Do you buy in what the client wants?

[Beautygirl1977]

If you don't have something a client wants like a colour or nail art stuff would you buy it in just for that person and that one set of nails? I have a client asking for different things all the time but I can't keep buying new stuff surely? Thanks

 

[JenBella]

Hmm..in my opinion you need to have a good varied stock...not only to be able to cater for client wants, but also to stop getting bored!
What is it they are looking for?

See the way I'd look at it is...if you don't have what the client wants she can just go somewhere that does!

 

[hannajadem]

I'd say no, depending on the circumstances. I've bought in specific products for clients for them to be used once and then never again, as no other clients wanted them either. I was asked over the phone by a new client once to get in a specific range of glitter, which I agreed to but didn't actually buy it in, I just wore my own glitter on my nails and as soon as she turned up for the appointment she changed her mind and had what I was wearing!
I find most clients have changed their mind by the time it comes round to picking a colour.

 

['chelle]

I buy in EXACTLY what the client wants!! Even if the client wants something unusual or something I wouldn't have picked myself I will still buy it, it just makes sense to listen to your customer and providing what they want.

But, it doesn't stop there. That client will return to you because you can and do deliver anything she asks for, so you're securing a regular client which is what we all aim for, a good base of regulars. She also tells all her friends that you can do whatever nails they can dream up no matter how wild or unusual, and when their techs say "sorry no" to their requests they'll start to come to you.

When you look at it like that, the few quid extra on those products is a really valuable investment even if you never use them again. Anyone is welcome for a rummage in my drawers in my salon (ooer mrs :lol: ) and you will see that I have tens, possibly hundreds of foils, glitters, fimo etc. Its all been worthwhile, I market myself as a tech who can offer literally anything, and clients like it, they also like it when they ask what sort of things I can do and I start to show them nail wheels with my vast selection of possibilites, they get quite green eyed and start saying "I'm having that next time, and that the time after...", I have a client who's lined up her next 5 visits with me! So, it keeps your regulars coming back, and hopefully attracts a few other tech's regulars too. Brutal maybe, but thats business.

 

[Beautygirl1977]

There is one lady who comes every 3 weeks and has been asking for different things. I have to get some gold tape in just now but I'm just wondering when I would say enough is enough. It just got me to thinking. Thanks

 

[PerfectPolish]

For me it would depend on what they were asking & how much choice you feel you already give.

Nail art I probably would buy new things for anyone who asked because I like customers who let me get creative. I'd just make sure I was charging them enough to cover the materials.

Specific colours would depend on how much choice they're already getting. I offer Gelish & Shellac but haven't got many Shellac colours yet so I would be happy to order something specific. I plan to get the full collection over the next couple of months anyway so it wouldn't be a problem. With Gelish I have over 60 colours without layering so I probably wouldn't order in for one specific customer. What I would do is use mica or additives to customise if they wanted something I didn't have & charge them extra for a 'custom colour' xx

 

[Papillion]

I tend to get what a client asks for and then rave about this new thing I've got to my other clients which usually ends up in some other people having it too.

 

['chelle]

The thing is, once you've bought something in, there's nothing to stop you marketing it; clients will buy what you tell them to, so if you get a glitter in that one client has asked for, do half a dozen nails on a nail wheel with different possibilities for that glitter, and make sure your clients see it. More often than not you will get clients going for it.

I have a client who likes daring nails. well, she calls them daring, I call them vulgar :lol: no offence intended and I certainly wouldnt say it to her but I'm just not a fan of overkill on nails.

Anyway, one time she had a gold rockstar with a gold leopard print foil diagonally across the nail. I had the glitter but ordered the foil for her and resigned myself to never using it again but as she paid £40 for the nails it was still worth the investment. I'll be honest I hated the finished nails, but the client loved them so it was all good, and I did the nail she had chosen on a nail wheel, and I've done it another twice since then. So, it was a worthwhile purchase, even though theres no accounting for taste :lol:

 

[Zooks]

I too think it depends what exactly she is asking for, I know I have a good range of colours (all of the shellac out!) and a tonne of glitters and foils, I also have crystals and studs so I'd like to think I can cater for most tastes BUT if there was something a client wanted that wasn't too horrendously expensive or out there I would most definitely get it in for all of the reasons the other Geeks have stated above.

What exactly is she asking you to buy in? If shes a regular client or likely to be it's worth the investment as you will make it back and more if she spreads the word!

