Hi beautiful ladies and fab gents,
Im in little ol' New Zealand, and I am definetly feeling the pinch of our "global recession". I am not having too much of a problem retaining my regulars, thank goodness, as they are our bread and butter! But I am finding that new clients are becoming very far and few between!! I have started (for the first time ever!!) advertising. New business cards, flyers, car door magnets, EVEN A WEB SITE!! I am really hoping that this will help to boost numbers a bit. My question is, "is anyone else struggling like me?'', and if you are what are you doing to get your clients back through the door?
Thanks in advance fabulous geeks!!

I'm the same but then I've only just started out so I dont even have the regular clients in place yet. Have you tried swaping leaflets with someone else who does something different but has the same client base, for example I've swapped with a friend who does Ann Summers. Or what about summer fairs? Hth x

Hi ya
I'm in Christchurch and although I'm still busy with my regular clients. We did not have that influx of new clients that we've always had over spring and summer. Also some of my regular clients are, after years of coming every 2 or 3 weeks, going an extra week between appointments. While the latter I think is definatly due to the recession I think we have also been hit by the many NSS nail bars that have opened up in every mall and their $45 full sets as compared to our $85 sets. Although I still get many clients coming from these places wanting damage control I think there are many more that first timers that have gone there because of the price, not having to wait for an appointment and not knowing any better and then decided not to get their nails done again due to the damage they have recieved.
I have found that my work is my best advertisement and now the majoriety of my new clients come from referals. I have a friend that manages a popular womens fashion store and I have a LOT of referals from her and her staff who's nails I do at a discounted rate.

I'm in the land of Oz and things have been that way for me too. I have gotten some new regulars over the past few months but the amount of one-off clients has dwindled. Some of my regular clients started canceling appointments last Dec due to loss of jobs and other unforeseen situations, saying that 'nails' are a luxury they can't afford. Like you, my regulars are spacing out their appointments.

I don't believe things will stay quiet for long because people still want and need beauty treatments. Things like cuticle treatments are picking up because they're pampering and affordable