Booked Flirties course now a little worried

[cabinkel]

I'm reading eyelash extension threads with interest and incredulity regarding the prices charged.

Now if any Australian wants to chime in, please do, but where I am in the various salons I've visited and menus I've seen both in the city and the suburbs, of those that are actually offering lashes, I've not seen a salon charging less than AUD$250 for a set of eyelash extensions.

That's about £150 or €170. The average charge in the city hovers around $300 (£190 or €205) and people are paying.

Some of the salons have waiting lists.

Obviously different countries work differently but wow, over here a set of eyelash extensions for £100 would be considered a steal.

This is a great point and illustrates, I think, the way that people offering full sets of lashes at silly prices (£30 ish) cheapens the whole industry. To be a great lasher takes time and experience, and people will and do, pay for this happily. I think if you pitch yourselves cheap, you attract "cheap" clients and I have learnt this from experience
I am with Vetty and would, Im afraid, assume something is not so good if its lots cheaper. Not always the case I know, but I wouldnt even go to see why it was cheap, (ie, so could be proved wrong)

 

[Vetty]

Like I have said before we all charge what we want,,,,if some of you think being cheaper means your rubbish, well you can think that you like, personally I think that if you prefer charging more and doing less just proves how lazy you are,,,, which it;s only until now I have realised that.

Someone may thing I can't run a business and yer I have only been working for myself for 6 months but it's better than working for someone else and earning peanuts,,,, I'm earning more than working for someone else and that's after all the expense's of a business,,,,,, £100 for a set of lash's, you make it sound that there is so little profit to be made.

I'm not argueing with you over something so pointless.

By operating on price you will attract clients who want the cheapest service, when someone new comes along and charges £10 less than you they will all go to her unless you match that price. As I said before that cheapens the entire industry. Be careful what you wish for.

Btw, I am not lazy - I've run a mobile nail business for 5 years now and work my butt off but I wont work for nothing. I'm in this to make a good living as well as offer the best service I can doing a job I love and I'm not ashamed of making a profit.

Rubbish therapist because I'm cheaper you make me laugh.

It can be public perception, doesn't make it true but people will make their mind up without bothering to find out sometimes.

JMHO

 

[kezza*]

Now I see what your saying Vetty but everyone thinks different things,,,, as yo can see we both do.

5 years ago there wasn't as many salon's or even mobile people around,,,,, I never said about Lu-b-lu dropping her prices and charging the same,,, all I as trying to say was £100 is a bit steep,,, but that's me,,,,, it depends what you want really,,,,,, I use quality products and I'm a good therapist ok so my prices are cheaper but that's because I'm starting out if I charged the same as everyone else I wouldn't have had some many people in,,,,, they get the same treatment and service as they would any where else if not they get more but yer it's cheaper,,,, it's my way to get them in and try me ,,,,,,,, but again that's me,,,,,,, I don't use cheap products and I don't cut corners,,, I will slowly put my prices up but there never be the same as other salon's.

If you already have a good client base and don't need more clients,,,,,, then ok,,,,, charge the high end,,,, you know your clients and you know what they will pay,,,,, but if your still building up a client base then that's something that you need to decide.

Being cheaper does not mean you are rubbish,,,, I past on the saving to my clients I don't have the over heads of a salon. A salon was £10,000 a year before I even start,,,, thats just rent and rates.

 

[Vetty]

Now I see what your saying Vetty but everyone thinks different things,,,, as yo can see we both do.

5 years ago there wasn't as many salon's or even mobile people around,,,,, I never said about Lu-b-lu dropping her prices and charging the same,,, all I as trying to say was £100 is a bit steep,,, but that's me,,,,, it depends what you want really,,,,,, I use quality products and I'm a good therapist ok so my prices are cheaper but that's because I'm starting out if I charged the same as everyone else I wouldn't have had some many people in,,,,, they get the same treatment and service as they would any where else if not they get more but yer it's cheaper,,,, it's my way to get them in and try me ,,,,,,,, but again that's me,,,,,,, I don't use cheap products and I don't cut corners,,, I will slowly put my prices up but there never be the same as other salon's.

If you already have a good client base and don't need more clients,,,,,, then ok,,,,, charge the high end,,,, you know your clients and you know what they will pay,,,,, but if your still building up a client base then that's something that you need to decide.

Being cheaper does not mean you are rubbish,,,, I past on the saving to my clients I don't have the over heads of a salon. A salon was £10,000 a year before I even start,,,, thats just rent and rates.

We do think differently on this but I see where you're coming from and I hope it works for you! Good luck building your client base, if you can get a solid bank of regular clients you are well on your way :hug:

 

[louiseprunty]

Don't worry, a lot of people are still of the mindset the more you pay the better the service. As one of the examples shows someone was willing to pay £100 instead of £50 as she got them on the phone.
Once you have finished with your intro offer aim high. Its hard to go up if you start your prices too low initally. Lou x
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[Bonkers]

well after a month of dropping my prices to see if i would have more clients by being cheaper i ca say that I have had NO MORE clients that what I had by charging more, infact i had less, this could be due to a few factors such as being school holidays, easter etc, but still my prices are going back up I am in the mindset of i would rather do 1 set of lashes at £85 than 2 sets at £40 each, it makes no sense to me to make 2 journeys and take twice the time to make the same amount of money, time really is money. Just my opinion anyway everyone has their own ways and thoughts.

