Homebased salon not working

[saree66]

hi,
i do not know what to do, and i am getting really depressed, i started my business in July, i have been doing beauty for ten years, have updated treatments, with minx, spray tans, eyelash extensions, and qualified as a hairdresser in July, i am really struggling, I am a single mum, I don't drive but I am having lessons, i need to work, as on benefits, i was going to come off them, but i am scared as my rents payed, and i wont be able to afford it and my clients that I've done which are only a few have not come back, so i cant do this officially, i have my conservatory where i do treatments and hair, i have had good feedback. i have one lady who has returned. i have done leaflet drops, put them in shop windows, i have had an advert in the stay local magazine for a month, not even one phone call from that. I do not have any credit cards or loans, i can not get any. I live week to week, I have a friend that's helped me with stock, and re training, i have spent this week in doors, my son has been ill, thinking about giving it up and changing my career, getting a proper job. as don't know how i am going to pay for Xmas, because i have put every penny i have into this business, which hasn't really started yet. think I'll put stock and equipment on e bay, and try and get some money back. thing is i am really passionate about what I do, I love it, i love the clients, i give 100% to all of them, i live and breathe hair and beauty, i worked in a salon in the summer on a months trial, but it was local, as well and i think she got wind of me working at home and said she couldn't keep me, i did'nt like the way they worked anyway they never seemed to have any of the stock available, and they got me doing treatments i wasn't trained to do, after this i swore i would work for myself and put every thing into this, but all this has knocked my confidence, i am on every free advertising on the web, i have even gone with an marketing team, who have ripped me off and i am currently trying to get my money back, all in all a nightmare, i have had enough, i want to cry, shall i give it up or keep trying, do more training, thinking of doing some cutting and colouring courses at sally's, and barbering, advanced brow enhancement, and doing more leaflet drops, and going to talk to job centre, to go self employed but am so scared, because of my children, oh what to do! I'm in such a dilemma, i a have a website too its www.serenehairand:sad::sad:beauty.co.uk, there is another serene hair and beauty

 

[kezza*]

Only you can decide. You have to give it time you can't expect to get regular lient's after only a short space of time. With any new business you have to be realistic it takes 3 years to make a profit.

It's a care of just advertising like mad. Have a loook at lynne's thread on more ways of promoting yourself.

 

[missymish]

You need to sit down and look at your business from a clients point of view, what can you offer that is better than anyone else in your local area?

Have you got any special offers or a reward scheme to encourage repeat custom.

September and October are hard months in business think of yourself, kids have just gone back to school, so new uniforms have had to be paid for and you are worrying about Christmas coming up, other people are thinking exactly the same!

Have you tried targetting some mums at your local school? Maybe do a special offer for them?

Don't give up, at least you have your benefits to cover you whilst you get up and running, at least you are trying to get off them.

Also try to be excellent at a few things rather than ok at all things. Concentrate on building up your clients before you start doing more training.

 

[persianista]

Most people spend a few years in a salon first to gain clients and skills, then they work from home once they have kids. To be disheartened when you only finished training a few months ago is being very hasty. It takes at least a year in a salon setting to gain a client base. At home with no shopfront it must take far longer.

If people are not coming back, then you need to take a hard look at why. There are too many reasons why clients don't return to list here, but have a good think about what their experience was like with you compared to a mobile or a salon.

 

[Redduck]

I agree with persianista - I've always been homebased and it can take a long time to get a good client base. Look at every aspect of your business - it's not just about the treatment, it's the whole package from the second they pull up outside your house to when they leave. Is everything as perfect as you can make it. It is hard but the flexibility of working from home is worth it. Good luck.

 

[Carlalouise]

I 100% know exactly how you feel, I have a home beauty salon but like everyone said to me in the begining, "you can't possibly think that after a few years let alone months that your business will be flying". It really does take time, like Kezza said it takes about 3 years, (unless you're really lucky), for a business to take off. I also think it's a lot harder working from home, you don't have the walk by trade and you really have to get out there or nobody know's you exist.

I did a 5000 leaflet drop offering 20% off the first treatment, I got a good response and some loyal clients that way but I also had some brutally honest people come and tell me "Oh I normally go to ..... but as you were offering 20% I thought I'd come to you this time" thanks!!!

I built a website and I also advertise on Gumtree which is slow but works, have a look at some of the other posts on here about advertising there are lots of free sites on the internet.

One thing, this isn't nice but do you have your child around when you have a client, people may not agree with me but that will put people off, the other thing is make sure your concervatory doesn't look like a make shift salon e.g dinning room table, settee still in there, paying clients although happy to come to a home salon, don't want to be reminded when having a treatment that they're in your home.

One more thing!! remember you couldn't have started a business at a worse time, double, double, trebble recession and all the media hype, just think if you hold out when we come out of this down turn / recession you'll be flying.

Don't give up, good luck and all the best. xxx

 

[kylieb]

Only you can decide. You have to give it time you can't expect to get regular lient's after only a short space of time. With any new business you have to be realistic it takes 3 years to make a profit.

