Extremely disheartened-advice would be appreciated please

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flawless2013

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Hi all. I have used the site for a while but this is my first post so please bear with me.

I retrained in beauty about 18 months ago (previuosly worked in a completly different background) I saved up to pay for my course included LCN Gel, Gel Polish, Lash Extensions, HD Brows, LVL Lashes and Nouvatan Spray Tans.

As you can imagine from the brands I've spent a fair amount on training costs, products, equipment (as I'm currently mobile) and marketing i.e. website, leaflets, cards etc.

I feel I have put a great amount of effort, time and money into this and feel it has all gone to waste.

I have quite a low rate of return clients and as a result have realy lost confidence in myself. Plus the added pressure of having invested a lot of time and money is getting to me as i still feel inexperienced and unsuccessful.

I should also add I've recently been offered 2 therapy rooms in a busy hair salon for a few days a week but feel my confidence is too low to undertake this despite initially being very excited to do this.

Should i cut my losses and return to my previous industry before forking out even more money for extra equipment and products for the salon or should I take the leap and hope my skills and confidence increase with more time. Im really sorry for the rant I'm just feeling really lost and don't have anyone in the industry who can advise.

Thanks in advance
xx
 
Awww sending you hugs!! With all the money and time you have invested in this I would definitely say keep at it. I'm only just starting so I can't really give you any advice from experience but I'm going to give myself 2-3 years to get busy with regular clients. Loads of people have said that a few of their regulars have been with them from the beginning but most didn't gain regular clients until after year one. Have more confidence in yourself though as I think clients see this and if they see you aren't they might not feel confident in you either just from your body language etc.

Keep persevering if you love what you do. You will get there!!! Hopefully around Xmas you will see a bit more of a boom too.

Like I said I have no experience as of yet so I could be asking the same in a couple of years :) xx
 
Hi kate

Thanks so much for your reply it means a lot you stopped to take the time :)

It's just hard as I'm unsure as to whether people don't rebook as they want a one off treatment or whether there not pleased with the result. I always check they're pleased when I've finsihed but I never know whether people would be too afraid to say.

The other thing is i fake the confidence while im there in order to put them at ease so I don't think my approach or body language is putting them off but I know what you mean.

It doesn't help i had the client from hell yesterday and was genuinely my worst day since entering the industry. I had a gut feeling when i first arrived she was going to be a problem but ignored it and carried on professionally regardless. I guess your gut instuinct is rarely wrong.

I guess im just worried if i invest even more money and it doesn't work out and then I feel like even more of a failure.

Just want to wish you all the luck in the world for your new venture xxx
 
Hi there.

What is it you aren't very confident with? Is it meeting new people or is it the confidence in the treatments you are carrying out?
It can take a while before you see a return in some clients. So just keep going! You don't come into the industry with a fantastic 5 star rating. You really have to work hard at it. You will get there.

Why not get some 'thank you for your custom' postcards made. That's whst I've done. Then at the end of the month for every new client I've had I send them the wee card just to say thank you for choosing me. It's a nice touch. And much more personal than a text or email to say thank you. Then at least if they return you know you are doing something right!!

I've had my salon for a year and a half. And recently I've had clients come to me that came when I first opened and havnt been back since.... But they all said oh sorry been so busy, Unwell, had no money etc. it's never been anything bad. So don't panic yourself.
 
thanks nicola I really appreciate your reply.

I'm confident in meeting the people doing the consultations etc i think i'm just lacking confidence in my skill and always doubting myself.

The problem is I know in order to get more skilled and confident I need to bem ore experienced I just feel disheartened at the mo as though I'm not improving as much as I should be or not at the level I should be at.

I had my first disatisfied customer (that I know of) yesterday and she was absolutely horrible. it was the most awful situation where i couldn't wait to leave and get home I honestly felt like crying.

I think this has knocked my confidence massively today. I'm sure tomorrow I'll wonder what i was whining about :)

Thanks for your advice. I know people don't come back for various reasons but i initially think 'Oh no it's me they don't think im good enough' I guess that will fade when i've gained more experience.

Thanks for your reply :) xxx
 
Sending you a hug first and well done for changing your career!!

