I started at a new fitness centre 4 weeks ago, its not brill as I do not have a specific room but set up in one of the studios each day I work, although do not pay rent I pay 25% commission of anything I earn.

The first week I had a few clients but all in all I have only had 11 clients in 4 weeks and I am starting to get a little dispondent as paying for nursery fees at 500 a month so debt is building up. Also sitting in a gym all day locked away in a studio is starting to get to me too. Its great when I get a client and they are really happy with the treatments I do. I like the gym and staff are great but just dont know what to do to get some clients in, I have offered 15 % off vouchers and started loyalty card scheme. Also going to do a ladies evening. When I look around as I do quite often, a lot of the ladies actually have nails on so I am assuming that they are happy where they go which is fine, am I flogging a dead horse so to speak!!

Anyway after another day with no clients I have come home only to find that Fitness First have emailed me and they now have a room available if I am interested.

I have emailed back and been honest telling her my situation but that I would like to come down and have a chat and see what the room is like.

Am I panicking too early and expecting too much too soon, this is my first placement as I have just worked from home or mobile before. Or is this how it is going to be and would I be better going to somewhere that has had a nail tech there before and that has there own room etc.

sorry about questions, questions, questions, my head is spinning

I've just been to see a local Fitness First room to rent - it's a video library at the moment and large enough (but nowhere near HUGE!) to have a beauty couch, spray tanning & nails and it's right by reception.... BUT......feeling the same as you really.....do I continue with mobile....or take the plunge. There's a 6 month tie-in, then 1 months notice but after costing everything, including the equipment I'd have to buy to set up....I could lose about £3,000 if it all goes wrong!? I understand you're frustration but maybe the Fitness First would be better as alot of people who attend a gym are really "passionate" about their appearance (the subtle way of saying VAIN -lol!). As far as I know....you can get your first month's rent FREE if the club manager is decent!!

Also, what range of treatments are you currently offering and what is the set-up? I only do nails and tantrick spray tan at the mo but will offer beauty by paying a friend to come in one day a week and sort out the waxing, tinting & facials!.....it's always good to network . Would love to hear how you get on at Fitness First...they will promote you also...

I had a list of questions before I went and made sure the manager could answer all of them.....you should also be able to sub-let if you don't wish to work 7 days......? If you'd like the questions I asked....PM me!

Thanks, I just offer nail treatments and spray tanning, I will go look at the room and see whether its worth swapping or staying with the gym I am with now.

I have already taken the plunge working at the gym so give it a go, it is scary but you will never know if you dont take the plunge, I just did not like mobile found I wasted too much time driving between clients and setting up etc.

Story of my life....."yes, of course I love to drive a 12 mile round trip for a £4.00 repair!!"

I think you should get the gym to help in promoting you - maybe a free mini-manicure for new members or a treatment up to this value (for men etc)...?? As it's free, I would just tidy & remove cuticles, rinse and polish or buff..finish with something luxurious like solar manicure, they will love it!....job done in 15/20 mins and at least 1 in 10 should want to come back for more? Fitness First said they send the staff out recruiting new members and would be happy for me to attach my own leaflets to theirs..... at least I don't have to get cold!

I think you have to go and see this other room.......

It does take a while to build up your business....but surely it can't help if your clients don't know where to find you..if you are in a different part of the building every time they visit?.....
I do think it would be best to be in a set place that you can decorate in your own style and show off your retail items for more profit!...(and lock when you are not there!)...You have nothing to lose by going and having a look and if it is like Mini-me's place where they will deliver your flyers ets it could be ideal...But you won't know until you go & see!!

Is the Location of this other Gym more central? could you place a sign outside to attract passing trade not necessarily gym members?

I rented space in a couple of gyms and yet hardly any of my clients actually used the gym!!..they just came to get there nails done.

have to say.......
before i trained i used to go to a health club to have my nails done, not for the health club but for the nail tech who rented a room upstairs.
she advertised in the yellow pages and in local press, most of her clients were there for their beauty treatments and nails and not for the health club or what it offered.

Thats the other downfall at where I am now, they will only let me do members as they think it would cause a security risk if I have outside clients in, which I can understand to an extent, but its not like they would be left on there own.

I am always in the same place its just not very inviting as there are bikes at one of the room etc, and its starting to be back breaking carrying in all my products every day especially when I get no clients!!

thanks for you help anyway, will go see this other room

Let us know how you get on!!!

Well I have been this morning to fitness first, the room is lovely, small but great after having to work in a studio, it has a sink and cupboard so would be great.

They want 250 a month rent which I thought was really good and they are really keen to set up spray tanning which I do too, so it all sounds great you might think.

Only issue is there is a hairdresser there which is good but also a beautician, my heart dropped when she told me this, she said that it would be healthy competition, and if I was setting up on a high street it would be the same. I asked if the other beautician knew and she said not yet. I dont want to be stepping on an other nail techs toes so to speak, and would not want any bad feeling, my thoughts would be to talk to her and see what she thought of the idea but I just dont know. Its made me realise that I really do want to have my own room somewhere though even if I keep on at the other fitness centre one day a week

What do you think I should do!!

does the other lady do nails because not all beauty therapist offer nails!!

it mabe worth finding out and also she may not do spray tanning also.

i cant think why the fitness club would want two of you there offering the same services. unless they are really busy.

Hi, yes she does nails and creative the same as myself, but she does not do spray tanning. The manager said she is busy with waxing etc but also does nails so I dont know really.

Does she really think it's healthy competition? Is she just thinking about herself? You may not be so popular with the other tech and this may cause probs for you at work. jmho

I know that is exactly what I thought which is why I asked her what the other beautician thought and she said she had not had time to tell her!!

personally i think that the gym manager should have had a word with teh other lady explaining that they were thinking of renting the room out to another nail tech and asked her what she thought of the idea. because if i was the other lady i would be a little upset and miffed that they were thinking about it but not asked for my oppion on it then one one day turning up for work to find out.

i know that at the end of the day that its not down to the beauty therapist what they choose to do in the place but it would just be nice to be asked.

i hope that makes sense.

I must admit, i'd feel uneasy having another nail tech there. If you were actually working together that would be one thing, but in competition with eachother in the same building ??? I'm not sure about that one.
JMHO