Only Salon Geeks will understand

[crystaltash]

Hi everyone. I guess I'm writing this thread for a bit of help or guidance or something. It might be a bit of a long one so please bear with me.
To cut a long story short, I have owned my salon for 4 years. A year ago,we moved to a bigger place and all was going great. We had never been busier. Then, out of the blue, one of my staff members left and went and opened up on her own down the road from me. The whole thing was very nasty and so emotionally draining for me. She took clients with her.

Anyway, the salon is very quiet at the minute. So quiet that me and my
Other full timer only had 2 people between us today. We are down in the figures compared to last year and it's really starting to worry me. Normally I would just put it down to a quiet month, but I can't help feeling that what this girl has done has really rocked my business. I just can't understand why in the 2nd half of november we are so dead. December is booking up but not as fast as usual.

I am doing everything I can, like Facebook campaigns, local press advertising, website updates, we even got 5 stars from the good salon guide a few weeks ago.
But with having recently worked in the salon 6 days a week and doing more work when I come home, it's so hard to find the time to think up marketing ideas and put them into practice. Lynn's thread has been a massive help, but nothing seems to be working at the minute.
I'm telling my staff not to worry and it will pick up and people are holding out to December, bit I'm not so sure I believe that anymore.
Can one girl really ruin 4 years of the literal blood, sweat and tears that went into makin my business a success?
I absolutely love what I do and couldnt ever think of doing anything else, so I have to make this work. I have no choice. But it just seems to be slipping away from me and it's breaking my heart. I can't let the place go under, I just can't.
Please can some geeks give me some help or advice? Have any of you ever felt like this before?
I'm just so emotionally and physically exhausted But I know it's what I signed up for and I have to keep going. But sometimes it feels like there are too many obstacles to overcome and only you guys will understand. My OH helps as best he can, but he doesn't have a clue about the industry and my mum just keeps telling me it will be alright.
I need geeks to guide me and help me to get out of this.
Xxxx

 

[angelina221]

Everyone seems to be quieter at the moment and this November is unusually slow.
I think a lot of people are worried so you are not alone.
My therapist who is always fully booked has had quite a few gaps and this never happens. She is fully booked in the 3 weeks leading up to Christmas though so I'm pretty sure things will start getting busier for you soon. I think clients are leaving longer between appointments and are trying to get in just before Christmas.
It would take more than one vicious flibbertigibbet to ruin a reputation that you have spent 4 years building.
Try not to worry, easier said than done I know but it will busy up :hug:

 

[Sam81]

Hey, I don't have any massively constructive advice but didn't want to read and run because you sound so sad Just wanted to say that the salon I work in has been super quiet too, I had NO ONE yesterday! There is so much competition out there but it sounds like you're doing all the right things. Keep going. People who get their business by bad mouthing others soon lose out because clients are not silly and the majority of them don't want to hear it. It's just unprofessional. While she's talking about you she's not concentrating on her own business. Chin up chuck. Hopefully come Christmas you'll be so busy you'll be complaining you haven't got a second spare

 

[MissKirsty]

Hi, i just wanted to let you know that the salon where i work has been very quiet as well and although were still not as full as we could be for christmas people are slowly but surely putting in their appointments!
Also was just thinking about the girl opening just down the road from you, would you consider changing your staffs contracts to include a clause that says they cant open with in a mile from you? I dont personally have this but a few of my friends do! just a wee idea for you! xx

 

[jacquelineanna]

Aw my lovely but sad geeky friend!

I think the other two geeks advice and views are spot on.

Clients are definitely looking at Christmas appointments and working backwards which means the appointments which are due now are being stretched to make them fit.

The cream always rises to the top. Remember that.

Hold on tight ok, this is not the time to waver or have a crisis of confidence!!

Keep doing what you do.

I have a salon right next door to me. I say hello to them and then forget about them. Spending time, ANY time thinking about them or anyone else, is time that I am not thinking about my own business.

