Can i take a 3 month break?

[FlawlessBeauty]

Hey Geeks,
I am in some serious need of advice. Be brutally honest, i won't hold it against you, lol.

I'm 23, have been renting a room in a hairdressers for 3 years, working towards a good business and good money so my bf and i could get a house, etc.
Split up end of November.

A friend has asked me to go to Australia with her for 3 months. Something i have always wanted to do. She has a friend there that will give us a room. I have another beauty friend that would take care of my beauty room part time whilst i was away.

Is this possible? Or would i be doing something ridiculously stupid and putting my business at risk?

Any and all advice is greatly appreciated xxx

 

[naturalnails]

Think about it this way - if you were having your beauty treatments done and your therapist went away for 3 months - what would you do?

If you explain to all of your clients that you are going away for 3 months but they will be taken care of by someone else for the time then things may be fine when you come back.

But you run the risk of the clients going elsewhere and then not coming back when you return.

 

[persianista]

Fiona is right. It is a harsh reality when you are self employed that you don't have freedom.

 

[Miss Pink23]

I do agree with the above comments, but I also think that if you explain the situation to your clients face-to-face and you know that the person you have is a great therapist and therefore wont put your client base in jeopardy, then go for it.
Like they say, you're only young once and if the worst does happens and some of your clients desert you (as im sure not all of them will), then you will just have to put extra effort in when you get back and build your clients up again.
Good luck and have fun in Oz.

 

[hockers]

Ive travelled a fair bit in the past. I think life is too short and i really think you should go for it. You are lucky that you have someone who can take over part time that you obviously trust.
Make sure you put the work in before you go making sure everyone knows about your break and you have correct stock levels so your friend doesnt run into trouble in your absence. You are young enough to put the time in and make a special effort when you get back to build things up again. Anyway you never know who you will meet, maybe you wont want to come back

 

[Truecols]

go for it i say , life is too short you might miss your chance to go!. when i was pregnant i suffered severe morning sickness for 10 weeks and found a lady to cover my mobile business but most clients were understanding and came back to me after - then i had another 10 weeks off after giving birth . I did lose a few clients but most came back and it didn't take long to build the business back up. good luck with your decision.

 

[lennie brown]

similar thing happened to me but i was 28 - i didnt have my own business but was going up the ladder in a big beauty chain of business as training manager.
split up with boyfriend and went to new zealand and australia was best thing i ever did - learnt so much facial peels, sundamaged skin and brazillians hollywoods etc - this was before all that was popular here.
you are still only young so go for it i would say and go for longer too - you can work out there get loads of different experience bring it back with you and become a more experienced well travelled therapist with lots of knowledge.
if you are good you can always build it back up again, i did.

By the way the ex followed me out to aus we got engaged, worked and travelled, came back got into teaching, got married had 2 babies and am now starting my own business so you can do it!!! good luck xx if you need any contacts in Sydney let me know x

 

[angelina221]

Before my beauty therapist came to work for me she worked at a salon across the road. She had to have an op and had 4 months off. She got a therapist in to cover whilst she was away.
Unfortunately when she went back, the owner had cut her hours in half and gave the other half to the therapist who had covered for her whilst she was away.
That's when she came to work for me and her clients all came with her.
It was unfortunate that the salon owner did that and usually that wouldn't happen. It was fortunate for me though as i gained a therapist with 10 years worth of clients. As it happens, it was fortunate for her too as that salon closed last week.
I say go for it, clients are generally loyal. As long as they know in advance and you get someone to cover for you. Go enjoy yourself

 

[Martigirl]

you are young with limited responsibility.

Life is way too short go and enjoy it and learn new things.

Realistically you may lose a few clients, however you may lose a few clients every now and then as their lives change anyway.

good luck with your decision xx

 

[single sparkle]

you are only 23 - i am 28 this year and i am thinking of doing it too but for longer hopefully. Why not go for a bit longer and work out there. If you dont do it you will always think and regret not going.

Is there anyone from Australia on the site that could comment on the work there - is there work available ??

Go for it - you only live once.

