Worrying myself sick

[crystaltash]

Hi lovely geeks,
So, my wee salon has been open nearly 4 weeks now and I'm already making myself sick with worry.
I'm sitting here today with only one person in - had 4 cancellations for one day!! And I'm open til 9!

I've done leaflet drops, just set up a website and a bebo page and I'm trying to put together more of a marketing campaign at the minute. But it's so hard when there's no-one booked in.
There are 2 other salons in town (quite a big town) and I'm worried that maybe the competition is too great?

I don't want to let anything beat me. I love this job and want it to work so badly, but I'm feeling very scared right now. I just wanna break down into tears, but I know that won't get me anywhere, so I'm just trying to move forward.

Has anyone else had this experience with starting up? I would really love to hear from you and hear how you grew your business.
Please help, geeks, I'm in such despair and you guys are the only ones I can turn to. My parents and partner have helped me so much withmoney and stuff, I don't want to worry them.
Thanks in advance for any replies.
xxxx

www.divinebeautytherapy.com

 

[Lynne Baker]

Hi there
Right, now, stop fretting for a start - it's just counterproductive. Get productive!
Take a look at my thread on promoting your business, and follow up on those ideas - they've brought me no end of business!
http://www.salongeek.com/biz-geek/83160-more-ways-promote-your-business.html#post852349

Try not to panic, but learn all you can about marketing. It's key to your success. Unless people know you're there and what you offer they can't come to your salon. Often in an economic downturn people cut their marketing thinking it will save money; they couldn't be more wrong if they tried! You need to stand out amongst all the salons out there, you need to give people a reason to come to you over anyone else.

You can do this!

 

[bonjovirock4eva]

im in the same position i opened 2 weeks ago and have only one person booked in all week try not to let it get you down i did crying last night and feeling sorry for myself :cry: it got me nowhere!!!!
today i kicked myself up the bum and started reading on ways to help myself and use the days productively ive printed off all the phone numbers of local clubs and im currently phoning them all to see if i can put posters up and also offering them raffle prizes ive had 3 so far agree you need to let people know your there ive had a few bookings but they have mostly been the girls from downstairs in the hairdressers because they know im there!!!! talk to everyone and anyone carry your cards everywhere and keep leafleting ive put around 3,000 leaflets out in the last 4 weeks and still have places ive not been go talk to the shop keepers in the surrounding area i did that last week and friday 2 came in for a file and polish its hard slog but will pay off eventually
......oh and keep smiling nobody wants a grumpy tech!!!

 

[Martin Duffy]

I'm afraid that for most of us building up a client base is a long slow process and that's just the way of it, it takes months & years to build up a good client base, not weeks. As others have said forget worrying & use the time to explore every marketing avenue you can think of. I notice all of the promotional avenues you mention are those done through a medium other than yourself - have you thought about those where you meet potential customers face to face?

 

[Paperclip]

I openend my business nearly two years ago. I remember when I first opened I had a few busy days but mostly were quiet. It takes time to build up a business. It doesnt happen over nite. You have only been open for four weeks and in one of the quietest periods aswell. Christmas is around the corner so what about trying some monthly offers. Advertise in the paper, flyers, get your leaflets out there. Try and offer something different to your opposition. May be make up your own treatments with a twist ie Facial include leg and foot massage for those aching feet etc. It will pick up. I still get the odd quiet day. But enjoy it that's the main thing.

 

[hippy-chick]

its happening to everyone at the moment.
I've taken today off cos I've got no bookings.

 

[susiedix]

I was busy like crazy last week and now for the next couple of weeks there seems to be very little. The stylists in the salon are quiet as well. I am thinking that with Christmas around the corner and money tight everywhere people are having to make a choice on where they want to spend their money. I am hoping that I will be booked the week up to Christmas with fills and stuff. There are always slow times. I have not be doing it long and dont have a big client base but I just plug away everyday and do the best I can with each and every client. Smile things will look up.