When nasty rumours get back to you via clients don't react negatively say 'I'm sad she feels that way about us, she's a good therapist and a nice lady'.

Don't dwell on what she is saying or doing. It's not important. She is showing you that she is desperate.

Chin up, you've been in business throughout a recession and you are still standing!

Have a lovely day xxx

 

[beautyJen]

Again, I didn't want to read and run either, not got a lot of advice for you, but again, we are normally chockablock this time of year and it is definatly quieter than normal for us too. I agree that ppl are holding back and waiting for Xmas, so it's prob nothing to do with her business. I wouldn't worry yourself with her. Concentrate on your business, maybe use this time to do some extra training in something new that will get all the clients coming back to you. Work on an amazing jan offer to start the new year with a bang, and show her and your clients that you are the best salon, offering the best treatments, and the rest will follow. Good luck Hun xx

 

[Verve Designs]

Everyone is spot on so far.

I get the feel that everyone is "hanging on" so far and jacquelineanna is absolutely spot on that people are figuring out Xmas appointments and working backwards.

Hair extensions are the life blood of our salon, and we've noticed (not just by hearsay but by looking at the figures) that the last 4 weeks have been very very slow in comparison to the last 10 years. It's as if the current economic climate is really only just hitting now in real terms, as hair and beauty has bucked the trend for the last few years. It's probably just our "turn".

You're absolutely right in marketing against it though- even though you might not see the fruits of that labour right away, anything that gets your name out there is going to be of a benefit long term.

Oh- and karma is a funny thing, as your ex-employee will no doubt find.

 

[xsammi82x]

I cannot tell you how much your situation emulates mine! It's like I wrote your post myself! Maybe we should chat and see if we can help each other? Xx

 

[Lynne Baker]

What a worry for you.
I consider myself to be pretty good at marketing and advertising, but despite my best efforts I'm much quieter this year than last. It's great in one respect because I can use the time on the distribution side of things, but on the other it's the salon that pays our mortgage, so I need to keep busy!
There are a few thing you can do I think. You can alter the opening hours of the salon a little. So if you're open 6 days a week you could squeeze all your clients into 5 days.
One of my friends has just told her staff that they can either drop a day or be made redundant. It's a tough choice but if she doesn't do it she'll go out of business, and her staff need to know that. By dropping a day you'll save electricity etc, and it'll make the remaining days busy and vibrant. You could use the day off to do networking, marketing, admin, planning, training etc.
You could also reduce the hours each day - if you're open 9 - 6 you could make it 10 - 5 on some days and have just one late night. Another friend has just shifted her hours on a couple. She used to be open 10 till 6 and now she's open 11 - 7 and she's picking up the after work people she used to have to turn away.
With regard to the other girl, it's too easy to be rocked by such unscrupulous people when it's quiet. Every time you worry that it's her you're giving her more power. Concentrate on thinking positively. If you haven't read The Secret, now's the time!
Remember that you're in business to stay in business, not to go under. Do whatever it is you need to do to protect it. If that means letting people go, or making changes to your hours, then do it. Things WILL pick up, but huge sacrifices will have to be made until they do.

 

[persianista]

Was this girl the person who made your business a raving success? No, you are the person who made it a success.
A salon is far bigger than just one person. This girl doesnt have the power to break your business.
It's tough out there right now. Even I am having a tough time. Conserve your cash, don't order unless you must, and ride it out.

 

[essentia]

Is is tough out there at the moment - everyone is right. This girl has knocked your confidence and you are now begining to doubt yourself. Please don't - when we are feeling negative we attract the wrong things to us. The above posts are spot on. Change your viewpoint and the rest will follow.

 

[souz]

didnt want to read and run....

ride the storm and hold your head up high! take a step back from the business and work out if you could change anything for the better?or add? as lynne said look at changing your opening hours, maybe put on an event like learn an evening make up look? or something fun like turn up in your pjs and do face masks??or a xmas shopping event?dont spend masses of money on it, its the personal touches that people like. Im trying to think outside the box for you if you are already doing all the usual!!

good luck xx

 

[Petit Basque]

I feel for you, I really do. However, how can you be sure that this girl is any busier than you? Perhaps it's just generally quiet for salons and she is not doing any better than you are.

