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Bulletin Boards > Salon Benefits > *chain salons vs. independent salons - HELP!*

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Posted By:rocknroll fab! on: 1/14/2009 2:54:36 AM

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Thread: *chain salons vs. independent salons - HELP!*

rocknroll fab!
Posts: 26

*chain salons vs. independent salons - HELP!*
Posted: Wednesday, January 14, 2009 2:54:36 AM

i am desperately looking for a job in the las vegas area. i've never worked as a stylist before other than the salon floor in beauty school. at first i was only looking to assist at high-end salons (and i haven't given that idea up at all) but it's been 6 months and i still don't have a job, so practicality is dictating that i *ahem* broaden my horizons. so, as someone that has just graduated from beauty school, has never worked as a stylist, is new to the city (and state!) and wants to advance in this field, what is my best option? should i go with a chain salon or an independent salon? what are the pros and cons of both? keep in mind that i do not need insurance, just a paycheck and the ability to continue growing. PLEASE HELP ME!!!

chelle1011
Posts: 9

Posted: Friday, February 12, 2010 5:36:58 PM

OMGGG I HAVENT EVEN finished reading this thread because it sounds like the same thing i just posted!!!! LoL - im going threw the same thing its so0o hard!, now back to reading tthe rest

-MicH

chelle1011
Posts: 9

Posted: Friday, February 12, 2010 5:44:07 PM

ok now i finished reading it, what i did was during beauty school i worked at a small local salon assisting, then graduated worked at supercuts just to get more "hands on " /working as a stylist, training.Then i felt more confident in my work and decided i wanted more of a challenge so i went to a richer county, westchester right outside NYC, where the cuts and color were more money and such. They didnt put me on the floor they had me assisting the owner, Thank god because i learned so much ! the focus there was mainly color experience, i wanted to learn more about cutting so i did research and looked into a salon ,Warren tricomi when i was in beauty school i saw it on TV, as a reality hair show ,i knew i wanted to one day work there i just didnt know when and it was a commute!!! i was going through over a 1/2 tank of gas so i had no choose but to commute until gas prices go down or a got a better car on gas~ moral of this lesson learned start off something small til you feel like you are the best there and move on to something more challenging, ALWAYS go for the education, - u'll go further in the long run~

-MicH

hairmenow
Posts: 3

Posted: Friday, February 12, 2010 7:57:24 PM

I really needed to hear "go for the edudcation". Makes me feel as if I made a wise decision today! Thank you!

haircolorartist
Posts: 13

Fix your Career Fix Your Salon Get Benefits & Salary
Posted: Thursday, February 25, 2010 1:08:51 PM

The Salon Industry Business Artist is a must read for anyone involved in the salon industry. This book repairs the dysfunctional relationship that has plagued salon owners and professionals for decades. It creates a business model for both salon owners and professionals to once and for all put an end to the negative stereotypes that have tarnished our industry. Purchase your copy today at www.haircolorartist.com

PinOak
Posts: 2

Corporate salon compensation issue
Posted: Friday, May 28, 2010 11:18:38 AM

I am a stylist at a mid to high end corporation/chain salon. We have a very unique pay structure where if we make/get paid a 43% commission for the week if we hit the goal to qualify to make commission (this goal is approx. $450 in salon services). If we do not, then we get paid the $8 per hour wage. We get paid biweekly, but our salon services are totaled up per week. Myself and many other stylists are established and are at the point where we make commission. The company has a reward program in place for customers where they can accrue points for all the purchases they make. Once they obtain so many points, they can redeem them on salon service--get a haircut, or a highlight or both for free. However, when a person uses their points for a service, we do not get compensated for it. In many cases, we're doing approx 3-4 hours worth of free hair services on someone. Our time is money!! I feel like we're being penalized! It's very very unfair. It's up to the company to offer free services, not us! If this was a private salon and the owner wanted to offer free services or discounts, the stylists would still get compensated their commission for the original $ amount. I'm trying to research on how this can be legal. The company explains that because we get $8 per hour, we're covered. But, I have an issue with that because technically, if we make our commission for that week, we are not making an hourly rate, and therefore not getting compensated for the free services we performed. Can anybody enlighten me? Does anybody else work in this kind of environment where the company offers promotions/discounts that in turn penalize you?

gd
Posts: 608
Silver Member

Posted: Friday, May 28, 2010 2:29:21 PM

It may not seem right, but the company is correct. As long as you are paid a minimum of $8 an hour, they can give free services to all of your clients if they wish. If you were working on a straight commission only, they would be required to pay you your percentage.

PinOak
Posts: 2

reply to silver member
Posted: Sunday, May 30, 2010 5:36:09 PM

I understand that it would be ok for the company to give free services if you're getting paid $8 per hour. However, I very rarely have a week where I make the $8 per hour. I do enough services to make the commission, not the hourly. So, during the week that I make commission, I'm not getting that hourly rate, therefore, I'm not getting paid for all the free services I've done for that week. That is the problem. It's not right.

Humberto
Posts: 254
Bronze Member

Posted: Monday, May 31, 2010 4:16:24 PM

It is part of the marketing program that retains clients and brings in new ones. We used to do a similar promotion every 6 months and gave stylists a choice as to whether they wanted to participate. If they worked the program then they got walk ins and new clients, if they refused then they would not get any walk ins or new clients- strictly requests. They quickly realized that participating in the promotion was an investment of their time and resulted in many more $$ in the long run. We are an independent salon.

heatherdazy
Posts: 216
Bronze Member

Posted: Tuesday, June 01, 2010 12:53:57 AM

pinoak,
as long as you are earning more than minimum wage, they are not breaking any laws. I don't really understand why you have such a problem with rewarding regular clients.

gd
Posts: 608
Silver Member

Posted: Tuesday, June 01, 2010 3:07:19 PM

This question has been raised many times in our industry. I really don't understand, what you don't understand. You are on a base salary of $8 an hour, ALL THE TIME. This is your guaranteed pay. If, you make over a certain amount in sales or in your case services, for any weeks period, you make more or a percentage of your services. But, you are always working on your base pay of $8 an hour. You are never working for free or doing services for free.

You stated, "If this was a private salon and the owner wanted to offer free services or discounts, the stylists would still get compensated their commission for the original $ amount."

This is simply not true, many private salons offer specials or promotions the same as any business. In most cases the stylists recieve the commission on the special price, not the regular price.

You asked, "Does anybody else work in this kind of environment where the company offers promotions/discounts that in turn penalize you?"

The answer to that is, almost all retail or service companies operate like this. Car salesmen work with a base pay guarantee as you do, but if they sell a certain amount of cars, they recieve more pay as commission. A sales person in a department store recieves a base hourly or are paid by commission if they sell a certain amount. These companies run specials and discounts every week, this is simply business.

britboy
Posts: 2069
Platinum Member

Posted: Thursday, July 22, 2010 10:29:54 PM

If you can, go back to school and forget the hair business. The very idea of having a conversation about a trade where you are getting paid $8 an hour is ridiculous. This is after going to trade school and paying for an 'education'?

Give it up.

haircolorartist
Posts: 13

Time for Change
Posted: Friday, July 23, 2010 9:13:47 AM