” Integrity is the essence of everything successful. ” Richard Fuller.
Many hairdressers and salon owners are working hard and experiencing many challenges in trying to provide a better life for themselves and their families. In order to make this a reality, we must join together as professionals and address a topic that is hurting our salons, our profession, and our livelihoods.
It my hope that this article will help bridge the gap between salon owners and hairdressers, so we can provide a better dialogue and gain a better understanding between staff and management. It all starts with honesty and a code of ethics
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The best way to bridge this gap is through a mutual understanding towards honesty and a code of ethics. Are we all not all on the same team?
Honesty and a code of ethics will build the foundation to a successful business for both staff and owner.
Honesty between management and staff will lead to a professional and positive salon environment for everyone and help combat turnover and business instability.
Sadly there are many hairdressers and salon owners who attempt to get ahead at the expense of others, in the hopes of furthering their opportunities.
No one can fault anyone who wants to better themselves, but do so in an honest and ethical manner.
Avoid these three common obstacles to honesty and a code of ethics, you’ll be a more happier and successful professional.
Gossip, Pettiness and Negativity — allowing yourself to be drawn into salon gossip and pettiness against the owner is just dishonest. You have a right to complain, but do so with the owner in private, they will appreciate your honesty.
Taking Phone Numbers — of customers with out owner’s permission is just wrong, especially if you’re planning on quitting and working in another salon. Keep in mind, if another salon solicits your services and expects you to bring a clientele, let that serve as a red flag and warning that your new salon is depending on you to make their salon successful. If you do leave ,don’t burn the bridges behind you, you may need references or want your job back if your new job doesn’t measure up to your expectations.
Unethical Salon Owners — most salon owners attempt to build their business in an ethical and honest manner the old fashion way by hard work, a strong code of ethics, and a determination to build a successful business that will benefit both owner and hairdresser.
Unfortunately,due to a tough economic business climate, many salon owners will attempt to recruit a competitor’s staff member by offering higher commissions or booth rental options after they build a clientele and have been trained by their former salon owner.
Recruiting hairdressers trained by another salon owner by means of letters, fliers, post cards, and various other means in the hope that they can build and grow their business is just wrong and unprofessional,
As this trend continues to grow, we are seeing a lot of commission and rent wars within the beauty profession. Getting ahead at the expense of other salon owners is just wrong.
What you’re really doing is creating conditions that foster dishonesty within our profession and your business. Your workers will not forget how you hired them when a better deal comes along.This also contributes to staff turnover and business instability.
Your credibility and leadership abilities as a salon owner, will also be questioned by your other staff members.
Unfortunately when you recruit a hairdresser from another salon, your new hairdresser will be difficult to manage and be unwilling to adapt to your salon’s quality control guidelines. I urge you to read my chapter on staff development found in my book Creating Your Salon. Click here.
Your leadership abilities will be also is questioned by your other staff member
Unfortunately many salon owners are being forced into this cycle out of desperation just to survive. This will be one of our topics on our salon owners summit conference.
An equal playing field will benefit both salon owners and hairdressers,there is more than enough customers for everyone. Honesty and a code of ethics is the only way to build a successful business and a successful hairdressing career.
What a brilliant post, i thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
Many thanks for that.
This post raises may important questions. On a first, quick read, the issue that most stands out to me, is the ‘ownership’ of customers.
If a hairdresser is particularly talented, hard-working and charismatic – in short a star – is it fair for that person to give up her/his fans to the salon owner, when moving on from the salon?
That seems wrong.
The customer will make that decision,when a hairdressers leaves for another salon, he or she is now a competitor, the owner has the right to try to keep the ex employee clients to stay with his other staff members.
This post raises may important questions. On a first, quick read, the issue that most stands out to me, is the ‘ownership’ of customers.
If a hairdresser is particularly talented, hard-working and charismatic – in short a star – is it fair for that person to give up her/his fans to the salon owner, when moving on from the salon?
That seems wrong.