Because things are tough right now, I imagine it's very easy to believe this girl is the whole cause of it but there is a strong possibility that this is preventing you from being objective about your situation and proactive about promoting yourself.

I hope that the posts you have received have reassured you in part that it is unusually quiet in the industry for this time of year.

A home based therapist has recently opened up near me, offering the same specialised skin treatments and coming in a bit cheaper than me. Am I worried?? ....absolutely not. Every minute I spend worrying about her and what she's up to is a minute I've wasted on promoting my own services.

You've been badly let down and of course you are dwelling on that because business is slow right now. Just forget about this girl, don't give her another minute of your precious time and you and your colleague get down to some serious promotion/networking etc... instead. Use your energies in a positive and creative way instead of dwelling negatively on what has happened.

I am sure you will receive lots of support and feedback on your post and I wish you all the very best of luck :Love:

PB
x

 

[chazzybabe]

Hello not sure if this makes you feel better, I work within a large beauty franchise buisness and we have even been quiet this month. Chin up xx

 

[Alex-Lydia]

I have have had my salon for a long time, there are always highs and lows, its never easy or simple, and sometimes you cope and some times you do not.

The people who survive are adaptable, positive and have a good support network around them, but more than anything they just keep going. A lot of people who open businesses have no idea the amount of energy it takes, on going energy, you can never stop - lets see if she can maintain that energy like you do.

The advice you have received is great. Just keep going, try to keep positive, negativity is felt by clients and does not promote a good vibe.

Try not to think about this girl, she has no power over you, you have created a good business, and if you stay professional and do not bad mouth her you will be the better person, and clients will see this. The ones who do not are not the clients you want. I had a stylist leave after 10 years in my salon, she took clients and told lies, when you care about your staff it hurts. Over the next few years a lot of the clients came back, they realised her products were not so good, she got a little sloppy with her work and one told me all she did was talk about my salon!

We all seem to agree November has been a strange month this year,
Christmas will be busy. If you can take an extra day off in November, do something lovely, spoil yourself, and remember what comes around goes around.

x

 

[Tomme]

Hi everyone. I guess I'm writing this thread for a bit of help or guidance or something. It might be a bit of a long one so please bear with me.
To cut a long story short, I have owned my salon for 4 years. A year ago,we moved to a bigger place and all was going great. We had never been busier. Then, out of the blue, one of my staff members left and went and opened up on her own down the road from me. The whole thing was very nasty and so emotionally draining for me. She took clients with her.

Anyway, the salon is very quiet at the minute. So quiet that me and my
Other full timer only had 2 people between us today. We are down in the figures compared to last year and it's really starting to worry me. Normally I would just put it down to a quiet month, but I can't help feeling that what this girl has done has really rocked my business. I just can't understand why in the 2nd half of november we are so dead. December is booking up but not as fast as usual.

I am doing everything I can, like Facebook campaigns, local press advertising, website updates, we even got 5 stars from the good salon guide a few weeks ago.
But with having recently worked in the salon 6 days a week and doing more work when I come home, it's so hard to find the time to think up marketing ideas and put them into practice. Lynn's thread has been a massive help, but nothing seems to be working at the minute.
I'm telling my staff not to worry and it will pick up and people are holding out to December, bit I'm not so sure I believe that anymore.
Can one girl really ruin 4 years of the literal blood, sweat and tears that went into makin my business a success?
I absolutely love what I do and couldnt ever think of doing anything else, so I have to make this work. I have no choice. But it just seems to be slipping away from me and it's breaking my heart. I can't let the place go under, I just can't.
Please can some geeks give me some help or advice? Have any of you ever felt like this before?
I'm just so emotionally and physically exhausted But I know it's what I signed up for and I have to keep going. But sometimes it feels like there are too many obstacles to overcome and only you guys will understand. My OH helps as best he can, but he doesn't have a clue about the industry and my mum just keeps telling me it will be alright.
I need geeks to guide me and help me to get out of this.
Xxxx

