FROM INSIDE THE SALON DARREN MESSIAS KH HAIR GROUP There was a time when if you wanted to ‘poach’ a great stylist from a rival salon you’d have to follow them into a bar, buy them a drink and offer them a job. At least that took a certain amount of courage. But with the growth of social media, poaching has become a lot easier – even if it’s not particularly ethical. Quite frankly, I find it underhand. At KH Hair, we’ve always had a really good staff retention record but we have started to notice a gradual increase in stylists being lured away via social media. In fact, one rival salon has managed to steal 12 of our team in the past four years in this way. Many more have told us they were approached but, thankfully, decided to stay. Through our awardwinning training academy, we turn out some pretty great stylists. But when a stylist leaves, it’s a double blow. Not only do they take away our investment in training, they can also take clients with them. We use social media for awareness, not direct contact – we simply don’t feel it’s the ethical thing to do. THE BUSINESS EDIT IS POACHING STAFF DIGITAL FAIR GAME? SALONS ARE FINDING it ever more difficult to recruit great staff… and things are getting competitive! Headhunting has gone digital as social media usage soars and stylists are being poached following initial contact through direct messaging from rival salons. Has recruitment become harder? “My team has been contacted by other salons through social media, there is nothing you can do to stop this from happening so just take it as a compliment you’ve developed a team people want,” smiles Joe Hemmings from Bristol’s Bloggs Salons. “I’ve also had experienced stylists contact me through social media for positions so it works both ways!” It does appear to be evolutionary – stylists are showcasing their work to a wider audience through social media now. “Instagram is a fantastic platform to show off creative colour work, precision cutting, and on-trend up-dos, but it also provides a gateway for headhunters to find brilliant stylists in their area and it’s an easy way to get in touch with them,” says Hayley Gibson-Forbes, director at S J Forbes. “It’s certainly more cut-throat. There are so many more salons opening now, and it seems like they are all fighting for the same stylists.” “Poaching staff is easier thanks to social media,” agrees Alan Simpson, director at Contemporary Salons. “Other salons can see your work and it’s easy to send private messages to entice good stylists. We’ve heard of other salons ‘liking’ stylists’ posts and making comments on their work, before sending them a private message. It can be really frustrating when stylists don’t consider what your company have done for them and we have lost a really good employee this way.” To keep staff loyal, incentives have to be there for your team. “We offer plenty of opportunities and hold regular one-to-one meetings to support our staff. Successful stylists mean a successful salon,” adds Alan. At Brighton’s Simon Webster Hair, the salon has an open-door policy: “Our team are friends, not just colleagues, so it’s natural that they discuss their employment terms with each other. Trying to suppress that only creates suspicion and resentment,” shrugs partner and manager, Sophie Webster. “Our employment opportunities, payment structures and incentives are available for everyone to see and staff understand what they need to achieve.” “Poaching happens in every industry, but is something we never do,” Sophie maintains. “A successful and responsible salon shouldn’t need to do that and it’s important to the industry that we don’t view each other as rivals all the time. On the other hand, we have had salons approach our team members and again, we encourage openness. We offer the best packages and opportunities we can, but if another salon is offering something that we can’t and it’s something that your staff member wants for themselves, then there is no point trying to restrict them or make them feel guilty for that.” 34 CREATIVE <strong>HEAD</strong>
CREATIVE <strong>HEAD</strong> ADVERTORIAL GOLDEN girl GIVE THE GIFT OF GOLD FROM CLOUD NINE THIS CHRISTMAS – BECAUSE THEREʻS NO SUCH THING AS TOO MUCH
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