MEMBER PERSPECTIVES
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“You have to have a Montana state license, and
that’s not always the easiest process. Sometimes
it takes people up to four months… by then, the
season is halfway over or almost over.”
— Krystal Smith
were more frequently named as difficult to hire than any
other spa position, a designation that Smith agreed with. Licensure, then, is another major hurdle in the opera-
tion of Smith’s salon. “You have to have a Montana state
Finding nail techs and stylists willing to work seasonally
and, potentially, live on-site further raises the degree of
difficulty. Solace Spa previously had a licensed cosmetologist
who handled all of its hair and nail bookings; when she
had to move away for personal reasons, Smith was simply
unable to find a replacement.
In January, Solace Spa was finally able to hire a nail
technician who became available after a salon in the
closest town closed; since coming onboard, the new nail
tech has been booked solid five-days-a-week with the
salon’s signature manicures and pedicures. She’s currently
licensed to work on nails but, because she went to school
for cosmetology in neighboring Idaho, does not yet have a
full cosmetology license in Montana. license,” says Smith, “and that’s not always the easiest
process. Sometimes it takes people up to four months to
get a license in Montana. By then, the season is halfway
over or almost over.” Solace Spa has had multiple service
providers, including massage therapists, initially accept a
job offer only to later turn it down due to the logistical
hurdles of transferring licensure from one state to
another.
What’s notable, though, is that despite the staffing
challenges, Solace Spa’s salon is consistently booked when
it is staffed, and the salon continued to see high demand for
services throughout its one-year closure. Smith sums it up
succinctly: “It’s purely a staffing issue. The customers are
Pepper’s Salon and Spa emphasizes a team-centric approach to working in a salon.
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