Every small business owner wrestles with the same question when starting out: “How do I hold onto my best employees?” It’s an especially pressing concern when the job market is tight. Pigtails & Crewcuts franchisees are no exception.
Long-term employees bring significant value to businesses, such as a children’s hair salon franchise. For example, a stylist who has been working at a salon for many years likely has a loyal clientele that the business owner can count on for consistent revenue. Veteran employees possess a solid knowledge base of your business, which they can share with new hires or use to help you solve problems. They also provide a support system for new employees. Stylists who have worked at a kid’s haircut franchise reflect a stable work environment at the salon, which may attract more talented job candidates.
Retaining your top talent is also cost-effective, in terms of money and time. Typically when an employee leaves, business owners spend resources on advertising, recruiting, screening, and interviewing applicants to fill the vacant spot.
Here are four tips for retaining top talent used by Pigtails & Crewcuts franchisees:
1. Start by Recruiting the Right People for Your Kid’s Haircut Franchise
Hiring people who are a good fit for your children’s hair salon automatically provides you with retention power. Employees want to remain working for a business that shares the same sensibilities they possess.
When hiring, Pigtails & Crewcuts franchise owners take a longer look at job candidates who can relate to and appreciate the brand’s core values:
- Work with integrity and respect
- Build positive relationships
- Be fun, enthusiastic, and compassionate
- Deliver consistent quality
- Give back to your community
Core values serve as a common sense of purpose when you find employees who jibe with them. These common principles provide employees with an understanding of their role and how they can help you achieve your business goals. At the same time, these shared values help provide job satisfaction for your team. Employees are more likely to remain working at your business if you and they share a common value system.
2. Develop a Positive Culture
Core values contribute significantly to building a cohesive culture at your children’s hair salon franchise.
One of the most powerful values we’ve seen at all Pigtails & Crewcuts locations is giving back to the community. For example, franchisees and their teams often provide free haircuts to disadvantaged youth in their areas. Stylists, who are often parents or may have previously worked in early childhood education, feel good about helping kids (and parents) in their communities. And, managers, stylists, and receptionists feel valued because they’ve taken part in events that help their community. If you show you care for the community, you’re showing your staff you care for them as well.
The positive feelings generated by these community events bring out the other core values. For instance, when you feel good, you form relationships organically with coworkers and customers, and the fun, enthusiasm, and compassion grow naturally in the salon.
We find the franchisees who do a good job with developing a positive culture retain their team members longer.
3. Incentivize Your Team
Franchise owners who offer incentives also do better at retaining their top talent. While incentives are often used to spur employees to exceed in their typical job performance, they can also be used to build team spirit or just to let your employees know you appreciate them.
Pigtails & Crewcuts franchisees use a variety of incentive programs for different reasons. We’ve seen franchise locations implement group incentives, where, if the team achieves a certain goal, they celebrate together. Individual recognition and a simple “thank you” for a job well done also makes each team member feel valued. Incentives can further strengthen your team spirit and promote your workplace culture, and ultimately help you retain employees.
4. Review Each Team Member’s Performance
Carve out time for each employee to sit down and discuss their performance. If your team members are passionate about their jobs, they’ll welcome and appreciate honest and constructive feedback. Franchisees build trust when they’re honest with their employees. That’s part of the culture, too, and reflects the values of working with respect and integrity and building relationships. Your employees will appreciate genuine, face-to-face conversations. If you go beyond the review and provide the necessary coaching, then they’ll know you care, they will feel even more valued, and want to remain part of your team.
Are you interested in joining a kid’s haircut franchise with strong core values and culture? Download our franchise packet today!
