New business...

[michelleb1133]

Im opening my own business, hopefully in next couple of weeks, i was just wondering did you have an open day? And what sort of offers/discounts did you do when u opened?

Im opening above a hairdresser which im hoping will put me in good stead for building up clientelle...i was actually thinking of offering the hairdressing staff something like 50p per client they recommend to spend in the salon (is that amount too low)

I dont want to be giving too much money/treatments away but enough to build up my client base.

Also i was thinking of using the skin truth facial range, but recently read some bad reviews on here, does anybody know of an 'affordable' skin care range, that will at least 'get me going' until i can afford to purchase something like dermalogica.

Sorry its a long one....

x michelle x
ps also what training would you reccommend, on different products/treatments, what works well in salons?

 

[persianista]

Hmm. so the hairdresser would have to rec you 80 clients to get a free facial. If your average client spend is 30 quid, they have to send you up £2400 worth of work to get a forty quid treatment off you. I think you need to rethink your approach.

These hairdressers can either make or break your business, be generous and nice, if they bitch to their clients about you, no amount of marketing or advertising is gonna help you.

 

[michelleb1133]

Ooooh i never thought of it like that

Gosh...what do u think would be a good offer?

As i said any ideas would be greatfully recieved...only thing is i dont want to give too much away, if its only small treatments that are a result of this.

What about a percentage per treatment?

I could keep a record of this somewhere

x

 

[persianista]

If you don't want to give your time away, why should they help you?

Why not ask them what they would like/ expect?

Do you want them to be walking adverts for you? or are you not bothered about getting their clients if you have enough of your own?

I worked in a salon once with a room renter who was snooty and tight with the hairdressers, we used to talk our clients out of using her after she made a big deal about doing an eyebrow shape for one of the stylists. Our attitude was f**k you, we can afford to pay and go elsewhere! Being made to feel grateful for a couple of piddly treatments was not popular! So beware!

These girls can be your best adverts or your downfall. Hairdressers don't normally "do" working out exact amounts, so the percentage idea is a bit of a non starter.

If you still feel that you would rather not do treatments for free, I would respectfully advise you to work out the advertising costs you will incurr starting from scratch without their rather powerful help.

 

[michelleb1133]

Appreciate your comments...it has defo made me re-think it. And your right i cant really expect everything for nothing...:o

Back to the drawing bored...what do u think would be a good reward...

x

 

[angelina221]

Well i own a salon and the girls swap treatments. So the beauty therapists gets her hair done for nothing and the 2 hairdressers get beauty treatments done. The girls then all have nice hair, nicely painted toenails etc.......... and are great adverts for my business.
Why don't you offer to do them some treatments in exchange for having your hair done. If you're good then they will send their clients to you anyway.

 

[michelleb1133]

Ooooh what a brilliant idea

Not sure how i would go about that, as the owner of the salon wants me to run my own business and have nothing as such to do with the salon.

So not sure how i would word this?

x

 

[persianista]

You dont have to make it official, exact or in writing. Play it by ear, see what works, and what will flick the stylists switches, and go from there.

EG, if a stylist asks lots about spray tans, then gives you five clients. Offer her a free tan to show it off to her other clients. If you offerred her a half price shape and paint at that point instead because she had £2.50 to spend, she would probably decline and snigger behind your back.

One of my therapists minxed my toes last week. I showed them off and she got 14 sets in. Never underestimate how much hairdressers talk.

 

[michelleb1133]

Ooooh good thinking

Maybe ill give them all a free treatment when i start, so its kind of like a this is what you can get (and more), if you can help me build my client base

x

 

[persianista]

Much better way to start off.

If the stylists all think your great, they are gonna rave.
If you walk in determined not to give an inch, they will ignore you.

 

[michelleb1133]

Thankyou persianista for being so brutally honest :wink2:

Good to see it from the other side of the coin

Just a slight spin on what i said before...rather than offering the same treatment to all staff..ill find out how many work there, and then do vouchers for different treatments and do as a lucky dip??

x
​

 

[fastwax]

i started renting above a hair salon a year ago and the girls have been great. i offered them all a free facial when i first started 1st of all because i wanted to make a good impression 2nd of all i knew i wasnt going to be rushed off my feet straight away so was pointless sitting around 3rd of all i offered facials because i make a good proffit from them so this is what i wanted them to rave about to clients. the girls really appreciated this but to be honest they didnt all take up the offer as they are really busy but they have had other treatments from me and it really is the best and cheapest form of advertising. i now either do a swap hair for beauty or if they book in weeks in advance charge them half price or if its spur of the moment when im quiet i do it for free. to be honest if i get my hair done and they wont charge me i feel terrible and im sure they feel the same when they have beauty done. at the end of the day we are all trying to run a business and make money ! dont make a big deal of it play it by ear and remember you need the girls to love you or else they wont advertise you x

 

[persianista]

again, no need to write stuff down, do vouchers or make it a lottery. Just talk to the stylists, find out what they like, what they have time for (they wont be able to have treatments during their shifts). If they offer to do your hair, just ask what they would like done in return. You neednt make it exact (hair is usually more expensive than beauty).
Just keep it informal and generous.

 

[kimi1101]

Just on a similar note...

We have a sandwich shop next to us. I get my breakfast and lunch from there every day. The price constantly fluctuates (generally up the way) and the food is rotten. They constantly ask me "How much is a mani" and when I tell them the price, they say "Oh, do I get discount?" and I say, "No, I don't get discount on my blooimg 2 meals a day every day 6 days a flaming week!!!"

Well recently I have had a few bad experiences with food there, but I'm disorganised and forget to bring my lunch with me. So I had a REALLY bad experience on Saturday and believe me, my clients knew about it. They constantly ask me "Whats the shop next door like?" and I can't lie. What would they think of me if I told them, "Go buy your lunch there" and it was rank? What would they think of me then??

People ask hairdressers for recommendations on everything, like taxis, plumbers, restaurants and BEAUTY SALONS. They assume we know about these things cos hair and beauty are closely linked. Just go make friends with them xxx

 

[liquid glamour]

Hi, I also rent space in a hairdressers and I do mobile and the stylists have been great advertising for me.

When I first started I offered them all free manicures which they all took up lol !! It was time well spent as the business I got of doing them was amazing.

It also give me a chance to get to know the girls better and I havent looked back. I sprayed a couple of them when I started doing tantrick and yet again the response has been great.

It works for me as they do my hair and I do their beauty treatments. I agree with the comments already made they can really boost your business.

hth

 

[michelleb1133]

Brilliant, thankyou everybody for your comments. Its given me a good idea of what i need to do x