Business

How do you handle solicitors in the salon?

January 1, 1999

Oftentimes, solicitors make clients uncomfortable because it’s high-pressured sales. I feel like I’m the protector and want to safeguard my client, so I try to tell a solicitor we’re not interested even before they have a chance to speak to my client.

Chris Haubruge

Classic Cuts (Mojave, Calif.)

If I’m not interested, I’ll say no thank you. If it’s kids selling something for a fund-raiser, I’ll buy one, but if I have to fill something out, I’ll ask them to wait or come back. I don’t like to take up my clients’ time just as I don’t like talking on the phone when I’m working on a client.

Linda Valadez

Domani Salon (Coronado, Calif.)

I’ll politely say no thank you, if I’m not interested. You can’t judge a book by its cover; just because the person may look a little suspicious, it may be a walk-in who turns out to be a loyal client.

Rebecca Byrne

At Your Fingertips (San Mateo, Calif.)

If a solicitor walks up to one of our workstations, we will have him talk to the receptionist. If it’s something we might be interested in, like candy bars for charity, the receptionist will ask each one of us individually.

Brenda Whisler

A Perfect 10 Nail Salon (Mansfield, Ohio)

Each of us has different interests in our endeavor to make a living. Personally, though, I don’t like solicitors because often they are rude and disrupt the comfortable salon atmosphere. If this is the case, I’ll excuse myself immediately and show the solicitor to the door. If a solicitor acts professionally, the receptionist will listen to what he has to offer, then ask him to take a seat in the lobby while she asks each of us if we are interested. If a staff member is interested, to not stop the flow of business, a draw is taken from the daily money, which is paid back at the end of the day.

Melanie Swokowski

Talk of the Town (Vancouver, Wash.)

We usually say we’re not interested. I find the situation kind of irritating because here I am paying for real estate and for all of my overhead, and a peddler walks into my salon and tries to sell something to my clients, taking advantage of my expenses.

Tina Ciesla

Blooming Nails (Birmingham, Ala.)

If it’s for a good cause, I’ll say yes, but it’s hard because you can have 10 people in a month and it’s something else you have to deal with in addition to your work. It’s nice to be able to accommodate other people, but you can’t always do it.

Lisa DeCenzo

Classic Look (Monroeville, Pa.)

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