Salon Today - December 2008 - (Page 35)

Undercover Mission “Since my staff works so hard during the holiday season, I take them to a day spa in January just to relax. We usually go to a spa that’s at least 10 miles away where nobody knows us, and we can truly relax without anyone asking us questions about work. I book the services for each staff member so I can control the budget, and the tips are up to the staff. Afterward, we go out to dinner or lunch, discuss our experience and share ideas we may use in our salon.” —Vicki Sommers, owner, Hair Legacy Ltd., Elmhurst, Illinois Road Trip “Since I have a small staff, I have the ability to be creative and keep things interesting. This year, we are going to do a wine tour. We are renting a limousine—so there will be no drinking and driving—and inviting the spouses to come along. In past years, we have gone out for a nice dinner and stayed overnight in a hotel near a casino and had some fun. —Sue Dicky, owner, Studio North, Williamsville, New York Pollyanna Party “For the holidays, I usually assemble gift packages of products ranging in value from $15 to $60. Staff members who sell $300 worth of these packages get a day off with pay. I also have a holiday party for staff members and their signiﬁcant others. We host it at a restaurant and I pick up the bill. We organize a gift exchange game were I purchase all the gifts, and staff members select numbers. When it’s their turn, they can either choose a gift that is wrapped or switch one with another employee. At the party I also recognize members with three, ﬁve or 10 years worth of service. For three years, employees usually receive a nice piece of jewelry. At ﬁve years, they receive $100 and I open up an IRA account in their name. This year is the ﬁrst year I’ll be giving away a 10-year service award, and I haven’t come up with the gift yet!” —Diane Holinka, owner, Lady Di’s Salon & Spa, Glenolden, Pennsylvania That Favorite T “Every year we design a commemorative T-shirt and give one to each staff member. These shirts are worn on special dates throughout the year such as the anniversary of a location opening or during fund-raising events. “Our holiday party is very glamorous night. Everyone goes out of his or her way to ﬁnd that amazing dress or wear a bow tie for the ﬁrst time. For the last ‘family gathering’ (or staff meeting) of the year we have a holiday feast similar to Thanksgiving dinner. It is a reﬂective meeting about where the company has been and a projection of where we are heading.” —John Stefanick, production manager, Noëlle Spa for Beauty and Wellness, Stamford, Conneticut Pay Day “We close the day after Christmas, and any full-time staff members receive the day off with pay. I also give each person a special gift— each gift will be different, but all are about the same value—and a monetary bonus. I usually host a dinner—we’ll either go out or I’ll make it myself. This year, we plan to go bowling.” —Catarina Sacchetti, owner, Catarina’s Hair Designs, Landsdale, Pennsylvania Simple Gestures “I think the best way to show you care about your employees is to do a little something special on each day leading up to Christmas. For example, we let everyone wear jeans one day or have a day when everyone dresses in the holiday spirit. We hang stockings for each staff member and ﬁll them with small gifts like chocolate, coupons, bath and beauty products. Throughout the month I add extra gifts when someone steps up to the plate to do more. At the holiday celebration, we pass the stockings around and they’ll see what they achieved by excelling in sales, service and other things we challenge them to do.” —Jan Gilmore, senior stylist, JCPenney Salon in the Towne Center, Conway, Arkansas Festive Decor Competition “On the ﬁrst or second Tuesday of December, we close the salon at 2 p.m. and go to a nice restaurant for a lunch. We draw names for gift giving, and I also give a “special” gift to each staff member—it’s a gag gift of sorts. All year long I’ll watch and listen to everyone and keep track of something funny they have said or done throughout the year. I then purchase or make a gift pertaining to the ‘funny event’ and give to each one. It is the highlight of the party, and they never know what to expect. “We also pick a project each year in which we involve our clients. This year we are decorating stockings, ﬁlling them and donating them to the Women and Children’s Alliance. Each stocking will be hung around the salon, unknown to the clients as to who decorated each one. The clients get to vote on their favorite. I also give a prize to the winning staff member. Our clients love this, and they ask each year when we are going to start the project. It’s a great way to decorate the salon for the holidays and do something nice.” —Shirley Carroll, owner, Wispers Hair & Nail Salon, Boise, Idaho Magic Words “Our owners, Angela and David Boyd, go out of their way to make the holidays special. We are included in the decision about which charity to support during the holidays, and the salon guests are encouraged to participate. This year we’re doing a food drive for Second Harvest Savannah. >> www.salontoday.com December 2008 | 35 http://www.salontoday.com

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Salon Today - December 2008 Contents Editor's Note Reception Fashion Sense Marketing Spa Menu Shared Value Igniting An Industry What the World Needs Now Greater Gifts Products Owner to Owner

Salon Today - December 2008

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