Gaps in schedule

Just wondering how you handle gaps in schedule? I try to be available to my clients but have some that need early apps some late. what ends up happening is that I have gaps in schedule like of a few hours and sometimes I leave and come back twice in a day which kinda screws up my day and makes me feel totally unproductive! Any tips or suggestions? Not complaining about my business at all mind you :)

Thanks

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Permalink Reply by coldsalineplexus on May 28, 2013 at 6:18am

I've had that experience when I was building my clientele and it was imperative for my morale and sense of productiveness that I schedule things in those gaps, even if they were personal appointments or lunches with friends or running home to let the dog out. As long as I feel like I am running on a schedule, I'm good. I would even look at my schedule the day before and if I was free from 1-3pm, I would put "social media work" or "research new product lines" on my schedule, and then do that from my laptop in the treatment room or go home and do that specific thing, so that I would feel like I was maintaining a workflow. Now those gaps are happily filled with clients, and I have actually had to block out scheduled time each week to manage the business :)

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Permalink Reply by Deborah Kenney on May 28, 2013 at 8:38pm

Love that idea!

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Permalink Reply by Relax & Rejuvenate on May 29, 2013 at 10:06am

Or you can use your social media to post last minute services at a discount

SpaFinder --aka the devil -- recently bought out a company that made this automatic -- you post the times and services you are looking to fill, and they email them out to thousands of cheapskate spa goers.

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Permalink Reply by Sarah Sweeney on June 12, 2013 at 1:00am

^^^^ yupp... you never want to sell yourself short. I have my busy days and slow days which are pretty predictable where I work. With my slow days I take advantage of social media. I have strictly made a facebook page just for my clientele... and let me tell you , it works! We are human and people get busy and forget to book their monthly service, therefore what better way than to post last minute openings. All clients have to do is open thier facebook, and wahlah! No effort to them. YOUR availability is visible. I have gained many clients through facebook. Highschool friends from 10 years ago. They like a "skin tip" status, it shows on another friends page, and the cycle begins. 2013 is the era to market like crazy for FREE! Instead of offering last minute appointments for "%" off... I throw in a complimentary brow wax, or an extra 15min. massage. Use something that won't take away $$$$ from your biz, yet use your talent. One timers only. All that jazz. THEN refer a friend, and they will benefit. Dominoe effects are key in our industry. Good Luck!

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Permalink Reply by Sarah Sweeney on June 12, 2013 at 1:04am

I agree !!! :) spa finder - bleh! , and all those other companies that walk around college campus' and sell spa packages for $50. I had a nightmare of a clientele attracted from that. Only bargain hunters. Zero tippers. No loyalty. We have to be attracting good quality clients who take skin care seriously :)