 

[pearl]

You are very young and have so much time to build your business when you get back. I think you will learn from your travels too and be more focused on your business on your return rather than regretting it and doing it later in life when you have even more commitments than you do now. Go for it I say, if your friend is trustworthy and professional thats even better. Its only three months, your clients will want to hear all about it when you get back anyway. Good luck

 

[gemsie1983]

If I was you I would be grabbing this opportunity with both hands! You only live once and you have built up a business before, so you could do it again! x

 

[bombini]

GO, GO, GO !!!!

I had approx 4 months off work when I had my little boy and then I only did limited hours before relocating to my home salon. I did loose clients but I did keep an awful lot to.

I think as you will have a return date set you shouldn't have to many problems. If it were me id be there like a shot !!

 

[OBIC]

I say go for it too. Life's too short!

I'm 37 now and although happily married with two lovely boys there was a time when I regretted not doing any travelling so if you've got the chance you should go for it. I met my husband when I was 18 and he had already lived over there for a year and a half as his family had planned to emigrate out there but then decided to return. He had a great time.

You sound young and talented enough with your head screwed on so you shouldn't have any probs re-establishing your business on your return whether it be for three months or a little longer!

So go for it.

x

 

[Emily-Louise]

GO GO GO! This is a once in a lifetime experience. You have your friend to keep you ticking over (so to speak) even if it is only part time. Give your clients ample warning of the change over of therapist and show them some examples of her work nail art etc so they can then make their decisions about staying or going. At the end of the day sometimes you have just got to do what is best for you and noone else, I know that sounds really selfish but sometimes you just have to be. I hope you make the right decision for you and if you do end up going have an amazing time and take loads of pics because Im sure loads of us would like to see what you have been up to in your three months off.

Hope this helps

Emily

 

[EMMA AT ELITE]

I think you are best, if you went now at this stage in your life, (young, single, renting a room, not having a salon) but I know you said its your friend looking after things for you but be very careful
Would she working for you for the 3 months, or rent your room using your stuff working for herself?
Does she live near the salon, where does she normally work?
I would also look in to finding a therapist to cover her incase she is ill or anything happens!
If she is working for you, might be a good idea to get a contract written up including she cant take your clients with her! (That would be my biggest concern!)
Give your clients plenty of notice, send them (or the salon) regular postcards, so they remember you & know you havent forgotten them!
Do you have a group on facebook? If you do keep that updated, if not create one!
Also when you tell you clients, maybe say that you hope to learn some new treatments to bring back with you.
Or maybe before you go give all your clients a "discount voucher" to use with you when you get back, that way you can make note of everyone you give one to, & when you are back & they use it you can tick them off your list to keep track of what clients havent returned!
Maybe even have your friend in the salon to shadow how you do things for the last few weeks, & to introduce the clients to her, so they can put a face to the name!

Hope that helps!
Good luck keep us posted
Love Emma x

 

[FlawlessBeauty]

Thankyou all for your replies, i really appreciate that you've taken the time to respond.

My decision is that yes, i am going to do it, so look out Oz here i come xxx

 

[TweezerHappy]

I think you are best, if you went now at this stage in your life, (young, single, renting a room, not having a salon) but I know you said its your friend looking after things for you but be very careful
Would she working for you for the 3 months, or rent your room using your stuff working for herself?
Does she live near the salon, where does she normally work?
I would also look in to finding a therapist to cover her incase she is ill or anything happens!
If she is working for you, might be a good idea to get a contract written up including she cant take your clients with her! (That would be my biggest concern!)
Give your clients plenty of notice, send them (or the salon) regular postcards, so they remember you & know you havent forgotten them!
Do you have a group on facebook? If you do keep that updated, if not create one!
Also when you tell you clients, maybe say that you hope to learn some new treatments to bring back with you.
Or maybe before you go give all your clients a "discount voucher" to use with you when you get back, that way you can make note of everyone you give one to, & when you are back & they use it you can tick them off your list to keep track of what clients havent returned!
Maybe even have your friend in the salon to shadow how you do things for the last few weeks, & to introduce the clients to her, so they can put a face to the name!

Hope that helps!
Good luck keep us posted
Love Emma x

Excellant advice. Great ways for your clients to remember you and come back to you.