Skint & how did you cope starting up?

[rippersroo]

Hi Geeks,
Urgh feeling so crap at the mo, I started mobile in December and have recently joined a nail bar in a room to offer my treatments. I do 3 days in each.
I am gradually getting busier but been reading on here how some geeks done so well and were in profit so quickly.
I have basically spent £2500 starting up with all equipment and even buying a car so I can get to this nail bar!
I have made £300.
I have done everything except a paper ad I just cannot afford anything. I have more outgoings than incomings. Did anyone else start like this? It's just aswell I have my boyfriend looking after me I can't pay for anything at the moment!! He buys all food and pays for everything!
It's his birthday next month and I love to treat him but I cannot even afford my bills this month!
How did you all survive? lol
I know having money to start with would of been a good move, and I did have a part time job but not anymore. I don't do anything wrong in my previous jobs, it just seems people won't employ me, my hours in jobs I've had get lower and lower and then I'm basically fobbed off! so I decided to go self employed and I love what I do now. I am barely surviving & someone told me the other day there's no point doing it! 😞 but I can't get a normal job anyway!
I offer lashes, lash lift, tinting, threading and gel polish nails.
Just a bit of a moany post really sorry 😢 x

 

[persianista]

Most people save up to start a business. If you read threads on here about it, we advocate having at least 6 months living expenses in hand. Maybe look at doing some bar work, boot fairs or other ways to increase your income for a while, which won't impact on your work availability.

 

[ch-ela]

Why wont people employ you?

Do you have a lot of repeat custom? Referrals?

 

[rippersroo]

Thanks persianista I am doing a carboot this weekend!
And che-la I don't know! I am by no means stupid I have 7 gcses and 6 of them are A*~C
I've passed all college courses I've ever done with the highest grades.
I must just be hideously ugly! haha I can't think of any other reason! 😂
Yes my clients all come back for infills etc. (Except the ones that just wanted a cheap deal-you know the ones in the beginning)
I just don't know what's wrong with me! I should be able to get a good job with my grades but I can't even get a **** job!
All I want is to do beauty and be successful but I am looking for part time jobs to do on my quieter (mobile) days.
Thanks for your replies!
X

 

[persianista]

I'm going to be the one to ask the question, but try not to take offense or be defensive, as I mean only kindness. Are you sure that you don't need more training or mentoring? A few flags went up for me in your original post, mainly in so far as a lack of progress in your client building. Can you hand on heart say that your customer facing skills don't need any polishing? Are your personal skills holding you back? Is each set of nails perfect?
Can you identify any areas that you feel could be holding you back from the level of success that you'd like?

 

[squidgernetball]

There are far more people on here who struggled with starting up than who got busy in their first few months!

I did beauty from home and it very gradually grew. That was over 12 years ago and I could STILL be busier. People on here can tell us what they want - how much is true, we'll never know!

Keep going - the fact that you are getting busier would indicate that people are happy with your work! Be proud of that!

It has been said on here many times that in your first year of business AT LEAST, don't expect to make a profit!

Sad but true!

Chin up!

Vic x

 

[ch-ela]

Thanks persianista I am doing a carboot this weekend!
And che-la I don't know! I am by no means stupid I have 7 gcses and 6 of them are A*~C
I've passed all college courses I've ever done with the highest grades.
I must just be hideously ugly! haha I can't think of any other reason! ��
Yes my clients all come back for infills etc. (Except the ones that just wanted a cheap deal-you know the ones in the beginning)
I just don't know what's wrong with me! I should be able to get a good job with my grades but I can't even get a **** job!
All I want is to do beauty and be successful but I am looking for part time jobs to do on my quieter (mobile) days.
Thanks for your replies!
X

Have you tried a referral scheme with your repeat clients?

I'm just working my way through Lynne Baker's business thread, have you tried any of these things?

Do you think you may come across as over confident? I don't know why you wouldn't be a valued employee. Is this telling you something?

 

[rippersroo]

I'm going to be the one to ask the question, but try not to take offense or be defensive, as I mean only kindness. Are you sure that you don't need more training or mentoring? A few flags went up for me in your original post, mainly in so far as a lack of progress in your client building. Can you hand on heart say that your customer facing skills don't need any polishing? Are your personal skills holding you back? Is each set of nails perfect?
Can you identify any areas that you feel could be holding you back from the level of success that you'd like?

No I won't take offence. I used to be a restaurant supervisor so I really don't feel I need people skills. I haven't done a set of nails since training, it is something I'm taking on when my boss goes away. Though I have done my course and practiced little pops for nail art ideas etc.
I really don't know if there's any areas holding me back, I Spose it's hard for you to tell aswell without knowing me. I just feel I'm ready and waiting for these clients and they're not coming in! I'm raring to go believe me!x

 

[rippersroo]

Have you tried a referral scheme with your repeat clients?

I'm just working my way through Lynne Baker's business thread, have you tried any of these things?

Do you think you may come across as over confident? I don't know why you wouldn't be a valued employee. Is this telling you something?

I have considered the referral but again I don't have money for "recommend a friend cards"
Yes I've read Lynne's thread 3 times, I've jotted down loads of ideas but again money is now an issue with some ideas.
No I don't think I'm over confident? I just mentioned my gcses to prove I'm not an idiot. I am a very quiet person in no way a big head but I love 121 that's why I love doing this job! What is this telling me?x

 

[ch-ela]

I have considered the referral but again I don't have money for "recommend a friend cards"
Yes I've read Lynne's thread 3 times, I've jotted down loads of ideas but again money is now an issue with some ideas.
No I don't think I'm over confident? I just mentioned my gcses to prove I'm not an idiot. I am a very quiet person in no way a big head but I love 121 that's why I love doing this job! What is this telling me?x

Well you sound as though you are in the right profession, so what else can we pull out of a hat? (I'm in the same position as you btw)

You don't need special cards for the refer a friend. If you have business cards, then write the name of the client on 5 cards and tell her to hand them out. Any client that books in gets 15% (or £5) off her first appointment WITH the card and the client gets it too. That way you can keep track of who refers who.

