Beauty salon, lol, I'm past that!

[Marilyn Monroe]

i everyone i know must of you read my thread about closing so i've been going through everything that could have helped prevent this with a fine tooth comb and wanted to ask you all:

when i've given out leaflets in the shopping arcade i often get the response:
"beauty salon hahah i'm passed that" or "painting nails and makeup"
now most of these people im practically jogging with them passing them a leaflet as they rush on by so don't get much words in.

i think the image of the beauty salon needs to be changed and we need to educate people that it's not all about image but feeling good too, taking time out and getting chance to talk (alot of times i've done a manicure i feel like a councilor! lol)

i also think my price list needs adapting i've had quite a few but mainly they have eg solar manicure £17.00. I think i need to create something with treatment names on, what it involves, the benefits and time scale. it would end up more like a booklet tho? does anyone else have this.

sorry if ive gone on but look forward to seeing your opinions.

carla xx

 

[whackeykitten]

My Ex ran loads of businesses and when he read my treatment menu he just shook his head.

I nagged him about it and that night we were at a restaurant and he said read the menu. The descriptions of the food made your mouth water before you even tried it!

I now try to give a lovely detailed description of the treatment and what affect it will have on the client mind, body and soul. I found the thesaurus invaluable...............!

I do think with leaflets, rather than make a price list(which is what I did), it's probable better to highlight a few select treatments or offers but make it plain that there are other options available, otherwise, it would end up llike a booklet like you said.

 

[Martin Duffy]

Whenever people say they are past needing a beauty salon I always say it's never too late to look after yourself & emphasise the relaxation side of the treatments rather than the stay young benefits - it gets them to look at the service in a different light & no-one's beyond needing relaxation. Certainly the older people get the more in need they become of someone to cut their toenails & file off hard skin!

I have a booklet price list with a small description of each treatment, worded to seduce them into wanting the treatment - put aside all the technical jagon & describe the experience i.e. "your pedicure begins by slipping your feet into a warm bubbling footbath to soothe away your aches & pains" etc etc.

Good to see you're being proactive!

 

[hippy-chick]

yayyyyy! Carla, well done you for fighting your corner.

I too agree with Cardiff-geek and Martin.

I like to be seduced by the descriptions. the best way to find wording is to scan lots and lots of sites on the net to see what trigger words get you excited.

call in a pile of salons and get their leaflets and see how they have done it.

spas are always good places to get literature from too as they tend to spend more on their leaflets.

to me, a meal and a treatment should assail all senses.

 

[fiona wallace]

I have to agree with what's been said - my own salon treatment menu runs to 10 pages, and is definitely what you would call a booklet...we are looking to expand it even further next year with pictures to involve the prospective client's visual senses too!

 

[bombini]

I do think a description helps with treatments depending on what it is, waxing its not really needed but facials, manicures etc do.

I always find the best way to entice clients into having beauty treatments is to get them started on waxing first, usually eyebrows and take it from there.

I have seen your other thread and my advice to you would be to make a list of your most popular treatments and concentrate on them to start with, every salon has a different bread & butter treatment mine are facials and brow waxing they are the 2 most popular treatments.

Some people won't agree with this but if you are really struggling to get clients have you thought about offering a BIG discount to new clients ? When I first launched I offered 50% off to all clients and the responsive was fantastic, I was fully booked !!! I ran the offer for 2 days per week for 2 weeks and advertised it with the voucher in the paper.

 

[Pink Pink Pink]

I'm just putting together a treatment list (NOT PRICE LIST) now. Obviously it includes prices but I will call it 'treatment list - I think then people will look at treatments instead of prices.
I include little paragraphs about each treatment.
Facial Example:
Every client will have an individual analysis to determine their skin type and needs. This allows the treatment to be customised, assisting the therapist to tailor the products to benefit in the most efficient way. All facials include superficial and deep cleanse, exfoliation, neck/shoulder/facial massage, mask, toner moisturiser. ​

Luxury facials include hand or foot massages when mask is setting.
Manicure & Pedicure:​

