Male intimate waxing in a gym

[harmonyholistic]

Hi I have an opportunity to work within a gym in my home town. I have recently qualified in male face body and intimate waxing. I qualified with Andy rouillard at axiom body works. So I am axiom certified. I am also qualified in female intimate waxing but not with axiom body works. But considering doing redoing this with axiom sometime in the future. . I do also have many other qualifications. Including sports massage ( qualified fourteen years so this is the old qualification not the new one ) aromatherapy, Indian head massage, reflexology, hot stones massage and Hopi ear candling. I also have my level two in beauty therapy and I'm a cnd trained shellac technician. I am also qualified at level two nail technology. But acrylics are very much my weak point and I'm not happy with the results. The rest of my treatments are spot on and I feel well above average. I use top quality products
At the moment I only have a very small client base. So still in the building stage. But the town I li in is saturated with nail technicians and beauty therapists so competition is fierce.
I have been working from home. But don't get a lot of clients. I think people are suspicious of the fact that I work from home and they undervalue my abilities because of this.
I'm not sure where to go now. I have the chance to work within a local gym in the town center. But I'm worried that in the early days I may struggle to make the rent. I do get working families tax credits at the moment and I'm able to live on that whilst I build up my business up to now I've not made any profit from my business as everything I do earn has been used to buy products and investing in training. It has cost me lot of money up to now and I'm almost at a point where I don't need too much more.
I'm not sure what to whether to continue working from home and advertise rigorously. Or to take the chance of renting this room. But I am worried that the fact that the gym is a serious body builders gym it may put ladies off coming to me for there treatments.
They have two rooms in there. One large room. Which would cost me £350 a month and one small room that would cost £250 a month.
I'm am mindful of the fact that that it is much safer to work within the gym. For the male intimate waxing and male treatments in general and in time I would like to specialise in male and female waxing and male grooming and drop the beauty side of things. I am the only qualified male waxing specilist within a forty mile radius. No one else offers male intimate waxing or body waxing.
I am not sure what to do. If I rent the small room it would be too small to fit a nail desk in. But if I rent the large room then I can easily fit all my clients in for treatments. Male and female. But if I rent the larger room then I'm worried that I will struggle to pay the rent as £350 a month is a lot of money when your already on a low income. If I'm in the small room I would have to drop the nail treatments altogether and continue to offer this at home.
Can anyone offer any advice here. Does anyone know if I would be able to survive with the quals I have if I found that female clients are put off. How quickly do you think I would be in a position to make the full rent value. Because I know that I would struggle the way things are now. But I have only just started offering the full male waxing service. I know that the gym would provide some clients during competition time. As the owner of the gym had pointed out to me.n

 

[harmonyholistic]

Plus can anyone also give me some advice on what to do with my website. It is nirvanatherapieswxm.co.uk I was offered a place in new salon in my town. Where there would have been a nail technician that offers acrylic nails only. But the landlord is refusing to allow her to sublet. She didn't expect that and rented the property with a view to me working alongside her. So now that is not possible.
I know that I need to remove the part where I'll be working with her in her salon. On my website. I also know that I need to add more info like a questions and answers page. I have also put in a warning to male clients about inappropriate behaviour. But I'm not sure if I've worded it too strongly. Can anyone advise on how to do this and ways I can improve my advertising on it.

 

[BannerPenguin]

Dare I say it I think it depends on the type of gym. Is it a body building gym, standard middle the range gym or high end gym?

Also I'm sure there has been some success stories but every thread I've read about being in a gym hasn't done too well. I may be wrong of course. I just know I go to the gym to train hard then go home. I'm pretty blind when on a gym mission. People go on auto pilot and don't take in there surroundings.

 

[harmonyholistic]

It is a body building gym. I'm just at a bit of a cross roads now that the other room has fallen through. So really need some help here. It is quite a nice gym and he told me that there is females who go there. I would say middle of range. But the body builders are serious about what they do. I used to do weight training myself and I'm an ex judo player. So where the sports massage is concerned I do have a good understanding of the needs of sports people. The rooms are completely private and away from the gym area. Although it would need decorating

 

[BannerPenguin]

As you probably know we are heading towards competition time of year so lots of the body builders will be getting there wax and tans etc and getting in to peak condition and massage could be a big seller.

If you can get permission to go speak to the people training and you approach them at appropriate times with a flyer that has why massage is beneficial to muscle growth and development and your services and quickly introduce yourself it could be a winner.

 

[harmonyholistic]

Yes maybe it could be a winner. Just worried about being able to afford it in the early days. As at the moment I'm just keeping my head above water. I have every faith that male waxing and massage will be successful. Just worried about what to do whilst I build it up. Luckily working families tax credits keep me afloat with living and home expenses. It is my dream the male waxing and the massage. By far my favourite treatments. Not keen on nails. Although I do love doing shellac. But I could happily just do waxing and massage all day long. Plus eventually I would make good money

 

[harmonyholistic]

I've just had a message off a high end barbers shop in the town. They have asked me to come and see them tomorrow. They are looking for a self employed therapist and sounded very positive about what quals I have. Just need to know there terms.mit is brand new opened a few months ago. They have a salon above the barbers. So fingers crossed. Maybe this is the break I'm looking for. X

 

[Kim Lawless]

Your average male waxing client is middle aged and not slaves to the gym, so I'd say go for the barbers.

