Am I doing the right thing? Advice please x

[louise xx]

Hiya, as the title reads im wondering if Im doing the right thing?

Im currently working as a mobile hairdresser, also specialise in hair extensions and Nouvatan spray tanning (along side hair apt). My business has taken both me and hubby by surprise and Im super busy with lots of regular clients and work 4 full days a week.

I feel like im constantly rushing here there and everywhere, getting stuck in traffic and packing the car ridiculously full.

Im pregnant with my 3rd child (due in august) and Im starting to wonder if I really want the mobile lifestyle long term. Ideally I would love a salon but that just doesnt fit in with children, school holidays, stress of employing etc. So my newest idea has been a log cabin in the garden!

Hubby thinks its my pregnancy hormones and ill be fine once I've had baby and got back into it, but the more I think about it and more I research Im loving the idea.

Ive found my cabin which is 5mx5m (big!) and plan on seperate tan room, 2 cutting stations, back basin etc.

Ive had a builder around that has given me a quote for concrete base on my sloped garden so im all up to gear with prices etc. (Around £3000 for base, and cabin).

The view from my garden is beautiful, ill see if I can upload pic, and the clients I have mentioned it to have said they would come to me. But I must admit Im worried they are just being nice!

Do you think it could be a success? what are the pros and cons? Hubby asked if someone wanted extensions would I turn them down if they wouldnt come to me and I suppose the answer would be yes, I think it would have to be all or nothing. What do you think?

All advice would be much appreciated xxx www.hair-by-louise.co.uk

 

[Princess Layla]

Go for it, I've just taken delivery of mine it's 12 x 12ft, not quite as big as yours, but fab! I've just had first fix electrics done, insulation, plasterboard, skim, decorate etc etc etc next! Lol! Best of both worlds I think xx

 

[cerise]

Hiya, as the title reads im wondering if Im doing the right thing?

Im currently working as a mobile hairdresser, also specialise in hair extensions and Nouvatan spray tanning (along side hair apt). My business has taken both me and hubby by surprise and Im super busy with lots of regular clients and work 4 full days a week.

I feel like im constantly rushing here there and everywhere, getting stuck in traffic and packing the car ridiculously full.

Im pregnant with my 3rd child (due in august) and Im starting to wonder if I really want the mobile lifestyle long term. Ideally I would love a salon but that just doesnt fit in with children, school holidays, stress of employing etc. So my newest idea has been a log cabin in the garden!



Hubby thinks its my pregnancy hormones and ill be fine once I've had baby and got back into it, but the more I think about it and more I research Im loving the idea.

Ive found my cabin which is 5mx5m (big!) and plan on seperate tan room, 2 cutting stations, back basin etc.

Ive had a builder around that has given me a quote for concrete base on my sloped garden so im all up to gear with prices etc. (Around £3000 for base, and cabin).

The view from my garden is beautiful, ill see if I can upload pic, and the clients I have mentioned it to have said they would come to me. But I must admit Im worried they are just being nice!

Do you think it could be a success? what are the pros and cons? Hubby asked if someone wanted extensions would I turn them down if they wouldnt come to me and I suppose the answer would be yes, I think it would have to be all or nothing. What do you think?

All advice would be much appreciated xxx www.hair-by-louise.co.uk

i think its a great idea i also work from home and found that i was loosing alot of clients working from home so i decided to do 4 days at home and 1 day mobile. i know it is alot of hard work lugging everything in and out of the car and rushing around but you might find you loose alot of clients being soley home based. maybe work from home until baby is born then offer both when you feel ready? good luck x

 

[mm29]

do it!! if you never try u will never know.

Also means more clients without travelling about, if u wanted to you could work at nights when hubby home he can be with kids..

if need be to keep the clients that cant come to you, could you set aside 2 days a month to do them.

GOOD LUCK

 

[Jbeauty couture]

I think it sounds really a great plan I would love to do that , big plus if your view is nice. I would def go for it keep us posted ))))

 

[emma84]

This has always been my dream as I have some beautiful bits to display which just is not possible being mobile, unfortunately i still live at home which isn't really a problem as I am a carer for my parents at the mo and I know they wouldn't mind, problem is our garden is just far too small, yours looks lovely and would be perfect I say go for it! And good luck! X

 

[louise xx]

Go for it, I've just taken delivery of mine it's 12 x 12ft, not quite as big as yours, but fab! I've just had first fix electrics done, insulation, plasterboard, skim, decorate etc etc etc next! Lol! Best of both worlds I think xx

Thank you, all so positive
Layla do you have pictures of yours? Im very intrigued! xx

 

[Easydry]

I think it sounds fab. Go for it. Good luck.

