I'm sorry you've lost some clients because of the economic climate.

I personally have not lost any of my nail clients because of this.
I have found that , thankfully, my clients are die hard nail wearers and would rather sit in the dark, starving & cold - but they know their nails look fab!
I have had lots of new enquiries this last week too and my diary is almost full the week before xmas & I've no evening appointment now available until the new year.
I have never thought that reducing your prices is a good idea. Once you drop them it would be very hard to bring them back up again.
I have total belief in my abilities & my work. My clients are happy & stay with me for years.

This week - I have been wearing silver lightening fishnet Minx over my enhancements - and whilst I've been out xmas shopping this last week I have had loads of comments from people in the shops and handed out lots of my business cards.

What about you putting a special promotion on for December and offering something like free nail art with every new set - this is not costing you much by way of product only time, but will hopefully encourage a few extra people into your salon. That way, you are not reducing your prices, but still offering the client something.

That's a great idea! Thank you for sharing!

Another great idea! Thanks for sharing!

It is awful but if you slash your prices, what happens when the recession is over? They won't like it when you put your prices back up. They'll think you've been having them over all along.

We all become very fond of out clients and they do of us too. However, clients are clients, they are not friends and I'm afraid to say that most of them will go where the price suits them and are not that loyal.

Turn this on it's head for a moment. Are your clients worrying about you? Are they thinking 'You know what....I can't afford to get my nails done but my nail tech must have noticed a drop in her takings, so I'll get them done anyway to help her out'.

Personally, I would keep my prices the same and use the down time to prepare and market myself for when the recession is over.

Weather the storm and stay strong. xxx

i dont know what im doing different from u guys but ive nerev been more indemand! i can quite honeslt tell you i have lost 2 clients and one is a friend so i wasnt taking money from her( tho she would leave it for me anyway ) no she says she feels bad if she leaves nothing but the clients i do have are telling friends and im happy sorry to hear about u guys tho hope things improve

yeah its definately happening to me also! and Im pretty sure everyone.. the economy....

I've been thru this before everyone and I can tell you that if you are running a good business and do great nails .... they will be back in the new year and your business will grow. Keep your nerve and your dignity by being true to yourself. You will survive.

hi guys,

thank so much for all your comments and ideas. im not going to change my prices in anyway as gigi said all my out lays are still the same. they arent coming cos of money, so im staying positive and hoping as soon as there money situation changes they will be back!

i might do a loyalty card or something simular in the new year, plus i have a late night shopping event on friday so a great opportunity to get my pricelists handed out.

good luck and hope your all really busy for christmas xx

Not me so far - I've taken almost as much in the last week as I did in the whole of October.
I've said it before but it bears repeating. You can never stop marketing your business.

i think things will ease quite soon.
the large drop in interest rates will mean people have less out goings and as long as they havent actually lost their jobs they will have more spare cash.

I agree with alot of what has already been said..
There are clients of mine who would rather have their nails done than eat!.. true..
There are also those clients who have young families and just can't afford their nails done at this time. I have only lost a few clients.. these are the ones that push their infills to 5 or 6 weeks and they are such hard work anyway.
If you slash your prices than your clients are going to think that you were rippign them off to begin with.... all my products have almost doubled in the last 12 months and i am sure that it will get worse before it gets better... but like Geeg said my rent is stil the same and my suppliers have puttin their prices up all the time... also wouldnt you rather work smarter than harder?..

think about it...

3 clients a day... $120 profit
6 clients a day at half price $120..... you do the sums

I did a waxing course as some people would rather wax than have their nails done... so i win both ways..

X Mel

I think one of the good things that may come out of all of this recession is that the strong WILL survive and hopefully many of the cowboys WILL NOT. Now there's a happy prospect.

No one should ever think they are 'sitting pretty'. as soon as you do that you forget about building your business and it is the downhill slope!!

Make every customer feel special EVERY time they visit you no matter how many years they have been coming to you. NEVER take them for granted and do your best job, each and every time.

Absolutely spot on!
My clients tell me that their salon experience, the quality of the work and the whole professional package is what keeps them coming back.

And Geeg is also right about constantly building your business. You need to keep your business uppermost in people's minds when they're thinking of a treatment as opposed to the salon down the road.

Gigi, what an excellent suggestion!

Since this is a current thread among all artisans of every medium... I wanted to share this bit of encouragement I'd read on Saturday. It's a great article about really growing your art business during slow times:

Art of a recession - Studio Art Direct shares how to market your art business in an economic downturn Studio Art Direct Blog

I printed this out and have re-read it a couple of times.

Cat

Personally I feel how busy you are depends hugely on where you are and what type of City, Town or like me very small Village.
My business is suffering big time to the extent that I will have to reconsider my position very soon.

My village is mostly populated by older residents the younger ones are suffering a lot of job losses at the moment so are cutting out non essential things which sadly means me.
I have my die hard regulars who have been fantastic by still coming but maybe having a less expensive treatment less often. With out these I wouldn't be working at all.

This week for example I have 5 clients all but 1 are regulars, next wk I have 5 then 4 the next, so far I have NO clients booked for January.

I do not feel that any kind of revamp would help my business due to the circumstances in my area.