kbret

Hi everyone,

I have been looking back through old posts all morning and still need a little advice. Great stuff by the way...

As you know from my last post, we have finally hired our first employees. My mom and I have been the only employees at the salon for over two years.

I am planning on having a training session this Saturday with my new girls- mainly to cover our products, selling, etc.. .

However, I am new to training - Can anyone give any advice on how to explain our different lotions? Do I need to go over each specific lotion or explain accel vs. bronzers vs. tingle. I don't want to overwhelm them, but I want them to know what the differences are so they will feel comfortable talking to customers. I would like to have something typed out so they could take it home or at least look at it while we are there. Am I being too anal?

Also, do you thing role playing will help out alot?

I'm sorry to ask so many questions, but I just want to do this right...

Thanks for any advice in advance.

Din-Canada

If you want them to know what you know.....teach them. If you don't want them to know everything about it and not have answers or sell easier, then don't let them know.

But the best way is the lotion companies have all the info on their website. Print up the ones you carry and let them read them. Any new lotions you bring in, you should always order a packette for employees to try out for free....if you want their feedback and sell it easier through experience.

Are you smart tan ceritified? They have videos for training....employees should also take the test and pass the test before their probation is over or they don't stay on as an employee.

Those are all suggestions. If you want them to know what they are talking about and not just say this is good.....and dont' know why, train them to know as much as the owners. It's not a waste, it's an investment into your businesses future.


Good luck

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SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES. NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING, BUT THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS

Neon Beach

Contact Greg at GSK Resources, he has some useful lotion info available.

kbret

Thanks!

DakotaFL

I think you may want to do more than just one training session. It helps to know what bronzers are in the lotion. If they have DHA, hemp seed oil...If they are just an accelerater....what type of color the customer will get...What lotion works best for certain skin types....sensitive skin....etc....How to take a single tan and upsell, same with upgrades....They should definetly know as much as possible because don't you want to know that when you are away....They are trying just as hard as you?!

top250tansyou

Work shifts with them and let them train on the job. You will not be able to get a real fill from them over one traing session.

ebsungirl

Oh my , thats a given isn't it? some need more training than others, everyone learns at a different pace. Training is very important, role playing I think is a great way to teach them, you treat them as the client and let them listen to what you have to say about the lotion and then they will sell as you do!

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Undercover Angel!

clpapuga

You need a training session to explain to them the tanning process, why use a lotion, how to ring a sale, how to close a sale, how to give great customer service, how to determine skin type and session timing. All of the basics.

Learning the lotion line is something they will pick up after time. You may want to make up a cheat sheet for them with all the lotions you carry and some key selling points. Also, pick a lotion every couple of weeks and let the employees use it as the "house lotion". How can you sell something if you've never used it? We do Smart Tan certifying and all of this other training on our dollar, why should our employees have to pay to learn our lotions? This is a great incentive too because it gets your employees using lotions, therefore they'll be telling their customers how great they are, etc. If you employees aren’t using lotion, they're not selling it!!

In the salon I work at the biggest problem I see with new employees is how uninformed they are about the proper way to tan, the tanning process itself and explanation of the different levels of beds we have. Not sure how extensive your salon is, but all clients appreciate a knowledgeable sales associate that truly cares that they are getting into the right package!

Another problem we ran into was that the owners did not have an employee handbook. They had "rules" but not in writing and of course they would change on a daily basis causing mass hysteria amongst the associates. This is NOT good. Angry employees are bad employees. My advice is to type up a hand book to give to each employee, let them read and keep it and get their signature on a sign off sheet agreeing to all the rules and terms of the handbook. This will definitely alleviate future problems. Good Luck.