kinfolk chronicles

The year was 2014 and I was two years into owning my own salon. We were booked, bustling, and bringing in money. Our services were high value, our customer care was unrivaled, our clients were happy, I paid my team well, and the salon was growing exponentially from month to month. However, something was amiss. Everything was perfect on paper, but in reality I was burning the wick from both ends. I was performing the balancing act that we owners know so well: servicing clients

Why You Need to Stop Asking Your Guests to Book Their Next Appointment We spend hours marketing our salons and spas. We pay guest care teams to answer phones and manage bookings. We guide our guests on how to prepare for their services. We welcome them into thoughtfully curated spaces. We deliver high-level, intentional services. …and then at the end, we ask: “Do you want to book your next appointment?” By that point, your guest is already gone. Not physically, but mentally.

A year into owning my salon, we were almost fully booked and I thought that meant we were winning. Clients were flowing in and out. The money was coming in. Word of mouth was strong. Referrals were steady. From the outside, it looked like success. And in many ways, it was. We were a specialty salon. We weren’t everything for everyone. we focused on one niche and did it exceptionally well. Entering the market with clarity set us apart immediately. We were also hyper-focused on