21 August 2024
In the hair and beauty industry, the efficiency and productivity of your stylists and therapists are crucial to the success of your salon business. The more clients your team can effectively manage in a day, the more revenue your salon can generate, and the better the client experience becomes. However, achieving this balance requires strategic planning and a focus on team utilisation. By optimising how your team works, you can maximise on the number of appointments and clients they can accommodate, without sacrificing the quality of service.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the importance of utilising your stylists and therapists efficiently and share our 5 practical tips to help improve team utilisation in your salon.
Maximising the utilisation of your stylists and therapists is essential for several reasons:
Increased Revenue: We say it often more clients, spending more, more often is the key to growth. By optimising how your team manages their time and appointments, you can increase the number of services provided each day, directly boosting your bottom line.
Client Satisfaction: Efficient utilisation ensures that clients are seen on time and that their services are completed promptly, leading to higher satisfaction. A well-organised team column reduces wait times and enhances the overall client experience.
Team Satisfaction: When your team is utilised effectively, they can work at a steady pace without feeling rushed or overwhelmed. This balance helps prevent burnout and keeps morale high, which is crucial for retaining your top stylists or therapists.
Operational Efficiency: Proper utilisation leads to better workflow management, reducing downtime and ensuring that your salon runs smoothly. It also helps in identifying peak hours, allowing you to have more of your team in on busier days and less when you are quieter.
A well-utilised team can accommodate more clients, offering flexibility in appointment availability. This can set your salon apart from competitors, making it easier for clients to book services at convenient times.
Effective salon software is the cornerstone of maximising team utilisation. Invest in a booking system that allows for flexible and efficient booking. SalonIQ can automate the booking process, fill gaps between appointments, and even suggest optimal appointment times based on the stylist’s or therapist’s availability and workload using the booking wizard in-salon or our online portal for clients booking from home. Additionally, online booking options can help clients choose times that align with your team’s availability, reducing last-minute cancellations and no-shows.
Cross-training your stylists and therapists in multiple services can significantly improve utilisation. For example, a stylist who is trained in both cutting and technical, as well as nails and/or ear piercing as an example. Then the team can handle more clients throughout the day, filling in gaps between hair appointments with quick, additional services. This also adds value to your team’s skill set and provides more flexibility in managing appointments, especially during peak hours or when team members are absent.
Review your current service and processes to identify any inefficiencies or bottlenecks. Simplifying or streamlining services can reduce the time each appointment takes, allowing your team to look after more clients. For instance, offering express versions of popular treatments or bundling complementary services can increase the number of clients seen in a day without compromising service quality. One salon we know has an express colour service that is just 15 minutes in duration, so can fill those annoying gaps but also helps with the salon average frequency KPI.
Encouraging collaboration among your stylists and therapists can lead to better utilisation and better team work. For example, during colour treatments or processing times, one stylist could start a service with another client. This teamwork approach ensures that your team is always engaged, minimising any wasted time. Additionally, focusing on teamwork and a positive environment can improve communication and help distribute workloads more evenly, ensuring that no one is over utilised while others are super quiet.
Regularly monitor your team’s utilisation percentage using SalonIQ utilisation dashboard and adjust strategies as needed. Use data from your utilisation dashboard to spot appointment trends, busy times, and individual performance. If you notice certain team members consistently have downtime, adjusting their schedule or look closer into their other KPI’s such as their client retention and rebooking percentage. Continuous monitoring and making small changes will help you maintain optimal utilisation and identify areas for further improvement for your team and your salon.
Call a member of our team today on 01892 280 123
