So is it REALLY worth investing in a skincare range?

[MrsP]

Hi there - I have a salon and we specialise in Shellac, HD Brows, Spray tan and lashes in a town centre generally for professional workers. We do the odd facial using a brand I wont mention as we have discontinued it due to poor service, but not many as most want to come in and go out within the hour for nails, tan etc...

My question is - the start up for most skincare ranges is in the thousands - but is it really worth it?? Does it just sit on the shelf??

We do a handful per month so reluctant to invest in a range that will tie up money! Eve Taylor has great reviews but no one has heard of it here. I like MONU but same thing....

All opinions on skincare and the apparent shift towards not having faciALS - appreciated!!

 

[alldrick]

We use Dermalogica it's a grt brand a known brand and free training to u all ! We do good in the facails and retail x we are just launching into no needles Botox treatments as something very different but I'm confident that both systems have a place in one salon .)

 

[Jack Dunn]

Matthew Taylor recently put together some really useful and helpful information which you may find helpful in making a decision on a brand that may suit your needs.

http://www.salongeek.com/business/146780-big-skincare-decision.html

 

[MrsP]

Hi Malewaxer - I read that yes - its a great thread thanks!..:biggrin:
I just see a trend emerging that facials seem to be the last thing our ladies want - a treat I suppose!
A few already do Dermalogica here...no one does MONU or Eve. I just couldnt press the button to order them as I thought my customer base doesnt seem too interested..
I dont know if that is the wrong brand in the salon or they just dont want facials!!

 

[Martin Duffy]

I have completely the opposite, facials account for a third of my work in terms of hours and two-thirds of it in profit (including the profit I make on related skincare sales). I use Decleor, and although the startup was expensive I made it back within the first year. I have never had stock sat about on shelves either as I sell everyday, this October for example I have personally sold over a £1000 in Decleor products.

Perhaps the lack of facials is due to the range you have, or perhaps also due to a lack of enthusiasm on the part of the therapists. Maybe they assume people are cutting back on them and so don't see the point in promoting the benefits to the clients. I'm certain that one thing which always sells is the promise of a more youthful complexion!

 

[Matthew Taylor]

How about finding a brand that has no min orders and offers individual small/trial sizes or a mobile type kit with everything you need for a treatment but in the small size?

That way you could be investing about £100 and have the products there if/when you need them. If it doesn't get used then you've only invested a small amount; and if you do get interest then you have the products on hand.

Some salons just don't have the customer demand which is a shame, but if that's how it is then accept it and focus on the treatments that are popular and market yourself as a specialist for those services

 

[Redduck]

I did exactly what Mathew posted and started with the trial sizes. I don't do a huge amount of facials but everyone who's had one loved the Eve Taylor products. Even when I went on to buy professional sizes there was no minimum spend. If you do go with them get some candles to retail as they fly of the shelf.

 

[squidgernetball]

I definitely think it's worth investing in. I have worked from home and now in premises and have always offered a premium brand for facials. If you take on a range, do introductory offers or link treatments with a facial at a reduced price. That way you will cover your outlay quickly. I'm looking to add a new skincare brand to the Environ range that I use, and am definitely looking at one with no minimum order. Environ flies off the shelf, like Martin said about Decleor. I can get a call and sell £100 of products over the phone! Use a brand you like/enjoy/believe in. I've tried Eve Taylor and am now looking at SwissDermyl - very impressed with SwissDermyl. Think they're gorgeous, and no pressure for annual/monthly spends! Get excited, cause a buzz, and clients will book facials!

 

[BeautyQueen88]

I use natural elements in my salon. They do a 10yrs younger facial which goes down really well with the clients! They suggest only using the retail sizes initially also as it's organic it goes off so unless you're doing lots of facials it's not worth buying the salon sizes yet xx

 

[MrsP]

Thanks everyone!
We had a lovely Organic range but now discontinued it as service not good.
We created a buzz and got people having them as a link in on their Shellac mani for an intro price but few have rebooked but we did sell a fair bit of body treatments oddly enough!

Not sure if this is:
1) The range
2) The therapist (couple of comments about her not 'selling' the aftercare)
3) The clients

My incling is a combination of the 3 but if I got a range we LOVE then perhaps the rest will follow and the clients will LOVE it too. They didnt much like the smells of the organic stuff even though v nicely packaged.

 

[LJai19-x]

I'm not sure if you are looking for another Organic skincare brand but have you heard of John Masters Organics? It was used and retailed in a salon I used to work in and the clients loved it :biggrin:

 

[xxAmyxx]

Eve Taylor is a lovely brand, why would you want to use a brand everyone else uses? You could do a launch and invite existing clients to introduce it into your salon? Also they have no minimum order

 

[SereneSpa]

We use Pure Fiji skincare and have done for a few years...they've just relaunched with some more advance facials too and their minimum order is around £400 I think....