Hard Nosed Business Advice Desperately Needed

[tireeteam]

I recently trained with glamlash to do semi permanent eyelash extensions. This is the first beauty course that I have done. I am a single parent wanting to start a mobile beauty business and there are so many courses that I could do.

If any of you people were in my position, starting from scratch with a very limited income, wanting to maximise profitability, what treatments would you offer?

I should also add that the area that I am in is not into airy fairy holistic stuff or massage etc. They want to look good on a budget.

If any of you experienced people could give me some advice I would be really grateful because I am totally bamboozled about all the courses, manicures, pedicures, nails, eyebrow tints,tans, eyelash perms etc etc etc.

Thanks in advance x

 

[kimi1101]

Spray tanning has really good profit margins and a lot of companies have starter kits where you can get enough tan to pay back what you paid for your kit. X

 

[tireeteam]

Spray tanning has really good profit margins and a lot of companies have starter kits where you can get enough tan to pay back what you paid for your kit. X

In my area the salons are charging £8.00 for walk in spray tans. I know that the personalised service is so much better, but it makes it hard for me to charge the prices I need to charge. I dont know how they manage to do charge so little because I understand that the tanning solution itself costs about £3-£4 doesnt it?

 

[The Geek]

Personally I would suggest manicuring to do Shellac and Minx services. Am biased toward those 2 services, but not biased toward the fact that they are both smoking hot and in serious demand.

Best of luck.

 

[kimi1101]

I worked out I think I'm about £2.50 a tan. £8 a tan is mental- I occasionally do "tan for a tenner" days to give it a kick start but I do tans for £20 and get about 6 on an average week. Where do you live?

 

[Dolly6410]

very true about spray tanning, its very competitive, salons by me do spray tans for £10-15, i charge 20 and still get clients because people don't want to walk down the street after just being sprayed with there saggy baggys on and no make up. my most popular treatment is waxing, intimate waxing expesh because people like being able to have it done in there own home and have a wash whilst i set up

 

[tireeteam]

Personally I would suggest manicuring to do Shellac and Minx services. Am biased toward those 2 services, but not biased toward the fact that they are both smoking hot and in serious demand.

Best of luck.

Thanks for that. What courses do you do to do shellac and minx? Do you start with an acrylics course. What trainer would you recommend? I have seen sally salon services do a 4 day intro to acrylics which is £220 plus vat.

 

[kimi1101]

I think you just need a manicure qualification to buy from sweet squared ( the minx and shellac distributor) and if you contact them they can advise you on minx and shellac training.

 

[The Geek]

You would need a manicuring course, not an enhancement course (though some courses that teach enhancement also teach manicuring). I am not a fan of anything Sallys as IMHO they have no convictions or dedications to the industry as a whole (not saying some that work there don't, but bottom line is they frequently sell professional products to consumers).

You can give the Creative Academy a call on 0845 210 6060, or speak to a college/training provider offering manicure training.

Hope this helps!

 

[tireeteam]

I worked out I think I'm about £2.50 a tan. £8 a tan is mental- I occasionally do "tan for a tenner" days to give it a kick start but I do tans for £20 and get about 6 on an average week. Where do you live?

yes I think there is a price difference betweent the salon operator and the mobile one. The salons have volumes of people come to them and they dont have to lug about heavy equipment from house to house. I guess if you have the traffic you can keep prices lower.

I am in east kilbride just outside of Glasgow. It has a reputation for being affluent but it is down to earth. The few therapists i have spoken to say noone bothers with reflexology and hopi ear candles etc. they just want waxes,tans, big hair extensions, big nails and big eyelashes.

I feel as if I ought to offer manicures, pedicures and all that but the salons offer them for a few quid so I ask myself why I should spend £100s to learn this when the profit margins are quite low.

At the same time I worry that I wont be taken seriously if I am not offering a whole plethora of services.

 

[elliebee]

You CAN make a living just doing lashes. I Do. (And my area is very similar to yours)

If you specialise and build up a good reputation, word will soon spread.

This allows you to concentrate on one particular area and saves money on other courses until you feel you are ready to expand.

