Tipping is Out
As a theoretical concept, its a nice thing to give someone a tip when they offer excellent service, or go above and beyond, as a ‘thank you’. But the reality of living in a Tipping Culture™, where workers are deliberately underpaid and their livelihood is entirely dependent on the sheer generosity of customers, frankly sucks.
It removes the burden of a fair wage from the employer and places the responsibility on customers, which often leads to inconsistent pay and financial instability for workers. And from the client perspective tipping can put an uncomfortable amount of pressure on the checkout process, adds more stress (and math) than is necessary, and can often simply feel awkward.
But tipping is something I carried over with me when transitioned from being an employee to an independent contractor. And I kept it on when I left from Bare Beauty to open The Grove. But now that I’m my own salon owner, and no longer have to match my service pricing to anyone else’s, I’ve had a growing feeling that tipping just isn’t serving me or my clients anymore. I’ve spent over a month sending out polls and talking directly with clients, and I now feel very strongly that it’s time for a change
So, in an effort to create a more equitable and transparent experience for both you- my clients, and myself I have made the decision to eliminate tipping from my business effective June 1, 2024
Simultaneously, I will be adjusting my service prices to include a competitive wage for myself, as well as account for the increase to the cost of supplies that occurred in March.
At the end of the day, most of you will be paying about the same amount walking out the door. Not only will tipping be unnecessary, but it will no longer be an option during checkout. I believe this adjustment will streamline the overall experience, providing much needed clarity for my valued clients while making this more sustainable for myself and my business.
