In trouble with my boss... weird situation, any advice appreciated.

[Ginismedicinal]

I'm a hairdresser with 30 years experience, I'm employed in a salon and FULLY booked up til the end of November, not even room for a cut and blow dry... but, my boss sat me down yesterday to say I'm not earning her enough money, she's having to 'carry me'!
I've been here 2 years and, strangely, they charge about £40 for a full head highlights, toners and cut and blow dry!! I've NEVER worked anywhere that charges less than £90+ for a service like this.
Obviously they can't be charging enough to cover wages/overheads etc, and suddenly, out of nowhere I've been taken asside for this chat that there's not enough money coming in.
I'm the only stylist here, I open up, I close etc, just me. How am I to earn them more money if I'm fully booked up months in advance? I don't even have ANY breaks etc.
Is there something I'm missing? I'm so confused by this sudden 'problem' where the solution is in the owners control, not mine... charge more for the services! 🤦🏻‍♀️

Can you go out on your own? Sounds like you're 'carrying' her rather than the other way around.

So in this chat did you discuss prices?

Have you told her you think she is undercharging?

What did she ask you to do in the meeting?

Surely this is why you're full, because you're cheaper than anywhere else.
Tell the manager what you've said here.
You're fully booked, she isn't charging enough.

So what did you say to your boss? What did she suggest you might do to make her more money? Did she have anything constructive to say? It sounds like you should go and work elsewhere or maybe go self employed. I think hairdressers are in short supply at the moment.

The manager must know you're fully booked, so what did she suggest you could do? Did the stylist you replaced do something differently? Are you filling your appointments with services that aren't profitable and having to turn people away that would've wanted colour or whatever it is that makes a hairdresser more money?

You need to ask the manager what they think you could do differently. Telling you you're getting it wrong with no guidance to make things better is pointless.

This is weird. What was she suggesting you do about this? Why is there only 1 stylist but it’s not your salon? Does the owner not work there?
What did she say when you pointed out that you are fully booked and under charging??

What does your boss expect you to do? Clone yourself?

Tell her what she's charging is the problem, and then find yourself a new salon to work from, sharpish. You need to make more money, too, because what she's charging is ridiculous.

Thanks for the replys guys.
Yes, I said "you need to pit your prices up, I've been saying this since I started here" she ALWAYS responds with "yes I know, I've been meaning to do it, but just not got round to it" 😳
On my average day, I do 3 or 4 big colour jobs, and several cuts and blow dry's - in other salons this would bring in perhaps £550+, with their prices it's around £100/£120!!
I did I huge colour correction a couple of weeks ago that took me about 4 hours... a BIG correction, the boss quoted her £60!
She has AMPLE opportunity to increase her prices but doesn't. I've suggested I'd help her create new price lists etc, but it never happens... I'm so confused by it all... I'm not earning her enough because she's not charging enough to cover all overheads - I CAN'T fix that...

Fix it by moving salon or going out on your own....either working from your home or mobile

I bet all your clients would follow you, and your boss will look daft

Aquamarine - yes, I get minimum wage, I open up, I close up, I sort out stock, salon maintenance etc... rarely see the boss. I've totally had enough.
Had a client not show up the other week and she said "you need to sort that out" how?

Yes - I've lost count of the clients that have literally laughed at how ridiculous the prices are - but are obviously happy it's cheap 🤷‍♀️

Genuine question but why don't you work for yourself , be a mobile hairdresser etc - it sounds like you are doing everything and not having breaks is not good - I presume iv she's not charging much you are not earning much ?

Your boss sounds like an idiot. I'd be looking to work elsewhere or for myself

Is there a kitchen nightmares for salons? I can just picture Gordon Ramsay yelling at her.

That's mad. Can you set up a a mobile hairdresser or wfh?

Can't believe you're only earning minimum wage for a skilled job 🙃

Even if you kept the same prices, you'd be earning more overall.

If you do work for yourself, ffs don't charge such a low price! She's being ridiculous. And you do all the work while she counts the money? All she's doing is owning the premises (or renting) and relying on you to make her rich, when she doesn't have the sense to ask for realistic prices.

Surely you'd get work elsewhere?

Where are you based cos I need my colour done every three weeks, at 2002 prices I could afford it 😬

I think you need to find a new job. Your boss is wild in the mind. What, if anything, does your contract say about when you depart?

You are seriously underselling yourself if you are doing all that and only get minimum wage. I would be looking at moving, or tell her your costs have gone up. Can you just put your prices up? Might need to be December if you are fully booked to November. Stop her quoting for works you know will cost more.

She's clearly moronic. What kind of products does she make you use? Even store bought and box dye would not warrent such a low price. Minimum wage is not acceptable whatsoever you're running the whole operation with no breaks. Quit and set up alone. Charging decent prices , I'd expect pay £200 for full highlights and cut/style on my just below shoulder length hair. Maybe If they did it private washing my own hair then £50 less. It takes hours! She's a scammer.

She has poorly managed the salon. It is not making enough money and mentally she is pushing this responsibility to you. You are fully occupied and cannot do more. You can have an honest discussion on pricing, but to be honest given the blame environment you are working in I would leave and go somewhere my skills are more appreciated.

Is her name Flanders and does she cheerfully validate free parking tickets without purchase?!

She is absolutely crazy if she sets stupidly low prices and then blames YOU for a pound not being worth more than a pound, when she's needing it to be magically worth two or three. Does she think that, as well as being a busy stylist, you also dictate the Bank of England inflationary policy?

Just to echo what others have said - you need to set up on your own.

Not quite the same thing but I had a cleaner through an agency and back then I paid the agency something like £15 an hour, and the cleaner (we became really friendly) told me she got paid £8. She had lots of clients who loved her so I suggested she think about quitting the agency and going freelance. She did so, charging her clients £12, so she got more money and we all paid less. She was turning away clients she had so much business!

You need to move or go mobile. Hairdressers don't get paid minimum wage! This business is going nowhere other than down.

I can only think that she's working on a 'pile them high, sell them cheap' mentality... except that can only work when it's retail, with no practical limit to how many items people pick up to buy and how many customers there are in a day.

Her 'product' is not plastic storage boxes or tins of custard; it is your skills and time. Aside from you being undervalued and exploited - and even blamed for it now - however amazing you are, as a single worker, you cannot possibly sell four one-hour treatments in one hour.

She is an absolute idiot.