Clients expect to pay 50% less at home based businesses!!!???

[Cutesteph]

When I first started promotind myself I was offering my services at 50% off which Geeg said would come back to haunt me and boy was she right.

Most of my clients are fine with the increase and are still coming back except one client who said it doesnt fit into her budget and she said I should keep in mind that customers expect to pay 50% less at a home based business:irked:

I know ther are quite a few techs on here working from home, what do you think about this???

 

[spn01]

IMO a nail technicians charge out rate is valued on her level of expertise, whether in a "rented salon" or an "at home salon". Where he/she decides to work from has no bearing on the service charge (of course I am assuming that the home salon is professional). As a matter of interest, I had a inner city salon, of which I have now moved to an "at home salon" (I have a separate building on the property,overlooking the back garden) guess what - I actually put my prices up :green:. My clients love the refreshing, tranquil, private salon with plenty of free parking, as do the students I train.

 

[deanosnana]

I think your client is wrong! I would not expect to pay 50% LESS because I go into a home salon. Good grief!

If you lose this client due to a price increase, so be it. I don't mean to sound b-tchy but... Best of luck to you! :hug:

 

[Nail Delights]

the work you would do at home is exactly the same as in a solon so prices certainly will not be that different maybee slightly lower because you do not the same overheads but you still have a lot to pay out for and need to make a living where does she think you will do that?? she is 100% wrong... let her find someone that charges 50% less if she wants she will soon notice the difference, good luck x

 

[Lemmonie]

Wow!

I charge more than high street competitors but for the extra money clients get free parking, an awsome tech, late night appts (7pm onwards) and on fridays nights a glass of wine!!!

And whats more I am fully booked always.

I love my home salon as do my clients and i am always dressed ready for business, the salon is professional, hygine is paramount and outstanding customer service is delivered always....

I think clients get what they pay for.

 

[VHunter]

If a client said to me that they expected to pay 50% less, I'd remind them where to find the door.

I'm NOT a chop-shop!:evil:

My prices are based on my expenses on top quality products, and on my quality of services and skills.

As for 50% less... while in some cases our expenses may be lower (rent?) other's are higher because we can't buy things in bulk as some of the bigger salons do, so we pay a higher price for certain items (example, buying 50 files versus 500?), etc.....
They can't be compared.

Ignore them and enjoy the clients that appreciate you.

 

[shedunlop]

Have worked mobile and now from home and I charge the same as the salons and give an as good if not better service. Regular clients, fully booked with lots of them booked in for the full year ahead! I have had them panicking to get their regular spot for next year. I never, ever have special offers or reductions of any sort and have never had a problem with anyone worth having as a client. That is the crux of the matter, anyone worth having as a client!

Stand your ground my darling, look her straight in the eye and don't blink first. She either accepts your price or she moves on. Simple as that!

 

[sarahpoppy24]

Hi I am mobile and I find that the reason my clients have me instead of a salon is for the convenievce of being in your own home and I do evening appointments. She is just being bitter becuase you put your prices up. I have a client that always says to me her old hairdresser was cheaper than me like EVERY time I go there, you just have to learn to ignore it. This woman obviously knew she was getting a bargain knew she was on to a good thing. Keep your prices up, you dont want to be known as cheap or people will be thinking well if shes good then the salon down the road must be even better becuase they are so much more expensive. Hope this helps xxxx

 

[Cutesteph]

Thanks geeks:hug:

I replied to her and kept it short. I told her im sorry she felt this way and I dont agree with her. I told her all my other clients have no problem with it and the prices will remain the same and reminded her Im STILL cheaper than salons.

 

[geeg]

When I first started promotind myself I was offering my services at 50% off which Geeg said would come back to haunt me and boy was she right.

Most of my clients are fine with the increase and are still coming back except one client who said it doesnt fit into her budget and she said I should keep in mind that customers expect to pay 50% less at a home based business:irked:

I know ther are quite a few techs on here working from home, what do you think about this???

I think the fact that the majority of your clients are still with you shows that in this case it is THIS particular client only who expects to pay 50% less at a home based business. :green: It amazes me how some people think that by airing their opinion you are going to change your mind?? or make an exc eption in her case? You've made up your mind on what needed to be done .. you've done it and now that is IT.

One thing that is important to do, if you have one or two clients that decide to 'roam' and see if things are better or as good else where, is to wait a month or 2 and then send a polite note saying that ... clients are like old friends and we don't like to say good bye and tell them that you will be happy to give them a warm welcome in your salon any time they choose to visit you.

Some clients leave sometimes to make a point and then feel a bit embarrassed to 'eat humble pie' and return to where they now know they should not have left in the first place. Doing this simple small kind gesture often sees the return of a life long client.

If a client stopped coming to our salons for whatever reason, and sometimes you don't know what the reason is, we automatically after 3 months sent them a note just like the one described. I would say we got 30% of the clients back again at some stage. We kept track by pulling the client record cards of anyone who had not been to the salon every month or so. Many told us they really appreciated the note and if we hadn't written it they probably wouldn't have returned thinking we might be mad at them for leaving or have an attitude .. lol. People think things like that even though it sounds silly.

