Magazine for the professional nail industry.
Issue link: http://nailsmag.epubxp.com/i/597363
DECEMBER 2015 | NAILS MAGAZINE | 81 Have a business question? (about marketing, pricing, personnel, etc.) E-mail it to Judy.Lessin@bobit.com and check back here for an expert answer. Q: I am naturally a pretty quiet person who doesn't like to talk much. But after doing nails for a year, I realize that talking to clients is a must during services if you want them to come back. I don't know what to say besides asking questions basic questions like, "How are you?" and "Do you have any children?" How do I get conversation going and not sit in awkward silence? A: If you're dealing with a new customer or someone you haven't seen in a while, you can ask, "What brings you here today?" or "Do you have a special event?" More often than not, customers like to chat about what is going on in their lives and will ask you questions. You can answer them, but try and bring the conversation back to them. Still, over time, it's hard not to develop close relationships with some of your customers and they will end up knowing a lot about you and your family. Funny events are good to chat about, but customers don't want to hear about our personal gripes (kids, family, money, etc.). My most important piece of advice is to read your audience. If, during a pedicure, someone is reading or just sitting there with her eyes closed, she clearly doesn't want to chat. I have a coworker who is kind of oblivious to this, which is frustrating. I personally don't want to chat when I have a service done. If you feel it's an awkward silence, ask a question that can't be answered with a yes or no early in the service. "How was your week at work?" "What are your big plans for the weekend?" Usually that'll get them going. Good luck! And be careful what you wish for — I wish half of my clients would sit in silence! — Lori Bourgeois, At Last...Salon & Day Spa, Brunswick, Maine Source: BeautyTech.com A Q & The Bestie app for the iPad is a free booking and POS system designed specifcally for small salons and booth renters. The app allows users to book appointments with ease and see side-by-side views of monthly, weekly, and daily schedules for multiple employ- ees. Bestie dramatically reduces no-shows by sending clients automatic appointment reminders via email and text message. Seamless sales processing means clients can check out with cash or a credit card and receive receipts by email. Other user-friendly features include: > Easy appointment management: Organize and assign your salon services without any hassles. Bestie's intuitive design lets you double-book appointments easily. > Convenient for stylists and managers: Clearly view daily/monthly commissions while processing retail sales, keeping track of inventory, and viewing which services are most popular on a given day, week, or month. > Track employee and customer histories: Save your clients' information to view the services they've purchased in the past while keeping track of your employees' service and retail sales. > Business analytics: Keep track of business with easily navigable sales reports. View and search salon sales by employee, client, or menu item. For more information, go to www.mybestie.com. Let Bestie Handle Your Booking