Business Relations

External relations:

Great public relations means not only making the client happy but it is also about having good personal relationships with a wide range of business and community contacts.  Cultivate personal positive relationships with everyone you deal with including:

• Suppliers
• Neighbors
• Other permanent cosmetic practitioners
• Other related businesses

Internal relations:

Internal relations are about how staff get along with each other, how they feel about management and whether each member of staff feels appreciated both as a worker and a person.  Recognise their contributions and make opportunities for staff to develop their skills and training.  Deal with conflict quickly and fairly.  Internal relations are the thermostat that can totally change the atmosphere in a place of business.

Citizenship:

To become a winner in the public relations game move beyond the walls of your studio into the community that makes your business possible.  Look for ways to be involved and to give back to the community.  For instance sponsorship through services at local fetes, charity balls, associations and groups.

Crisis Management:

Crisis comes in all sizes: small (running out of supplies), medium (a complaint) large (a client’s procedure goes wrong) and enormous (the angry client goes on social media with her grievance).  Luckily most crisis are small to medium.  Great public relations comes from handling these little bumps in the road well.   Poor public relations comes from handling them poorly.  To avoid inconvenience and to inefficiency listen to and respond quickly to client concerns and complaints.  Complaints are opportunities to increase customer satisfaction.