Every reason why you need an employee of the month contest at the salon

Almost everyone is familiar with the saying: “a happy employee is a productive employee” which resonates into every industry. This concept has become the norm in businesses worldwide, including salons and spas, which have their own ways of keeping the staff happy. One of such examples is through an employee of the month award. Although this method seems outdated, it is still one of the more effective means of keeping staff happy.

Bear in mind, however, that an employee of the month should not be rewarded with just their framed picture. Come up with prizes the team will really like - such as 3 days off of work, a free voucher or a gift bag. Here are all the reasons why you have to implement this contest today!

Building a strong, motivated team

Your team means the world to you and your clients - they work to provide only the best treatments and top-notch customer service. However, simply paying staff for what they do will not be sufficient in motivating them effectively and in the long run - instead, implement your employee of the month competition and introduce benefits that they will love!

Tip: Read “How to stay motivated at work”

Start by planning a goal and decide on the grand prize you would like to offer - here are some great ideas to help you get started:

Increased sales of select products or services - at the start of a given month, begin tracking employee sales. The one with the highest number of products/services provided at the end of the month wins! This goal is ideal for getting less popular items off of your shelves and providing more unsought services at your business.
More customer referrals - no amount of paid ads can compete with a satisfied client - they are the perfect brand promoters! With your employee of the month award in place, motivating your team to encourage clients to bring friends and family to your salon requires no intervention on your part. The staff member with the highest number of client referrals takes the cake!
Improved ratings - collecting positive customer reviews is the key to creating a great reputation for your salon. Have staff members encourage satisfied clients to leave their feedback - the employee with the highest number of collected reviews wins!

Resonating good vibes

Nothing is more upsetting than a staff member who offhandedly treats customers, and statistics show that the majority of people base their experiences with a business on the customer service quality. Clients that feel neglected or are put off by an employee will most likely not recommend the business, even if the quality of services is adequate.

To tackle this, implementing an employee of the month contest is the perfect start. Mention this contest on your social media pages and let customers know that the staff need their help!

Your clients will want to partake in helping their favourite specialist win the award, in turn growing their bond with your team. At the end of the month, post the winner of the employee of the month contest on the salon’s social media pages. Potential customers who visit your page will see that your salon is more than just a place for business - it is a supportive community that resonates good vibes!

Improved business reputation

The natural consequence of hosting an employee of the month contest is a positive cascade effect with results that one may not have taken into consideration. As staff members compete with one another, working hard to earn the title of “employee of the month” and its benefits, they are motivated to give it their all when working with clients. The customers who take notice of the bond between business and staff feel more tied to that particular salon, thus encouraging others to pay it a visit.

Although the service quality of a salon or spa is important, it will not make any difference if there is obvious tension between the business owner and staff, which permeates to the customer. A salon or spa is not just a business for making clients look and feel good - it should be a haven for customers looking to get away from the daily grind.