Issue link: https://www.ahpindiestylist.com/i/1298824
N ot a m e m b e r ? J o i n at a s so c iate d h a i rp rofe s sio n a ls .c o m 53 I have also found it handy to text the day they book their appointment. (This is also an online booking feature you can indulge in.) You can text something like this: "Thank you for booking your next appointment. If you need to cancel, please give at least 24 hours' notice; otherwise, you will be charged a 50 percent cancellation fee. We look forward to seeing you soon!" Let's go back to our client Linda. In this scenario, it is nearly 15 minutes past her scheduled appointment time. (In my salon, we generally have a rule to wait 10–15 minutes, and then we call the client.) So you call Linda, and she says, "I'm almost there! If you don't have time, you can just skip the color today and do the cut." Granted, it can be mind-numbing to have a client run 15 minutes late—and possibly take out a big chunk of your income—but my advice is this: DO NOT RESPOND EMOTIONALLY If Linda is a regular client, ask her if she wants the same color as last time. If the answer is yes, head back and start mixing. This will help you prepare to get the color on while you chitchat about why she is frazzled and late. If she is a new client, start the consultation on the phone. There is nothing wrong with getting an idea of what direction she is going in before you meet her. This will help you save some time, and it will help the client get a feel for your professionalism. Win-win, right? SWITCH GEARS Linda was only coming in for a cut . . . what now? There are a few things you can remove from her service to help you stay on pace with your day. You can offer a dry cut, drop her blow-dry style, or call your next client and tell them you're running 15 minutes late until you can catch up. USE A LITTLE TRICKERY Linda always shows up at the 11th hour! If your client is always late, give her the appointment time 15 minutes early when you schedule her. I have to do this for a few of my clients, and they welcome it. It's a savvy way to stand out to your client and stay on time throughout your day. Stay cool, and remember this is your business; you are the one calling all the shots. Do not reach your boiling point at 8:00 a.m. on a Saturday when your first client is a no-show. Instead, charge them. Get paid for your time, and see how sweet a cappuccino can taste while you wait for your next client. Looking for online booking? AHP members have lots of options to save on business management tools built specifically for beauty pros. Beauty Pro Apps: Get $250 off the initial build cost. beautyproapps.com Envision Salon & Spa: Monthly subscription rates as low as $20. envisionsalon.com Gina's Platform: Gina Rivera is offering her new app free to AHP members! ginasplatform.com Mindbody: Receive your first month free and a 10% discount for one year. mindbody.com PocketSuite: Get two months free on the premium subscription. pocketsuite.io Salon Iris Software: Receive a 14-day free trial and 50% off the first two months. saloniris.com