It's a care of just advertising like mad. Have a loook at lynne's thread on more ways of promoting yourself.

Well said and 100% true!

 

[kylieb]

Firstly If you have a passion for something so strongly you don't give up!
This is not a quick money making job when you frst start out. I used all of the time I wasn't busy to advertise. I walked the streets leafleting in the p'eeiing down rain,snow the lot. Ive spend many times online advertisng until 4am trying to advertise.
Every single client that walks through my door is a walking advert of my work. If they don't come back I need to think why. Word of mouth is THE BEST form of advertising your business can have. Work on your clients to get you more clients!! For every 5 clients my client brings me, she get a free treatment. You will get the odd client that will go out of their way to advertise for you for nothing but in life people generally dont do things for free.
Facebook is also a great way of advertising and its free!
Passion & enthusiasm is the key and the answer to your question about giving up is...if you don't have these then yes!
Good luck with whatever you choose to do xx

 

[Rosy cheeks]

Firstly If you have a passion for something so strongly you don't give up!
This is not a quick money making job when you frst start out. I used all of the time I wasn't busy to advertise. I walked the streets leafleting in the p'eeiing down rain,snow the lot. Ive spend many times online advertisng until 4am trying to advertise.
Every single client that walks through my door is a walking advert of my work. If they don't come back I need to think why. Word of mouth is THE BEST form of advertising your business can have. Work on your clients to get you more clients!! For every 5 clients my client brings me, she get a free treatment. You will get the odd client that will go out of their way to advertise for you for nothing but in life people generally dont do things for free.
Facebook is also a great way of advertising and its free!
Passion & enthusiasm is the key and the answer to your question about giving up is...if you don't have these then yes!
Good luck with whatever you choose to do xx

This is really good advise.. I too have a home based salon and word of mouth is def the best form of advertising. Also Facebook, its free! Get all your friends to write reviews about you, add lots of people as friends, keep updating it all the time. Make sure you always look well presented and advertise you own nails and toes. Recommend a friend is always good, and i have a loyalty scheme which my clients love.. Get yourself out there and chin up, it does take time, youve only been going for a few months so give yourself a break.. Wishing you lots of luck x

 

[ABDiva]

Im in same boat hun i was renting a room and making nothing had to give it up today, i still do mobile but im going to get a full time job and do mobile in my spare time as its just not consistent enough ive been up and running since march.

I would never give my business up but just run it in the back ground.
Could you not do this? or even go mobile?

set days and times when your home salon is open around your working hours (if you choose to get a job?

I really know how you feel ive been at a massive loss these past few weeks, but i wouldnt totally give up just think it can be your 2nd income :lol:

 

[Redduck]

Great advice to try and run your business alongside another job if that's possible - hard work but means you don't have to give up. By the way, to the original poster, I can't get your website to open.

ABDiva - sorry to hear you had to give the room up today. I hope you find an interesting job to run alongside your business and start to pick up new clients quickly.

 

[Ez84]

Bless you, don't worry to much. I also thought that by now I would be over run by clients...not sure why!! LOL. I thought they would just walk right in. Now I have realised that I am going to have to pull the clients in. Which to me is very scary, as I am very shy!

BUt I am in a similar position, I am a single mum, and am in the process of going self employed. The advice the Job Centre gave me was invaluable. If you are earning £20 a week, then you will be £26 better off...and for the first year, they give you an extra £40 a week to help your business along, so you will be £66 better off. All they require of you to go self employed is that you work 16 hours a week....this does not have to be with actual clients...this could be on accounts, advertising and cleaning etc. It sounds like you will not be earning more than £20 a week for now, so you just say you will be earning max £20 a week. If you do not earn that £20, you will still be £40 up for the first year.

You will also get a £250 grant for going into employement of 16 hours.

They gave me so many numbers to phone and websites to see. go to www.businesslink and there is a lot of information on there. You need to set up a business plan etc and really know what you doing. There are many avenues to show you this.

You do need to make sure that your child is not around when doing treatments etc...otherwise it is unproffessional. I have a salon in m y dining room, which I try not to use and try to get people up the salon instead...but when someone needs something asap and cannot get into the salon, I let them come to mine, on the understanding that my children will be in the building. If I was set up at home...I would only do treatments when the children are at school or asleep in bed. Thats just my opinion. You may already do this...just wanted to say just incase.

What does your area of work look like? Do you have a facebook page with pics or anything so we can have a peek, and see if there are any suggestions on how to improve it?xx Goodluck xx

 

[bombini]

Before the summer job where did you work before ? Whats happened to the other clients you've built up over the last ten years ?

It is really hard to build up a home salon, some are successful but I would say most fail. Its all about advertising and then once you've got the client you need to keep them, as Im sure you already know.

I couldn't get your website link to work either.

You mention about working from your conservatory, sorry but I wouldn't feel comfortable as a client if I was in someones living space and maybe that was the case for the clients you have had ?