First Chair - Spring 2008 Success Guide - (Page 22)

Success Remember, your ability to learn and to build your business, doesn’t end when you clock out at the end of the day. Opportunities are all around you. Tools for outside the salon on a host of topics from business building to marketing to customer service skills. “Audio tapes and CDs are great,” agrees Carder. “On average, we spend 25 minutes a day commuting—use that time to invest in yourself.” A strong training program will not only enhance your cutting and coloring skills, it’ll teach you the everimportant tools for building a lucrative clientele. Soak it all in. > YOU’RE THE BRAND. As part of training, Hankins works with apprentices on self-marketing skills. “There’s no magic school bus of walk-ins, you have to develop your own clientele,” he says. “You need to create the perception that you are in demand. Speciﬁc ideas that have worked with our apprentices is stopping at two or more coffee shops on the way to work or opening up accounts at multiple banks. You have to be visible in your community.” > PASS IT ON. The best way to gain new clients is to ask for them. Pass out your business cards to all your clients and ask them to send in their friends and family members. Check with your salon owner to see what incentives are in place for referrals, or ask if you can offer a discounted rate for a ﬁrst-time service. > SALON PROCEDURES. Most salons encourage speciﬁc techniques in conducting a consultation, educating clients about products and encouraging prebooking. To help apprentices, Snetman offers scripts and even prints the steps of a consultation on a card that can be kept in the apron. “Between clients, you can pull it out and go over it to see what steps you remembered and what you forgot,” she says. other internal tools skills to add to your toolbox. For example, a stylist might consider a course on hair extensions, or a colorist may want to add make-up application. If the new skill adds a new marketable service to the salon, your owner may consider covering the costs. > TAP THE FUNDS. When salons take education seriously, they often help cover the costs of the education. “If a staff member is interested in a class, we ask them to do the legwork and ﬁnd out the cost of the tuition, the travel costs and how long they’d be out of the salon,” says Cartonio. “They ﬁll out an education request and we consider sponsoring the education.” > GRAB THE PIGGYBANK. “We all have a responsibility for advanced education,” says Thomas. “I encourage my employees to put aside two percent of their annual earnings in an education fund. The salon does that as well and shares in the cost of advanced education.” external education Check your salon’s bulletin board, scour industry trade magazines and check out industry websites to locate educational opportunities in advanced techniques. Ask your owner, mentors or other senior stylists their advice on choosing great classes. Look at what your salon’s manufacturers have to offer as well as some of the top academies. > DIVERSIFY. Don’t just consider the courses that expand on the skills you’ve already acquired—also think about learning new There’s nothing quite like a major industry trade show to enlighten, inspire and stimulate you and your future growth. It’s a chance to observe the industry’s great ones in action, discover new fashion and beauty trends, learn and shop for new products and tools, and supplement your current education with a variety of classroom topics. “My work has taken me to shows all over the country,” says Debra Jargstorf, an educator with Empire Education Group who also serves on the Board of Directors of Cosmetologists Chicago, the owner of America’s Beauty Show. “I always come with away with a greater sense of self, feeling so proud and pumped to be part of something so huge and so professional. But I assure you, shows can be a bit overwhelming for a ﬁrst-time visitor.” > HAVE PURPOSE. “Do your homework. Get advice from others and visit the show’s website to ﬁnd out what is happening,” says Jargstorf. “Look for any special events for students or new salon professionals.” > PLAN YOUR DAY. “Get a show program before you attend—these can usually be found on the show’s website. This will help you plan your time and see events that are most important and interesting to you,” Jargstorf adds. “Bring a small notepad and a pen, and always bring a few clean copies of your resume. Shows are great places for networking.” > JOIN YOUR PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION. “All true salon professionals need to participate in an association of their peers. Student memberships are offered with many perks and extras— sometimes that includes show tickets.” take in a show 22 MODERN SALON’S FIRSTCHAIR SPRING 2008 Learn more @ ﬁrstchair.com http://firstchair.com

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First Chair - Spring 2008 Success Guide Contents First Word First View First Skills: Styles First Skills: Business First Skills: Design School of the Year 2008 Tools for Success First Tools First Products First Happenings

First Chair - Spring 2008 Success Guide

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