You might have come across the saying “Give a client a good cut at a reasonable price, and they'll be yours for life.” Unfortunately in reality this is not always the case. That’s where we come in! Check out some of the reasons why your clients may not be returning, whether they were long-term customers or a first-time appointment, below.

Rushing the Haircut: If you often find yourself tight on time or overbooked, you may be rushing your jobs, and this can lead to a rushed or careless feeling on the client’s behalf. No one likes to feel as if they are being hustled out of the chair, or that their barber did a sloppy job. Don’t let it be you, and plan your time wisely, including adding 15-minute buffers between appointments to avoid overlap.

Not Providing Consistent Service: When it comes to the success of any barber, or business, consistency is key! Being continually late for appointments, rescheduling, or being generally unreliable are habits that will keep your most valuable clients away. Wealthy, famous, or successful clients will not tolerate waiting for a service, they are often busy and have other places to be. This makes it important to ensure that you are consistent, on time, and reliable when it comes to handling your bookings. Try to keep rescheduling to a minimum but if you know there may be an issue, reach out to your client as far in advance as possible to make them aware and offer alternative timings.

Not making long-term clients feel valued: This is often a huge downfall when it comes to long-term clients, you might tend to get comfortable with them and begin to slack on some of the extras you might usually include. For example, if you have a habit of giving clients a free towel after each service but become comfortable with a client and stop providing that extra, they will notice the service change. This can leave them feeling under-appreciated. When it comes to long-term clients it is important to remember to make them feel valued and continue to show them with every service you provide why they choose to keep coming back to you, not taking it as an opportunity to slack off.

Outdated Skill Set: While the basics of giving a good haircut never truly change, keeping up to date on the trends, tips, and techniques that are most popular at any given time can give you an edge over other barbers. For example, some barbers only have a handle on clipper work, and with trendy long hairstyles such as the wolf cut being popular, clients may go to someone else who can do a cut with scissors if their barber cannot. Want to take your skills to the next level? Check out some of the resources available at https://academy.cadmen.ca/.

Not truly listening to the client: Hearing someone is one thing, but truly listening to them is another. When a client voices their wants and needs, it is imperative to listen to what they are saying so that you can provide them with what they desire, including an optimal experience. If you feel like certain elements of what the client has asked for may not work for their face shape or style, you can always give them your recommendation. However, do not pressure them, and if they don’t want to follow the alternatives you may have suggested, don’t give them a different haircut, give them what they’ve asked for.

Unprofessionalism: Whether it is getting to know a new client for the first time, or an appointment with a regular, maintaining certain standards of professionalism are paramount in a successful barber–client relationship. This includes using appropriate language, so as much as it might be tempting, don’t drop any f-bombs around your clientele. Keep the topic of conversation appropriate and try to avoid any controversial topics as much as possible. Lend your client a sympathetic ear if needed but try not to get embroiled in any drama or heated conversations. Professionalism not only includes how you speak, but how you act, dress, and treat clients as well as co-workers. Keeping an organized appearance and a level head will get you far in ensuring everyone’s comfort.

In the world of barbering, building lasting relationships with clients goes beyond the shears and clippers. The factors that contribute to client retention are multifaceted, encompassing not only the quality of the cut but the quality of the overall experience. Remember, success in this industry requires more than a mastery of technique; much of it depends on how well you can market yourself to your clients.