Some honest advice now (ive been a nail tech for 16 and a therapist for 12 years)......i think the courses you have done are great bit it doesnt stop there, yes you have a certificate but doesnt mean you are there! Its like driving a car, we pass our test and then we learn how to drive on the real roads!!! Dont run before you can walk.....try and get some salon experience...you will learn so much, good and bad plus having a full column will give you confidence. Being around other therapists will also give you confidence. Keep going on courses and workshops to improve your skill levels and knowledge. I do around 10 sets of nails a day now and can pretty much deal with anything that walks through the door from nail art, broken or badly bitten nails to toe nail reconstructions but i couldnt have done half of that when i started!!! Keep learning and confidence will come....dont give up yet xx
 
thank you so much for your reply. Everyone on her seems so friendly and helpful so far :)

I agree with what your saying as I have recently looked at doing refresher courses for a day where i can take case studies in for critique and a nail finsihing skills workshop with LCN.

I think i do need to take the plunge into salon experience in order to feel more skilled and confident. I guess I just wanted experienced and skilled therapists opinions, which I am very thankful for.

I desperately want to be skilled and experienced at each treatment I offer but i know it's a case of not trying to run before I can walk.

Thank you again so much for your kind response and your professional advice, it's invaluable xxx
 
I run a salon, I've never been mobile but I can imagine it is very hard to build a regular client base especially at the beginning as you don't have passing trade like a salon does.

From the brands you have trained in I know you have spent a lot of money so I really wouldn't waste it.

I would take the offer from the salon! You could possibly help each other, their hair clients can become your nail and beauty clients and you can help them get new hair clients!

I think it sounds like a fab opportunity for you to gain back your confidence and gain a very loyal client base, and if you ever did decide to go back to mobile your loyal clients would probably follow you anyway :)

I hope everything works out for you, take a leap and go for it!! X


Felicity xx
 
Thank you so much foryour reply felicity i really appreciate it.

I think i've already took a massive leap but i'm just having a little wobble I guess nerves getting the better of me...

I know you're right but I have this horrible voice at the back of my head saying I can't do it and i'm not going to get any better. I don't know why this is the case I can see improvements since i originally trained. Think I need a positive mental attitude and a kick up the backside if im honest.

Thanks for your encouragement :) xxx
 
Thank you so much foryour reply felicity i really appreciate it.

I think i've already took a massive leap but i'm just having a little wobble I guess nerves getting the better of me...

I know you're right but I have this horrible voice at the back of my head saying I can't do it and i'm not going to get any better. I don't know why this is the case I can see improvements since i originally trained. Think I need a positive mental attitude and a kick up the backside if im honest.

Thanks for your encouragement :) xxx

We all have our days where we doubt ourselves. If you see improvement from when you first started then that's great and there's ALWAYS room for improvement :)




Felicity xx
 
I agree with Vanity Beauty ... take the rooms and start to believe in yourself.

When I started in business I gave myself one year to see if I could make the business work - although it takes a lot longer than that to build it up.

I decided if I couldn't make it work within that year I would return to the office.

It's very very scary to go into business for yourself and it takes courage - but the worse that can happen is you have to sell your equipment and products and go back to your previous line of work.

You have to know that your work is good. If there are areas that you are not confident in then re-train. And you need to be in control of yourself, you business and your clients. They are not in control of you.

So chin up and take the step into the unknown, work your little butt off and the clients WILL return.
 
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Pick one of the treatments you love and try specialising in it so that you get known for it, build a clientele whether in the salon or mobile and then get clients to have other treatments as add ons
 
Hiya!

Don't be disheartened it takes a long time to build up a regular client base, You offer really good branded services to stick to it!
personally I'd take the offer in the salons as regular hair clients may feel like a little pamper too it might be good for your Buisness

keep going and don't give up x
 
thank you all so much for your replies and your advice.

I know you're right i think its just a case a of nerves and taking the next big step.

I know i need to work on my confidence and just keep at it and hopefully everything will fall in to place.

xxx
 
I had my first disatisfied customer (that I know of) yesterday and she was absolutely horrible. it was the most awful situation where i couldn't wait to leave and get home I honestly felt like crying.

