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| | | From: erica l (Original Message) | Sent: 8/17/2008 7:14 PM |
The economy is already bad and money tight. I had a long time customer of 11 years let me no she was leaving because her hair was not growing in the past 3 years. She felt it was my products; but we have tried many different products to make her happy. I spoke with her the other day and she tried a stylist her sister goes to and says the vision products the stylist used worked better. I was kind of pissed and hurt because I have gotten different products in the passed she requested for. I felt she was putting the blame on me instead of just saying she wanted to give someone else a try at her hair. I guess sometime you get attached to your clients and they become more than a client but like a friend or family member to you. But they show you at the end of the day you are just a stylist to them and they will drop you in a sec. So you guys I was just venting because you feel your client would stick with you at least at the hard times and esspecially when you stuck with them. erica www.changingfacesbeautysalon.net |
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Yes, been there done that lol. I've had the most loyal clients leave for reasons anywhere from temporarily broken hood dryers, to inconvenient schedules. Yes, we do get attached to our clients, and concider them friends or family. And yes, they do think of us as just stylists...and we're dispensible. The truth is, so are they. When one leaves, another one can easily take their place. I enjoy them when they're there, they keep me going through my day, I have, and still do bend over backwards trying to keep them. But I also keep in mind, that one day, maybe they might not be there. Not to sound cold, but I've learned clients only exist 8 hours per day, and help me earn a living. It hurts when someone you care about moves on, but I've come to realize REAL friends and family don't leave you.  |
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| | | From: erica l | Sent: 8/18/2008 2:33 AM |
thats so true...real friends and family dont leave you. I was telling myself that am going to focus more on my friends and family. I have my own salon and sometime end up spending most of my time with my clients. Plus on hoildays and different occasion am going to there houses and spending it with them. Am going to stop doing that and keep it business because I let it become to personal. |
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Oh Erica I feel your pain!!!!!!! I have a salon in my home and i have treated the clients like family.........THAT ENDS NOW!!!!!!!!!! I took a holiday for the first time in the 3 years since i opened and came back to a message that sounded like this. "Hi Donna Im cancelling my next 2 appointments with you because im going to see a stylist that my friend goes to. I need to look fabulous for this wedding so im going to let him cut and colour my hair. See you in September." She can stuff it in september because she is going to give some guy freedom to do what ever he wants after she sits in my place and dictates what im allowed to do to her.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The only clients i want are the ones who already think im fabulous. That way i have all the time for them. They are the ones who tip well also. There is very little loyalty anymore. My husband and i went out for dinners with this couple...holy smokes. When i want a day off im taking it. I dont care if there is a wedding...im taking care of myself from now on. No more 6 days a week and all hours of the day!!!!!!! Donna |
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| | | From: erica l | Sent: 8/18/2008 4:33 AM |
Donna its like a slap in the face when they handle you like that. Its almost like you neglecting your life for them. I say no more to it either. I been doing this for 15 years and is burnt out anyway. Sick of listening to there problems and dirty little secrets. All that really do is emotional drain you when people dump there problems on you. My oldest daughter wants to get in the business and I told her NO....please find something else to do. I enjoy doing hair but beauty school dont teach us how to deal with the people. erica |
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We should be pychiatrists dont you think Erica? I hope that when they tell us stuff that they remember that they also told 100 other people their dirty secrets and dont blame us for spreading gossip when word travels around. I love doing hair too but the baggage is unbearable sometimes. They dont care about us when we have problems. I dont tell them anything about my life because they dont care. Donna |
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Wow with all that said ... being in the business for over 40 yrs .. I to learn to keep it business .. hey lets write a book!!! LOL ... be a best seller I bet!!! Of course we'll have to change the names of the clients .. but they will reconize them selfs..LOL!!!As for doing what the client makes you do .. and then goes off to another stylist for a wedding.. it should have never gone that far.. you must have an ucler by now or stomac prombles.. never never let a client make you a servent.. kick it in the butt and get rid of clients like that.. (nicly tho)yes cater to them while there in the salon .. ask if they like a drink or a book and if ther comfortable.. ..remmember what you do and except comes back to you over and over again so don't do that ..keep it postive...What you resists persists.. i enjoy my clients as clients.. there're a few that will befriend you...so keep it business.. and charge!!!let them leave you because they can't afford you.. i heard that over and over ..Oh he's good but to expensive.. so be it.. LOL Drew Free 2 B  |
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P.S.. Stop saying economy is bad and money is tight.. if you hold onto that thought it will surly be in your life .. and if people tell you that don't agree .. say everyday money comes easily and frequently.. Inever have a slow day ..say it over and over .. belive it ..feel it ...live it!! in time your life will blossom.. Blossoming Drew..LOL Free 2 B |
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| | | From: erica l | Sent: 8/20/2008 3:58 AM |
thats drew....i do need to speak more positive....just was venting  |
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oh i wasn't trying to making you wrong.. erica .. just trying to help turn things around.. it's good to vent.. this is a safe place... thanks for sharing..Drew |
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Erica..update on the client that went somewhere else........Her husband was in today and told me that she paid 3 times what i would have charged and her hair was ORANGE and she hated it. So much for looking fabulous for the wedding...Drew do you think i might have activated the SECRET here??????????? Donna |
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lol...yep but be carefull what you ask for ...you might get it...lol |
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| | | From: erica l | Sent: 8/24/2008 8:46 PM |
Oh my goodness donna.....i guess she seen the grass is not always greener on the other side.She complain about the small problem she had with you and ran into big problems with someone else...so much for that wedding hairdo she was looking for. |
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Update..since I stopped making it 'personal' I dont feel bad about saying no or even going so far as to not return phone calls...ooops sorry i didnt get back to you in time but i was sooooooooooo busy. I dont have a receptionist to handle the calls. Im feeling a new freedom that goes with taking out the personal aspect of this business. ITS NOTHING PERSONAL ITS JUST BUSINESS. Donna |
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I feel your pain! Have you been watching "Tabitha's Salon Makeover?" She talks about how you should never get too personal with your clients. Never talk religion, sex or politics. Keep it professional and friendly. Its hard for me too as I get very close with my clients as I am the owner/stylist of a one person salon, so we have total privacy. But I have to remember that its business and people will leave you at a drop of a hat. What I have learned in business building workshops is that if a client says they are leaving for X reason, its usually not the real reason. Its just an excuse and most are leaving to try something new. They get bored or they see their friend with this amazing new haircut and want it. They don't realize you can probably do that haircut as well. They think that other stylist has the magic fingers to make all their hair dreams come true. I've had many come back, humbled by trying some new salon they read about and are now more loyal after someone else gave them bad results. I keep a healthy distance, try NOT to socialize with them outside of the salon and know that even if I bend over backwards to please them, they can leave at any time. It sucks. Part of the business. Another thing--what seems to keep clients staying with you is education and talking about it. They love a hairstylist that is INTO their career wholeheartedly, takes classes and brings new ideas and styles to their heads. The biggest complaint I hear from new clients who are leaving their long time hair stylists is: boredom. That stylist never gave them new ideas and when they asked, they didn't get anything very different than what they had been getting for years. Every career has its pitfalls. This is one of ours. -----Karla/Flip Hair Salon |
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