Just my tuppenceworth... LOL
x

 

[kimi1101]

I would say go for shellac and minx- especially at this time of year. you will find that those would usually Get them painted will go for these and love love love the longevity of shellac vs polish.

 

[tireeteam]

very true about spray tanning, its very competitive, salons by me do spray tans for £10-15, i charge 20 and still get clients because people don't want to walk down the street after just being sprayed with there saggy baggys on and no make up. my most popular treatment is waxing, intimate waxing expesh because people like being able to have it done in there own home and have a wash whilst i set up

I hadnt thought about the convenience and privacy side of mobile spray tanning. That definitely puts the mobile operator at an advantage then. Good to know.

Regarding itimate waxing. I must admit to being a bit put off by that, but at the end of the day if it is a good earner, I may have to be more realistic with my choices. Who did you train with and what waxing method do you use?

and thanks bTW :biggrin: I really really appreciate everyone coming here to give me some advice!!

 

[tireeteam]

You CAN make a living just doing lashes. I Do. (And my area is very similar to yours)

If you specialise and build up a good reputation, word will soon spread.

This allows you to concentrate on one particular area and saves money on other courses until you feel you are ready to expand.

Just my tuppenceworth... LOL
x

ellibee that is really good to know. You are right there is nothing wrong with having a speciality and just concentrating on that and I am glad that there is a sufficient market for it for you just to do extensions. Just curious but where abouts are you?

cheers

 

[elliebee]

ellibee that is really good to know. You are right there is nothing wrong with having a speciality and just concentrating on that and I am glad that there is a sufficient market for it for you just to do extensions. Just curious but where abouts are you?

cheers

I cover Glasgow/Lanarkshire.

Feel free to PM me if I can help you with anything
E x

 

[Kim Lawless]

Shellac

Lash Extensions

Shellac

Spray Tanning

Shellac

Facials

Shellac

I think you get my drift.:biggrin: Of course there are many other treatments that you can do……..not to mention my passion……..waxing, but you want to make a quick buck and why not. Good luck x

 

[gillian w]

I don't do lash extensions but i do quite often tint peoples lashes who are about to have lash extensions and then of course there is brow shaping and tinting,lash perming and evidently the new craze is going to be Myscara. You could offer a whole eye package.

 

[tireeteam]

Shellac

Lash Extensions

Shellac

Spray Tanning

Shellac

Facials

Shellac

I think you get my drift.:biggrin: Of course there are many other treatments that you can do……..not to mention my passion……..waxing, but you want to make a quick buck and why not. Good luck x

LOL - I get you. I will need to check regarding training costs for getting into shellac. I have noticed about this industry that the services that provide the highest profit margin are usually the most expensive to get into in the first place.

I loved your website btw!

 

[Dolly6410]

I hadnt thought about the convenience and privacy side of mobile spray tanning. That definitely puts the mobile operator at an advantage then. Good to know.

Regarding itimate waxing. I must admit to being a bit put off by that, but at the end of the day if it is a good earner, I may have to be more realistic with my choices. Who did you train with and what waxing method do you use?

and thanks bTW :biggrin: I really really appreciate everyone coming here to give me some advice!!

I qualified in waxing with my nvq at city of bristol college, but then i did a course at an academy in gloucester for intimate waxing, which to be honest afterwards i really wasnt confident in, so my beautician had me over a few times to help me with my technique i use warm wax usually, but on bikini i use warm wax on the top and then hot wax around the lips. i thought i would NEVER do bikini waxing but to be honest once you do the normal waxing course, an area is an area and you dont think about what your doing, i can remember being horrified at college doing a bikini line wax lol, i wanted to pull a sicky on that day! god i was imature then, thankfully i have grown up since then

 

[tireeteam]

I don't do lash extensions but i do quite often tint peoples lashes who are about to have lash extensions and then of course there is brow shaping and tinting,lash perming and evidently the new craze is going to be Myscara. You could offer a whole eye package.

Yes Myscara looks good, but looking at the training which is £180 plus professional kit £170 plus VAT you really need £400 upfront to get into. It is on my hit list tho.