DOCUMENTS

Is “Not Accepting New Clients” A Badge Of Honour Or A Death Sentence?

Seen the immortal statement featured in stylists’ social media bios? It List 2024 finalist, Frazer Wallace, questions whether closing yourself off to new clients is the right way to approach business

Look on a busy independent stylist’s social media bio, and you might spot the words ‘not accepting new clients’. I’d first noticed this statement being a ‘thing’ in the US, especially for those with 10,000+ followers. As a UK-based stylist, I’m now seeing this crop up more here, with so many stylists producing beautiful work but not letting anyone new book in.

If you’re booked out six months in advance then I understand that having lots of people message or call to get you might be annoying. But why close yourself off to meeting new people and being inspired by new ideas? I think this is new badge of honour, similar to a ‘blue tick’. Yet I feel it’s becoming more negative than positive.

I had this ‘not accepting new clients’ statement in my Instagram bio for a time. I was travelling a lot, and I’d cut down my days in the salon so I couldn’t fit any more guests in. Five months of incredible business then… quiet. Ooh, scary, right? Yes, it was! I couldn’t understand why I had one or two weeks of maybe a single client a day, then after that they’d be back-to-back. Well, it’s because I had ‘not accepting new clients’ in my bio. I had also told my clients that I wasn’t accepting new guests either, so guess what? They stopped recommending me to their friends.

This badge of honour, which was just an ego boost in all honesty, became a real problem. When I wanted to meet new clients, I couldn’t. Instead, I welcome new clients now but with an explanation that there will be a wait time until their first appointment. This way I’m not closing off any potential new clientele, and when I post some unexpected availability (everyone gets it now and again) there are people waiting to fill the spaces… and possibly become lifelong customers.

My point is: don’t fall for it. It’s not inviting to have a big fat ‘no’ on your page. Your social media gathers income. Keep your books open to ensure you stay inspired and to welcome anyone who could replace the person who may just replace you when someone new and cool comes along. There is business around for everyone, but don’t close yourself off to it just to feel important. It’s not worth it. And as a business owner, if I was interviewing someone who had this in their own bio, I wouldn’t take them on. It gives off Big Ego Energy.

We all know that social media brings in the money. Don’t let this stop you from making good money behind the chair that you’ve worked so hard to get busy in.