Prepare Your Salon for the Holiday Rush
The holidays are a time for celebration, but they also bring unique challenges for salon owners. Increased foot traffic can lead to overwhelmed staff, higher chances of illness, and a rise in retail crime. To avoid these pitfalls, it’s essential to implement effective strategies that prepare your business for the holiday season.
1. Staff Up
With the uptick in clients during the holidays, your existing team may feel overstretched. Consider hiring seasonal staff to help manage the rush. According to Candice Idehen, owner of Bed of Nails Nail Bar, finding temporary employees who align with your company’s core values is crucial. She suggests hiring well before the holidays to ensure new staff have adequate training.
Valerie Griggs, owner of 20 Lounge, emphasizes the importance of thorough interviews and training for seasonal hires. Ryan McEnaney from Frenchies Modern Nail Care adds that investing time in training is essential, as it prepares new staff to provide excellent customer service. Encourage your current employees to take time off before and after the busy season to maintain their well-being and effectiveness.
2. Emphasize Holiday Spirit
Creating a positive atmosphere can greatly reduce employee stress. Kayla Bramlet from Frenchies Modern Nail Care highlights the importance of front desk staff supporting technicians, ensuring seamless operations even during peak hours. Encouraging staff to take pride in their work and reminding them to stay calm can significantly impact customer experience.
Consider adding small perks for clients, such as snacks or beverages, which can enhance their experience and improve staff morale. Carla Hatler from Lacquer also suggests stocking up on treats for employees to foster a supportive work environment.
3. Stop That Thief
With retail crime increasing by 40% during the holidays, implementing theft prevention tactics is crucial. Bob Moraca, vice president of Loss Prevention for the National Retail Federation, advises employing the 3-foot rule, engaging customers as they approach to deter potential thieves. Designing your salon layout to enhance visibility and employing surveillance systems can also enhance security.
Encouraging a positive work culture helps unite employees against theft. When everyone shares the goal of protecting the business, they will be more vigilant and cooperative.
4. Monitor the Money
Higher foot traffic leads to increased cash flow, so it’s vital to carefully vet your front desk staff to ensure honesty. Conduct background checks and establish a written agreement outlining responsibility for cash accuracy. Limiting the number of people handling cash and keeping cash drawer amounts low can further prevent theft.
Additionally, invest in a drop safe for excess cash to deter larger thefts. Ensuring staff is aware of counterfeiting issues and providing them with tools like counterfeit detector pens will help further safeguard your transactions.
5. Do a Credit Check
As credit card payments become the norm, investing in EMV chip card readers is essential to prevent fraud. Unlike older magnetic strip readers, chip card readers authenticate transactions, significantly reducing the risk of fraudulent activities. Using contactless payment methods, such as Apple Pay, can enhance customer experience while ensuring their data security.
6. Weatherproof Your Property
The winter weather can present safety hazards for your salon. Salting sidewalks and placing mats at entrances can prevent slips and falls. Regular maintenance of facilities and ensuring that flooring is slip-resistant are essential safety measures.
Having a mop or cleaning materials readily available at your front desk can help quickly address wet surfaces, mitigating hazards.
7. Inhibit Illness
During the holidays, the spread of illness can affect your staff and clients. One effective measure is to enforce handwashing before services, which significantly reduces sick days. Regular cleaning of salon surfaces and providing health essentials like vitamins can also help maintain a healthy workplace.
Communicating with clients about health policies can encourage them to postpone appointments if they’re feeling unwell. Providing masks for sick clients can keep both your staff and patrons safe during flu season.
Conclusion
By proactively addressing these seven areas, salon owners can navigate the busy holiday season while maintaining a safe and efficient business environment. With the right preparation, you can ensure that your salon thrives, even in the most challenging times.
