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SEARCHKathy Jager, author of "As the Chair Turns" sends out frequent e-mail newsletters to her subscribers. Here, she offers 5 quick tips for handling client complaints, a difficult topic to address.
Kathy Jager, Author of "As The Chair Turns"
Kathy Jager, author of "As the Chair Turns" sends out frequent e-mail newsletters to her subscribers. Here, she offers 5 quick tips for handling client complaints, a difficult topic to address.
"With 20% of clients leaving your salon yearly you need to know how to turn a negative experience into a positive one! Knowing when clients are dissatisfied and doing something about it before they tell all their friends is a great way to customer satisfaction," says Jager.
"Complaints are a gift if you are willing to resolve the situation to enhance the client’s dissatisfaction. Remember most clients don’t complain to you, they will walk away, never to return but tell everyone they know their personal experience with you."
Here are a few tips to redeem their trust:
Acknowledge their Disappointment: You need to be able to read the clients face and body language when you sense disappointment. Ask them how they feel about their new look or service and offer them the chance to express the truth.
Repeat What they said: To ensure they know you heard them, repeat their complaint and share some new insight or suggestions to help fix the situation.
Show Appreciation: Acknowledge that you value them as a loyal client. Say you’re sorry they are disappointed and create that safety net to get them to respond with the second opportunity to let you redo the service to give them what they want.
Keep Your Promise: To fulfill their needs whether it has to be something they need to come back for, honoring a gift receipt, or promising not to repeat the mistake.
Create Open Communication: Be a conscious listener…Hear what they are saying and ask a lot of probing questions to create an environment of faith and trust of being their personal stylist.
Remember: Complaints make room for growth personally as well as professionally, just take the critique and learn from it.
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