Self-Employed Dilemma

[juicylucyt]

Hi Geeks,

Asking for your advice please!!

I trained in NVQ Level 2 Beauty Therapy nearly 4 years ago and never did anything with it apart from the odd nails and waxing at home for family members and friends. I had a full time job as a manager for an office company and got to the point where I'd had enough and wanted to get back into my beauty. I was offered the chance to rent a room in our local tanning salon (where I used to work when I was training) for really cheap rates and decided to just go for it.

I've been in there for 2 weeks now and made some good money however I am having a major confidence crisis as hardly anybody booked in this week and feel like I'm not good enough.

I'm considering applying for some part time beauty counter/consultants jobs and just renting the room part time but don't know whether I'm jumping the gun or what to do??

Please please help,

Many thanks

Lucy xxx

[Petit Basque]

Hi Geeks,

Asking for your advice please!!

I trained in NVQ Level 2 Beauty Therapy nearly 4 years ago and never did anything with it apart from the odd nails and waxing at home for family members and friends. I had a full time job as a manager for an office company and got to the point where I'd had enough and wanted to get back into my beauty. I was offered the chance to rent a room in our local tanning salon (where I used to work when I was training) for really cheap rates and decided to just go for it.

I've been in there for 2 weeks now and made some good money however I am having a major confidence crisis as hardly anybody booked in this week and feel like I'm not good enough.

I'm considering applying for some part time beauty counter/consultants jobs and just renting the room part time but don't know whether I'm jumping the gun or what to do??

Please please help,

Many thanks

Lucy xxx

Hi Lucy...I'm in a similar situation in that I've just qualified at Level 2. I work from a home salon and have a few regulars but decided not to go for the whole marketing thing until I had qualified.

I think a part-time job is certainly an option and will give you guaranteed income, which may be particularly important to you as you are spending money on rent. Out of interest, would you be allowed to rent the room on a part-time basis? Working part-time would also build up your confidence and client base as undoubtedly clients would follow you into your own salon.

The other thing to do would be to really push yourself on the marketing front....flyers, cards, network meetings, advertising, a "launch" evening for your salon etc... and see how you go with that.

Don't assume that people haven't rebooked because you are no good...I think that most clients need a gentle nudge at the end of the treatment to remember to rebook otherwise they go away intending to do it and never get round to it!! Perhaps you could send client feedback sheets to the clients you have had in to ask what they thought of the treatment, price, etc.. and also gently remind them that you are still there!!!

Don't give up....maybe set a time limit on things and if business really is slow then give serious consideration to finding a part-time job.

Good luck :)
PB
x

[smcconnell1989]

Setting up on your own takes time to build up for everyone, even more now with the current climate. Clients are much more concious of what they are spending nowadays so we have to work even harder to make them want to rebook. I have had my salon for 2.5 years now and I have a good bunch of regular clients but even I have my quiet weeks. You have to stay positive, get lots of advertising out there and i would start some special offers or summer promotions to entice new clients in. A part time job would be good from a fiancial point but from my experience, having your own business takes over everything, especially when you are building it up, you need to be 100% focussed on that and that may be too much with another job aswell..
Keep positive. Good luck x

[juicylucyt]

Thanks for the lovely messages guys. I'm feeling very very low at the moment and can't stop being sick with worry that I'm doing a job on people. Although it's early days I think I need to decide if I'm really the right sort of person to become self-employed in an industry that I've been out of for so long. Thanks for all your kind words of support and best of luck with everything you do xxx