change for the both of us, and I wish her the best. Im taking the high road...although I have heard that she is saying terrible things about me. I have sent out flyers, mailings and coupons with holiday promotions. What else would you suggest I do? I won't lie and say that we haven't felt this move financially..because we have, but the sense of relief and the lack of tension and anxiety is worth it! Its not easy to get a great stylist around here...there are plenty of hairdressers, but I expect a certain level of skill that is hard to find. I am a Paul Mitchell Focus Salon and I offer free in salon education...and I am always doing mini classes of my own. Our shop has a great reputation and I cannot afford to have that tarnished. I just wanted to share what Im going through right now. Any suggestions? I appreciate your time. :)
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Hi Mark,
You just told my story. I too and many of my clients have been right where you are. I think you are doing a stand up job by taking the high road. It all comes down to how we deal with life when it happens that we have control over.
I wish I had some better advice for surviving the aftermath of a salon walkout but I don't. You are doing all the right things. BUT, you are in a fabulous position now to build your team and your business to be best prepared if this should happen again. In my experience, salon owners who take the time to do this learn to attract the right employees who want to be part of their salon rather than independent. It is also from going through a situation such as this that we recognize the need to control that which we can.
This is YOUR BUSINESS now, take one step today to implement the structures to train new people with your brand that attracts clients that are loyal to the salon rather than the technician, become an owner staff respect and build a business that teams want to be part of. Thanks for sharing your story, let me know how it goes.
Cheryl Roose
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HI Susie, my mistake with the name on my reply, accept my apology please.
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Cheryl- I am 49 years old & moved from Chicago to Billings, Montana 8 years ago. I had a lucrative career in retail with Neiman Marcus- when we moved here I needed to start a new career so went to aesthetic school and got my license. I have been at the same salon for 7 years and have an amazing clientele, some built from the stylists. I soon realized I needed to do my own marketing and advertising- added a website with my services and an ad in Yellowpages. I also started taking my appointments on my cell phone to protect my business. There have been several opportunities to go to other salons but have declined and have stayed faithful to same salon. At full staff we should have 8 hair stylists, 3 nail technicians, 1 massage therapist, and myself, we are down to 4 stylists- 2 have just left. We are a booth rental salon. The salon owner who is a very talented hair stylist lacks in the managerial part of owning a salon, so a lot of chaos happens. A hugh opportunity has come my way, a salon owner has recruited me! The new salon has 17 hair stylists, 4 nail technicians, a massage therapist, and an esthetician- ME!. I would be a fool not to accept this business opportunity. I gave my verbal notice to the salon owner 11/17 and she went ballistic! I signed a contract that I would have to give her a 30 day notice and need to be at the new location 12/1- I have offered to pay my share of Dec rent to cover my 30- day contractual agreement. My question is this: is this not fair and equitable? Legally I do not have to give her the keys to my room until 12/16. She has already started talking poorly of me to her clients. Do you have any advice?
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Hi Wilona,
Thank you fro sharing your story. I as well many of my readers have been in the situation as you are.
Unfortunately not all salon owners handle situations with grace and you have witnessed the impact of poor management and leadership in your current place of business.
My advice to you now is to seek out salons that have good management and leadership (as you have) so you are stable in your own career and get the support you need to build your business. Successful salons foster an environment where the owners give their teams the tools they need to succeed and the team is accountable to the salons profits and growth.
To best help you now, I believe in always honoring your commitments to the contract, giving the salon a 30 day notice and paying for the room till then whether you are there or not. As I am not a lawyer and do not know about contracts this is only my advice, if undecided it is best to contact a lawyer.
Best of luck in your move and remember, you can always choose to be the professional you were trained to be. HOld yourself and this industry in high regard and you will be rewarded dearly.
Cheryl
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