7 Reasons Why Stylists Should Offer and Charge for Consultations Post Covid-19
Although many salons across America remain closed due to safer at home orders, some have gotten the green light to reopen. In this “new normal”, there are many state issued guidelines that must be followed in order to operate legally. Only working at 50% capacity is one of the major ones. This guideline makes for extremely limited appointments being that a stylists and barbers can only service one client at a time for the full duration of the appointment.
So what does that mean?
There are no “filler” clients when you have someone that needs to process or under the dryer. Scheduling has to be down to the letter. A stylist needs to know exactly how long each and every service will generally take in order to properly schedule clients for the most efficient and profitable day. Beauty professionals are also faced with the almost impossible task of squeezing weeks or months worth of cancelled and regular appointments in this new abbreviated schedule. This is literally only one of the challenges we have to acknowledge when returning to work.
Below I have curated a list of reasons why you should offer and charge for consultations if you are not already doing so.
Time is Money
In our new normal, there is literally no time to waste. Every minute spent on the salon floor has to be revenue producing. There is an absolute and clear limit to the amount of people we can service in the day with the new guidelines. Everything must count. Products, groceries and other various goods have sky rocketed due to Covid-19. You have to make sure you can afford to reinvest in your company or brand. Adding a fee to your consultation service allows you to be genuinely into the conversation at hand without feeling like you have to rush the conversation or cut it short trying to return to a paid service. You can now relax and take the time you need to be professional and in depth with your potential client. That’s a win win for you and him or her.
Helps With Scheduling
Now, more than ever before, beauty professionals need to know exactly how much time to allot to each and every client. There is no possible way you can accurately estimate the amount of time needed for a person whom you have never met. You truly get a fill for a person’s hair and the time needed to perform all the desired services for that particular client when you perform consultations. As we may know with our regular clientele, no head of hair is the same. A blow out could take an hour and fifteen minutes on one person and two hours on the next.
Get Into an Agreeance
The time to figure out and come to an conclusion of what a client wants at his or her next appointment is at the consultation. From my own experience, I know how satisfying it can be for the stylist and the client when you both agree on the next steps to take for his or her hair journey. When you both come to an agreeance, there are no arguments. The client is now well informed and has essentially agreed to the game plan presented. Scheduling becomes a breeze and the door for regular, standing appointments is now opened. So not only did you gain a client, you acquire that client’s trust and confidence in you to care for all of their hair care needs. Let me tell you, there is nothing more gratifying than a clientele that trusts your abilities.
Be Prepared for the Appointment
There is nothing worse than not having something you need for an appointment because you didn’t ask enough or the right questions. When you are face to face with your potential client, it is easier to stay focused on the task at hand of figuring out exactly what services you will be providing and what you will need on hand to complete it. Not to mention, that the head of hair you will be working on will be right there in your grasp. So you will be able to estimate just how much product will be needed.
Weeds Out Non-Serious People
I know, I know. This can be a sticky subject, however it is a reality in this industry and every other industry for that matter. We sometimes come across potential clients that have no intentions of respecting our time and policies. You will be amazed at how a small fee can deter a major future headache. Making paid consultations a part of your new client intake process, sets a precedent that your time is important, you have order in your operations and you care enough to take time to get to know the potential clientele.
Preliminary Interview
Consults are a perfect time for your potential client to get a feel for you and for you to get a feel for him or her. Every client isn’t for you and you are not for every client. Try not to get so wound up on the idea of trying to service every single person that contacts you. If you want to protect your sanity in this industry, it is best to focus on the quality of the client vs. the quantity of clients. Use consultations to intentionally engineer your clientele list. While consulting with your potential client, explain any late cancellation/no show, sick, or tardy policies you may have. The client will be able to express his or her concerns and expectations of you as his or her stylist of barber. Both parties will be able to come to a conclusion if a future business relationship will be beneficial.
It is a Service
Last but certainly not least, consultations are a service! Yes that is correct. Whether complimentary or small fee, it is a service. Your knowledge is invaluable and when people come to seek your professional opinion, that is a service you are providing. No matter how trivial it may seem, explaining the dos and don’ts, coming up with hair solutions, formulating colors and recommending routines and products take a level of mental capacity that should be compensated for.
In conclusion
As an industry, we must start to look at all the little things we do to provide a great experience for our clients. Those details absolutely matter and will set you apart from everyone else. I am sure there are plenty more reasons to charge for consultations, however I only want to speak on what I can attest to personally. I have experienced the gratification of having the trust, respect and loyalty of a clientele that values me, my time, talents and suggestions. That is something I want for each and every beauty professional.