Sorry to hear it. You can try my idea of making a food style menu that are sent out for Christmas party's with choose from area one and area two for only £x (make sure that everything in area 1 is the same price and area 2). Iv out an add on area where people can see extras they can put on to give themselves more of a treat.
It's all full price but it just points out the value and makes it seem more of a bargain than everything priced individually xoxo

There's the screen shot of the PDF of our flyers xoxo

 

[Zooks]

I didn't want to just read and run either.

I do not by any means think it's just you that is struggling, as proved by all the threads on here we are all being affected.

I only opened in Feb and took for granted how quickly I became so busy and suddenly November has hit and its dropped. I still have the same clients, they are just being more frugal and working back from Christmas. You can't always control what you take day by day but you have more control over your spending.

Do as Lynne says and look at hours, days, electric, watch your orders and push the free promotion such as Twitter and Facebook. Concentrate on being happy and positive, don't tell the clients you're not busy either! They need to think you are busy and tell others you are.

Minimise spending wher possible and ride it out. Maybe look at packages for early December and check out your retail, vital income when you only have one client booked in you could effectively double that with some good retail.
Get pushing those Gift vouchers too.
Get friends to share Facebook pages.
Get out there and network.

Do not watse time thinking about this other girl, you have no idea that shes any busier than you.

Stay positive. You'll pull through.

 

[wonderwoman]

In my salon we have hair, beauty, tanning-sunbeds and spraytans and laser/ipl each has a different revenue. Laser we know we get every4 -6weeks income, beauty is pretty much every3 weeks on regular ebw/lashes etc appointments. Sunbeds, for us generate a healthy income without us having to panic if wages dont come in. Hair is 4 weeks average.

Basically without us doing any work we get a nice income from sunbeds, now you may or may not want to go into this field, but constantly discounting offers doesnt draw people in, and if it does the wrong type.

We've gone throught the kgb route to see if it worked for us, and to just generate a media exposure. why not try to do something on wowcher etc

Also when we have quiet time, which i love, i cherish it, i get all my accounts info updated, i sort my hmrc stuff, i do my orders, stock check, clean. I keep the staff upbeat by booking them on happy hours and education. We review what we're keeping on price list etc for next year, and generally hoildays and ideas of what we intend to do. Also i would recommend a ironclad handbook to staff who have burnt you, just to protect your assest, so this doesnt happen again-for the ex empolyee. (if you have then enforce it!)

As a whole i think quieter months are not to be miserable for, try to be optimistic! Good things happen to those who wait! xoxo

 

[Rinn]

When you're in business you do come up against two-faced, back stabbing so and so's all the time....

I always remember the saying...love many, trust few, always paddle your own canoe...

Forget about her , she's not important.....

I always find November & February to be the quietest months for me and i do cut my therapists hours during that time. You do what you have to do to survive...

Maintain your standards - don't be temped to cut your prices just to get people in - Meet everyone with a smile on your face and turn every negative thought or comment into a positive one...I don't know if you believe in the laws of attraction but I do ...

 

[Murfles]

I can't tell you how glad I am to read this thread. Not that I'm happy you're upset, but because I'm in exactly the same position. My full time therapist recently left to start up on her own (a few months ago) and taken a lot of clients with her. I have been so deadly quiet the last couple of weeks. Even my other full time girl who is ALWAYS booked out has had lots of gaps which is so strange. I agree that people are trying to stretch their appointments for christmas and just really hoping that once December hits it will go boom! And then we will be so busy we will wish we were quieter lol.

Just wanted to let you know you're not alone, and I am keeping my fingers crossed that things will pick up soon for you, and everyone else! x