Have your cuticles worked, nails shaped to suit and enjoy a hand and arm massage along with the polish of your choice.
For luxury manicures you have a deep exfoliating treatment and a rich hand mask with heated mitts.​

Your tired, aching feet will have their cuticles tended to along with a foot scrub and file for hard skin along with a foot and leg massage. Finished with the polish of your choice.
Within the luxury pedicure, a rich, moisturising mask is applied and used with heated booties.

hth xx​

 

[Pink Pink Pink]

I have two young children and know how much of a noisy bunch kids are! Lol.
Anyone coming into the salon for a treatment, in my opinion, expects peace so I have also added:​

Regrettably, due to health and safety regulations which affects our insurance, children will not be allowed on the premises while parents are having treatments. Thank you for your understanding.

​

 

[RedAdmiral]

Carla what you said is absolutely right your treatment list should be absolutely mouth watering - think spa. I have a lil booklet and it describes my nails services perfectly, it also has a lil bit about me and what my aim is.

For people who say the are past beauty let them go - what you need is a desk in the shopping centre to do arm massages on or skin analysis - then they'll que up. when they sit with you then talk to them about the importance of manicure/massage/using the correct products I do not waste my breath on those who do not listen as there are plenty who will.

Carla I've said before your website is fantastic so USE IT! Get great looking email done up with an offer that says pass me to 5 of your friends and back to me and receive xyz. You only need to send this to one person per company for this to work for you as you will receive all of their friends web address' too for further emailing.

Remember it is always darkest before dawn.

 

[Mrs.Clooney]

now most of these people im practically jogging with them passing them a leaflet as they rush on by so don't get much words in.


i also think my price list needs adapting i've had quite a few but mainly they have eg solar manicure £17.00. I think i need to create something with treatment names on, what it involves, the benefits and time scale. it would end up more like a booklet tho? does anyone else have this.


carla xx

I am including the above quotes because I specifically want to comment on these.

Firstly, I personally don't like being approached with leafets whilst I am out shopping. It is just something I steer clear of. If people approach me with leaflets outstretched, I give them a very wide berth. Perhaps it is just me, but I find it off putting. Just a thought.

I like calling a 'price list' a 'price menu' because, as whackeykitten mentioned, it should read like a restaurant menu and be appetizing, so as to tempt your customers into having treatments. Then follow through and give what you advertise.

 

[Mrs Geek]

i everyone i know must of you read my thread about closing so i've been going through everything that could have helped prevent this with a fine tooth comb and wanted to ask you all:

when i've given out leaflets in the shopping arcade i often get the response:
"beauty salon hahah i'm passed that" or "painting nails and makeup"
now most of these people im practically jogging with them passing them a leaflet as they rush on by so don't get much words in.

i think the image of the beauty salon needs to be changed and we need to educate people that it's not all about image but feeling good too, taking time out and getting chance to talk (alot of times i've done a manicure i feel like a councilor! lol)

i also think my price list needs adapting i've had quite a few but mainly they have eg solar manicure £17.00. I think i need to create something with treatment names on, what it involves, the benefits and time scale. it would end up more like a booklet tho? does anyone else have this.

sorry if ive gone on but look forward to seeing your opinions.

carla xx

Carla I haven't read all responses but if I were doing a Service Menu I would it have sharp, short and easy... not too many choices but the choices be anough to easily decide what they need... also, I would spend far more time customising my services to the client! That makes you stand out to the dreary boring service menus that read:
Full Set
Infill
etc etc... they are so uninspiring and boring (sorry folks but it's true)... we're just about to hit 2009 and time to up prices and up the bar for oursleves and our clients!:idea:

 

[redsadie]

Carla I haven't read all responses but if I were doing a Service Menu I would it have sharp, short and easy... not too many choices but the choices be anough to easily decide what they need... also, I would spend far more time customising my services to the client! That makes you stand out to the dreary boring service menus that read:
Full Set
Infill
etc etc... they are so uninspiring and boring (sorry folks but it's true)... we're just about to hit 2009 and time to up prices and up the bar for oursleves and our clients!:idea:

How would you word it Samantha? On mine I havn't much space (I could make some though!) so I have just given the names of the service like this


