How can I get myself "out there"?

[cazdiane]

I've recently set up a Facebook page for my business but so far I've only had 2 clients for a gelish manicure, any idea how I can get more clients? I've shared my page a couple of times and asked friends and family to share but only a couple have.
Also still unsure about my prices, I charge £20 for acrylic and £15 for gelish manicure does that sound reasonable? My local salons charge £25 for acrylic and £20 for gelish mani so feel I should undercut them. I've only been qualified a month too.
Thanks in advance, been agonising over prices for ages. Also how much extra should i charge for scuplting?

 

[carlytaylor1986]

I've recently set up a Facebook page for my business but so far I've only had 2 clients for a gelish manicure, any idea how I can get more clients? I've shared my page a couple of times and asked friends and family to share but only a couple have.
Also still unsure about my prices, I charge £20 for acrylic and £15 for gelish manicure does that sound reasonable? My local salons charge £25 for acrylic and £20 for gelish mani so feel I should undercut them. I've only been qualified a month too.
Thanks in advance, been agonising over prices for ages. Also how much extra should i charge for scuplting?

I don't think undercutting works particularly well. You'll attract customers that just want a bargain and not entirely loyal ones at that. Perhaps get your confidence up if you've been qualified just a month by practising on friends/family. there's a thread called "how to make the boat go faster" on here, have a look at that, it's got great marketing tips x

 

[cazdiane]

I don't think undercutting works particularly well. You'll attract customers that just want a bargain and not entirely loyal ones at that. Perhaps get your confidence up if you've been qualified just a month by practising on friends/family. there's a thread called "how to make the boat go faster" on here, have a look at that, it's got great marketing tips x

I Had a look at that post and it has some great tips, thank you, I will ask that question in future when making purchases
Still unsure about prices though I think I'll up it a little but I've had a couple of messages asking prices and when I've replied, I haven't heard back so didn't know if it was maybe too expensive but then looking at what other people charge, I think I'm cheap, just don't know does the fact I've done 2 clients mean I need to stick to the prices I originally came up with? I don't know anyone where I am that does scuplting so don't know how much extra I need to charge?

 

[surf girl]

You don't have to stick with those prices if you don't want to, how about if you stay at the price for a set time, say until end of October then put them up inline with the others if you feel it's right at that time Xmas is always busy and people tend to spend more freely that time of year, if you loose a few it won't matter so much because you should be pretty busy around Xmas anyway.

As for advertising and getting more clients, word of mouth is the best way we have found in my shop, ask your clients to tell their friends about you & be honest and tell them your trying to build a client base, people are likely to come to someone they think will have time to fit them in

 

[PrettyLittleDigits]

Hi, Im sorry I cant offer any advice as I too am in a similar position, however if ok, can you tell me where to locate that thread, as its not coming up when I search.

Thank you and good luck with your business

 

[cazdiane]

Hi, Im sorry I cant offer any advice as I too am in a similar position, however if ok, can you tell me where to locate that thread, as its not coming up when I search.

Thank you and good luck with your business

Search "will it make the boat go faster?", that's the thread I found and go to 1st page then read comments from there good luck in your business too

 

[perfect10kb]

A month is not long so dont get disheartened . Make sure you take pictures of any work that you do to try and build up a portfolio .

ALWAYS have your nails 100% perfect and wherever you go if anyone comments on your nails ( and they will if they are good ) make sure you tell them you do them and give them a business card . You could also do an introductory price for first appt . Something like 10% or so

Visit local shops such as florist , hairdressers ect and and ask of they would mind if you left some leaflets or cards and again you could leave them an offer too

When you do get a client in make sure you get their follow up appt booked in before they leave . You an say something like . Your next maintenance appt will be due in 3 weeks . Shall we get that booked in now so that you can get the time you want ?

You could have 'referral offer ' again something like recommend a friend and get 10% off your next appt - As long as the friend books of course ( with the friend also getting the 10% when she books )

Make sure you keep your social media active .

