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How do I get salon clients to leave their hands off my stuff?

October 1, 2002

For this month’s On the Couch, we turn to Bonnie Canavino, nail department and spa manager at Maxine in Chicago. Canavino oversees 11 nail technicians, four massage therapists, and six estheticians and is also responsible for ordering product, scheduling, handling client complaints, and developing new services.

Hands Off

I often come into work to find my thing spread all over my desk. It’s not the other techs. My table is near the hair area and when I’m not there, clients will sit and do their own nails while they wait for their color to process. They don’t just file, they put on tips and mess with my expensive brushes. The owner doesn’t think it’s a big deal, but I do. How do I get them to keep their hands off my stuff?

Dear Peeved About Pilfering: Protecting your supplies and implements is important for the safety and sanitation of you and your clients. Salon policy must support this by advising all staff members to respect space and sanitation policies by never they are receiving a service. You also need to lock up all your supplies and implements. Leave your nail station completely clear except for a sign with your hours of service. If you do not have a nail station that can be locked, purchase a small cabinet that locks and place it in a supply room or management office. Make sure everyone in the salon is educated on the sanitation and safety regulations so they can educate the clients. This will give your salon a point of difference for perfect client experiences.


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