Just starting out, getting clients

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Chellymc

Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2019
Messages
9
Reaction score
4
Location
Perth
Hello everyone.

Now that all my children are at school full time, am interested in working from home as a nail technician. I have been researching a few courses available in Perth and I am thinking that an introductory course with CND may be a good way to get started. I am particularly interested in Brisa and Bio gel and would like to further my education in these.

My question is, once I have started gaining confidence and feel ready to start charging for services :
How do I find my first clients?
Any advice on how to get started?
There are so many nail salons in my area, how does everyone compete with them?

Sorry if my questions are a little annoying. There is very little information about the industry online. This is something I would really love to do but I am feeling a little nervous to take the plunge in fear of never getting a single client.

Thanks everyone
 
Finding clients - and the right sort of clients for your business niche - is the million dollar question. Basic training doesn't include much marketing know how, that comes later in your career. You need to be prepared to research and teach yourself the professional skills you need, rather than expect training aimed at turning you into a skilled employee to launch you into business. You learn a bit by working in the industry and by seeing what other businesses are doing. The training aimed at fellow self employed professionals includes marketing tips and peer to peer business support groups also offer training sessions.

It's basically a sales and marketing question. You need to research what the likely demand is in your area and tailor your services to meet demand. For instance, if you live on a new build estate with a lot of neighbours out at work during the day and you want to work from home during school hours, you might not have much demand for your services - but if you are happy to work evenings and weekends you might be very busy. If your at home neighbours are mostly elderly, you might not have much demand for extensions and nail art, but there might be lots of scope for weekly manicures with normal nail polish. So it's about research and the laws of supply and demand as well as your training and skill.

There are lots of different ways to promote your business, the old fashioned leaflet drops, postcards in Newsagents and a small display board in your front garden are unlikely to build a business. You need to be able to talk to people and get them interested in coming to your home - you need to make friends and nurture all the people local to you who can promote your services: the local coffee shop girls, the estate agent, the hairdressers - I used to see a lady that I'd heard about from the local copy shop. Your neighbours and fellow businesses are all your potential customers and sales agents. You want all the Mums at the school gate getting their nails done by you and you want their Mums recommending you to their friends and neighbours

You also need to promote your skill and services on Facebook and Instagram and whatever social media portals are popular.

Training in something because you want to learn a skill for work isn't the best route into a successful self made business. You need to be passionate and happy to spend time and money researching and learning about the latest in nail trends. It shouldn't feel like work - if it does don't set up your own business!

I'm guessing you already paint your own nails beautifully and have a reputation for great nails as your signature look? Start by asking your friends and aquaintances whether they would use an at home nail technician because you'd love to turn your interest and passion for nails into a new career. See what the reaction is.
 
Thanks so much That’s actually really helpful.
 
Get pages set up on social media and ensure you’re posting every day. Not just photos if you’re work although this is essential. You need posts that your potential clients see therefore someone they know has liked or commented on your posts. Things they’ll engage with and reply to. Ask friends and clients to share your page, check in and leave reviews.

I live out in the sticks but clients are happy to travel to me (a few in excess of a 60 mile round trip) as I specialise in acrylic nail art. I don’t do polish and only a few gel polishes a month. Think what will make you stand out from others and finally.....good luck!
 
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Get pages set up on social media and ensure you’re posting every day. Not just photos if you’re work although this is essential. You need posts that your potential clients see therefore someone they know has liked or commented on your posts. Things they’ll engage with and reply to. Ask friends and clients to share your page, check in and leave reviews.

I live out in the sticks but clients are happy to travel to me (a few in excess of a 60 mile round trip) as I specialise in acrylic nail art. I don’t do polish and only a few gel polishes a month. Think what will make you stand out from others and finally.....good luck!

That's good advice. Thank you xx :)
 

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