Polly's out. New candidate interviewed today. Jade shadow Tuesday. You're back from vacation and inside the last three weeks of the search. But here's the shift — we're not just hiring anymore. Now we're building the client experience systems that give her something to train against AND raise your ceiling on extension pricing over the next 12 months. Six upgrades, sent to Krista in raw links this week, revised via Claude, deployed before she starts.
The price raise made you $40K+ this year. With less clients.
You lost 10 clients (~$14K/yr). But the raises on remaining clients netted ~$33K. Plus 4 new extension clients since Aug 1 ≈ $20K. Net: $40K+ more revenue, 10 fewer clients, no assistant yet. This is the number to remember every time you second-guess the strategy.
Polly = closed. Voice memo, not text.
Krista's exact script from the call — you already sent it. Voice memo carries sincerity; text reads cold. Rule going forward: no in a voice memo. Yes in a phone call. Never leave open energy — if it's not a hell yes, it's a no.
Today's interview + Jade Tuesday = the frontrunners.
Riley is not on the table. Waiting five months puts too much weight on one person. If you feel it with one of these two after the shadow days, that's the hire.
Get better at answering questions with questions.
Polly's day taught you something: when a candidate keeps digging for control ("how will I get clients," "how will I build a book"), you don't have to answer. You ask back. "If your books were full, what would you do? What's the bigger question you're not asking?" This is your new muscle for shadow days AND for high-ticket consultations.
New workstream: elevate the client experience.
Six upgrade areas (new client form, consultation script, post-appointment email, take-home kit, Google Business rhythm, in-appointment touches). All revised by Krista via Claude off the raw links you send this week. Ready before the assistant starts so she has real systems to train against.
Link everything you recommend.
The Amazon-influencer client was right. Set up Amazon affiliate account this week. Every product you tell clients to use — brush, oil, sunscreen, silk pillowcase — links in the post-appointment email. Passive revenue every time they buy. Compound effect.
Handbook complete. SOP in progress.
Handbook ran through Claude for legality check — done. SOP is bogging down on the Vagaro section — Krista suggested feeding Claude the Vagaro help docs so it can build the SOP correctly. Push through by end of month. Everything else is drafted.
Google Business is a growth lever — post like Instagram.
Krista's exact line: "That's how Bleach became one of the number one extension salons in Reno." Weekly post on Google Business Profile, same content as IG, keyword-loaded ("Charlotte NC brunette extensions"). Post-appointment email ends with a Google review ask. Both compound for 6-12 months.
Send Krista the raw materials — this week.
Website URL, new client form link, extension services page, current at-home care PDF, Vagaro deposit flow screenshot, Flodesk login, Google Business URL. Details in the Client Experience Upgrade Playbook. She can't rebuild what she can't see.
Kit contents decision — voice-riff this week.
Boar bristle brush (already yours). Travel oil. Travel detangler. Silk pillowcase. Home-care card. Optional: mini champagne. Total kit cost ~$30-40 per install. Absorb in current pricing or price into next raise.
Amazon affiliate account setup.
Pick 3-5 products you actually recommend. Set up affiliate account. Get the tagged links ready for the post-appointment email Krista will build.
Finish the SOP.
Feed Claude the Vagaro help docs and let it write the software section for you. Everything else is drafted. Deadline: end of the month so it's ready for training.
NC lawyer review of the agreements.
If not already queued — do it this week. Don't want to be waiting on the lawyer during your offer window in early September.
DocuSign + Gusto setup.
Both need to be in place before week two of your new hire's start. Bookkeeper is helping with Gusto.
Click any step to check it off — your progress saves automatically.
The longer arc behind this container.
Everything you need. All linked, all downloadable.