Ive got competition!

[little_lj]

Hi i live in this little town and i started spray tanning in sept and have been doing ok with the spray tans so far but finding it hard to get people i dont know in some way to use me, must of my clients are friends and friends of friends ect i have spend loads of muni that i cant really afford on putting in an add into local paper and got leaflets printed out and handed them out in shops ect.... just to open the paper this week to see an add for someone else doing spray tanning!! I was the only one who ever did the mobile tanning in the town and now there is her too! There isnt enough people for both of us to do well!! Any advice on what i can do to make myself more well known? To get noticed? so she dosnt steal my business :cry:

 

[essentia]

Hi i live in this little town and i started spray tanning in sept and have been doing ok with the spray tans so far but finding it hard to get people i dont know in some way to use me, must of my clients are friends and friends of friends ect i have spend loads of muni that i cant really afford on putting in an add into local paper and got leaflets printed out and handed them out in shops ect.... just to open the paper this week to see an add for someone else doing spray tanning!! I was the only one who ever did the mobile tanning in the town and now there is her too! There isnt enough people for both of us to do well!! Any advice on what i can do to make myself more well known? To get noticed? so she dosnt steal my business :cry:

You cannot stop other people starting a business - it is anyone's right to do this. You feel threatened. However you should concentrate on building up a business that offers excellent service products and aftercare and competition will not affect you so much. Find your unique selling point (USP).

Some areas are harder to work in than others but part of business is that you have enough potential customers to sustain a business - part of your start up research.

Your business is so new and you need to keep marketing and making sure your customers are happy. Have you looked at the great marketing tips on here - do a search as there is plenty of hours reading to get you focused on your business, not someone elses.:hug:

 

[Bagpuss]

There is always enough for everyone....you just have to work hard and make sure that what you offer stands out in front of the others....she isn't stealing your business cos it isn't yours to steal.

Competition is good, it makes you sit up and work harder...

 

[Carlz]

I would maybe do a few beauty courses so you have more to offer and I would fork out for advertising to be honest. If you cant really afford to I find a facebook page is justr as good its free and you can send members messages with promotions etc as often as you want