I think this has knocked my confidence massively today. I'm sure tomorrow I'll wonder what i was whining about :)

In this business, if you don't have a thick skin to start with, you gradually build it. I've been upset so many times by customers you wouldn't believe it! Apart from the ones who don't turn up and then are incomunicado, I had one lady try to sue me because her brow wax made her skin sore. She was unsuccessful because it was her fault but it upset me as she'd been a regular. Then I had one who had a 5-week e-mail banter at me because she wanted her money back on a CACI course! But for all the horrible clients there are so many more who are worth doing the work for. And yes, do take the 2 days in salon, fab opportunity.
 
I have felt exactly what your feeling and cross fingers have come out the other end, I have almost threw the towel In on so many occasions over the last year with my confidence taking a beating then a boost continuously. I constantly criticise my own work! However I remember kate (cnd trainer) saying the day you stop criticising your work is the day you should give it up!
Also recently a fab eyelash tech who is a fellow geek has shown some of her first pictures on fb and wow what a difference her point is that were not all born great eyelash techs but with determination and practice you'll get good!
Stick with it learn from your mistakes. It takes ages to build a clientele but you'll do it, keep looking at how you can be better but don't neglect how well you have already done. Hth xxx
 
If making a successful business was easy, anyone could do it :lol:. Fact is that 9 out of 10 new businesses fail in the first year, and of those most fail within 5 years. Most fail because they had insufficient funds and/or lack of experience.

You've started well by getting some good basic education and actually encouraging some customers to use you - which is normally the hardest part.

But I'm concerned that your customers aren't returning. This suggests something is wrong - either the quality of your work, or the price for the quality of work they receive i.e. they don't see the value. It could be something else, for example maybe you are offering a very cheap service to get experience and these people simply move to the next cheapest offer in town. But the problem is you don't know why.

Before you invest anymore money, I'd recommend that you call them and ask them why. Say that you understand their decision, but you would really appreciate their honesty and help so that you can improve your business.

Without this knowledge, you are flying blind.

If you have some photo's and want me to access your work or marketing, you are welcome to send me a PM and I'll send you my email.
 
Don't feel disheartened, it took me a long while to gain the return clientele, I wouldn't take it that they don't want to come back, most people have treatments from time to time, but most regulars usually have somewhere they go at the moment, it's from a bad experience from another therapist or moving area, that will bring you a new regular. I personally would take the leap of faith, and keep strong. It Definatly pays off in the end!

Good luck with it all x x
 
Totally agree with the others in that you should persevere, youvre put lots in so far and i think you should accept the offer of a room at the salon, frame your certificates and get them all up on the wall together to make a big impact and impress clients (and yourself!)

If there are any areas with any of the things youve qualified in where you seem to have a bit of a block or a particular problem, maybe some one to one training would be good - it costs a bit but on the other hand, you can make a list beforehand of everything you wish to ask and as you're the only "student" as it were, you can iron everything out in a very short space of time.

Where have you been working up until now? Was it from home or mobile etc?

I've been a nail tech for over 10 yrs now and have built my clientele up gradually, working from home after being mobile for 2 years. I can remember almost throwing in the towel at around the 18 month mark as well, actually, but I'm so glad I persevered.

CLients are a very fickle bunch (or they can be). A lot of my ladies now are very loyal and lots have been coming for years, but there are plenty who come now and then, and some of them return after I haven't seem them for like, 2 or 3 years or so, then they might be regular for 6 months or so then they wont, then they may come back once,then I won't see them for a year,then 4 years later they pop up again..... so what I'm saying it, there's no rhyme or reason, they're just not that loyal and maybe like going to lots of different places.

Important if they do return not to make them feel guilty for going elsewhere though, otherwise you won't see their heels for dust lol
 
You sound like a great girl and it is good to see that you are trying to work out what to do next. I am not having a go but I suspect your total training and experience amounts to days rather than weeks or months. If this is the case you cannot expect to go out there and feel confident. At lot of training does not involve supervised models for any decent length of time. Do take the rooms offered and slowly and gradually build up confidence. Keep in touch with the brands you have bought into and keep going for extra training. It will come with time - Rome was not built in a day!
 

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