· Natural or Forever French

· Natural Nail overlay - Natural or French

· Full set speciality enhancements

· French Maintenance rebalance
(2 weeks)
(3 weeks)
(4 weeks)

· Natural Nail Overlay Maintenance rebalance
(2 weeks)
(3 weeks)
(4 weeks)

· Safe removal of enhancements with mini
manicure
(approx. 1 hour)

· Soak off before new set applied (when new
enhancements applied in same session)

· Individual repairs

· Re-shape & nail tidy

· Nail enamel application (base coat, 2 coats of enamel & 2 top coat)

· French Polish nail enamel application


· Mini Manicure

· Deluxe Manicure

· Luxury Thai Manicure

· Mini Pedicure

· Deluxe Peppermint Pedicure

· Luxury Thai Pedicure

· Luxury Raw Earth
Pedicure *coming soon

*Temporary Party Nails

​

· Natural nail finish

· Forever French
Finish

· Glitter tips finish

A spectacular finish to an outfit for a special occasion if you can’t, won’t or don’t normally ‘do’ nails!
*Usually last around 3 or 4 days​

I am however in the process of jigging a booklet (not successfully I might add :irked entitled 'your treatments explained'. I got this idea from Calla I think. xx

 

[jenny2]

Welcome back hun!

You go girl, positive thought is the only way forward. Different salons have different approaches. I personally offer a very warm, comforting atmosphere and treat it as a personal service, rather than having ladies back to back.

Even in the current recession, i still keep getting new clients. My home salon has not been open long and is still in the early stages. But i have found the best form of advertising, aside from leaflet drops, magazine adds, websites. The best form of advertising is your clients.

But also my enthusiasum for what i do and that i offer a service that no one locally does offer, gives me an edge. I went to the hairdressers in my uniform and i was asked, oh what do u do. So then i got on to intamate waxing, the wax i use, the way i wax and the fact every last hair is removed.

Well the giggles started, then the real questions came and then came the bookings. The clients i have do my advertising for me. I take my time with every first consultation, whether it be a simple eye brow shape or the full monty. I have a bag of goodies, ready, leaflets, leaflets for there friends, samples that i have got for free and a voucher off there next treatment.

One of my ladies, bless her. Said to me one day, as i had my normal clothes on as had to fetch my little one from school. Jenny u could be stood their naked. I respect you, trust you and love the results. Well i was chuffed to bits.

Carla, offer an exciting menu, something to get the girls talking. ie nasal waxing, or something like that, something you love and specialise in it and sell it. Treat every client that comes through the door as the key to your future.

U can do it i no u can. I have been were u are, and if u have an aim, u will achieve it . U go girl( i am always at the end of the phone, and i will help u all i can, hopefully we shall meet in jan, and then u will be on cloud nine with a whole new treatment plan, but one specific specialisum and confidenc)

love jenny

 

[Sassy Hassy]

If I was getting the same response from the people then I would put that on the leaflet ... "So you reckon you're past beauty treatments ... well here's a few reasons why you're not ..."

Trouble is as Mrs G says we all do the same old same old, think outside the box, have a sense of humour and people will read it. Remember in my Sassy guide to advertising thread - AIDA. Attention, Interest, Desire Action. Before you can get a client to act on your advert they have to have gotten your attention, been interested in what you say, have the desire to want it and then they eventually book. Miss any of these steps out and it just ain't gonna happen!

We have a radio ad going out at the mo. Instead of the usual boring list of treatment we have worded it something like

" tired of all the gloomy news about the economy then let the girls at enhance look and make you feel a million dollars.

Have a fake bake tan and look perfect in that little black number!

Ashamed to hold that cocktail glass with those short stubby nails then have a set of beautiful long lasting nail extensions

And when you've danced the night away revive those tired feet with one of our magical pedicures

Oh and guys stuck for gift ideas then buy your loved one a gift voucher, go on you know she's worth it!"

And it's working, more than any other type of advertising we've done! And all our clients comment on it.

So think outside the box, stand out from the crowd and whilst it may not have them flooding through your door at the moment it may well get them to come when they realise they DO need you.

Good luck babe, onwards and upwards!!!