How To Keep Clients When A Therapist Leaves Your Salon

Salon and spa owners know how finicky clients can be. That finicky nature is only made worse when a therapist or stylist leaves your establishment. When you lose an employee, you can easily lose their entire client roster should the majority of the employee’s clients follow them to his or her new salon. To help you curb client loss after a stylist or therapist leaves your business, here are some tips on how to keep clients when an employee leaves your salon.

Prepare For This Scenario – When we bring on new employees, we’re rarely thinking about what might happen the day that this employee decides to quit. However, it can be a good idea to include a rule about “poaching clients” in your new therapists’ or stylists’ employee contracts. Include a clause that says that employees may not try to persuade clients to leave your establishment in the event that they quit or are terminated. While this clause may not be airtight, it does provide you some protection.

Speak To The Therapist At The Time Of Their Resignation or Dismissal – Unless the employee is leaving your establishment under very bad terms, you might be able to sit them down and discuss what they plan to do with their client roster. Some stylists and therapists will steadfastly insist on bringing their top clients; as in, the clients who’ve given them repeated or monthly business. In this case, try to cut your losses and negotiate. Propose that the stylist can keep their regular clients, but that the salon can retain their infrequent client roster.

Go Directly To The Clients – It’s not sneaky or underhanded to go directly to the clients. After all, at the end of the day, this is your business. Send a mailer to all of the employees’ clients, perhaps offering a percentage off their next service. Even if the clients like the employee, money talks. These clients will be intrigued by the possibility of a discount and willing to try their luck with a new stylist or therapist.

It can be sad to see a valued employee leave your establishment. However, it’s crucial that you continue to think like a businessperson. No matter what, client retention should always be a priority. Ultimately, it’s easy to retain the clients that you already have than it is to try to drum up new client business.