there will always be the cheap people, and there will always be "you", unless they get better results and more clients than you, then there is nothing to worry about.
SO many whinge about "them and "US", in fact "WE", as educated technicians should be better, if in fact "Sweaty Betty" up the road has more clients due to better results, then you should be looking at better education .... Lord knows we have more access to better products.
But even good products in the wrong hands can lead to product break down, you have to be good at what you do ... and that's down to education and dedication, as well as using a decent product.
The clients that go to "Sweaty Betty" or "Whacoloryouwan" will probably never respect you, your education, or your pricing structure, so there's no point worrying about it, there are "cheap" clients and there are your clients (genuinely concerned about quality), if you don't stoop to their prices, then those clients would never knock on your door anyways .... so why bother about them?
Care about (and service) who is coming though your door, not who is going through theirs .... you would never get them anyways .... and if you did, you would probably regret it...... Customers who care little for their feet or hands ..... (dirty Rhino feet) unwashed and unclean nails with yesterdays sandwich underneath them, plonking themselves in front of you expecting you to undo years of disregard and ignorance, expecting you to create a silk purse out of a sows ear for a dollar.
Be careful what you wish for and what you envy, when you walk past "those" salons, just ask yourself "Is that the type of clientele you want" ?
I know I may sound like a snob, but wait till those slabs of meat with Vulture toenails and calloused soles/heels due to wearing flip flops for their whole life on a Linoleum floor lands on your pedicure "throne" ....... needing pounds of Parmesan cheese to be shredded of their feet .....
or Vicky Pollard stubs a fag end out in front of your salon, then rocks in expecting a manicure and some "bling", but needs to stop for a fag between coats of polish for a third of the price you are willing to do them.