saddened by geeks closing businesses down

[hippy-chick]

It seems to be a sad fact of life that businesses fold due to financial pressure and insecurity, but in the past 2 weeks, I think 3 geeks (may be more) have announced that they are bowing out.

On the other hand, their are twice as many therapists happily starting out and opening up new premises and renting rooms.

I think about 3 other geeks opened up about the same time as me last November.

Its just sad and dare I say it, disheartening, when you read their hearbreaking news.:cry:

 

[oey]

Oh - thats sad - although I dont know who so I must have missed something. :hug:

 

[adelekeegan1]

I agree, when you think how hard you have to work to achieve your skills it is soul destroying to give up your hopes and dreams.

I have really struggled. I did my market research before my training but had no idea how many mobiles there were who don't advertise anywhere.

We are only 8 miles from the nearest Creative and Ezflow training centers and 8 miles from Gatwick airport. You wouldn't believe how many aircrew there are doing nails on their 'off' days.

After nearly 2 years I am still very slowly building my business, an option not open to everyone

 

[kelly!!]

i started to rent a room in june last year and i had to close just 4 weeks ago as in the time i opened another 3 renta rooms/salons opened it seems they are opening eveywhere i now comp is healthy.

But these days college/private courses train so many therapist and i think its at a point where there are not enough jobs so then people open rooms/ go mobile and then end up closing in less than a year its so sad :cry:

just my thoughts!!!!

PS: i would not change my job fer the world tho!!!

 

[joe90]

It is very very sad that so many seem to be shutting their doors or giving up mobile, it is tough out there.

In just the last two weeks in our little village centre where there are already 2 salons and one nails only salon (not sure if nss) another salon has opened and tonight I have seen signs on an empty shop window announcing another nails only salon. So that is 5 salons in a village of about 30 shops.

I too have been finding it very hard and have been funding myself from the little savings I had but if things don't buck up I will be done for too. I am not doing too badly but when you are the person who pays the bills and has no-one to pay them if you can't something has to give. I have given myself a deadline of end June this year which is when my college course finishes and if it isn't much better I will have to get a part time job.

 

[sodabubble]

It is very very sad that so many seem to be shutting their doors or giving up mobile, it is tough out there.

In just the last two weeks in our little village centre where there are already 2 salons and one nails only salon (not sure if nss) another salon has opened and tonight I have seen signs on an empty shop window announcing another nails only salon. So that is 5 salons in a village of about 30 shops.

I too have been finding it very hard and have been funding myself from the little savings I had but if things don't buck up I will be done for too. I am not doing too badly but when you are the person who pays the bills and has no-one to pay them if you can't something has to give. I have given myself a deadline of end June this year which is when my college course finishes and if it isn't much better I will have to get a part time job.

:hug:man alive you poor geeks! I feel so guilty now for being all excited about my own little venture

I do agree tho, this industry is saturated with therapists, but when you can 'qualify' in a matter of days in all kinds of treatments I suppose it's to be expected.

It's so true that there are so many mobiles who do not advertise, so when you try to check out the comp, you think you have found a niche. WRONG!!!
They (techs and therapists of all dicaplines) are quite literally everywhere.

But what bugs me the most is that fact that my local NSS is always uber busy! About 8 of them sat in a row churning out full sets in what seems like seconds, it's so disheartening.

For those about to geek........we salute you xxx:hug:

 

[joe90]

Know what you mean Sodabubble, the nail bar in the village near me is doing full sets for £18 and people are in and out in 45 minutes.

 

[kelly!!]

there are two places close to my house one offers them for £15 and the other £20 and like already mentioned in-out 45 mins tops

But always packed!!!

 

[Bagpuss]

Packed with what though...??? young, naive, cheep clients who know no better.

I know my clients would never entertain those places.

Target a different type of clientel....the sort who want better, and don't mind paying for it.

 

[kelly!!]

Packed with what though...??? young, naive, cheep clients who know no better.

I know my clients would never entertain those places.

Target a different type of clientel....the sort who want better, and don't mind paying for it.

i know your right i think for some (well me anyway) its just frustrating when you area good therapist/nail tech and are struggling to make it and thoes sorts of places are full.

 

[Sassy Hassy]

Packed with what though...??? young, naive, cheep clients who know no better.

I know my clients would never entertain those places.

Target a different type of clientel....the sort who want better, and don't mind paying for it.

I couldn't agree more! It's not easy, but starting ANY new business isn't easy and realistically any new business will not see a return on their investment for 3 years :green:! Yes that long! I always target my style of advertising for the clients who like the little extras in life - the convertible car, the private number plate, regular holidays etc. They tend to pay for quality and remain loyal to you. What I didn't want is someone who came to me because I was cheap, because next thing you know they'd be off as soon as someone cheaper came along.

Promote yourself as a non-conveyor belt, professional who gives the best to your clients ... and then make sure you do. It will take time to find these clients, but when you have them THEY STAY WITH YOU.

And of course if you are struggling to compete with the NSS on speed and price then why not give Popits a try and master those too. Then you can have ALL the clients!

 

[dee]

its a real shame some geeks are closig , am really gutted for em :hug: xxxx

 

[hippy-chick]

its a sad fact that some people want nails as cheaply and quickly as possible. they probably equate the time factor as a sign that the nail tech is good at her job iykwim.
I work with hairdressers and the younger ones go to the NSS and rave about them (even though they get burn't - they said it). The older HD's go to a reputable salon and are happy to pay for quality.

