The process of relocating to a new city as a hairstylist or starting fresh in a new salon can be daunting for any hairstylist! We have tips from Sam Villa ArTeam member and master stylist Ellen Devine on how to be a successful hairstylist in a new salon. Use these tips as an opportunity to reinvent yourself as an artist and take the fear out of relocating.
Take Care of Your Current Guests:
Be sure to think about the loyal guests you currently serve first! If you’re planning to relocate, give them as much notice as possible and set them up for success.
Try finding a stylist that can take on new clients. Devine suggests sending out a general message to your clients with 3 options for a new stylist. You can do this by attaching the new stylist’s number and Instagram so they can check out their work. This helps keep a relationship with clients while still honouring their loyalty.
Do Your Research:
If you’re planning to relocate make sure you visit the city you’re planning to move to beforehand. Devine also suggests using social media to check out salons in the new city so you can get a feel for their vibe and the type of work they do. This is the beautiful thing about starting fresh, you can truly reinvent yourself or change your focus, try to find a salon that can allow you to focus on your specialty!
Be sure to gain insight into the guest experience of these salons by checking out Yelp to see client reviews and experiences. Negative reviews will show you how the salon has handled their client complaints, which can say a lot about a staff.
Have a Resume and Digital Portfolio:
Keep a hard copy of your resume to physically take into the salon. If you need help writing a resume there are tons of websites that have templates to help create a clean professional document. Write down all of your professional experiences, including any photo shoots, awards, product sales %, your guest retention rate, etc. You want to sell yourself on what you excel in!
Make sure you update Instagram with all your hair work. Instead of reaching out directly through email as my first contact, I prefer to physically go into the salons, introduce myself and ask for a tour. This really lets you see firsthand what the salon has to offer and how they run the business.
Interview the Salon:
When entering these salons, dress to be authentically you and appropriate for the salon you’re visiting. During your interview, don’t forget you’re interviewing them as well. Make sure to ask any questions that are important to you. How much of a commission % will you make? Is there room for growth? Does the salon provide advanced education? Is there a set schedule? What is the salon policy on taking time off? It’s important to have a clear understanding of the salon and how it operates. It’s also a great time to figure out if there are any conflicts of interest.
Strategically Build Your New Clientele:
The best way to build your clientele is to ask the clients you’re getting to send their friends and family. In return for sending your more clients you can provide them with complimentary treatments or if they send you lots of guests, eventually a free haircut! Posting on social media will also help you build clientele. You can start by just tagging your new location on posts and try to build up while in the moving process.
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