 

[mely-bely]

I understand completely how you feel luv. I convinced my parents to open Paragon Beauty Supply because there was a huge whole in the market for Estheticians and Nail Techs here. The hairdressers have 3 supply houses that give them everything they need, with only a small section for esthetics and nails. We did research before we did this and everyone we talked to was so happy to hear we were coming because they were tired of the supply houses in town running out of everything, or having to order out of province to get what they need. We opened 6 weeks ago and it has been so slow. I have been out dropping samples everywhere hoping to drum up interest. I KNOW we will be successfull over time ~ you have to believe!

 

[tigi]

tasha

If it any consolation to you many of my marketing clients are quiet at the moment, so its not just you or your industry that is feeling this. ( I am a marketeer by trade but have had a change of direction and am a nail tech and training in beauty therapy)

first of all, please can i offer you some marketing advice that I give all my clients?

1. whatever marketing you do you need to follow these rules

Is your marketing SMART

S = Specific. Be really clear about what you are trying to do. You need to be specific, " I am going to drive more customers in through my door" is great but how will you do it? break each marketing activity down into smaller slots and follow the rest of the rules. for example

" I am going to drive more customers throught my door by"
A getting flyers made
B offering my services at school fairs
C getting a piece about me in the local paper

etc etc

M= manageable. Can you do it? do you need professionals in to help you? How much will it cost you?

A = achievable. Once you have decided on what marketing activity (A B OR C or all of them) you will do, think about how you will do it. break it down into manageable goals.

R = realistic. please set yourself goals that are realistic. Its hard to stay motivated and in control if you take on too much or not set yourself some achievable goals.

T = targetted. this is so important. If you are for example going to promote your gift vouchers, then think about who buys them? Place your flyers , ads etc in the shops and places where these people go. If you think men will buy them as gifts, place your info where men will see it.

I can go and on really but what I trying to say is this. You are in control. You can market your business and its ok to feel scared and worried. But take those fears and get into SMART marketing . I have never had a client come back to me and say it doesnt work. ( I offer a 100% money back promise and have done so since 1995).

If you need ANY help at all, then please let me know as I would be happy to help you in any way in can. I have gained so much help and knowledge from the lovely people on this site, id be pleased to give some back.

best wishes

tigi

 

[Curly Bamboo]

Hi Crystaltash,

I first want to congratulate you on opening your salon. I just took a look at your website and think your salon is gorgeous.

I too recently started however I am renting a room. It takes a bit of time to get to know your customers, Iam now seeing repeat customers and most of my new clients are from word of mouth.

Have you tried doing a skin bar event for people to try your products? an open night? is see you have makeup, why not do free makeup event. You take a £10-15 booking fee to secure an appointment, the booking fee is redeemable against a purchase or treatment with your salon.


Are there local groups you can target? small offices? nurseries? if they can't come to you, why don't you go to them?

When you do leaftlet droppings you should expect only about 1% of people to contact you.

Chin up, use this time positively and think about how you can market yourself more.

 

[essentia]

Hi there - there are lots of great ideas but I feel the more you actually have contact with potential customers the greater the success. One year when I was a mobile therapist I did a season demonstrating make-up at a holiday camp and I had so much interest and sold lots of make up kits. If you are sitting in your salon not meeting people how are they going to know you and what you do?

 

[Anastasia Vasic]

Don't you worry so much,
It is not so easy to start, it will take time to get busy. Your business will be fine, just stay cool and don't panic. When I started two years ago, there were week when i didn't have any one, but slowly, it did pick up.
Wishing you all the best:hug:

 

[tog]

Your website is great and your salon looks gorgeous. I'm sure once clients have been there for one treatment they will definitely return, I definitely would. I hope things pick up for you.
I have had my salon for 12 years now and the last 4 weeks or so it has been very quiet, despite having many regular clients. As soon as Xmas is over I'm definitely going to do some promotions as january's usually quiet too, but a lot of the people on this site have really inspired me with their ideas.

Good luck for the coming weeks and months!

