hi all just wondering how february is as a genral for business this is my first year as mobile therapist i was pleaseantly surprised that january was steady away as normally in the shop i was dead..ive had a slow start this month just wondering if it picks up??

Hi - I'm the same as you, in my first year. I was told to expect January to be a complete nightmare as people are worried about what they have spent over Christmas and also having thrown everything at looking their best for December it would trail off. I had a steady trade but quite a few cancellations in Jan but I am worried for this month because it is really quiete. I'm hoping with advertising and a leaflet drop also spring coming soon, it will take off again.

Carla

My taking for jan and feb so far are about half what I usually take in, but I only started in August so no idea what to expect. I was expecting Jan and Feb to be quiet though xx

Hit last month because of the weather but this month is mad. I am fully booked all of the time as I have been around a long, long time and always have and always will rebook them before they leave me. I try to book my regular clients 3 months ahead and most of the long term ones book a year ahead at a time.

I have had 4 new nail clients approach me this month. 3 of them were Christmas gift voucher people who now want to book again. I will do this but it is only because my son can now get himself home from school and give me a bit more time in my day.

The key to all of this is to look after existing clients and maximise your treatments with them and their friends and family. Always rebook them for their next appointment at least, as soon as you finish their treatment and they are dressed or whatever. This really works and you can see your business build up before your very eyes!

Jan / feb are traditionally quiet . As soon as the sun comes out in march things usually improve greatly for me. people start feeling better and thinking about holidays. easter is usually the turning point when the bookings increase so not long to go now befor we can look forward to the wonderful summer season.

I also found january a bit quiet, but this month its manic. I only do beauty part-time, but ive been practically fully booked since the beginning of Feb-roughly £50 shy of my busiest month yet and theres still 2 weeks to go!

I ran a couple of promotions in January - "Manicure Monday" (it made quite a few clients giggle and smile nostalgically!), and Facials Friday. It soon filled up my book and I took more this January than last year, and more than I took in either Feb or March 2009, so I was pleased with that. I lost about 3K because of the snow, but made it up in the remaining 3 weeks of January.
Feb so far is pretty booked up!

Hi
I started off in september aswell. I had a good start but I know that jan and feb would be abit quiet as it normally is in the shop. I do monthly offers and promotions. What with the snow I only had my reqular booking no new booking and fone was very quiet. I have found the last few weeks have really picked up. I do a monthly ad in a local magazine and put my offers in there and I also emailed my clients at the begining of the month and I got some extra booking from that. I'm going to email clients again the week before March and remind them that February's offers are about to finish and what March's offers will be. Also I'm trying to put together a skincare day in March were I offer about 1/2 hour appointments, do a basic facial of a cleanse, tone, exfoliate and moiture and talk them through their homecare and hopefully sell some products. I'm charging £10 at time of booking and I'll deduct the £10 off any products. It's just a case of keep thinking about different treatments, services that you can offer.
Things will pick up but keep advertising and getting ur name out there.

We tend to spend January busy... but spend most of it fulfiling Gift Vouchers sold for Christmas, but business was swift. Feb has started quiet but the order book is filling up.

Sales were up on last January though by a massive 48 pence

We also managed to get some scratch cards printed off during January through Printing.Com (they had a special offer on) so we have them to distribute to bring in some new customers...

I think it's just case of constant marketing with specific campaigns. Valentines is coming up, Mothers' Day, etc.

hi TS - I met Craig at a TweetUp last year!

The first 2 weeks of January were dire but it picked up at the end of the month, so much so that i was 500% up on last Jan
This month is manic so far!
Last Jan i had a lot of vouchers whereas this year i didn't sell as many for Christmas but we are definitely a lot busier.
I think my website has helped too. Have had about 10 new clients in the last week alone

i cant compare to last year as was only doing mobil last year. but we are busy we had a slow week in the first week of jan.. but rest of jan was manic and feb is busy so far..

Give it untill next month and start promoting your pedicures. I usually find this is when people start trying to get their feet looking nice.
Dont worry it will pick up. Use the time you are not busy and PROMOTE!!
xxx

Once the snow and icy paths goes away, for good, I'll be doing a damn sight better!

thanks guys thats reassured me iv had a quiet week but its picking up now yay