 

[Anna Lee]

If a client stopped coming to our salons for whatever reason, and sometimes you don't know what the reason is, we automatically after 3 months sent them a note just like the one described. I would say we got 30% of the clients back again at some stage. We kept track by pulling the client record cards of anyone who had not been to the salon every month or so. Many told us they really appreciated the note and if we hadn't written it they probably wouldn't have returned thinking we might be mad at them for leaving or have an attitude .. lol. People think things like that even though it sounds silly.

Gigi, what would you write on the note...?
How would you word it to make it sound proffessional and not pushy and desperate..?
Will be interested to know...

 

[geeg]

Gigi, what would you write on the note...?
How would you word it to make it sound proffessional and not pushy and desperate..?
Will be interested to know...

Exactly as I outlined in the post above.

Dear Mrs X,

At our salon we consider our clients like friends and like any friend we are sad when we see someone leave for what ever reason.

As a valued client we would like you to know that we extend a warm welcome to you any time you care to return to our salon for any service.

Please be sure that when you ring our salon, we will be delighted to serve you and look forward to seeing you again.

Yours faithfully, etc

 

[eden_beauty]

Hi - I don't do nail extensions but all beauty and massage and i've been soooooooooooo quiet - I really want to know how u guys are keeping so busy? I have sent out flyers and i'm on all the free websites - I have my own website etc etc - I work from home and also do mobile.Please give me some advise - I have tried my very best and always do promo offers by email aswell as doing refer a friend and money off vouchers but none of this seems to have worked and i don't know where i am going wrong - My clients love the treatments as they have given me some fantastic reviews on free index website so i am at a loss

I thought it was the recession but some people seem to be doing really well so i dont get why this is happening?

 

[Cutesteph]

Thats a good idea because I think like you said when clients leave they feel awkward/intimitated to come back.

I think I have lost that client but Im not gonna lose sleep over it.:lol:

 

[geeg]

Hi - I don't do nail extensions but all beauty and massage and i've been soooooooooooo quiet - I really want to know how u guys are keeping so busy? I have sent out flyers and i'm on all the free websites - I have my own website etc etc - I work from home and also do mobile.Please give me some advise - I have tried my very best and always do promo offers by email aswell as doing refer a friend and money off vouchers but none of this seems to have worked and i don't know where i am going wrong - My clients love the treatments as they have given me some fantastic reviews on free index website so i am at a loss

I thought it was the recession but some people seem to be doing really well so i dont get why this is happening?

Are you in the right place? Sometimes, no matter how good you are or how well you have promoted yourself (and it seems you have done allot) if you are in the wrong place ... it does not help.

 

[geeg]

Thats a good idea because I think like you said when clients leave they feel awkward/intimitated to come back.

I think I have lost that client but Im not gonna lose sleep over it.:lol:

Well clients are like gold to me and I would loose sleep over it ... my business put the food in our mouths (all 7 of them) for a while .. and I never think I am 'sitting pretty' ... nor should anyone.

 

[Cutesteph]

Hi - I don't do nail extensions but all beauty and massage and i've been soooooooooooo quiet - I really want to know how u guys are keeping so busy? I have sent out flyers and i'm on all the free websites - I have my own website etc etc - I work from home and also do mobile.Please give me some advise - I have tried my very best and always do promo offers by email aswell as doing refer a friend and money off vouchers but none of this seems to have worked and i don't know where i am going wrong - My clients love the treatments as they have given me some fantastic reviews on free index website so i am at a loss

I thought it was the recession but some people seem to be doing really well so i dont get why this is happening?

I think one of the main reasons Im busy is because Im the only person in my city who offers sculpts. Everyone here tips and then infills with airbrush.

Its pretty much all chop shops here so that really works to my advantage.

I wish I could offer you more advice but all I can say is dnt give up

 

[eden_beauty]

Thanks geeg and cutesteph - To be honest Geeg i am in west london and i do have 3 salons around me so maybe thats making it hard but to be honest I don't want to give up but sometimes feel maybe trying to rent a room in a salon might bode well for me as they promote the services and have a bigger marketing budget......i just dont know.....i'll see how the new year goes ...thanks guys, Lisa

 

[angel fingers]

well my business is operated from my home and i am 50 % MORE EXPENSIVE than most nail salons in my town. i am very busy and turning away clients due to my lack of time.

the only time i would expect a home tech to be cheaper is if its just someone knocking out the odd set of nails off the arm of her sofa whilst the kids fight and the husband is complaining about the smell of monomer whilst he watches football on the telly.

if you behave professionally then you can expect a professional wage, its only fair.

 

[nailzoo]

Although I agree with everything stated, some clients will nonetheless think that you do not have the overheads of salon rent in a shop and therefore expect you to be cheaper.

This will always be the great divider between owning a salon and working from home.

This is not my opinion, it's the way other people think.