 

[collin]

well after a month of dropping my prices to see if i would have more clients by being cheaper i ca say that I have had NO MORE clients that what I had by charging more, in fact i had less, this could be due to a few factors such as being school holidays, easter etc, but still my prices are going back up I am in the mindset of i would rather do 1 set of lashes at £85 than 2 sets at £40 each, it makes no sense to me to make 2 journeys and take twice the time to make the same amount of money, time really is money. Just my opinion anyway everyone has their own ways and thoughts.

This just reiterates that dropping prices for treatment doesn't always increase business...one thing a salon doing it but a whole different ball game for mobile therapists who have to drive across town and set things up...and drive all the way back having cleared your stuff up.

The other problem when dropping prices is that if it doesn't work...well it can sometimes be difficult to raise your prices again......bit of a dilemma.

Sometimes its better to do a deal with your customer...like introduce a friend who pays the full price whereas the host pays less....your travel time/cost is already covered...you nearly double your income and gain a new customer to boot :hug:

 

[shedunlop]

I say it time and time again. No offers, discounts, specials or anything else where you are not charging what you should be charging! You do, of course, have to know your market and price accordingly but do not under do yourself as you will never attract the right type of client and it is so, so hard to bring your prices up, as Collin has already pointed out. :green:

 

[cabinkel]

well after a month of dropping my prices to see if i would have more clients by being cheaper i ca say that I have had NO MORE clients that what I had by charging more, infact i had less, this could be due to a few factors such as being school holidays, easter etc, but still my prices are going back up I am in the mindset of i would rather do 1 set of lashes at £85 than 2 sets at £40 each, it makes no sense to me to make 2 journeys and take twice the time to make the same amount of money, time really is money. Just my opinion anyway everyone has their own ways and thoughts.

Thanks for giving us your results on this Kelshah. I am so glad this is what you found, as its what I also believe and have found in my experience. We are offering a specialist treatment so should charge accordingly. we are worth it

 

[Bonkers]

Thanks for giving us your results on this Kelshah. I am so glad this is what you found, as its what I also believe and have found in my experience. We are offering a specialist treatment so should charge accordingly. we are worth it

thanks! your right it is a specialist treatment which is why we charge specialist prices. In a way i think xtreme are right to say that you should charge no less than £120 for a full set of lashes but thats just my opinion

 

[lu-B-lu]

Thanks for the update Kelly, interesting stuff & thank you to everyone who's posted, as always you lovely geeks have proven to be a wealth of knowlege! It's been a mahoosive help! Happy lashing everyone! :hug: xx

 

[kimi1101]

irrelevant to lashes but...

when we started doing spray tan we put a big poster in the window saying "SPRAY TAN £19"

The amount of people calling was great. What was better was they kept asking when the offer was over. I had to explain it wasn't a special offer, it was just our price.

We are £1 less than most of the salons in the area. Occasionally to give it a boost we'll do a one week only offer of £15 tans. But don't notice a massive difference in the amount of clients coming on these particula weeks.

Sometimes any kind of promoting of you and your prices can generate clients.

 

[essentia]

irrelevant to lashes but...

Sometimes any kind of promoting of you and your prices can generate clients.

I think this hits the nail on the head. I do not do lashes but it has never made any discernable difference to me by cutting prices - it is the advertising of the service itself I believe attracts the clients. The biggest plus of all is if you love the treatment you are promoting as this always shines through and is infectious in getting new business.

 

[kimi1101]

I think this hits the nail on the head. I do not do lashes but it has never made any discernable difference to me by cutting prices - it is the advertising of the service itself I believe attracts the clients. The biggest plus of all is if you love the treatment you are promoting as this always shines through and is infectious in getting new business.

yes, i am VERY intelligent...hehehe

 

[Little Angel]

irrelevant to lashes but...

when we started doing spray tan we put a big poster in the window saying "SPRAY TAN £19"

The amount of people calling was great. What was better was they kept asking when the offer was over. I had to explain it wasn't a special offer, it was just our price.

We are £1 less than most of the salons in the area. Occasionally to give it a boost we'll do a one week only offer of £15 tans. But don't notice a massive difference in the amount of clients coming on these particular weeks.

Sometimes any kind of promoting of you and your prices can generate clients.

HI

We ran a tan promo "2 tans for £30" as in they bring a friend with them. It worked well as it brought us more clients rather than just price cutting clients.

Some clients flit about looking for the best offers and you cant blame them, however you do find that when they find a therapist they like who does a spot on job every time and this be hair, nails, tans, lashes etc then they will stay with you!

We run ever changing offers every month but there is usually a reason IE at the moment our April offer is 1/2 price gel toes with a set of overlays. This gets clients addicted to gel toes just in time for the summer.

Personally I am really fed up of all these price wars, I try to be competitive but at the end of the day I have bills to pay and staff too.

I know mobiles say "oh i can earn more an hour on my own" but do you ever take into account that the salon is still paying you your hourly rate when you dont have a client in? When your mobile if you have no client its no money!