Stephanie

I am needing some help on how to talk to the owners about helping out around the salon alittle. I have worked at this salon for about 5 years and took the manager position about 3 months after I had been there. The salon sold about a year ago and the new owners a really nice people and I do like them alot but they seem to have no intrest in the everyday running of the salon. They both have full time jobs and I do understand that they have jobs, but there are times when I need them to do something it always seems they don't have the time. About 2weeks ago I had a facial bulb out in a bed and needed to go get a new one but I work the day shift alone and I had no one who could come in and work while I went and got one, and by the time I get off work the place where I get it is closed. I have been adding extra days to customers packages because I feel bad about the facial bulb being out but what do I do. This is just one example. Like I said I work alone on my shift and we are a very busy salon, we have 14 beds and I run through around 250 customer just on my shift and I have no time to do anything. I don't want to sound like I am complaing about my job because I do know as the manager it is my place to do these things but I just feel as I have no help from them.Will someone please tell me how I should go about talking to the owners or if you feel that I am in the wrong on feeling this way let me know.

crazy44

There is no way you should be left with all the work, you are the manager and not the owner. I can't believe they don't help. The only thing I can think of is to tell them what you said in your post. That you have all these people your putting through and don't have time to run around picking things up. Just ask them nicely and don't be shy about it. You are doing them a huge favor by taking care of their salon. I don't think you are wrong for the way you feel. I hope they help, what would they do without you?

Stephanie

Thank you for your reply. I really love what I do and I don't what it to get to the point where I just throw my hands up and leave. I can't talk about this to anyone because people just think that all I do is stand behind a desk and put people in beds they don't understand there is soooo much more in the taninng business then that. I don't what this salon to go down hill and customers start finding other salons to go. In this type of business customer service is number 1 and with beds being broke and and it taking weeks to fix them it don't look good. And like I said this is just one example, I could go on all night. The owners have never been in a tanning bed and know nothing about the tanning business. The husband shows more interest then the wife does but not enough. The salon was offered to me when it was up for sale but I guess I just got scared, but I could kick my-self for not taking it.

crazy44

Well Step, it sounds like you should of bought it. I have no doubt you got scared, taking on a business is scary til you get through it for awhile and then it is an awesome feeling. Hope you get some help.

anna_tanna

I've been where you are. I wish I had an answer to just solve your problem, but I don't. I had to give notice and move on because I knew that talking to her (the new owner) would only make things harder for me because she's just that way. Your new owner sounds like the one I had to deal with in that they want all the benefits and profits, with little to no effort on their part - that they too may have the "I'm the owner" attitude. I firmly believe that in order to keep moral high, and to keep good employees, an owner and even a manager, should NEVER expect more of employees than they are willing to do themselves. Let me / us know how it turns out. Good luck Stephanie!

tnbabygirl78

YOU ARE A EMPLOYEE NOT AN ENTIRE STAFF. THEY SHOULD BE MORE AWARE OF THE REQUIREMENTS THAT IT TAKES FOR A SALON TO MAKE IT. YOUR RIGHT EVERYONE WANTS THE $ WITHOUT ANY OF THE WORK. I SAY TELL THEM EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAID IN YOUR POST, THEN STEP BACK AND LET THEM PICK UP THE PARTS, DO THE LABOR THEN YOU MAY GET MORE THAN JUST HELP. YOU MAY GET APPRICIATION.

river_brat

I am an owner and I am here working along side of my employees, I worked for a lady before my salon who was never there. I had the same problem, so rather than trying to make her do some work, I asked her if it would be alright if we hired another employee. I explained to her how it would make her more money in the long run. She said it was fine. So I trained some one to work with me, and walla I was able to do my duties as manager and give 110% to my customers while the other employee handled the other details.
Maybe sitting down with her and just talking to her, you obviously have the upper hand considering you have been there for that amount of time and quite honestly your running their business. The ball is in your court.

suntanztanning

I'm a owner and manager of a salon smaller than the one you’re managing. The salon is open from 6am to 8pm weekdays. My hours are from 10am to 8pm weekdays and every other Saturday. I have a girl that works for me from 6am to 10am M-F. This allows me to take care of business matters away from the salon. It also allows me to pick up supplies before my shift at 10am.

I would suggest sitting down with the owners and explaining your situation with them. The bottom line is this. You can’t be in two places at once. As the manager you’ll be called away from the salon to take care of outside affairs from time to time. No matter what the reason, you will need to have a few hours a week for taking care of business outside the salon. The problem you’re having is common with understaffed salons. When you have an absentee owner they don’t have a clue as to the daily operation and the demands it places on the manager, staff and most of all the customers. You need to take the bull by the horns and see if you can make it change. If you allow the salon to suffer because of the lack of help, the customers, owners and you will suffer equally. The owners need to know and it’s your job to tell them.

Stephanie

Thanks for all the advise. I am going to talk to them because I don't want the salon to suffer or customer unhappy. I look at the customer not only as someone who come in to tan they are the reason we have a job. I have 4 other girls who work and they all see what is going on without me saying a word to them, and they have told me if I leave they are to and this is somthing that can't happen. I will let you know how thing went with us.

river_brat

good luck stephanie you will do great!!!