Open 6 days, 1 customer-help!

[nail_art]

Hi,

Starting to panic, I opened on Friday 26th and so far have only had 1 customer (for grand total of £2.50…). Would love some advice on how long it took other’s to get customer’s and suggestions on what I should do.

I have rented a small room above a very busy hairdresser’s on a relatively busy high street and have a window display (see attached) and leaflets downstairs. Have more marketing to do but surprised not getting any passing trade. The one customer I did get I happened to be downstairs saw her looking in window and got talking to her and she came in for eyebrow shaping. My window display is not working, but not sure what to change...

I have worked in number on salon’s and very confident in what I do, I know if I can get customers thought the door allot will come back.

Went in Mid price, for example the local shops charge, £35, £30 and £27 for Acrylics I started charging £30 But have just (today, getting leaflets reprinted) lowered my price so my prices are in line with cheapest or very slightly cheaper than competition.

I have done an opening offer, first treatment ½ price for limited time which I was hoping would bring few customers in… Going forward I want to charge reasonable price for high quality service, but for time being getting customer through the door is my biggest priority, Driving me mad / making me panic sitting in empty shop all day…

Going to do lots of leaflet distribution soon (me and husband will see how many we can hand deliver between us. Trying to get on voucher discount sites (long story…). Have offered to do free free for hair stylists downstairs but no one taken me up so far (they are very busy!)Would love any comments/suggestions.

Websites

www.uniquenailart.co.uk (old prices, dropped prices slightly today needs updating)
https://www.facebook.com/UniqueNailArtist

Thanks in advance

 

[rachirv]

Hi there.
Firstly, try not to worry. It will take more than 6 days to get your clients built up.
In your last salon were you self employed or employed?

I think the biggest thing youv done wrong, is lower your prices. People will look and see that you are cheap and then wonder why. Been cheaper,
You may also get clients
After a cheap
Deal, but probably won't come back again- they will go wherever there is a good offer on. If your work is
Good, then clients
Will pay. Don't undersell yourself. If you haven't already changed te priceS, then I would recommend leaving them as they were, but maybe put on a really good opening offer instead.

And then just hammer all advertising. Maybe pop something in the local paper? Put an aboard outside the shop.
Get a Facebook page and post daily on it.

I've been In my salon for a year now
And I'm still not as busy as I would like, but It's building week by week

 

[mlea79]

Dont cut price too low or u will find it hard to put it back up!

 

[pure]

Hold an open day, choose the hair salons busiest day, give yourself a few weeks to organise it. Print invitations and hand out to all the hair salons clients inviting them, go round the local shops handing them to staff. Stand out side the salon and give them to passers by. On the day, put balloons and a big sign outside, offer sparking wine, nibbles, showcase your work, offer a one off discount if they make a booking on the day. Get a friend or 2 in to help for the day.

I did this when I opened a salon a few years ago and it was fantastic. Nearly everyone who came made bookings and they all turned into regular clients who then spread the word and nearly all future clients were referrals.

You've been open less than a week, clients won't find you, you need to be pro-active and find them. And like others have said don't go too low on your prices, you'll regret it because it won't get you the type of clients you want. If you lower them in panic it's way, way harder to then put them up again. Look at the prices of the hair salon and the type of client they attract and market yourself to match them. If they're low end, then you need to be too, likewise if they're mid range or high end.

So stop panicking, think logically and find ways to let clients know you're there without looking cheap and desperate.

Good luck!! :hug:

 

[Lilypie]

I wouldn't lower your prices too much, beimg cheapest ia not attractive to lots of people. I also wouldn't go for voucher site deals either as generally its just people shopping around that buy the offers. When yourboffer is finished they'll move onto the next therapist.

Also you may not have your leaflets just yet but I'd literally go and stand on the pavement with colour pops or a selection of your work and stop people on the street. You could get an A board for outside.

I like the fact you've included nail examples in your display however for me it's not immediately obvious what you do from afar. I think you could do with a big sign to draw people's attention over to the window. Is there a windowsill? Could tou add some crystals or something to add a bit of pazzazz? Crystals, glitter, anything shiny and funky looking?

Sent from my GT-I9505 using SalonGeek mobile app

 

[squidgernetball]

OK, harsh reality.

Firstly, where did you think all these clients were going to come from? If you have no existing client base, you have to woo every new client through your door, and then you have to hang onto them, and stop people wooing them away.

Most people who have beauty treatments are having them somewhere, so why should they come to you? You have to make them WANT to come to you. You do nail art, so there is a specialist area. Is there anything else? Do you do intimate wax for example??? You have to work out what your niche is, and promote it.

I'm afraid the window display looks really busy. Put up a sign that says
Beauty Treatments very clearly, and a pricelist underneath. I think the nails are a good idea.

You need a website, facebook, classy leaflets, and you need to promote, distribute, advertise and do it again and again and again. Then do it again, just in case anybody missed it!!!

Good luck

Vic x

BTW I think the open day is a great idea!

 

[ClaireL]

Hi I've opened on the 20th September previous to this I was working from home so I did have a customer base but as already suggested I had an open evening / launch party got the paper involved and I've had two crazy weeks you have to go out there and get those clients ps I wouldn't offer half price as I'd think as a customer if she can do it half price she's prob over charging at full price maybe a 20/25% off the first appointment good luck! Xx

 

[Cheshire_Gal]

The market isnt just saturated, its overflowing! Good luck x

 

[stephib]

I feel for you as I am in a similar position!! We have been open for a few months and it's been hard, we have some clients but no where near as many as I'd like! But I am just continually advertising to get more people in, flyers have been good for us - on our first batch we put a 10% off any treatment when they brought the flyer in and a lot of people did! and some have come back! good luck xx​

 

[Maz101]

You could get a couple of tshirt so printed up and get some friends to wear them handing our leaflets with price list and maybe for your open day

Do agree tho don't lower your prices, just do a offer first app 10/20% off

 

[dandelionpoppy]

Hi! Just first reactions, hth:

The window display is too full-on, less is more. The no-smoking poster looks tired and non-inviting.

Maybe fill the space with "Pop in on Saturday **date** between 10 and 4 to have a coffee and chat about your beauty/nails treatments, with no obligation. Special surprises on the day for the first 10 visitors! Looking forward to meeting you, **name**!"

Surprises could be a goodie bag with a first treatment discount voucher, etc

On the day, go out onto the street and drag them in, if necessary.....in a nice way, of course.

Good luck!

 

[Geekfan]

I think you need to take advantage of the busy salon downstairs. If they are happy with that, get yourself talking to as many people as possible and maybe get an offer that if they are in getting their hair done, they get
% off a treatment if they come upstairs to you!
The other thing I would be doing would be standing at that door every spare minute you have! Is this what you want to do ideally of course not but get you will be visible, people will get to know you and it's face to face.

 

[ColourGirly]

Do all the staffs beauty from downstairs 30-50% off that will soon get clients coming upstairs!

My nails always look nice, I always have comments. It's easy to promote the beauty side.