Friends poaching my business

[nietta]

I just need a little rant sorry.
A friend asked me about 6 months ago who i trained with for my extension training, and asked prices. She told me she wanted to book next time she was back visiting her parents in the area (she moved from my area, Windsor, to portsmouth)
She visited 3 times soon after and kept putting it off. I then found out about a month ago that she's trained with exactly the same company as me, said i recommended her and got money off the training because of it!!
Cheeky, i thought, but she's not my competition so i didnt stress until i was talking to a mutual friend who said shes moving back here by xmas!!!
Shes been advertising on a facebook page that shes made, and has been posting offers on peoples walls.....ALL THE PEOPLE WHO 'LIKE' MY PAGE!!

If that wasn't bad enough, a client of mine, has also gone and trained with the same company. She is in my area, mobile like me, and has recently set up a FB page.
I looked on her FB page a couple of days ago to find she has put in her 'Info' section descriptions of the hair she uses, and prices. ALL THE SAME AS MINE!!!! She has very noticably copied my pricing, and the info about my hair but has changed the wording slightly.
She also has before and after pictures up, claiming to be her work, however when i spoke to her last week she said she has only done 1 half head on her sister.
There really is nothing i can say, but i am livid. I also dont think she is insured, and im 100% sure she is using cheap hair and passing it off as good hair by copying my wording.
The sore point is shes a loyal client of mine that would be a shame to lose!

ANDDDDDD......while writing this post Ive received a text from a hairdresser acquaintance of mine asking where i trained, that she loves the look of my work and wants to get into herself, so can i give her loads of advice on training, suppliers, prices etc.
SHE IS 5 MINUTES AWAY FROM ME!

Am I overreacting to be so mad? But all these people, friends, clients etc have gone behind my back, snooped for info from me and then loved in on my business.


Sorry for the rant!

 

[Bluerinse]

Darling, I've said it before and I will say it again, hairdressers are like magicians and hookers, we never reveal our secrets! I never tell people exactly what I've done, used or how I had to do a lot of hard work to find certain things out, I'm not gonna just pass that info out to anyone! X

 

[nietta]

Darling, I've said it before and I will say it again, hairdressers are like magicians and hookers, we never reveal our secrets! I never tell people exactly what I've done, used or how I had to do a lot of hard work to find certain things out, I'm not gonna just pass that info out to anyone! X

tell me about it, ive just replied saying to that last girls text 'Sorry i don't tell anyone anything about my business, ive worked hard to build up what i have. just google it x'

 

[amyvictoria]

I would go mad if that were me. I wouldn't even bother with them, to be honest Karmas a bitch and it will come back and bite them in the ass! Especially if they have no insurance or anything! I would just keep quiet, ignore them and tell your clients that your insured, professionally trained and trustworthy.

 

[amyvictoria]

Maybe delete your page and find other ways of advertising, perhaps block them off your Facebook so they can't see your professional page and can't copy and paste xxx

 

[Bluerinse]

tell me about it, ive just replied saying to that last girls text 'Sorry i don't tell anyone anything about my business, ive worked hard to build up what i have. just google it x'

Good for you! I've got certain colours everyone loves even close hairdresser friends love but I will not share my cocktail for these colours! X

 

[Hairtime]

Sore one I have had
Same with clients getting info and then starting up... There not busy and I have not lost any clients best advice I can give is ignore it keep your head up and promote your business and experience till no end! Facebooks great for competitions and clients feedback just keep promoting

 

[carebears86]

No I don't think your over reacting at all hun.

I am just about to start renting a nail desk (which I told my cousin about). Next thing I know she calls me up saying "oh I hope you don't mind but I'm thinking about getting in to the nails thing". Like its something that can be done over night!

She knows it has been my passion for years, and she thinks its a quick way to make money!!!

I just said "it's up to you what you do". And I left it at that but I did feel annoyed. I've mentally told myself that I am not going to give her any tips, advice or info on my business!! xx

 

[EdenHair]

Ive had a very similar experience with a so called mate! who's meant to be on benefits! It makes my blood boil!
She's even had the audacity to try and poach my best mate for spray tans and hair extensions the absolute little troll!
She'll get hers anyway when the benefits agency catch her out working and claiming
Vile! People like them will always get their comeuppance in the end!

 

[JuZz'<3]

Rise above them sweetie.
People will soon realise the photos and wording on her page are not actually hers when they come to booking with her, cause no way are her first few sets going to be as nice as the pics if she hasn't done the hair in the pics in the first place.

Stay focused on you and only you.
In the future don't give anything a way, I learnt this the hard way With a client wanting to go to college to study hairdressing, I helped her with her application, also gave her my old tutors email address for some further help, and in return she lasted 4weeks and started texting some of my other clients (Which were sort of mutual friends) saying 'don't use her use me' when I found out I rose above it and simply stated after 4 weeks no one is a qualified hairdresser but it was up to them who they chose to use. they all agreed she was not trained enough and complimented on how professionally I handled the situation. It's all we can do at times like these, stay professional!! Xx

 

[pinky_kez]

I had my old salon phone me and said I was stealing clients (trained there almost 9 years ago!) yes I live near them, yes we use the same products, yes I'm cheaper (I avaged prices from everywhere to get mine)

But I don't offer as many services and im mobile they have a very large older client base (weekly sets and loads of perms)where as mine is alot younger I have only been up a running 5 months and alot of people find me on face book or word of mouth, so pointed all that out to him then asked how was I stealing clients when I don't really advertise and have no deals as of yet

Sorry it's been bugging me for days feel better now

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