Ten tasks for cancellation gaps

things happen

2024 has been my worst year in history for clients cancelling sick.  We are (hopefully) at the tail end of the pandemic (C-19) and onslaught of all the colds and flu’s that streamed into NZ once our boarders opened.

time is money

How ever I look at it… my time is worth something (in dollar values) and so while I may have had an empty slot… I took every empty slot as an opportunity to do something that would free up my after-work hours from the non-contact tasks of the business.

ten tasks

I hope this list of tasks distracts you from the stress that cancellations cause us! 

1. Actually take a break, I’ll put the jug on, poach some eggs or make a lux sandwich or salad, take myself outside into the fresh air and sunlight… making sure I enjoy eating SLOWLY. I’ll then do a bit of stretching.

2. If I don’t need a break I’ll promptly text my list of clients who couldn’t get booked in. Maybe someone’s waiting on a pedicure, or a repair. If there’s no bites… I’ll offer to the last client of my day to come in earlier if they would like and then enjoy a early finish.

3. De-rust and lubricate metal tools (bonus tip: I throw out blunt nippers as I am using them and add nippers to my running shopping list) like cuticle nippers and toenail clippers.  These go into our ultra-sonic cleaner with rust remover for ten minutes then I add cuticle oil to all the moving parts.

4. Wipe down all the necks of my polish bottles (this is something we usually do as we put them away after each client but sometimes we get too busy or tired) and give nail polish bottles a good shake up to remix the formula.

5. Clear out my draws, cupboards and pedi cart from almost empties, products I dont like and no longer reach for to use. Refill liquids like alcohol, acetone, sanitizer, spray and wipe. Cut foil if you use it for soak off’s. Cut wipes if you use kitchen towel or wax strips.

6. Dust the salon top down then spray and wipe windows inside out. Its amazing how; shiny dust-free surfaces, improve the cleanliness of a room and the clients are sitting there in that chair with a whole hour to look around the salon. Don’t forget the windowsills, skirting boards and the door handles on both sides.

7. Schedule some social media posts into planoly or meta, even just writing out captions and pre-choosing music, tags and hashtags saves us time later. Set a 15 min timer to support local businesses and fellow nail techs by giving their posts a like or comment. Hunt for fellow techs who are friendly and open to catching up regularly, maybe even for a pamper swap.

8. Look ahead for designs and plan out what I want to do next on myself and my freestyle clients (those who don’t want to choose their color/art) when they are in next. Use the hour to do a step for my own mani/pedi, even just shortening, removing and debulking the old product.

9. Check inventory of products etc and get a list or order ready for when products, disposables, client christmas gifts go on sale.

10. Sit down and take a really good honest look at my client base. Does anyone need to go? Is there anyone who just makes the appointment hell or someone who spends the absolute minimum, while turning up with a train wreck to fix every… single… visit? Someone who frequently reschedules… leaving us with unpaid gaps in the calendar with no care or thought for my personal loss of wages?

These things can all stack up, in little increments – and cause us such severe stress, that we would rather exit our career as a nail tech!  So while ‘cleaning up’ our client base sounds a bit harsh… it’s just curating the people who we choose to share our energy with… and for me – they are, clients that are respectful, homecare disciplined clients.