Competition bodybuilders tend to use removal cream or shame as they don't want regrowth. Also, as an aside, if they're on a high protein diet, their skin can be very thin, so not great for waxing.

Get in the barbers and you'll do well. Good luck.

 

[blondevondoll]

Competition bodybuilders tend to use removal cream or shame as they don't want regrowth. Also, as an aside, if they're on a high protein diet, their skin can be very thin, so not great for waxing.

Love this! I'm afraid Kim is spot on with this one.

I'm currently renting a room within my gym. I've only been open just over 7 weeks. So it's still very early days.
My most popular treatment is massage.
Waxing is my next popular treatment. But i'm afraid Kim is correct. My waxing treatments have mainly been from females. Infact, I've only had THREE male clients in for waxing. Back area only. And those men are middle aged. And non body builders.
The body builders in the gym use hair removal cream. I've tried to persuade them over to give waxing a go, but they become big cry babies! They are so persistent on staying loyal to cream.
Grr!!
But they do love a massage after a gym session.
Massage is the way forward in the gym.
Maybe you could ask the gym owner if you can rent on a daily or weekly basis?
This way, anyone who wants a massage, you come in that day or week only. Earn some extra money. And put your waxing qualifications to better use from working elsewhere.
Good luck.
X

 

[harmonyholistic]

Well thank you all for your advice. You have all been very helpful. I've been today to see the barbers. It's fab. I have already put a deposit down for the room and I start in the first week in July.
The moment I walked in the two girls working in there where over the moon. They had both been training in hair the same time as I trained in beauty. We all knew each other. I got a big hug within moments.bit felt right.
They have offered me a great deal on the room. All beauty treatments and nail treatments are exclusively mine. The room was huge. Sixteen foot by fifteen foot. Electric tea coffee and wifi are all inclusive in the price. I couldn't be more happy. My room does need decorating but I can do what ever I want and the owner is going to put a lock on the room. I can come and go as I please.
My room is also above the barbers so is out of the way and completely private. So nice and quiet.
What more can I ask for. I have a feeling this is meant to be. Plus it is only two hundreds yards from the town bus station and they have had lots of requests for male waxing and intimate waxing. So we are all really happy.
I think my losing out on the first room was meant to be. This feels fantastic and I can't believe my luck.they have even reduced my rent for the first six months so I have time to build a bigger client base.

 

[harmonyholistic]

It is very classy there too. The inside is gorgeous. I do need to do my room but only to my own taste. So happy happy days ahead. X

 

[BannerPenguin]

Congratulations
They do say everything happens for a reason!

 

[blondevondoll]

Im so pleased to hear that

Best of luck to you. Im sure you will do great!
Now you gotta get in there and have posters up around the barbers to let the regulars know whats coming
Advertise your little heart out! Be confident in yourself and positive, and it will all come to you.
x

 

[harmonyholistic]

Thank you. Yes I think things do happen for a reason. I think I was just panicking because the first one fell through. But I'm glad it did now. Because if it hadn't I wouldn't have found this other place. It really is by far a better option. It's in the town. Lots of people passing. Right next to the Monday market. The rooms bigger. It's really classy. The people are lovely. The landlord was nice too. Could be negotiated with. He was helpfull. Mostly male clients. The room is quiet and very private. The landlord owns the business and also has lots of other successfull businesses so it has a great chance of succeeding. He owns the lease for next five years. Erm trying to think of a negative. Erm erm. Oh I've got one. Rent is slightly more expensive than the other. But that fine. I get so much more for money. I think I may have just landed on my feet. X

 

[BannerPenguin]

My first premises I had done some looking about. Decided everything was too expensive and decided to leave it.

I was then going business to business introducing myself and the company and decided to stop for a sandwich at tesco express. Come out of tesco and stood outside what would be my first shop. I was totally oblivious. Looked up and saw the big poster with a ridiculously cheap price via a private landlord. I don't know what possessed me but I rang the number. I think it's because I didn't believe the price on the poster. 24hrs later I put my name on the line and it was all mine!

 

[harmonyholistic]

Have you heard of the law of attraction. I guess the universe had bigger plans for us both. I've certainly been given a helping hand. Well this certainly feels right so I'm gonna go with my gutt feeling. With the gym I wasn't sure. The second I walked into the barbers it felt so right.

 

[ellideb]

It's a shame you don't live nearer me in Wales, I'm North Wales too but about an hour or two away from you and I'm just opening a new salon and have 3 days to rent out for a business like yours. You would be perfect! Anyway, all the best in your new venture. I hope the universe brings me someone who fits!

 

[harmonyholistic]

Aww it is a shame. Unfortunately where you are is a little too far for me. But if you stay positive I'm sure someone will come along. I'm not sure if you are aware but there is someone in your area already doing male intimate waxing. They too are axiom trained. But not connected to me in any way.
Good luck with your own salon. I hope it is a big success for you. X