HELP Just starting out

[ang]

Hi everyone,

Can anyone give me advice,i trained as a nail tech 2 years ago(NSI) only did about 10 sets for family & friends really loved doing it but worked full time in a casino so gave up never had time to do nails.i now want to do nails mobile so i went for a 121 last week no problems, i've posted some leaflets locally about 100 five days ago and have not heard anything is this the norm, is it a really hard market to get into.Can anyone give me some advice on how to get started

many Thanks Ang xx

 

[Vetty]

With leaflet drops you are only looking at a 1% response rate on average - so I wouldn't expect much from 100! Getting your name known is really hard to start with but Sassy Hassy has done a really good article about advertising your business: http://www.salongeek.com/business/28153-sassy-guide-advertising-your-business.html

Take a look!

hth's

 

[Missy G]

Since starting out mobile in December 2007, I have distributed 800 leaflets separatly..4 lots of 200.Out of those 800, I got one booking ,and one call!!!

I dont bother with leaflets now,I signed up to yell.com, and have had several bookings from there, and managed to get an advert in the Yellow pages, thats also where I get most of my bookings from.

It is very hard hun,Ive still no sign of a client base,it makes you feel crap, but you have to learn to be strong.

I do have another parttime job to keep me going, without this Id be in deep poo,Ive tuesdays, and fridays free to do nails, and evenings if need be,there could be several reasons why Im not getting much custom,but in the mean time am grinning and bearing it, and hoping next year I will be laughing.

 

[2littletoys]

Since starting out mobile in December 2007, I have distributed 800 leaflets separatly..4 lots of 200.Out of those 800, I got one booking ,and one call!!!

I dont bother with leaflets now,I signed up to yell.com, and have had several bookings from there, and managed to get an advert in the Yellow pages, thats also where I get most of my bookings from.

It is very hard hun,Ive still no sign of a client base,it makes you feel crap, but you have to learn to be strong.

I do have another parttime job to keep me going, without this Id be in deep poo,Ive tuesdays, and fridays free to do nails, and evenings if need be,there could be several reasons why Im not getting much custom,but in the mean time am grinning and bearing it, and hoping next year I will be laughing.

totally agree debbie- i also have a part time job and do nails on fridays or sat......

 

[blossom]

Absolutely agree with the 1% take up rate, that's exactly what I found when I started out. And some people keep the leaflets for a while too, I had calls months after the initial drop.

But it does start to snowball eventually, for example, from my original leaflet drop 5 years ago, take this scenario:

a lady rang me and I did her nails for 2 years till she moved away

her neighbour asked for my number and she's had fortnightly appointments ever since (5 years worth at present)

I now do the neighbour's sister-in-law's nails regularly

And the sister-in-law's best friend

And the best friend's mum

And between them they have recommended 3 or 4 people who come for one-off sets when they have a special occasion to go to.



All from one initial phone call from my leaflet 5 years ago!


This isn't meant to sound like bragging, sorry if it comes across like that, it's meant to offer encouragement and to just show what can happen over time.

My business was quite slow to start with. Do you know, I went and delivered my first 200 or so leaflets then went home and stayed in the rest of that day, waiting for the phone to ring!! (It didn't).

But after several months I had enough clients to stop me worrying and now I have a pretty full book.

Lots of luck xxx

 

[Missy G]

This is why I am trying to be strong and hang on .Ive seen so many people on this site struggled to start with , and have now succeeded,I know one day ...or hope one day that will be me too,so in the meantime I will take it as it comes, but I do think if I didnt have the likes of other nail techs on this sight to talk to, I probly would of given up by now.:irked:

 

[2littletoys]

This is why I am trying to be strong and hang on .Ive seen so many people on this site struggled to start with , and have now succeeded,I know one day ...or hope one day that will be me too,so in the meantime I will take it as it comes, but I do think if I didnt have the likes of other nail techs on this sight to talk to, I probly would of given up by now.:irked:

dont give up hun!:hug: as i said im in the eaxct same situation but i do know what you mean- this site really helps.

good luck!

 

[ang]

Thanks for the advice,i feel a bit more optimistic now i was starting to think it was just me. My friend thinks i should rent a space in a salon what do you think

thanks Ang xx

 

[Missy G]

This is exactly what Ive been advised to do from this sight Ang, Im going to give it a few more months,if things havent picked up by mid summer, then a salon it will have to be,the only thing that bothers me doing this is it might feel like having a boss again, if Im working under some one elses roof,atleast when your mobile you can please your self.

 

[2littletoys]

This is exactly what Ive been advised to do from this sight Ang, Im going to give it a few more months,if things havent picked up by mid summer, then a salon it will have to be,the only thing that bothers me doing this is it might feel like having a boss again, if Im working under some one elses roof,atleast when your mobile you can please your self.

i ve just turned down a table for that exact reason! she was starting to treat me as an employee. Just pick the right space and i think you ll be fine!

good luck :hug:

 

[sodabubble]

I think this site is great at giving encouragement. I am mobile, and about to take up a room for one day per week - figured I havent got much to lose and hopefully it will work out in my favour. If for some reason it doesnt, I wont give up, I will keep going until I find the right mix of mobile and rentaroom until I have got a good client base and full book - bearing in mind that for me a full book is about 20 hours p/w!!