“As a salon owner and educator, my goal is to give nail technicians and business owners the tools they need to succeed,” says Erin Snyder Dixon, owner of Nail Care Services in Newport News, Va. Her 10-point list of customer service basics are designed to treat clients like the stars they are.

  1. Your mother was right. Be polite. Say please and thank you. And yes, smile.
  2. Deliver more than you promise. Value is a perception, not a price.
  3. Respect others’ time by being punctual. Every day is a job interview for tomorrow.
  4. Improve focus by creating a clean, uncluttered atmosphere to work, learn, and enjoy whatever it is you do. You and your clients will benefit.
  5. Learn to use body language to underscore what you are trying to say. Most communication is non-verbal.
  6. Listen to your clients with more than your ears. Ask open-ended questions for clarification if needed. If it doesn’t feel right, dig deeper for answers.
  7. Provide solutions to relevant problems.
  8. Find ways to let clients know they are special and appreciated. Use their name for starters. Know who they are.
  9. Always remember that it is less expensive to keep a client than to find a new one. Satisfied, loyal clients are the best advertising money can buy.
  10. The world DOES revolve around your client.

These tips are just for starters, says Dixon. “Act on one area of customer service and perfect it. Then, add another. The biggest part of business success in any arena is consistency of action.”

You can visit www.spasalonvision.com to learn more about Dixon.

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