Front Desk Host

Varnish Lane; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 22,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance assistance

Bonus structure

Employee discounts

Positive work environment

Career growth

Job summary

Varnish Lane is seeking friendly front desk associates to support daily shop operations and create a welcoming guest experience across DC locations. The role requires reliability, strong communication and a guest-first attitude.

You'll educate clients on services and products, assist the manager on follow-up, handle busy shifts, and uphold our cleanliness and safety standards in a fast-paced salon environment.

Qualifications

• 1+ years of experience in retail or hospitality.
• Experience at a salon/spa is a bonus.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a positive, welcoming disposition with clients.
• Handle client feedback in real time with calm demeanor.
• Assist shop manager with feedback follow-up when unavailable.
• Educate clients on services, upgrades and products.
• Act as brand ambassador, sharing Varnish Lane story and commitment to natural, waterless care.
• Lead operational flow on shift and support nail stylists.
• Multitask and stay calm when busy.
• Collaborate well within a team.
• Assist with sterilization and restocking of towels.
• Master appointment and POS system.
• Monitor promotions and merchandising standards.
• Uphold cleanliness and tidiness during shift.

Skills

Customer service

Hospitality

Communication

Reliability

Punctuality

Teamwork

Problem solving

Operations knowledge

POS system

Tools

POS system

Job description

Founded in Washington DC, Varnish Lane has grown over the past decade into a beloved community destination known for our clean, waterless nail care services in a warm, home-like atmosphere. Our team is dedicated to elevating the nail care experience through thoughtful hospitality, meticulous cleanliness and a deep commitment to client and team wellbeing. We take pride not only in what we do, but how we make people feel.

We’re seeking friendly, customer-focused front desk associates who are passionate about creating the ultimate client experience. This role supports the daily operations of the shop to ensure a welcoming, seamless experience for every guest while upholding our shop standards and overall environment.

This role requires 1+ years of experience in the field of retail or hospitality (experience at a salon/spa is a bonus!). We currently have three locations in the DC area: Friendship Heights, West End, and Mt. Vernon Triangle. Most of our team members work at more than one location and are willing to travel between shops. However, if one location is most convenient for you, we take that into consideration when scheduling.

Key Responsibilities

Customer Care & Hospitality

• Maintain a positive, welcoming and personable disposition when interacting with clients
• Ability to handle client feedback or issues in real-time with a calm demeanor
• Assist the shop manager with client feedback follow-up as needed when the manager is not available
• Helps educate clients on services, upgrades and retail products that enhance their visit.
• Acts as a brand ambassador, sharing the Varnish Lane story and our commitment to natural, waterless, non-toxic care

Team Support & Guidance

• While on shift, you are responsible for leading the operational flow of the shop and supporting nail stylists to ensure a smooth, successful shift
• Ability to multitask and stay calm when things get busy
• Brings a collaborative attitude and works well within a team
• Assist the nail stylists with necessary operational flow tasks such as the sterilization of implements, restocking hot towels, etc.

Operations & Shop Upkeep

• Must be able to master our appointment and POS system
• Maintains awareness of active promotions, marketing materials, and visual merchandising standards (through company provided announcements) so that you can clearly communicate to clients
• Consistently upholds Varnish Lane’s standards of cleanliness and tidiness through your shift

What makes you a great fit for Varnish Lane:

• Extremely reliable and punctual. This is a critical component of the role, and we are seeking candidates who are fully confident in their ability to arrive on time for every shift
• Resourceful problem solver with resilience in navigating day-to-day operational challenges
• Clear, confident and collaborative communication style (both verbal and written)
• A desire to work in a space that is warm, fun, supportive and welcoming!

Perks of being a part of the Varnish Lane family:

• Dedicated HR support and guidance in enrolling for health insurance, vision dental &401k
• Competitive salary and incentivized bonus structure
• Discounted services and retail products
• Positive work environment
• Potential to grow into a more senior operations role