Employee Education Equals Success

A salon’s success is highly dependent upon the competency of its staff. Therefore, it’s critical to take the time to recruit and hire employees with a good work ethic and the self-motivation to proactively assist customers. It is also important to properly train employees on the science of tanning and proper salon operations.

Importance Of Training

Below are a few training tips listed in the NTTI Salon Operations and Procedures Course. Visit www.tanningtraining.com  to view the course in its entirety.

Give employees access to all equipment manufacturers’ literature. This information should provide details on the functions and safety recommendations of their respective units. They also should be given copies of salon ads, fliers, customer cards, daily record sheets and any other forms they will be expected to fill out. Review each form step-by-step. Allow them to spend the day studying them, preferably in the salon, so they can ask questions at any time.

Encourage workers to hone their knowledge by carefully reading the Annual LOOKING FIT® Tanning Fact Book and industry trade publications and explain why it is imperative that the information is read carefully.

Allow them to observe they way you handle phone inquires and explain why you handled certain situations. Experience is the best teacher, so don’t expect them to emulate you perfectly the first few times— you may not have been able to do that yourself. Allow employees to go through the phone procedure with you until they are proficient; practice makes perfect and builds confidence.

Supply employees with a list of frequently asked questions and review appropriate responses to explain in detail why they are answered that way. You may want to give them a quiz at the end of their training period to ensure they are prepared to handle salon duties without supervision.

Cleaning duties are often an unpopular subject; therefore, it is important to specify expectations from the very beginning. Don’t wait until you have made your hiring decision to explain that some cleaning duties will be required. Some workers simply are not interested in positions that have cleaning requirements, and concealing the fact until after the hiring process won’t make them any more receptive to it.

Equipment must be cleaned thoroughly after each use. Emphasize this must be done carefully and properly each time without exception. Explain why a thorough cleaning of all requisite materials is necessary, and the potential consequences if done improperly. Go through the procedure a few times and carefully observe their performance. Don’t be afraid to criticize; it is important that this procedure be done right.

Let your employees know you expect them to keep the reception desk as tidy as possible, since this area usually is the first impression clients get when they enter the salon. If it is messy or dirty, the client automatically will jump to the conclusion that it is a reflection of the rest of the salon.

Stress to your employees the importance of enforcing the salon’s rules. Tell them they are never to extend tanning times or to allow clients to tan without protective eyewear. Make sure they understand why and are able to explain the dangers of such practices to your clients.