# 060 Training and motivation of employees

Great Clips – what an appropriate name for the Salon business!

When I went in for a hair cut in the neighborhood, I was pleasantly surprised not at the usual clean and hygiene setting but to hear a musical chime on the opening the door at the entrance and the warm ‘welcome to Great Clips’ from one of the stylist working on a customer which was genuine and not the synthetic one encounters in 5 star hotels. When I was having my hair cut, a customer entered she gave out the welcome message observing that there is no one at the front desk. “Pl have a seat,” she said, “someone will attend to you shortly.” This customer acknowledged , sat down, Great Clips”

Then I found that it is big a chain of nearly 4000 franchised salon brand with online check in service and ‘Clip Notes’, a software that allows stylists to keep notes on a customer’s haircut and is accessible at any Great Clips salon. AT more than 35000 employees, it has more persons working than some of the MNCs like Inetrtek!

What I noted was the person who attended to me was quite sincere and professional unlike Star and Sitara (Big Bazar) which started well but closed down their operations within 2/3 years. While it employee attrition is common, it is the ongoing training the employees receive not only to learn advanced skills and the latest trends but in customer relations that seems to be making the difference.