Hi Geeks,
For a while now I've been looking at premises for a salon. I've been mobile for nearly 5 years and it's time. I want to open a beauty/massage clinic, providing sports massage, lash extensions, waxing, facials etc.
I've found a place and I really cant decide what to do. Location wise, it's amazing. It's in the centre of town, in a very busy shopping area (Harvey Nichols and John Lewis within 2 minutes walk), and physically the outside of the shop is perfect. Theres parking (metered though) in a few places nearby. Quite few of my clients work nearby so know I wouldn't lose them at least.
The rent is ridiculously cheap for the location, the guy is offering 3 months free...
BUT! And it's a big but...The place is an absolute wreck inside. It used to be an old cobblers 30 years ago, and hasn't been touched since. It needs completely gutted out and then reconstructed into a salon. Ideally, I wanted a small 2 room salon so I could let out one of the rooms to another massage therapist. But I just don't know now. It's small and to me, that was appealing because it's more manageable than a big salon to start with. When I say small I mean 276sq ft. There is definitely enough room for a spacious room at the back for massage and facials, but I'm not sure if there is quite enough room for a smaller room for waxing/lash extensions. There is no floor plan, which isn't helpful...but I'm going back tomorrow with a joiner etc to see what is and isn't possible.
I'm just not sure. The location is amazing, the price is manageable, but I'm just not sure if it's a tiny bit too small, or if I should just make it a one room salon with nail bar and maybe a wee spray tan room. I would like to let out the nail bar to a really good nail tech.
I just wondered if anyone else had a similar situation, i.e decision to make about sizing/number of rooms, and what you ended up doing?
I would appreciate any thoughts, thanks!
For a while now I've been looking at premises for a salon. I've been mobile for nearly 5 years and it's time. I want to open a beauty/massage clinic, providing sports massage, lash extensions, waxing, facials etc.
I've found a place and I really cant decide what to do. Location wise, it's amazing. It's in the centre of town, in a very busy shopping area (Harvey Nichols and John Lewis within 2 minutes walk), and physically the outside of the shop is perfect. Theres parking (metered though) in a few places nearby. Quite few of my clients work nearby so know I wouldn't lose them at least.
The rent is ridiculously cheap for the location, the guy is offering 3 months free...
BUT! And it's a big but...The place is an absolute wreck inside. It used to be an old cobblers 30 years ago, and hasn't been touched since. It needs completely gutted out and then reconstructed into a salon. Ideally, I wanted a small 2 room salon so I could let out one of the rooms to another massage therapist. But I just don't know now. It's small and to me, that was appealing because it's more manageable than a big salon to start with. When I say small I mean 276sq ft. There is definitely enough room for a spacious room at the back for massage and facials, but I'm not sure if there is quite enough room for a smaller room for waxing/lash extensions. There is no floor plan, which isn't helpful...but I'm going back tomorrow with a joiner etc to see what is and isn't possible.
I'm just not sure. The location is amazing, the price is manageable, but I'm just not sure if it's a tiny bit too small, or if I should just make it a one room salon with nail bar and maybe a wee spray tan room. I would like to let out the nail bar to a really good nail tech.
I just wondered if anyone else had a similar situation, i.e decision to make about sizing/number of rooms, and what you ended up doing?
I would appreciate any thoughts, thanks!