 

[Angelaznailz]

HI,
we're all a bit on the slow side just now, however already I'm almost full for the week leading up to Christmas
At the beginning (3 years ago) I was in your shoes and felt that I was doing a lot of work for no return. After about 6 weeks, when I expected to still be slow, it suddenly took an upturn and I haven't looked back.
Next thursday, my sister (a hairdresser) and myself are doing a talk (no charge) at the local women's 'Rural' group and both of us are sh***ing ourselves. However the organisers have told us to bring our pricelists and some retail items to sell, and hopefully we'll get a load of bookings from it too.
Between that and donating vouchers to community event raffles - :grr:
Oh well, what goes around, comes around .......eventually.
Keep your chin up and keep smiling All will be well !

 

[crazysaz]

it just takes time! no matter how much advertising you do people wont go cos they dont know you! i'd say 2 yrs it took me. I used to sit in the shop 6 days a wk, 2 late nites and i only lifted 180 on average - if i was lucky! some wks was £50! word of mouth is the best advertising but also the 1 tht takes the longest. refer a friend schemes do well for this. Also do a good deal on your tans, this was how i survived at the start! plus a GOOD nail tech is rare so do good nails and let them be your ad! dont get disheartened, this is a quiet time of yr anyway. Have you got a window? we done a lovely window display with all out retail stuff. mad beauty do we organza bags, we put wee polishes and that in them, plus heshi, and st tropez. hopefully that'll get people on. A big xmas themed sign with gift vouchers available. put posters up in local schools for formal packages as well. i know theres 2 in feb which can be a really quiet month so hopefully il do ok out of them.

 

[bombini]

Have you done any advertisements in the local paper ? Launch offers etc ?

If people don't know about you they won't book you. Have you thought about doing an editorial ?

Cancellations are always a nightmare at xmas, people are forever chopping and changing. Today I should have had three facials and a bikini wax in and they all re-arranged yesterday for the week before xmas :irked: Probably a blessing in disguise as ive been really ill all day with flu (again) just hope to god i will make it in tomorrow as booked all day with clients that have xmas parties tomorrow night !

 

[jonailtech]

offer a special night on the town promotion :if they get spray tan and make-up and waxing done and they get nail art for free! make sure you take a look at what other salons are offering in your area and go one better than them! ads in local paper etc

 

[Blue Rose]

Firstly I'd like to say how lovely your salon looks.

You say you've only been open four weeks but prior to that did you do mobile work or such like? Do you have a client base?

If you do, then great as this is where your potential business can come from.

If you have clients who haven't been in for a while, write to them with a good offer to encourage them back in the salon.

Encourage your existing clients to spend more money with you by having other treatments.

One thing which is working really well for us at the moment is having a competition. All clients who book in for a treatment (not their usual one) with my part time therapist go into a draw to win that treatment free in January. This is getting clients to try things they wouldn't normally have done & is getting them to spend lots more, because they want to win that value next month.

Promote your gift vouchers. For clients who buy a voucher from you for a friend, reward them with a voucher for themselves.

Above all, stay positive & I'm sure positive things will happen.

 

[RedAdmiral]

A big congratulations M8 your salon is fab tho I do have a few things to say You have opened and you dont seem to have the bums on seat for one time only 'opening offer'
Your website is fantastic and the salon beautiful but the best thing is YOU! You are amazingly qualified and best of all most of your holistic services dont cost much. I would be pushing these - Free ___ massage with evey ______, try hopi ear candling!, maybe a lil taster of what you do!
It took about 4 wks for me to get going and I had a massive window display, leaflets and local paper advertising for 3wks in a row. people need to know what you do!
I think the offer you have is something EVERYBODY has and its boring! why not add your specialised area into that offer?
It has to be bums on seats as you have to be strong during thses tough times especially if you are new.

 

[jax]

I think these are tricky times for everyone at the moment. November has been so slow for me and the beauty therapist that works with me is also very very slow just now. Decembers bookings are not nearly what they should be either! People I know from other local salons are also in the same boat. Keep plugging away is my advice, its going to be a difficult year ahead for everyone. Do some sums and work out if you can reduce your costs and therefore your prices - I think we're all heading in that direction for the next few months - we have to give the public what they want.........and unfortunately they want to spend LESS right now, so we have to adapt to that and make the most out of it.

xx