No clients, help please!

[Simone90]

I've just started renting a room in a hair salon and having trouble finding clients, I'm not sure if my prices are too high or it's just bad timing to start something new!?

Although I've noticed quite a few places around me that are charging incredibly low prices. Like $30 (aus currency) for a deluxe pedi with paraffin and shellac polish! That's almost half the price of what I charge. Do you think it would be ideal for me to lower my prices and might get people on the door, or are these people going to eventually work themself out of a job from not making any profit!?

 

[Jigglyb4ll]

http://www.salongeek.com/biz-geek/83160-more-ways-promote-your-business.html

Have a go on the search bar too, there's loads of threads that will help and have covered this x

 

[FlawlessBeauty]

I think that you need to work out the cost of your treatments and renting your room...then you can figure out the lowest possible amount you can charge while still making a profit. You will obviously want to put some more money on top of this to pay yourself. Do not go below it.

Have a look at Lynne's thread in jiggly's link.

I assume you have made up price lists, etc and you don't want this to go to waste. Could you do some offers to get people in the door and to see how good you are? xx

 

[topcuts]

the question is are you actively looking for clients ie advertising, notices, leaflets (and i am talking 1000s not a handful) press releases, social media etc or are you just sitting in the salon hoping for their clients and people to magically know you are there?

sorry if i sound hars but my previous therapist / technician and new one who joined at the beginning of the year moan constantly about not having enough clients and i have done their facebooks for them, their leaflets AND given them my clients from my salon and they do nothing to help themselves so i have stopped spoonfeeding them.

every spare second get out with leaflets, in oz with nice weather you have no excuse, i came back from oz and delivered 15000 leaflets in 2009 when i was mobile, then opened a small salon now have a big one. its not been easy its been terrifying and hard work, today we have a quiet day and i hate it but tomorrow and yesterday, full al bar 1 appointment, and i opened in the worst time of the recession

and i still advertise advertise promote promote promote, never take your foot of the throttle, spend 10% of turnover on advertising, at the start, more like 90%

hope that helped, sorry for the rant, good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Simone90]

Thank you ladies for your advice I have looked through Lynne's post (such great ideas) and done what is possible and relevant to my situation. I have a Facebook page, advertise on Gumtree, sent out lots of leaflets - thousands, given out free gift vouchers for certain raffles around te area, only other option I have yet to try is the local school newsletter although not sure if I am limited as live in a small country town with 4-6 other salons around! Few of them are home based so they can afford to charge cheaper rates I'm guessing.

I only work 2 days a week at the moment (have a 2 year old and due to have bother baby in 4 weeks) then will do Saturdays so hopefully might pick up more clients then as most people with expendable income work during the week. Although I am limited to what treatments I can do as there is also a nail technician and massage therapist there - so rly all I can do is pedicures and facials at the moment. I have also just introduced liquid face lifts but there isn't even any interest in that! Thinking of going back to working from home - tha way I can provide all my services without stepping on anyone's toes and also work more flexible hours. What is your opinion - would people prefer salon or home treatment room (professional looking ofcourse).

Sorry for the novel! Lol

 

[Lash N Load]

From a customer point of view I would not come to you.

You don't offer enough treatments and you're not open enough hours. I'm most probably working the hours you're open.

At present you're targeting a very limited market. I think it would be better for you to move home so you can offer a full treatment menu and hopefully be more flexible on hours to fit people in.

I think there is a serious flaw in your business model. Have you thought about how many facials and pedicures beauticians do each week? Maybe it's worth asking the question on here so you can get an idea of what you can realistically earn.

 

[Cuba1984]

Can you send me the link to your website, or Gumtree ad? I live in Aus, I'll see if I can give you some advice. Are you on the Gold Coast?

😊

 

[divalou]

The lower your prices the more hassle you get!
People will see you as less valuable if you charge bargain basement prices.
Remember you and your services are valuable and charge accordingly! x

 

[divalou]

At present you're targeting a very limited market. I think it would be better for you to move home so you can offer a full treatment menu and hopefully be more flexible on hours to fit people in.

.

Yep agree with this.

 

[Simone90]

Thank you for your honesty Lash and Load - I agree with you! My treatments are very limited as they are all I am allowed to offer where I currently work. I may post the question on what people's most popular treatments are - I'm imagining them to be nails and waxing!? Which I can't currently offer.

I think I may wait til after the baby is born and then convert back to home! Think it's the only way I will gain clients and actually make money

 

[lofty]

I specialise which I believe is what has made a huge difference to my business. Also I used to worry about putting my prices up and have found I am now mid- top end price wise but Im also at my busiest. Its been a mixture of specialising and increasing my prices as worked very well indeed for me. Goodluck.