You can get some leaflets made up and do a letter box drop round local areas . One of my long standing clients booked with me through a letterbox drop . She actually kept the leaflet for a whole YEAR before she rang and stayed with me for 17 years util she moved house

Be careful about trying to 'undercut ' the competition . This very rarely works and just serves to drive down prices . make sure the service you provide is totally professional at all times . Wear a uniform and ensure all your equipment ect is kept spotless . Same as if you work from home make sure the room is attractive and welcoming

Proper marketing take time and effort

x

 

[cazdiane]

A month is not long so dont get disheartened . Make sure you take pictures of any work that you do to try and build up a portfolio .

ALWAYS have your nails 100% perfect and wherever you go if anyone comments on your nails ( and they will if they are good ) make sure you tell them you do them and give them a business card . You could also do an introductory price for first appt . Something like 10% or so

Visit local shops such as florist , hairdressers ect and and ask of they would mind if you left some leaflets or cards and again you could leave them an offer too

When you do get a client in make sure you get their follow up appt booked in before they leave . You an say something like . Your next maintenance appt will be due in 3 weeks . Shall we get that booked in now so that you can get the time you want ?

You could have 'referral offer ' again something like recommend a friend and get 10% off your next appt - As long as the friend books of course ( with the friend also getting the 10% when she books )

Make sure you keep your social media active .

You can get some leaflets made up and do a letter box drop round local areas . One of my long standing clients booked with me through a letterbox drop . She actually kept the leaflet for a whole YEAR before she rang and stayed with me for 17 years util she moved house

Be careful about trying to 'undercut ' the competition . This very rarely works and just serves to drive down prices . make sure the service you provide is totally professional at all times . Wear a uniform and ensure all your equipment ect is kept spotless . Same as if you work from home make sure the room is attractive and welcoming

Proper marketing take time and effort

x

Thank you for your reply, I do a lot of what you have said but there's some great tips in there that I hadn't thought of, thanks so much
It's hard working out prices as I don't have the cost of a salon to run so for that reason I guess I should be cheaper than salons? I tried to find other mobile nail techs in my area to compare prices but only found 1 and she is really cheap, I think too cheap

 

[Cindy2021]

Thank you for your reply, I do a lot of what you have said but there's some great tips in there that I hadn't thought of, thanks so much
It's hard working out prices as I don't have the cost of a salon to run so for that reason I guess I should be cheaper than salons? I tried to find other mobile nail techs in my area to compare prices but only found 1 and she is really cheap, I think too cheap

You don't have the cost of a salon but you have your fuel to consider, your time driving between appointments, setting up time etc. You don't need to be cheaper at all

 

[perfect10kb]

Thank you for your reply, I do a lot of what you have said but there's some great tips in there that I hadn't thought of, thanks so much
It's hard working out prices as I don't have the cost of a salon to run so for that reason I guess I should be cheaper than salons? I tried to find other mobile nail techs in my area to compare prices but only found 1 and she is really cheap, I think too cheap

Now this one is one of my beefs WHY should you be cheaper than a salon . I'm not !

If you had a personal Trainer come to your house would you expect him to be cheaper than going to the gym ? No you wouldn't he would be more expensive so why should you be cheaper than a salon !. Charge for your time and your service.

The majority of nail technicians in this country either work from home or are mobile . Price accordingly and dont devalue your service . Try and find something that can set you apart from others . See if you can find a gap in the market or some little touch that makes you unique .

Good Luck

 

[cazdiane]

You don't have the cost of a salon but you have your fuel to consider, your time driving between appointments, setting up time etc. You don't need to be cheaper at all

So should I charge the same? Will it look bad if I charge £5 more than I was going to originally? Have only had 2 clients but one has already said that she wants acrylic next time and I said it will be £20 how do I go about putting the price up? Does £17.50 sound OK for gelpolish? I use gelish.

 

[perfect10kb]

You have to work out whats right for you and your area . Work out your product cost per service plus the time it takes you do to , travelling ect . Then decide on what you want / need per hour and work it out from there

For example . These are not real costs just an example and this is for a full set of extensions with colour time wise

Products £3
Time to take 1.5 hours
Travelling fuel 6 miles lets say cost £3 for arguments sake

Hour rate needed £15

So on that calculation you need to charge at least £28.50 - £3 + £3 + £22.50 ( 1.5 hours @£15 ph)

Do you see what i am getting at ?

