Help . . . advice needed

[SelenaP]

Hi all, i'm looking for some advice as to what to do. i'm a master nail tech an work full time in an office mon - fri, i would love to give that up an do nothing but nails, i went mobile about 5 months ago, putting leaflets about, signs in shop windows an advertising on all the free sites yell etc, i had 2 clients in all! then a month ago i got a nice room in an expensive salon that offer hot rock massage an reflexology an the likes which is above a hairdressers, they charge me £40 for a sat, there are 2 other nail bars in the small town, but i've sussed that i'm the only one that does 3d nail art etc not just pink an whites or gels, don;t use an electric nail file etc which i thought were good USP's, well i've put hundreds of adverts & leaflets out, an so far i've not had 1 single customer! i can't afford to keep paying the rent with no clients an i'm really disheartened now, i've not gone in today, an i know the salon owners gonna be a bit ticked off with me, but i think whats the point! i'm thinkin either wait til xmas outta the way an get stuck in on the moby side or apply at a ground floor based salon where i'd get noticed a bit more, get a cust base then rent somewhere, maybe i've jumped the gun a bit, but i thought id have had at least 1 customer! i'm now thinking i'm crap as well! feeling really toot! :irked::cry:

 

[Nataliya]

Hun,

Dont give up just yet. It isnt easy to build up a clientelle, especially at this time and in a small town.

Here are my thoughts, what would I do:

reassess your pricelist
is it easy understood and not too complicated?
is it eye catching?

introduce a special offer
20% off first time full set etc

its better to do some nails at discounted price rather than not doing any

are you wearing enhancements yourself? its a good way of advertising your services, especially when people give you a hint "I love your nails" etc. give them a card with a discount on their first visit

advertise on local gumtree

advertise in local paper

do you have a website ( if not you can easily make one up yourself for free (freewebs.com)

I would also enquire with a salon owner if they can do a newsletter to their clientelle letting them know that you are there and offer them an introductory price.

i would also negotiate your rate with them, at least until you build up a client base.

its better to start out in the salon rather than on your own.

Search this forum - you will find a lot of helpful info on this subject.

Beleive in yourself and become the best where you are:hug:

Good luck:lol:

 

[Sassy Hassy]

Have you tried offering a free nail to the clients of the hair salon etc. Once they see your work I am sure you can convert a few.

It's not easy at the moment (blimey if Woollies are going bust then it shows you how bad things are) and you need to think outside the box a little to get those clients.

I would approach the owner and try and renegotiate the rent. It won't look good on him/her if you are here one minute and gone the next. £40 also seems a lot for one day, but then does depend on your location, the price you charge etc etc.

 

[Urban Geek]

I think £40 is a lot if you are not getting the custome. Firstly, I would try and negotiate the rent to a percentage (say 20%). That way, if you don't have a good day you are not out of pocket. It may also give the hair salon a bigger incentive to promote your services. Have you tried giving an award (perhaps a free treatment or a gift voucher for them to do whatever with) to the hairdresser who gets you the most referrals?

The fact that your services are only available on a Saturday is a problem too. It is very restrictive for the clients.

Try and renegotiate the rent and take it from there.

 

[SelenaP]

thanks for all the advice, for my acrylics i'm charging £30, an the gels i've dropped from £40 to £35, i do coloured acryl an gel too, for embedded 3d art i charge £50 for a whole set, maybe my prices still too high, i do have usa nails down the road but they don;t do coloured or 3d, an their nail art is limited, but i've put about a thousand leaflets offering a discount, the hairdressers below have a nail tech in on a sunday, but they are giving out my pricelists, i've spoken to the salon owner an she's adamant bout the price an rent not percentage an not negotiable, she is really nice about it tho, but she getting rent either way.

i know what you mean bout just being there jus on the sat too, but i work full time during the week an can't do anymore. maybe i;m better doing mobile.