 

[Rachul123]

If you do something different you could take a picture and advertise it to other clients so you don't waste what you've bought xx

 

[Beautygirl1977]

She's sending me photos of all different things. She's on a roll! Lol! I've never used foil before. I need to watch some YouTube I think?
I'm not just a nail tech I do lots of beauty treatments so its hard to keep up to speed with everything. She was in for 2 hours the other day just getting her nails and a brow wax! I'm rubbish with timings. I have about 70 gel polish colours. I'm changing all my products at the moment though to Shellac and Gelish but it will take time. I'm also doing a few training courses just now So hard to keep up with everything!

 

[mm29]

From a clients point of view if I asked for a specific design and nail tech didn't have the products to do it or wouldn't order them in id go else where to get what I wanted or buy it myself and take it, Iv done this before only glitter mind..

It's like a client of mine(hair) asking for a Radom colour I don't normally carry and not ordering it for her!

Never in a million years would that happen

 

[ShannonU]

I have 70+ Gelish colors and I definitely didn't buy them all because I personally liked them. Lol. I like most but a lot have been for clients.

 

[Rinn]

If you don't have something a client wants like a colour or nail art stuff would you buy it in just for that person and that one set of nails? I have a client asking for different things all the time but I can't keep buying new stuff surely? Thanks

I do it at the trade shows. I will be going around picking up things saying to myself ' o so and so will love this'. My clients love it that I have them in mind and it makes them feel special. Obviously I don't buy for every client just if something strikes me that I know a particular person will like.:lol:

 

[Zooks]

She's sending me photos of all different things. She's on a roll! Lol! I've never used foil before. I need to watch some YouTube I think?
I'm not just a nail tech I do lots of beauty treatments so its hard to keep up to speed with everything. She was in for 2 hours the other day just getting her nails and a brow wax! I'm rubbish with timings. I have about 70 gel polish colours. I'm changing all my products at the moment though to Shellac and Gelish but it will take time. I'm also doing a few training courses just now So hard to keep up with everything!

I feel for you. I do all aspects of beauty but spend a good 80-90% of my time Shellac'ing so I focus most of my money there at the minute, making sure I am as up to date as money will allow. Nail art doesn't have to be expensive, we are not meant to discuss costs on this site but all foils and glitters are reasonable and you can get sets to start you up which don't cost the earth.

At the end of the day she can only have one look at a time so if money is tight I would simply say to her "They all look fab, if you let me know which one you would like at your next appointment I will order it in for you" you don't have to order it all at once because she cant wear it all at once!

I get a lot of clients send me pics and I dont do a lot of nail art, I do glitters, foils etc but not painted pics etc, and if I can't do it I look it up or if it is really intricate I offer them an alternative.

Rockstars with glitter or foil have a fab mark up and I do a tonnnnne of them. Get practicing. Have a look at Martha Stewart ones they wont break the bank and will last you for ageees!

 

[Beautygirl1977]

I have lots of glitter and do a lot of rockstars. I seen foils on S2 website so I'll maybe get a couple with my next order. I have nail wraps coming out of my ears and I have lots of bows and crystals etc. I'm doing my Acrylic nail training just now. So need to practise! And then I have a make up refresher because I suck at it and then intimate waxing! It's all go just now! That's what I'll do I'll ask her exactly and then get in what she needs. I just don't have the time to spend sending emails back and forth discussing nails! Lol! She's lovely
too.

 

[sarahlou09]

I have certain products that some of my clients will only use so i buy them for my VIP customers

 

[souz]

this is exactly the reason why we cant specialise and offer all to everyone. I specialise in nails so that i can offer everything to do with nails, i can keep up with trends etc and buy it in as im not having to focus on lots of other treatments also and having to be stocked up on those aswell.

I also have clients who send me pictures prior to coming in and if i dont have what the design needs i order it in at the cost of the client.

You have to decide for yourself if you want to keep clients like this then yes you have to keep getting things in at request but you also have to make sure that you charge accordingly.

 

[souz]

it sounds a bit like you are taking on too much. Its ok doing all these courses but you then need to practise each so that you feel confident on clients especially as you are doing intimate waxing. You dont NEED to offer everything and to be honest you should be concentrating on being really good at each treatment before booking another course! that is of course my opinion.

Nails on their own are time consuming and need lots of effort put in. If you are only going to do a set of nails once ina while you will never get your speed up as well as never get really good xx

 

[MissOwen]

I try and have a big enough range of bits and bobs to create the look they want.

If they wanted glitter, i have it, foils, i have them, fimo, stickers, stones... i have them. I also hand paint and can provide 3D art so most things can be achieved.

I have never been asked to order nail art in, i usually have something that would do the job that they have asked for.

I have ordered Gelish colours in by request before and had to stop doing it. I ended up with random colours that very few clients would like and the person i ordered it for only wanted to use once. I have a big enough range to cover a good few shades of every colour so i wont continue ordering more just for a one off.