It took me a long time to write this – I wanted to do the issue justice. As I have mentioned before, I have a deep respect for those working in the beauty industry – I grew up around it. My mother is a hairstylist and – I have aunts, uncles, cousins and friends who are Stylists. They are collectively some of the most interesting people I know.
We live in an age of instant gratification and people tend to react to things without thinking – both of which can be harmful.
What do I mean when I say that? Logic, realism, factual knowledge, and objectivity often take a back seat. So, I ask that you please read this entire post before forming an opinion.
_______________________
All it takes is a few clicks.
There are countless ways we can connect with each other these days—through texts, phone calls, emails, and social media platforms. While this is comforting in many ways, as the saying goes, there are two sides to every coin. Social media and technology can also have adverse effects.
Photo: pexels.com
Let’s say you make dinner plans with a friend. A few nights before you touch base to confirm – everything is good. The night comes – you get ready, drive to the restaurant, get seated and wait for your friend to arrive. They’re a little late so you order a drink. 15 minutes go by – no call – no text. You finally call them and they tell you they forgot. If you’re being honest – your first reaction would be annoyance.
No one likes to be stood up. No one likes to be kept waiting. It’s disrespectful.
Now let’s say you are a hairstylist. It’s a Saturday. You have a busy day – everyone has confirmed their appointments. You are all ready for your first client of the morning – 9:00 a.m. – cut, highlights and style.
9:05 a.m.
9:10 a.m.
No client.
There is no time to fill the appointment. Unless by some stroke of luck, you get a walk-in. A No-show means lost income, lost time and a feeling of frustration.
no-show
ˈnō ˌSHō
noun
1. a person who has made a reservation, booking, or appointment but neither keeps nor cancels it.
No-shows and late cancellations cost the hair salon industry millions of dollars in revenue annually.
Photo: pexels.com
Cause and effect.
The effects of no-shows have a significant financial impact on a company. When a salon or spa has just $300 in weekly no-shows – the totals add up to over $15,000 a year in lost revenue. With industry net profit margins in the +/-5% range, the cost of no-shows can drag profits down to zero.
– Stan Bialecki, How to Eliminate No-shows in Your Salon or Spa
Most salon owners are small business people who have taken the risk and used their own money to pursue the dream of owning their own salon, unlike big corporations that can afford to lose money.
No-shows have a massive impact on stylists as well.
If a stylist averages only one no-show a month on average, it can amount to $2,400.00 in lost annual revenue. Stop and think about it. We’re talking about someone’s livelihood.
Just like their clients, they have mortgage payments to make, groceries to buy, kid’s activities to pay for, phone bills – the list goes on.
There is no reason for no-shows to happen.
Most salons go above and beyond to communicate the cancellation policy – when booking appointments, on the website, printed out at the front desk. They also send appointment reminders by text, email or with a phone call – sometimes it is even all three!
Even though cancellation policies are reasonable and allow for extenuating circumstances and cases of emergency, some salons are wary about enforcing them because they are afraid that they will lose clientele.
Airlines, dentists, doctors, hotels have cancellation policies and those seem to be accepted – albeit grudgingly – by consumers for the most part. But when it comes to salons, the sentiment is quite different. I have seen the comments in threads online:
Why should I pay a fee for a service I didn’t get? Salons charge too much for services anyways. If the Stylist was good at what they do – the client would show up.
Smoke and mirror comments like this, not only deflect the real issue, I feel that they are also disrespectful.
Hairdressing in general hasn’t been given the kudos it deserves. It’s not recognised by enough people as a worthy craft.
– Vidal Sassoon
I believe some people don’t take hairstyling seriously as a profession. However, hairstylists are highly skilled professionals who undergo rigorous training.
Then there’s the other side—the emotional connection. For many, having their hair done is an essential part of celebrating special occasions. Plus, having a good hair day is worth its weight in gold!
In writing this piece, I reached out to hairstylist Ziad El-Zoor, who pointed out that most no-shows occur for full-service appointments. While this doesn’t fully offset the financial loss, he noted that a quick call for last-minute cancellations can help improve a bad situation.
Know what you’re walking into.
Having a consultation with a new client can provide valuable insight into their budget—often revealed through the questions they ask. It also helps clients understand the expected costs for achieving their desired look.
For clients, he suggests doing some homework as well. Consider the salon’s location; downtown salons typically charge more due to higher overhead costs compared to salons in the suburbs or in-home setups. Additionally, the experience level of the stylist—whether they are just starting out, a senior stylist, or a master stylist—will also impact the cost.
Here is the underlying point.
When you book an appointment, you’re making a commitment to show up. If you can’t make it or change your mind, please cancel in advance.
In the time it takes to comment on a Facebook post or share a photo on Instagram, you could easily make a quick call to cancel or reschedule your appointment. It doesn’t take much time to be considerate and show respect for the profession. There is no excuse. It truly is that simple.
Click here to read my post The Hairstylist | Bernardi Beauty Blog.
