Thinking about packing it all in

[showson]

Hi Geek's

Has anyone else gone quiet?

I am a new qualified mobile nail tech and have spent a fortune on having price lists and business cards designed and a webiste. I have given leaflets out around where i live, and last month i got really busy, i explained to all my people who called that i was newly qualified and that is why i am only charging £15.00 for a set of nails and after i had done their nails i told all of them that if they had any probs that i would sort their nails out free of charge. I have never had anyone ringing up to say that they had probs and they all said that they would call me in afew weeks for infill appointments. I have only had a few clients that i have called me and have become regulars.

I am at my wits end as i have spent a fortune setting up and buying things. I have done an itec level 3 in nail technology at college, nail art courses, 3d nail art, and next week i am doing the ez flow conversions course. I love doing nails and really want this to work, but just don't know what to do now to move forward, i have had one phone call in 3 weeks.

Feel very dis-heartened and just don't know what to do anymore to get any clients.:cry:

 

[Kittensgotclaws]

Hi there, this is quite common, unfortunately business doesn't pick up over night, it can take quite a while for word to get round, even if you have done advertising etc, if you really want to be in this business and love what you do then keep at it, if not then...... business will pick up eventually, you have to also remember that we are in the middle of a recession, people are not spending as much as they used to and unfortunately most people will stop having treatments done for now, hope this helped you.
Jo.xx

 

[Exquisite Touch]

you have got to get your name out there......
I was the same at first but once people recommend you it goes off with a bang, dont give up yet

 

[TIRNAK]

It is hard but don't lose heart now!!
Do another leaflet drop, spread the word, you need to be a little shameless now with regards to advertising and gaining new custom, its hard I know (been there), but you can't give up...

 

[ValencianNails]

I have never had anyone ringing up to say that they had probs and they all said that they would call me in afew weeks for infill appointments. I have only had a few clients that i have called me and have become regulars.

The clients who haven't come back... have you contacted them to ask them if everything was ok and if they had any problems?

 

[showson]

No i haven't contacted them ,not really sure what i would say :cry:

 

[Xhristine]

I've just started, and I only have a few clients, but I keep my chin up cause I know Im good and I have done all the training and passed with flying colours, and there's plenty of room in this business for everyone!!!

Some people are the types that look at the phone and wait for it to ring - in this business you have to go out there and get them. Perhaps you should ask your clients if they want to rebook before they leave - it's difficult to say no!!!

Stay strong, we are all behind you.

Xhristine xxxx

 

[ris]

showson,


Some of those clients may never be anybody’s regular at all. There are girls who know a lot about this industry, they know where they can have their nails done as models – that is almost free of charge. And then, think, a new tech pops up in advertisements – why not go and find out who it is and what she can and cannot do.

Far-fetched as it may sound, I realized that bit by bit putting two and two together. This is an industry where they make a lot of money selling to nail-techs. They can have their secret agents . You can even find threads on different forums like this about how somebody went somewhere to have their nails done and what mistakes they spotted and so on. To the techs who did their nails they looked just as any other ordinary clients. If you are attentive you will spot a lot of seemingly innocent things that nevertheless an ordinary person would never ever do or say.

And as they say it it’s not that easy to build up a clientele and gain a reputation. And don’t spend more money than you need to. At least don’t throw it out - there’s always someone eager to pick it up.

 

[diesel1978]

Chin up chick it does get better! Its like the age old saying 'Rome was'nt built n a day'!
When i started i thought it was never going to happen. I advertised in local papers, did leaflet drops and the like and i think i only ever aquired 2 clients!
I made sure my friends were sporting my nails and gradually people would ask where they had them done etc and the cycle started.
Don't get me wrong it was a struggle and a long time coming but sooooo very worth it. I put Nails on riduculous offers and although it seemed a good idea at the time it is important that these offers are short lived. I still do offers but i tend to keep them short and sweet. It means my regulars get to take advantage of them but also creates an opening for new clients to try me out.
The other thing you will notice about doing these offers is that you get the same people coming back but only at the time of the offers.
Ive been on facebook now for a couple of years and have noticed alot of these 'special offer clients' posting on other nail techs walls when they are doing offers. For some it is just not possible to keep and maintain the enhancements so they simply look out for the offers.
Don't be disheartened it will happen. You have put the effort in and you will see the benefits x x x

 

[persianista]

might be an idea to pick out your areas busiest hair salon, and ask if they would rent you some space. It's a hell of a lot easier to build a clientelle in a salon.

 

[FlawlessBeauty]

Hang in there, love. I usually find September a bit quieter anyway as everyones been having loads done over the summer and now its all back to school. It always picks up again in October too.

