Appointment Only

December is a crazy-busy month for The Purple Pinkie. More than usual. We have Christmas dances, holiday parties and the holidays that just make everyone want to go all out and get gussied up. We usually book two weeks out to begin with, so it's no surprise that we have very few openings for the month of December and it's only the fourth.

Having an appointment is just better for you. We have reserved that time for YOU. You will not be herded like cattle and have to sit and wait until someone (you have no idea who) can service you. It seems like a no brainer to me.

We have not taken walk-ins since the first couple of years that the salon was open. There are four of us who work at any given time and we pretty much work by appointment only. There is even a really cute sign on the door that lists this. Still. People don't get it.

People will walk in and want their nails done. I explain that we are appointment only and I can check to see what is open. Most will usually reply "I can stop back". Ummmmmm the chances of you stopping back at the exact magical moment that we have an opening are the same chances that you are going to poop some gold out tonight. It's never going to happen. Let me look at the book and then tell you what we have.

Then, they will say, oh, well I will call next week. Guess what? If you want an appointment for next week, especially if you want a certain time, LAST week was the time to arrange that. See most people want 5:00, right after work. Listen people. Someone has to die to get that spot. That is prime time real estate in the salon world and people just don't give up those spots. Sure, they will go on vacation and you can have it once, but when they come back, they want it back.

Plan ahead! Is it so hard? I can't tell you how many times BRIDES have called me on Thursday, wanting their nails done on Friday for their wedding on Saturday. For the love of God, you've been planning you wedding for how long and you just realized you need your nails done two days before the big day? I sure hope you called the florist, bakery, caterer and DJ!

Oh the joy of the holidays. I am determined to not let it get to me this year. I will be practicing smile therapy for the entire month of December!