Previous experience

[Spooky]

Can I please ask you lovely geeks how much experience, whether it be working for an employer, running your own mobile business or just training before you opened up/ managed a salon. Whats your employment history?x

 

[lbissell86]

I think you know when you're ready.

It all boils down to opportunity too.

I'm level two qualified and have been qualified for 5 years. I went out and did individual courses which built me up as a level 3. I then worked in a spa for six months and am now opening a salon within a David Lloyd gym. The opportunity came up and I took it

If you get that gut instinct go for it xxx

 

[Annemarie]

I have worked in 2 hair and beauty salons one for 11 months the other 12 years. Both times I was self-employed. I covered sick days in a beauty salon. I have done mobile work too.
I decided I wanted to open my own salon about 3 years ago. I did last July and I love it.

 

[kaysmith87]

I trained 5 or so years ago, only did friends and family in my spare time and went into marketing. I've headed up some pretty large marketing agencies/campaigns and had a great time doing it.... But the opportunity to open a salon landed on my lap about 8 weeks ago and now we open 2 weeks tomorrow.

 

[Spooky]

Thanks ladies, we've all got different experiences and opportunities, Kay, can I ask what are you specialising in and is there much competition? I ask as there might be a salon come up, though is situated in the middle of two popular salons on the same stretch of high street though they don't do spray tanning or pamper parties... Also thinking a brow bar, waxing, have a nail tech in there (wish it was as easy as it sounds) I obviously approach the owner to discuss rental but how have you been so prepared in such a small amount of time?, did you advertise for staff? Good luck! Very exciting times x

 

[kaysmith87]

Thanks ladies, we've all got different experiences and opportunities, Kay, can I ask what are you specialising in and is there much competition? I ask as there might be a salon come up, though is situated in the middle of two popular salons on the same stretch of high street though they don't do spray tanning or pamper parties... Also thinking a brow bar, waxing, have a nail tech in there (wish it was as easy as it sounds) I obviously approach the owner to discuss rental but how have you been so prepared in such a small amount of time?, did you advertise for staff? Good luck! Very exciting times x

Sure, we're focusing on results driven treatments such as facials, IPL Skin Rejuvination, Microderm, 3D Lipo etc but we do also do traditional beauty treatments.

There's a reasonable amount of competition, more than 3 salons in the same town but they're not quite as results drive. I've been and had treatments from them all, for me the little details matter, one of them left me to apply my own after wax, another had flaking paint on the wall.. I think if you price yourself well (not cheap but not expensive), advertise well, think about the details (i've banned clip top lids as when having facials the noise drives me nuts, ensure paintwork is perfect, designed and printed my own branded aftercare etc) and go the extra mile (we're offering a great drinks selection, water to take home with them, having a promt on the system as to how they drink they're coffee, if they've been on holiday etc)

I've worked LONG hours, in excess of 100 hours a week to make it happen as i've done the majority of it myself, even the website design and content and I only left my marketing job 3 weeks ago .

I haven't had to advertise for staff as I had lots of people contact me after putting up the "coming soon" signs in the window and luckily one was good and the other lady is someone I already knew.

Its exciting, exhausting and scary but I think it will be worth it.