When did you start you're business?x

 

[yeahyeah]

advertising is good, but PR is better. get out and meet people, offer freebies (some people may disagree with this but i will say from experience, it works like a charm when youre building a clientele!) donate a free pedicure or a full set of enhancements to funraisers or charties with churches, schools, charity organizations. this will get your name out there and instantly recognized around the community. offer a free set of enhancements to local bank clerks, realtors, store cashiers... anyone who see's people all day. Next, get them to book a fill BEFORE they ever get out of your chair. i dont know why techs have a hard time asking this question, its not hard! grab your appointment book and instead of saying "would you like to book your fill now?" say "now what day works best for your fill?". most people will rebook right away, some will hesitate and say they'll call you. tell them they get %10 off their first fill if they book it now and remind them that you can not guarantee them a spot in your book if they wait! also, you should instate a cancelation policy right away, something along the lines of 48 hrs notice is required for cancellations or they will be charged for the missed appointment.
keep your head up, dont pack it in! building a clientele is tough. we've ALL been exactly where you are, wondering if its ever going to pay off, and it will if you dont give up

 

[geeg]

The reality is that during a recession, most ladies who have their nails done and love them will NOT stop having them done.

As someone who is pretty close to a product supplier (lol) I can tell you that business is not only doing well but GROWING through this recession FOR THOSE WHO HAVE AN EXISTING CUSTOMER BASE.

WHAT HAS CHANGED IS THAT NEW CLIENTS MAY BE THINNER ON THE GROUND. New people may be reluctant to commit themselves to a regular service that could put a little more strain on already strained finances. It is a hard time to start a new business. That doesn't mean you should give up or are no good, it means you have to hang in there and commit to a slow but steady rise in clients and do everything that people have suggested to get them to come to you.

Offering a cheap service is not the way to get new clientèle, I can tell you that. It gives out all the wrong signals to those who, if they decide to spend some money on themselves, want to spend it wisely and go to someone who is GOOD. Someone who is good does not charge 15.00. The signals that gives out to me are: I'm new!! I'm inexperienced! I'm not sure of what I am doing! I don't think I am worth any more than this low cheap price!
Maybe none of that is true, but that is what 15.00 says to me.

Put your price up. Make sure your work is good. Never let a client leave without booking an appointment. And ring clients for feedback so that you don't loose confidence in your ability.

Example
"Hello, this is 'showson'. I did your nails two weeks ago. I noticed in my book that you're due for your maintenance appointment and hoped that by giving you a ring, we could fit it in at a convenient time for you."

How they answer you will give you the feed back you need.

This site is here to help you. Ask and you will be given. If you are unsure what to say .. someone will help you. Take advantage of this service from salon geek ... this is the kind of help I love to give and why the site was started in the first place ... and it makes a fantastic change from answering questions like "where can I buy cheap nail art stuff'" :green:

 

[Missy G]

Heh there, they say it takes about three years to build a buisness ,Im on my second year, and considering I have another buisness too which sometimes gets in the way, Im quite happy with my client base and as 2010 is round the corner, my third year will soon be here and Im looking forward to gaining more clients and hope then it will be booming.
Keep yur chin up, theres been many a time I felt like giving up..beeeelliieevve me..hang on in ....itll get better,its early days yet!!!!!

 

[helkat]

Hey there: I am also a new nail tech and have been busy setting up my own business too. Its tough going I have only been doing this a few months and I just have a simple website and some business cards - that's it. I got myself out there by posting on as many free websites as possible. I have had a number of calls, but my issue is that I am not very fast yet.

Lucky for me my husband is a graphic designer so I got my logo and business cards done for cheap. My husband is big into small business stuff and the first thing he told me is not to be spending lots of money up front.

Don't give up yet.. just keep at it and try and get yourself out there. Take your business cards everywhere and hand them out, network as much as you can and always talk about your business when you meet ANYONE! Good luck girl! you can do it!

 

[Susie H]

Cheep nails gets you cheep clients. Sad but true, been there done that.
There is nothing wrong with special offers to entice new clients but the best way to do that is to offer an extra, such as full set of nails at £xx and half price pedicure or pretty toes included.
With regard to advertising, once is not enough, I've said this before but it really works.
Get a map of your area, divide it into 4 or 5 parts and plan on doing a leaflet drop in one different area each week. This is so that when someone is thinking of having a service done they will remember your name rather then, oh! I had a leaflet a couple of months ago, shame I cant remember who it was from:irked:
Another good way of keeping your details at their fingertips is to have your menu on one side of a post card and have useful local numbers on the other
Out of hours doctor, chemist, local police etc. That way they will keep your card by the phone instead of the recycle bin.
Beyond that, it takes time hun, lots of time, Sassy hassey did a wonderful thread on marketing your business I strongly suggest you read it, down load it, print it and keep it by you as your bible, she is one very smart geeky lady.
Don't give up now hun, you've invested to much money, time and effort, now is the time to knuckle down and get those clients to see that you are the best. Good luck hun:hug:

 

[ris]

Sassy hassey did a wonderful thread on marketing your business I strongly suggest you read it, down load it, print it and keep it by you as your bible, she is one very smart geeky lady.

Done a search on 'sassy hassey' with 'marketing' as the key-word.
It seems that sassy hassey is unknown to the search engine of this site .

 

[Anna Lee]

Done a search on 'sassy hassey' with 'marketing' as the key-word.
It seems that sassy hassey is unknown to the search engine of this site .

It's 'sassy hassy'....

But not sure if that article is still up on the website though...

 

[nixnewcastle]

I posted a thread like this not so long ago and recieved some amazing advice and moral support. Have a read of it http://www.salongeek.com/biz-geek/98871-my-wits-end-please-advice-help.html
All the geeks on here are fab and always help me out in my time of need