As for the lady that has re booked I think you would need to honour that price but if you need to charge more in the future you will have to say that the 'introductory ' price will end on such and such a date

 

[cazdiane]

You have to work out whats right for you and your area . Work out your product cost per service plus the time it takes you do to , travelling ect . Then decide on what you want / need per hour and work it out from there

For example . These are not real costs just an example and this is for a full set of extensions with colour time wise

Products £3
Time to take 1.5 hours
Travelling fuel 6 miles lets say cost £3 for arguments sake

Hour rate needed £15

So on that calculation you need to charge at least £28.50 - £3 + £3 + £22.50 ( 1.5 hours @£15 ph)

Do you see what i am getting at ?

As for the lady that has re booked I think you would need to honour that price but if you need to charge more in the future you will have to say that the 'introductory ' price will end on such and such a date

Thank you, that's a great example, I don't know how to actually work out cost as I don't know how many sets I get out of the product. I was using salon services own acrylic but it was rubbish and I was having loads of problems with them lifting and coming off entirely but I changed to nsi and it's fantastic! But have only got the sample size as I wanted to see how I got on with it first, going to buy some more next week but don't know how many sets you get out of it to work out cost, it's £11 plus vat for a 40g pot of powder and £22 plus vat for 240ml liquid.

 

[cazdiane]

Thank you, that's a great example, I don't know how to actually work out cost as I don't know how many sets I get out of the product. I was using salon services own acrylic but it was rubbish and I was having loads of problems with them lifting and coming off entirely but I changed to nsi and it's fantastic! But have only got the sample size as I wanted to see how I got on with it first, going to buy some more next week but don't know how many sets you get out of it to work out cost, it's £11 plus vat for a 40g pot of powder and £22 plus vat for 240ml liquid.

Finally found the website that says how many sets you get, don't know why I couldn't find it before lol, so looks like product wise it costs about the same as gelish but obviously would need to charge more as it takes longer to do acrylic, not sure how much to pay myself, if I paid myself £15 I would need to charge over £30 and no one would pay that down here if they can go to their local salon for £25 but that's basing it on me taking 2 hrs which is the quickest I can do it at the moment as I'm still quite slow with acrylic and a perfectionist which doesn't help my speed lol

 

[perfect10kb]

Finally found the website that says how many sets you get, don't know why I couldn't find it before lol, so looks like product wise it costs about the same as gelish but obviously would need to charge more as it takes longer to do acrylic, not sure how much to pay myself, if I paid myself £15 I would need to charge over £30 and no one would pay that down here if they can go to their local salon for £25 but that's basing it on me taking 2 hrs which is the quickest I can do it at the moment as I'm still quite slow with acrylic and a perfectionist which doesn't help my speed lol

Your speed will improve as time goes on . The industry standard is 1.5 hours for a full set ( I only take 1 and a 1/4 now ) so maybe base your prices against that time as that is what you should be able to do them in eventually if not quicker

 

[Cindy2021]

Thank you, that's a great example, I don't know how to actually work out cost as I don't know how many sets I get out of the product. I was using salon services own acrylic but it was rubbish and I was having loads of problems with them lifting and coming off entirely but I changed to nsi and it's fantastic! But have only got the sample size as I wanted to see how I got on with it first, going to buy some more next week but don't know how many sets you get out of it to work out cost, it's £11 plus vat for a 40g pot of powder and £22 plus vat for 240ml liquid.

I contacted Nsi, told them what products I used per treatment and they worked out all my costs per service X

 

[Kiki-uk]

I agree, don't be too cheap! Prices are so tough, there are people round where I am offering Gelish fingers AND toes for less than I offer 1 or the other!
This week I've been fully booked at the prices I charge. I take pride in my work and customers appreciate that.....if I look at how much I could've earnt this week if I charged prices that the cheapy salons charge I would've been working my arse off for not a lot.
Don't sell yourself short!x