Its like when I was a student, I would buy cheapo facial products and sneer at people who spent a lot of money on them. Now I'm older and (hopefully) wiser, I see it as an investment and necessity.

 

[maguire]

there are two places close to my house one offers them for £15 and the other £20 and like already mentioned in-out 45 mins tops

But always packed!!!

Would it not be possible for you to compete with these nss's now that the popits are available, you could get a full set done in the same time as them,
to get started and get the clients in you could possibly offer popit sets at the same price as them till you get the clients in the door, then maybe you can turn the customers into proper sets of nails, it's just a thought.

 

[sj1973]

I couldn't agree more! It's not easy, but starting ANY new business isn't easy and realistically any new business will not see a return on their investment for 3 years :green:! Yes that long! I always target my style of advertising for the clients who like the little extras in life - the convertible car, the private number plate, regular holidays etc. They tend to pay for quality and remain loyal to you. What I didn't want is someone who came to me because I was cheap, because next thing you know they'd be off as soon as someone cheaper came along.

Promote yourself as a non-conveyor belt, professional who gives the best to your clients ... and then make sure you do. It will take time to find these clients, but when you have them THEY STAY WITH YOU.

And of course if you are struggling to compete with the NSS on speed and price then why not give Popits a try and master those too. Then you can have ALL the clients!

I agree also but it does not work where i live.....when i first started nails i called and see how much others charged.....i advertised in paper....in shops ...

I live next door to nosey !!!...told her to tell her friends....family....i have NO ONE...my trouble as well is i have 2 nail bars...none nss....

I charging £37 per set....other charging £14 per set........guess who is busy....£14.....why....because people are saying we are heading for recession ...

I also live in small town.....fart one end...poo yourself the next......you have to live in here for 20 years before they accept you.........my hubby started tattooing business....we don't get ANYONE for our area ....all come for other places....small town ,small mind.xxxxxxxxxxxx

 

[Sassy Hassy]

I know it's not easy, however remember that we earn our money on rebalances not full sets. I so rarely do full sets these days, so in some ways if you have to lower your set prices to get them in then maybe that is what you have to do. Just make sure your rebalance prices are realistic as that is your bread and butter.

 

[Deena]

It's really difficult to know how to pitch yourself these days, with so much 'Cheap' and otherwise competition.

My own grown up daughter is a case in point. She lives and works away, with plenty of disposable income and often nips into an nss for her nails. She has just returned from a holiday in Australia and the latest set she had done out there takes the biscuit, imo. She is staying with me for the weekend and I soaked her off last night, mesmerised by what she'd paid money for. They were 3 weeks old, huge bits missing, sprayed on white tips and what was left of the application was very lumpy and amateurish. I am not exaggerating when I say they looked like something you'd have turned out on your first morning of a foundation course. :irked:

The soak off revealed nails in a very poor state, splitting, separation of the layers and generally very dry and unattractive. Definitely not how they used to be, before she embarked on the 'Do it cheap' route. I explained it all to her yet again, she agreed they were shoddy but concluded that she wasn't prepared to sit there for longer with a decent tech who could create safe, lasting and attractive talons.

I am going to do her nails today and I've warned her that she'll just have to sit it out whilst I do my best to '<quietly> persuade her that the greater time/product/training investment is worth it.

 

[loualarta]

At the end of the day starting your own business has got to be one of the hardest things you will do in your life.

Were I live there is a very nice area with million pound houses etc. You think these people would all want quality but sadly no. I personally know some people that live in this area and have great big houses and flash cars and no money worries, where do you think they go to get thier nails done. The NSS!!

I really believe most people dont care if mma is bad and that their nails are being ruined underneath it all, Afterall smoking is bad for you but people everywhere still do it. They have busy lives and want sets that are done in 45 mins and NEVER lift or break.

This is why I think its so hard and for some its too hard so their dream ends up dying. Its very sad.

 

[sj1973]

At the end of the day starting your own business has got to be one of the hardest things you will do in your life.

Were I live there is a very nice area with million pound houses etc. You think these people would all want quality but sadly no. I personally know some people that live in this area and have great big houses and flash cars and no money worries, where do you think they go to get thier nails done. The NSS!!

I really believe most people dont care if mma is bad and that their nails are being ruined underneath it all, Afterall smoking is bad for you but people everywhere still do it. They have busy lives and want sets that are done in 45 mins and NEVER lift or break.

This is why I think its so hard and for some its too hard so their dream ends up dying. Its very sad.

Could not agree more.......everyone around here has money but they still want a bargain......

I can not afford to buy popit or anymore nail stuff.......we are finding it very hard....because hubby has his business aswell.....he is busy so its our 1st priority.....

The client's i have have been sacked from there jobs...no money.....or they have decided to go to the cheapest as they are finding everyday living hard.....

I have to work now so hubby is here for tats and other things he does.....its life and i wont give away some money for advertising when i know people cant or wont come to me.....i have done 15% off the first month....i went down to £20 per set.....NOTHING......xxxxxxxx

 

[Cathie!]

You know, I've thought about giving up many times, but, Rome wasn't built in a day and you can't expect a new business to be amazing in the first few months......

My salon has been open now for 2 years and it's only now that I am starting to see some decent money in my pocket.

As Bagpuss said, you need to target your market and appeal to the people who have the disposable income.