Help Deciding My Future

[poshpinks]

Hi everyone

I am trying to decide what should do with my life. I would really
appreciate your help and advice on my dilemma, at present I have been trying to work mobile as this is what I thought people would prefer but I have put leaflets out and I have about 5 clients I do regular but do not seem to be geting anymore. Some people have said its just because money is tight at the moment and what with prices on petrol and food going up people are finding thing differcult and are not spending. I on the other hand am now questioning if it simply the fact people like to go to a salon as it give them that time out from work/ home or there daily life. A chance to be pampered to feel like its all about them.
I was working in a salon covering maternity and did enjoy it but thought mobile would be better as all the profit is yours , but right now I dont know which way to turn , do i do mobile and contiue trying to build my clientel up , do I try to rent space or and room and be self employed and last put not least do I work for a salon. I have three children and some people think I should just wait untill they are at school and then work but I am worried that I will lose alot of the skill I have got from wroking in the salon. I have also done a waxing course but not getting to do anything with it. Really fed up today my client canceled today aswell and I was alredy set up and in my uniform but fifteen min before she cancled.

 

[Vetty]

How long have you been mobile for? Also, do you really want to be mobile? It takes huge committment to be mobile and enjoy it....... What advertising have you done apart from the leaflet drop?

I've been mobile for 3 years and it takes time to establish a client base. I am in the Yellow Pages (paid boxed ad), on Yell.com (paid enhanced listing), I have a website and I offer an incentive for referrals from existing clients - those are the places I get 99% of my clients from.

IMO, to be successful as a mobile you have to enjoy it - if you turn up on a clients doorstep nto really looking forward to it the client will inwardly sense it....... I turn up with a smile, no matter what the weather or ow late the appt - if they want me and I've agreed to go then I'm happy to be there!

I also believe that to compete with a salon as a mobile you have to offer a service that is at least equal if not better than a salon treatment. If you do the client will pay salon rates for the priveledge of having their nails done in their own home......

Only you can decide what is best for you, but I hope the above has given you some thought starters.......

 

[Missy G]

Hi,I started up mobile at the end of last year ,Come March I was looking at renting a space in a salon as buisness was quiet,Ive actually turned down the offer now that I was given,Im getting quite a few bookings and some have stayed regular clients,I actually feel now Im at the stage where I can think to myself if they live too far away I can turn them down,where at first I felt I coudnt do this.

I know its a pain driving from house to house,but I must admit it is nice when I can come home for lunch if I work locally...and I cant say Ive ever done that before!!!And also like mentioned before atleast if your mobile ,apart from petrol.al the money is yours,Id hate to have to be paying rent when Im not around in a salon! I like working mobile too because I can please myself .

I too advertise in YP and Yell.com and Ive been really pleased with the response from there lately,and some people ..espically busy mums do say they picked out me,because Im mobile !

 

[liza2009]

I think we all have times when we feel like this :-(
I started with a few clients and i have to say its my daughters friends where most of my work comes from! when you meet at school , playgroup ect make sure your nails look good and people do ask where you get them done maybe have a few cards with you
good luck x

 

[poshpinks]

Thanks everyone its been great to know your not the only one out there that has the same sort of problems and sometimes its nice to talk to other people in the same boat with the same thoughts, so thanks to you alll for your advice.

 

[stampy]

Hi there, if you aren't busy mobile I wouldn't go down the renting a room/space route as you may struggle to meet the overheads and it could be stressful. At least with mobile, apart from petrol, the costs of running it are lower.

I'd try to build the mobile work up and work for yourself as it's a really flexibile way to make an income around looking after your children. I don't know what your circumstances are but if you went to a salon you would probably be paying out for a lot more childcare. Hope you get sorted! x

 

[Vanilla Pod]

Hi, this is Sam, did not realise you lived in Plymouth, maybe we can keep up our practise on each other , i am in the same boat as you, i work full time and wish to go mobile but finding it difficult, maybe we can come up with something together :hug:

 

[RedAdmiral]

Although I've been quite successful when mobile I think its a hard route to go down, I understand the money is all yours but is it regular? I found it hard to have the same professionality and presence that a salon gives, I dont mean me I mean the client your at their home against phone, neighbours, baby/kids, poor lighting, wonky table etc. I would maybe suggest you see if you can get 1-2 days work in a salon for regular income and be mobile the other days. I also suggest spray tanning its a great money earner and is really easy to do mobile. Get yourself some quality machinery, tan and a tent and away you go. One of the reasons I was so successful was that I used a great tan and did a professional job and now my mobile clients come to my salon so they have stuck with me thriugh the years.

 

[1999judy]

The thing with working mobile is that it takes a while for your clients to pass your number on and soon you will be bombarded.....but it won't happen overnight mate sorry to say.
Compare your petrol prices to the cost of renting space in a salon.
The difference.....even though petrol is expensive is still big. x

 

[jojosnails]

i am interested to hear ur views on being mobile as I am currently trying to decide what to do as i am employed at a salon and find it quite frustrating some days when i work out what i could have earnt if i was self employed! just don't know whether to go mobile / rent room etc.

i hope things work out for you, what ever you decide to do. the only thing i would bear in mind, is if you become employed, alot of employers do not allow you to work for yourself or somebody else at the same time as working for them. xx

 

[trudy35]

Hi
I've just started out mobile and like yourself...business is slow but I'm getting there.
However I wasn't expecting to get bombarded with phone calls straight away as I think with any new business it takes time to build up. I've done the leaflets drops which has been most successful. However putting leaflets in local business has come to nothing…waste of time. But there again I think a lot of that is down to well established salons in the area and there are ten salons in a radius of about 2 miles, so a lot of competition to compete with.
BUT I'm not giving up as I think some people would rather have a beautician come to their own home than have the inconvenience of going to a salon.
Don't give up! Just keep trying and word of mouth will get around...that’s what everyone keeps tell me. Stay positive!!