BOOTH RENTAL VS. TEAM

Booth Rental vs Team

Let’s start with the title, Booth Rental vs Team. I say team instead of commission, which is usually the biggest debate because there’s so much more than commissions that go away when you choose chair rental. But we will get to that a bit later.

Let’s start with why we may choose to rent a booth in the first place:

1.)Making our own hours - we all love to have freedom of our work schedule but what happens when the boss is away…. in this case we are our own boss. Can we hold ourselves responsible and accountable for the time we should be working on our business instead of our tan?

2.)Freedom of personality - Creating our own culture sounds like a dream, we can wear what we want, play our favorite music. Dance while we foil… wait a minute I’m getting carried away.

3.) Using the products we love - Our work is only as good as the tools we use, but sometimes we really love that one product the owner forbids us having on the salon floor. It would be awesome to use what I want when I want with no questions asked.

Now let’s take a look at the other side.

Commission / hourly / team based 

First working for a salon means being on a team. Which also means when Ms. Betty was running late because she lost her keys and Miss Always Early Suzie shows up as usual early. We have a group of ladies to jump in and help accommodate the intervals. Sometimes that’s a shampoo or blow out and sometimes it’s just bringing water or fixing a glass of wine for your waiting guest. Yeah we arrive at a set time and we stay til cuts are made but we also never leave a team member alone which mean on some days we stay past that “set time”. It’s a balance being there for one another.

Which brings us to personality…

Wouldn’t it being a blessing to have an atmosphere where everyone was happy all the time? Well chances are that’s only realistic when you ask people to close off and drop it at the door and fake the funk. Even you alone in a suite studio can’t be happy 100% of the time but we can’t expect anyone to never have a bad day. What is crucial in my opinion is having a boss and or co worker that can step in when you don’t feel your best. Or having a chance to call in some PTO ( personal time off ) and having that same team handle breaking the news to your guest and rescheduling your appointments when the last thing you need or want to do is be on the phone being professional. What a team can do is hold the culture at an at most high of importance and know when it’s best you not be there dragging it down. Can you do that for yourself? SOME may but most often we try to pull through it best we can and sadly that causes us to loose more clientele than we’d wish. Most the time your clients won’t tell you why they leave. Yet being a owner of two salons and traveling mentoring others I’ve ran surveys to realize that personality and culture mean everything to client retention. 

Lastly.

Product product PRODUCTS!!!

We all have our favorites and must haves. Why not work in a salon that sees and understands your wants and needs. Which leads me to my closer. Find the right FIT for you. In all we have spoke about, finding the salon with the right hours or flexibility you need as a stylist and or mom, wife etc. is just as important and finding a salon with the personality and culture that mimics your personal style. And when those things align I’d bet you’d see eye to eye on a lot more than just product usage. 

At my salons I’ve searched for stylist that are walking talking Tmacs. #tmacia ( I’m Tmac by the way) so they walk like me, talk like me, style like me, and love and inspire others just like me. We are a perfect fit & when that alignment gets out of whack we spilt our ways with a hug and a smile and best wishes. Cause that’s what a good boss does. We are here to teach you to be the best version of yourself and help you fulfill your dreams and encourage you to continue to create even when your time with us has come to an end. The salon won’t work unless you do! Being a team player is part of my blood now. I’ve been a booth renter once before owning salons. I had no one to inspire me. I had no continuing education other than a few trade shows once a year. I’m now able to constantly provide training to my staff and always stay in a perpetual state of learning and sharing. I hope you all find that salon that feels like home. It’s a lonely room with a chair when you don’t have like minded individuals to fill your energy field with positivity.  Once you start aligning all your beliefs and creating a space where true happiness dwells it will come natural that you find that salon space and I hope you never feel that void alone in a room.  You deserve others that see your potential to Share this amazing life as a stylist with.