If you don't already have cards, you could make a leaflet and print at home.

 

[jojo77]

It's a struggle I open my own business November and still very much at a loss as far as products go. But when I did my books I was pleasantly surprised how much I'd actually earnt . Just need to curb my spending . I still have very quiet days and then days where I don't stop . It's early days and building clients take time. Hang on in there xx

Sent from my GT-N7100 using SalonGeek mobile app

 

[rippersroo]

Oh well at least I'm not alone(I've been feeling it!)
Ooh thankyou I've got business/appointment cards. I've got clients for the rest of this week so I'm gonna give it a go and just hope they have friends! Thankyou for your help.x

 

[MissyMuffin]

Always make out you're very busy. Never let clients go without booking their follow up appointment/s as you are super busy

 

[Nicolahayley]

Really sorry you are finding it all a little bit difficult! That's a shame. But it's really not all smooth running as it may seem.
I must admit I used all of my savings to build my business. I got paid off from my job so it gave me the push I needed to get set up on my own. So really I had no money to see me through. But I have been really lucky.
I've never once struggled to pay bills or rent or buy stock... I might not always get a wage.. Or if I do it's not much. But to be honest I love the feeling of knowing that I'm providing for myself and I'm in a better position working for myself than I ever have been.

I've been open just over a year, but it's true what everyone has said it does take a while to get totally set up and functioning right.

 

[EmilyBritten]

My advice is to keep going and keep strong!

 

[squidgernetball]

Oh well at least I'm not alone(I've been feeling it!)
Ooh thankyou I've got business/appointment cards. I've got clients for the rest of this week so I'm gonna give it a go and just hope they have friends! Thankyou for your help.x

When you work alone, you can feel totally isolated, and when things go wrong - or not as we have hoped, it feels extremely personal.

I used to be dead on a Tuesday afternoon, and would get really low. A close friend pointed out that I was always fed up on Tuesday afternoons, and I linked it to being quiet. So now, when I book clients in - it may sound logical - I try and book them as early in the week as possible. I've just had a mad busy Tuesday - and tomorrows dead lol!!!
If I'm quiet now, I try and keep busy doing mega cleaning - or reading posts on SG!!!

Vic x

 

[jujojones]

How about offering your clients a rebooking offer? If you have clients booked in you really wana keep them !! As I'm opening a new salon I want to get the books filled and clients addicted so im offering a 20% discount on there next appointment if the book it there and then, and it's within 4 weeks. (if the cancel or rearrange they lose the discount)

Do you feel all your treatments are perfect? How long have you been working in the industry ?

Do you get all of your clients details ? Email etc? If so maybe send them some feedback forms to ask them to fill in (maybe offer a £5 discount for doing it) .... It could be they are not happy with something that can easily be changed, like it was to hot, too cold, the tea tasted funny ha ha!!

Clients can be fickle and are easily put off by little things if the treatments they get aren't 100% perfect ( I'm not saying they aren't - just talking from experience )

What advertising do you do? Are you on Facebook twitter instragram ?? If so make sure your using them to the full, take pictures of your work , interact with your followers to make sure they see you!

X

 

[HelenT59]

If it's any consolation, I recently started renting too-was busy & now it's slowed down too! I get down as I'm worried about rent etc but I pulled money I had together this wk to train in another service which may pull ppl in and I'm gonna plug the life out if it! Iv recruited a friend to create poster for me for free which I'm to use for advertisement in the salon n I'm gonna sell myself go each customer! I'm still worried but I just hope my efforts will make a difference!

 

[satchel]

It may sound old-fashioned, but for new clients I send a hand written thank you card. With everyone glued to their phones a kind and well written thank you card is almost shocking (in a good way) to clients. I tell them something along the lines of: Thank you for stopping by our salon. It was so nice to meet you. Please let me know if you have any questions. I look forward to seeing you soon for your next appointment. Kindest Regards or Warm Regards, then your name.

I also try to remember Birthdays and of course Holidays I send cards. I don't own the salon I freelance, but I do own another business. So believe me, I know about when business is slow. It's tough! A lot of what captures my clients is the personalization and packaging.

Also do your own PR. Email a pitch to local style editors or editors at your local paper. Maybe there is a trend now in nails? (I don't know. Nails are not my speciality.) At the end of the pitch offer to have them visit you and you apply the new trends so they can see for themselves. This can result in them writing about you. Editors LOVE freebies and incentives. You just have to pitch them correctly.

 

[LieLash]

I think the reality is this - the beauty industry is hard and it's a struggle to build your business!

My accountant said that you need to give your business 2 years at least and 5 years before you make any reasonable profit.

I've been where u are, I did every advertising ploy on Lynne's thread - most didn't work but u have to keep plodding on

I was going to quit last year because it was so quiet - not because of my level of service just because competition is rife, people have no money bla bla bla

Luckily my specialism is lashes so that sets me apart from he competition in my area but if I had to focus on nails etc id never make my money

However I still work a part time job coaching sport even after 2 years in this industry

Firstly it gets me away from my salon for a few hours a day and I know it's an income at the end of the month.

You just have to keep plodding on / there is work out there u just got to find it.

I was even doing cleaning jobs when I first started, hated it but needed the money

So don't quit, we have all been there, this industry is not easy at all but u arnt alone.