If you own your business, aesthetic equipment machinery is one of your vehicles to success. But, there are challenges. Not only are you facing the challenges of keeping up to date with the latest technology, but there are also state and federal regulations to follow and maintenance and repairs to consider. Where do you begin on creating multi-level schedules on maintenance, service, audit, education, and marketing your services? How often are you attending educational events to stay in the loop with technology updates and competitive pricing?
Equipment can be finicky. For many of us, there will be that fateful morning you are happily starting your day to provide for happy clients and be profitable when you turn the key to your favorite device and it does not start; you have a full day of clients whom are about to be very upset. Who do you call? First, having a protocol – with your manufacturer's customer service and representative's phone number and e-mail information accessible for your staff – is imperative. Implement a game plan that clearly explains what steps your staff should follow to get your equipment back up and working. Communication is key. Assess the situation and, if need be, start calling your clients. While making sure your clients are aware of any needed appointment changes, you may want to offer a discount on a future service for the inconvenience to their re-scheduling. Having an option to offer a discount may come in handy as it can help decrease the stress level of your staff. In some situations, a simple explanation of your machine crash that is an unforeseen event can often cool off some fired-up engines, so to speak.
Machine maintenance protocol is necessary for multiple reasons: liability in the event of an adverse outcome due to a machine malfunction; maintenance logs reflect safe work practices to the best of your ability; and staying informed with the general wear and tear so you can be ahead of the game on a possible large expense of replacing a piece of equipment. Maintenance logs will also assist greatly with staying efficient and keeping maintenance costs low.
Our equipment is only one of the many investments within our career that demand you stay on top of education, knowledge, and the quality of your machine. With all of this in mind keep reading through DERMASCOPE Magazine monthly and keep up a daily visit to DERMASCOPE.com.
The next International Congress of Esthetics and Spa event is being held in Long Beach, so be sure to check the listing in the program to see which classes you want to attend and who will be providing education on their machines. Do not forget the pre-registration discount.
Michelle R. De Leon
AIA Ambassador
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