 

[Princess Layla]

Hope this works never posted pics before!! I've got lots still to do yet will take a pic of my views also!

 

[Princess Layla]

Here's a few more x

 

[MissLB]

The thing with hairdressers is once uve found a good one u don't want to lose them so I don't think u should worry loads about ur client base, nails on the other hand some clients can be quite fickle that's what I've found. Good luck with the new baby and ur cabin. X

 

[Tomme]

This might sound mean, but think of yourself and ur baby before clients.

I love the idea of a cabin for a home salon, been looking myself but can't decide on a location for it. The ideas from others here are great, about the 2 days a month for clients who won't come to u.

Best of luck with the rest of te pregnancy and the new venture xoxo

 

[lila22]

Go for it, I would love something like that x x

 

[emma84]

I am soo jealous good luck ladies! X

 

[Lucy-Jayne]

For the clients who you lose by not doing mobile, you'll probably gain from people who prefer to go to a home salon.

Sounds like a fab idea. Go for it!

 

[louise xx]

This might sound mean, but think of yourself and ur baby before clients.

I love the idea of a cabin for a home salon, been looking myself but can't decide on a location for it. The ideas from others here are great, about the 2 days a month for clients who won't come to u.

Best of luck with the rest of te pregnancy and the new venture xoxo

Thank you, im very excited now, and in the perfect world I'd be a lady of leisure so I have to think whats best financially which will also be good for the children. Finding a good balance is so hard! When Im not working, im sat at this laptop doing research. Oh well hopefully in a few months Ill just be running a new business with no extravagant plans up my sleeve lol.

So the decision has been made, Ive had fab feedback from my friends on my personal fb page and on here (thank you guys ), the deposits paid on the log cabin, spoke to the council and the neighbours and the builders are booked in to start work on the base! Awaiting delivery for cabin last week in May

Now, I have been mentioning it to select clients as in "what if" but at what point do I tell them its def? Shall I wait till my return in sept (after mat leave) and start as a fresh. Is it best to give them lots of notice or will this just worry them? Im thinking of taking bookings as normal but then sending out a brochure and cover letter explaining the changes and saying your apt is in the Cabin Diary and any changes or concerns please contact me? Is that too cheeky, just thinking its a way of having no gaps in the diary and getting people through the door so they can see the set up for themself?

Louise xx

 

[Chrysalis]

Hi I moved from salon to garden treatment room in November last year. I was nervous at first but have never looked back best decision I made my pics are on Facebook chrysalisaesthetics go for it I,m now expanding and having a tote built.

 

[airendaie]

Hi Louise,

I would tell your clients in advance. I think they'll probably be really excited for you and want to know how its coming along. You could do a garden party for your clients in the summer when its finished or nearly finished (so long as everythings safe). Do your cabin up really nice and deco in the garden. Invite them all so they can mingle and have a drink. Put out all your info about your services and products, maybe do some demos or mini treatments. I reckon once they see how great it looks they will be ripping your apt book out of your hands! You could retail some products too could be a good boost for your before your maternity leave.

Oooh I'm excited for you myself now! good luck, Air x

 

[louise xx]

Hi Louise,

I would tell your clients in advance. I think they'll probably be really excited for you and want to know how its coming along. You could do a garden party for your clients in the summer when its finished or nearly finished (so long as everythings safe). Do your cabin up really nice and deco in the garden. Invite them all so they can mingle and have a drink. Put out all your info about your services and products, maybe do some demos or mini treatments. I reckon once they see how great it looks they will be ripping your apt book out of your hands! You could retail some products too could be a good boost for your before your maternity leave.

Oooh I'm excited for you myself now! good luck, Air x

Aww thank you, what a lovely comment Yes I've started telling clients its a definate and they seem excited saying they will def come to me. Although strangely I have a few clients that Im almost scared to tell and chickened out lol, Ill tell them nxt time!

garden party sounds fab! I've decided to have it built etc before baby arrives so I can over see the work whilst im at home on Mat leave. Then when baby arrives, ill send out a brochure and revised price list with baby announcement cards. Along with an invite for a sunday afternoon "meet baby and see the log cabin" party, no one can resist a smooch at a newborn

Then hopefully it'll take off where it left. EEkkk so much to look forward to!
Ive also got a local lady that has contacted me and wants to rent a little space to do nails from as she's heard "my client base is very good" and wants to pay a deposit to secure it for herself when Im ready to start up again. Makes me very proud xxx

 

[kezza*]

What about the council? Have you had to apply for planning permission?