Help!! where to start

[ivee81]

hi ladies, i've got a bit of a problem here ... well a big problem really. i used to work at this nail bar at the main road 10 mins from home and its a very close friend who i work for.
now i dont work there anymore, and have set a room at home but dunno where to start to get clients. i dont want to advertise coz i dont want to loose the friendship. but if i dont advertise i get no clients, no 1 know i existed!!! i dont know wot to do is best... so ladies pls give me some sort of idea or solution .

thanks

 

[mdskora]

Hi ,
Welcome.. You didn't mention why you are no longer working there?. Has she got another Nail Tech working in the salon?.
I think you should advertise. If she is a true friend she should be supposting you, As long as you go about it the right way and don;t take clients from her then there is nothing to worry about... People come and go from place to place.. it is human nature that they think there is bigger and better out there... she might lose some nail clients to you and you to her....
When I had my business at home I used to offer full sets for $40 and first infill free.. I know it is cheap but for some reason when you work from home people have thoughts that you are not good enough to work in a salon ( well thats here in Oz).. there are plenty of great techs working out of their homes...
Go for it I say... you need to look after you....

 

[geeg]

Everyone has a right to move forward in their business.

There are plenty of suggestions of how to attract clients to you, right here on the site if you do a search.

I doubt that you working form home will make a huge impact on your friend's business and if it does, then she is not doing something right if she cannot hold on to her clients.

I've had lots of technicians move on from my salon over the years. NEVER once (despite a few, out and out going for it stealing clients details etc) did their leaving make a dent in my business. People came to my salon because it had a reputation for being the best ... if a few clients left, there were a few more new ones just around the corner.

 

[Bagpuss]

She will be expecting it anyway...if your a nail tech and left to work from home then of course your going to advertise....I think that working from home gives an option that most salons cant...out of hours. Most places close 5-6pm....whereas if you are prepared to put the time in you can aim for those clients who need appointments at this time.

 

[Terese]

Clients will go where they want to go, if they leave a salon like gigi says another one will fill their place and if they leave your friends salon for your set up, it may be because you offer what they want..

 

[ivee81]

thanks ladies i was there covering for 2 of the girls when they had their babies. and left when they came back to work. they only call me out to work when they needed me. i felt so used so now when they call me in i just say i'm too busy.i value this friendship coz we've know each other more than 20 years now and i'm 27!!! they said to me they dont want me to advertise coz i live behind their business and that i will make their price go down coz i do the same thing as them and i will be charging a little cheaper!!!
what a hard up situation.

 

[Bebeautiful]

Hi ivee, I would say go for it, since you have already set up at home, you should follow it through, so go on, what you waitin for, get those cards printed, lol. On a serious note, your move should not jeopardise your friendship and if it does, you should move on and carry on with setting up your business, good luck :hug:

 

[geeg]

thanks ladies i was there covering for 2 of the girls when they had their babies. and left when they came back to work. they only call me out to work when they needed me. i felt so used so now when they call me in i just say i'm too busy.i value this friendship coz we've know each other more than 20 years now and i'm 27!!! they said to me they dont want me to advertise coz i live behind their business and that i will make their price go down coz i do the same thing as them and i will be charging a little cheaper!!!
what a hard up situation.

Why should you feel 'used'?

Presumably you knew from the start that this was not going to be a steady job if you were only filling in.

If I were you, I'd charge the same as the salon if you are doing the same level of work, even if you are working from home. THINK.

Just get on with it and be up front with your friend about everything. She has no right to hold you back.

Did your friend train you or pay for you to be trained? Where did you train and when?

 

[Ditzy]

I was thinking exactly the same as Geeg, if you charge the same as them, the customers will go to the one they prefer, you'll both get business. You could even still help each other out, they help you when you're on holiday, ill, whatever, and vice versa. Why not approach your friend with this as a solution?

Good luck BTW, hope it all works out for ya:hug: