Hi everyone,

I was just wondering how long it took for any mobile tech's out there to get up and running and to have any sort of client base. I am finding it very frustrating that not a lot has happened. I have done various marketing campaigns etc. I dont want my confidence to lapse (as newly qualified).

hiya i am having the same problem, I think i may go to the supermarket car parks and put some flyers on the cars (or even cars parked down a street) and put a business card on the supermarket advertising boards. I posted around 400 business cards but got no reply, so i am going to get some posters printed (its about £40 for 2000) with prices on so they can see i am charging less than the salons are in my town. Its not easy when you start out is it? I am hoping to get a part time job in a salon because i think that will really help to get clients.

Hi,

It is very frustrating. I currently work in an office part time to have some money to get stock in etc so cannot work in a salon. I have just had a load of flyers delivered and would have thought my phone would have been red hot. It is nice to know that someone else is in the same boat!

Debbie
x

It is hard when you first start out! Im kind of in the same position - been half setting up my business, half doing my day job for a little while now. Ive got a couple of regular clients that keep me going at the moment, and my day job pays the bills!

All I can say is, keep plugging at it, concentrate on the clients you do have, perhaps try a referral promotion or something??

Think it can take a while but all the hard work will pay off!

Good luck though! xx

The only thing i can suggest is to try doing a cheap introductory price or something to get people to try your services. I know its not going to do your profits any good but it might get people to try you out. If you do a good job you can hopefully keep them when you go full price, Also once you start to get a couple of people interested they may tell their friends. Word of mouth is the cheapest advertising!!
I'm still training myself and i'm also hoping to go mobile. I've been using facebook to inform anyone i know that i will hopefully be qualified soon.
I've had a few people who have asked for some treatment as soon as i'm ready. hth

Be wary of being cheaper than everyone else. You may find that people avoid you because they think of you as a "cowboy" ie not as qualified or as good as the other salons (which may not be the case). You also may get the other nail techs backs up, and you never know you might end up at some time in the future needing them. I'd advise keeping your prices similar to theirs, but maybe advertise a special offer price for a limited time only.

HTH

Getting established mobile is hard work and takes time but is totally worth it. You need to pay for advertising to get your name out there before word of mouth can become effective...... Yellow Pages worked well for me in the early years but it does cost money.

You can't expect to only give out business cards or flyers and for your phone to be red-hot - how much 'junk' comes through your door and ends up straight in your recycle bin? That's where 99% of your flyers will go. The industry recognised response rate for leaflet dropping is 1%. You will need to pay for some advertising.

To be successful mobile you have to be committed, determined and resilient. Also if you start off cheap you will find you don't make any profit. You need to accept that the prices you charge need to cover your travelling time and your set up/put away. I charge £25 for a rebalance and I allow 2 hours including travel time to my next client, any less and I'm not making the money I need. If I were renting space I could fit more people in because my rebalance takes me about 90 minutes but I would be paying rent out...... It's really important that you know how much money you need to earn, otherwise it's just a hobby.

Anyway, good luck and hth's

I am in the same boat - had my first client yesterday - put on Netmums that am charging a low price as an introductory offer and got a lady ring me up from quite far away - it took quite a while to get there yest - and for not alot of money - had another lady ring up from the same area - but told her would only do it at that price if she got a few together and made a party out of it!! Otherwise its not worth my while!!

Good luck to you all - just hope to get some more local people in!! Got no-one else lined up.

Vetty's advice is good solid advice. She is living prof that it can be done but in my opinion starting off mobile is the most inefficient and hardest way to build a clientèle and expertise there ever was.

To be really good you have to get people through your hands ... to get people through your hands mobile you need to be good! Catch 22!

Charging cheap prices is NOT the way.
Advertising is expensive and usually a waste of time.
Why would anyone take any notice of a flyer .. I never do.
As a mobile technician You get no feedback on your work when clients don't rebook you.
You have no one to oversee your work and correct you or mentor you.
It is difficult to retail.
It is a hard slog and it is risky.
It is lonely.
You must be incredibly self motivated and determined.

Best place you can start is renting a table or space in a good busy hair salon or other place where women are attracted. Even working in a good nail salon in order to learn the skills and get the women through your hands (although this must be undertaken with good work ethics). If a salon is going to give you a chance, it is up to you not to try and shaft the salon when you leave by taking clients along with you ... they are never your clients unless they choose of their own free will to come to you without solicitation.

I personally can't think of any worse way to work than going mobile ... it is not as easy as people think and your prices have to be spot on and well thought out if you are going to make anything out of it.

From previous threads I have read on here in the past , they say it takes a good 3-4 years to be benefiting.I believe it! Im on my second year mobile and I get so tired of the fact I gain a few ,I loose a few,gain a few,loose a few,but it s a case of keeping yur chin up and not letting it get to you.

Majority of my clients are over 50 which I find being mobile comes in handy for them, ( Im not saying all peeps over 50 are uncapable of getting around btw )but I cant seem to keep the young ones ,as I think they just want in and out , and dont have the time for me.

Im hoping year 3 will be better , Im not after a n arms length of clients , but just a few more , permanant,to fit round my other job, and family commitments. We shall see what 2010 brings

Well thank you everyone for all of the good advice and sharing your experiences.

x

Hello love, i'm in the same boat as you, set up five months ago in a new salon self employed and i've tried the posting flyers, client recommendation (if a existing clients recommends some one they both get 10% off) etc, but nothing seemed to bring in much interest, however recently i have registered my business on every single on line advertising website (hotfrog, thompson, smallbusinessindex, google etc) and its brought in quite a few new customers, also YELL.com is good but it cost about £400 a year. Facebook is another good one, set up an account for your business and put photos and special offers on and add all your friends - and suggest they get all their friends to join. It just takes time!

xx

Yell.com is a great way to go. I don't even have the biggest ad size available, but have had heaps of business from it. It's about £110 a year.

Word of mouth is the other big one. Do good work, and people will talk.

I've had very little comeback from leafleting or posters, although it's funny when you'll get a call from someone who's got your leaflet and you haven't dropped one in their neighbourhood in years!

*** Note about leafleting cars *** Make sure you check with your council before you do this... in many counties, this is illegal and considered littering. One complaint from a member of the public, and you're in trouble. Definately not worth it!