How do your customers know you are qualified to undertake the treatments you offer??

[collin]

If you are salon based it's quiet easy to frame your certification and stick it up on the wall so that customers can see it.

Now how does a mobile do this..does she /he stick the certificate on the rear window of the Ford Fiesta???

A geek has come up with a fantastic idea for all you mobiles which I would like your opinion's on.

Would one of those security type swipe credit card jobbies that you hang round your neck (or simply keep in your purse with all your other over used credit cards) with a photo and confirmation of certificate number,company logo etc work???

I.E. you mail your picture in after proof of qualification and within a few days you receive your own personolised I.D. card with confirmation of qualification etc etc.

Would this be a good idea and make you and your customer feel safer in that you can easily prove your qualification and identity etc without having to take your origional certificate around with you all the time?

This is a non brand specific issue so could work with any brand or treatment offered.
Your views would be very much apreciated :hug:

 

[Tracey Roberts]

Im only part way through my nvq2 course, yet to do the enhancements side of it, but I think its an excellent idea at least the client would have reassurance

 

[Carole.B]

I think its a great idea, i have all my certificates in a folder a long with my insurance document so it would be easier..xx

 

[naturalnails]

Just to put another spin on this - how many of you have ever been asked whether you are qualified?

Personally as a nail technician I have been asked twice for confirmation that I am Creative trained and currently use their products.

I do have lots of people who comment when they get to my room about my wall of certificates LOL.

It is a very sad state of affairs but do many clients know what your qualification would mean if they did ask?

Great idea though Collin - the card thingy!

 

[Purple Rose]

That would be a great idea, but would it be one for each training, as I have and am doing Tantrick/CND/Biosculpture as well as my BTEC, as if it was just for the one, then I'd still have to keep copies of the others. If that makes sense x

 

[Jen Smith]

I think this sounds like an execellent idea Collin for those who are not/don't wish to become members of a Professional Beauty Governing Body such as The Beauty Guild, Babtac or Federation of Holistic Therapists whome all insist on verifying qualifications before acceptance to their Body.

I am a member of two of these Body's and am proud to wear their pins. I do like the idea of a photo id card however so that it is no disputing who the professional is. The pins I have from the Professional Body's are very precious to me but to be honest I could have bought them off someone making copies if I was that way inclined. I do have the paper certificate as back up too of course.. but I keep this framed on my wall for all to see too

I must admit I would feel a litte un-nerved to someones accredibility to their training if I didnt see a recognised qualification of their treatment on display. Anyone can say they are trained, skilled, experts with little or no training which is very worrying.

I look forward to hearing other peoples views. :hug:

 

[collin]

Just to put another spin on this - how many of you have ever been asked whether you are qualified?

Personally as a nail technician I have been asked twice for confirmation that I am Creative trained and currently use their products.

I do have lots of people who comment when they get to my room about my wall of certificates LOL.

It is a very sad state of affairs but do many clients know what your qualification would mean if they did ask?

Great idea though Collin - the card thingy!

I think your absolutley right...I guess when someone turns up at a house with either a nail file in hand or a spraygun that the customer naturaly assumes..well if youve got one of those in your hands then you must be qualified

Maybe this is a scheme that the likes of the Guild could introduce (hint hint)...

I am sure someone with this sort of proof of ID/qualification would feel they are legitimate and not just another individual that has purchased a kit off E Bay or down the Sunday market and set up in competition without training or qualification

 

[Lavender-blue]

Its a fab idea, and I would be happy to take part if ever such a thing arose. In fact I personally would prefer it if clients asked to see my credentials.
I have never ever been asked for proof of qualification by a client for any treatments i have carried out on a mobile basis.
I wear my FHT badges , but to a client that means nothing.

Its quite worrying really. I would be only too willing to show my quals if anyone wanted to see them, but unfortunately the client automatically assumes that we are qualified!!

I do hairdressing, holistic treatments, beauty treatments, and spray tanning, and nobody has asked to see my certificates as yet.

The unqualified would soom come unstuck though wouldnt they.!

I remember when I did my First Aid qual. We got a proper certificate and mini one exactly the same to put in our purse. It was the size of a credit card, and identical to the original certificate, just on a smaller scale.
This was incase of a medical emergency, and we could show we was qualified to assist in first aid.
Something like this would also be useful for proof of our quals, just a mini version of the original certificates (purse or wallet sized).

