Issue link: https://www.ascpskindeepdigital.com/i/191415
ADVERTISEMENT Things I've Learned Along the Way After 25 years in this industry, I've learned a thing or two! Some of the following things may seem simple or common sense but they are oh so important! Let's chat about connecting with your clients. You can be the most educated and schooled esthetician out there but if you don't know how to connect to the people walking through your door ... you will spend much of your time alone in your treatment room. Many years ago when I had my big day spa, I rented rooms to estheticians and they could decorate their room any way they liked. This one gal put up 20 certificates on each wall … I kid you not. Seriously, the walls were covered from top to bottom with framed certificates. I was definitely impressed and also a bit intimidated. But ... I watched her interact with her clients and there was this total disconnect. She knew her stuff technically but she could not connect with them personally ... she only lasted about four months before she shut down. I cannot impress upon you enough how important it is to create a connection with your clients. If you do, they will be forever faithful. I have clients who have been with me for 25 years. There are times when I spend the day with an esty doing a Jump Start event for a piece of equipment that she wants to purchase. We'll take a lunch break and have a quick bite to eat. I can't tell you how many times that esty has gone back to working on clients without brushing her teeth. The last thing you want to hear from your client is "Wow, I bet that tuna sandwich you had for lunch was good". Okay, I'm being playful here but seriously guys, that's not cool! Maybe it's because my brother is a dentist, but I really feel that with the work we do ... brushing your teeth after you eat is an absolute must!! What do the conversations you have with your clients sound like? Are they uplifting or are you recounting the bad stuff from the six o'clock news? Our clients come to us to get away from the world for an hour ... keep your conversations light or better yet, take your cue from the client. If she's quiet, you should be quiet also. If she's chatty, let her chat away. If it's negative stuff, though, steer her toward the positive. Instead of helping her go deeper into the muck, ask her questions about how she would like things to be. Get her thinking about the positive aspects of life. She may not thank you right away, but you are doing her a big favor. For a longer audio version of "The things I've learned along the way" please visit my website! Shelley Hancock Consulting Helping You Transform Your Skin Care Business www.shelleyhancock.com (650) 610-0619