Elaine xxx:hug:

 

[Doorie]

it's a great idea in my opinion too...

even if I ain't mobile.
the only time I was asked if I were qualified was before being chosen by OPI, and they asked me if I had their certifications... which I had

 

[mikem]

I think your absolutley right...I guess when someone turns up at a house with either a nail file in hand or a spraygun that the customer naturaly assumes..well if youve got one of those in your hands then you must be qualified

Maybe this is a scheme that the likes of the Guild could introduce (hint hint)...

I am sure someone with this sort of proof of ID/qualification would feel they are legitimate and not just another individual that has purchased a kit off E Bay or down the Sunday market and set up in competition without training or qualification

Collin

The idea's good matey, but would need some weight and assurance behind it in terms of a or some trusted issuing authority (like verisign for an internet certificate or DVLA). Otherwise anyone could just get one done and you're back to square one.

I think getting bodies like the various guilds would be sound. You almost want a system akin to road tax so that you only get your card if you are qualified AND insured.

Ultimately though it's about quality of service as has been mentioned and if you do a fab job, no-one asks or cares .

Out of interest what's the score with insurance. In the salon we display our insurance certificate but not anything that shows what levels we are insured to.

Mike

 

[The Guild]

Being a member of a professional trade association can help to show that you are a qualified professional. Badges, window stickers etc help to denote this so that your clients can see you are a member whether you are in a salon, at home or mobile.

 

[collin]

Being a member of a professional trade association can help to show that you are a qualified professional. Badges, window stickers etc help to denote this so that your clients can see you are a member whether you are in a salon, at home or mobile.

Would a credit card ID with photo be something you would consider doing??
I am sure your customers wouldnt mind paying for these ???

 

[Debbies Gellies]

As a consumer, I always look for certificates or organisation memebership. ie electrician, oseopath, gardener etc ...
Plus I look for insurance. I would not want the gardener to fall out my
tree only to find out he is not insured.

I have certificates on the wall in full view for my clients to see they may not mention them but who is to say whether they look or not, I prefer them on the wall than in the drawer.

What ever way you display your professional abilities is better than not displaying at all. JMO. I would have liked a credit card sized tag thingy on my lapel in my mobile days Collin.!

DEBSX

 

[Impulse1976]

I have my little card from BABTAC but it doesnt tell you what you are qualified in doing it just states that i have insurance with them.

 

[MINKUS]

I'VE never been asked, but i have OODLES of certificates (training junkie!) but the only one PROUDLY on show is my CREATIVE MASTERS certificate......:green:

 

[Jen Smith]

I'VE never been asked, but i have OODLES of certificates (training junkie!) but the only one PROUDLY on show is my CREATIVE MASTERS certificate......:green:

I must admit that I have mine in pride of place too Amber.. surrounded by my other 12 Creative training certificates... Its a good job I have a large salon or I would be running out of room.. hehehehe... :hug:

Edit: I have just popped into my salon and counted ... I cannot believe there are 34 certificates and I still have three that have not arrived yet. I make no wonder my brain feels frazzled some days.... its all good though... don't you find Amber the more you train.. the more they interact with each other and you find that you are more understanding and more pro-active with the course. OOpps.. sorry.. I digress... sorry Collin for hyjacking your excellent thread.... :smack:

 

[collin]

.. I digress... sorry Collin for hyjacking your excellent thread.... :smack:

No problem Jen you should be very proud of your wall of compitence.

I have been giving this some thought and can only speak for what we can do ..hopefully one of the accredtation providers could have some input.

When we train for our brands our certificates are numbered..Im pretty sure our tecno boffins at ranch relaxo could provide a facility where someone who has just been trained and certified can log on to our site (or maybe the Guild etc)..key in their registration number from their certificate ,download a photograph and hey presto the system generates a credit card sized ID badge which is then simply posted out to the customer by recorded delvery.

An online security check verifying the applicants full name and addy cant be difficult either??

I see the main problem as being one of marketing the service to those out there that feel they would like to have one.

 

[nailzoo]

it's an excellent idea, if only a qualification made everyone a certain standard, I know qualified people that do crap work.
The proof is in the pudding, certificates are a good start (as is the card idea).
But in this day an age of photoshop ease (and the fact many certificates are made in publisher/photoshop) and printed out on standard sized paper, almost anyone can make one.

Also just because a client sees a certificate, should she believe it, should she, will she, can she ring a hotline and check it's validity?

In the long run it's a matter of trust and competency.

 

[Nails Plus]

Yes great idea!! I only wish more people would ask to see qualifications and/or proof of insurance

 

[nailzoo]

Yes great idea!! I only wish more people would ask to see qualifications and/or proof of insurance

with nails, customers should see a sample of the work, or have one nail done before commitment, that would soon sort the chaff from the hay.