Opening a new salon the early days

[Mill_vic]

Hey hey!

So I'm nearly six months into my new business and it's such a roller coaster. My hair and beauty business is situated in a rural village in an afluent area (I am the beauty therapist and rent my hair chair the a hair stylist a few days a week). Some days I'm really busy yet others I can not have a single booking. These two scenarios often happen each and every week and I go from absolutely loving it on a good day to having my head in my hands on a bad day. I haven't taken a wage yet as I've ploughed everything back into the business but every time I think I might be able to see profit the next lot of bills come out or I need a stock order and I'm back to square one. I read so many threads about other reality of running a business such as no time off or working extra hours but no one that has mentioned how quiet it can be to start off with...... Can anyone share their experiences of starting their business with me? I'm getting return bookings and seeing regular clients plus I'm getting recommended and have great feedback from everyone I see, I'm trying to rebook before each client leaves and am keeping client records for future

 

[Mill_vic]

Reference. I've had a grand opening and am doing a charity event soon. Another friend of mine started renting a room in a busy salon in a nearby town and she seems to be raking it in. Help!

 

[kezza*]

It takes time to build a client base. I worked from home for 5 years and a year ago opened a salon as I've built up a client base. Wrong if mouth really is the best. What about some recommend a friend cards?

 

[Mill_vic]

I have just ordered some of them and hoping they will help. You are right, it does take time and I know I have to be patient it's just tough as I have no one to compare notes with if you see what I mean?

 

[surf girl]

That really is the reality of it I'm afraid, my business was like that for well over 12 months, I would like you describe it as an emotional rollercoaster, often I had my head in my hands. I'll be open 2 years in October and only now things are picking up, money is just the same for me as it is for you where the next lot of bills keeps popping up before I get to take money for myself, that's the reality of it I'm afraid :/ I am doing ok for bookings now but most weeks on Monday morning I look at the book with worry at my 3 bookings for the week but then by Saturday I've been rushed off my feet! Last week I had a day with no bookings at all, that was pants but it reminded me of those days I was sat there with my head in my hands, I looked back and thought well it's the first time since Xmas I've not had a single customer so it can't be that bad really be patient it will pick up but we (business owners) rarely see any money for ourselves after bills are paid untill were really established. It makes me chuckle when people are like ooo I'm gonna open a salon and I'm gonna have 4 stylists..... And how exactly are these people getting paid?.... You've done the right thing renting out a chair tho, that's what I did, I does guarantee you something at the end of the week, and something is better than nothing!

 

[kezza*]

I know what you man, when we are quiet I check on Facebook see what the other salons in my area are doing, you get tell if they are quiet if they have one day sales, or lots of offers on that day, or I drive past some of the salons and the girls are sat there in the window, makes me feel better, if they look just as quiet means everyone is the same and it's just one of those days lol.

 

[Mill_vic]

I do look at these salons that open with four stylists and two beauty rooms and a whole range of high end retail products on their shelves and wonder where their money tree is growing! How do they do it? I'm only taking a % from my stylist as she is starting from scratch but as you say it's something rather than nothing. I worked above a salon in town for two years but it was never going to really expand as I had no high street presence and the building was in disrepair so for me it was jump or nothing, I jumped! A lot of my loyal clients have followed but I'm about 6 miles out of town now so the ones that came for the odd eyebrow wax have gone elsewhere. My salon is lovely and I do love the location and the clientele, it's just so hard when you are not seeing anything back and there is that constant worry about finances..... Hears a pic!

 

[daydreams01]

Keep doing what your doing, it will get there in the end. I'm 2 years in next week and it took 18 months to break even, it's only been the last few months I have taken anything for myself. I'm not classing it as a wage yet, just paying myself back some of what I put in to get it off the ground! Nothing prepares you for the overheads and when I have a good week lo and behold another bill for something appears! Every month this year so far I am 25-40% up on takings from the previous year so I'm really happy with the way it's going and hope that I my 3rd year I get to make some profit!

 

[squidgernetball]

I do look at these salons that open with four stylists and two beauty rooms and a whole range of high end retail products on their shelves and wonder where their money tree is growing! How do they do it? I'm only taking a % from my stylist as she is starting from scratch but as you say it's something rather than nothing. I worked above a salon in town for two years but it was never going to really expand as I had no high street presence and the building was in disrepair so for me it was jump or nothing, I jumped! A lot of my loyal clients have followed but I'm about 6 miles out of town now so the ones that came for the odd eyebrow wax have gone elsewhere. My salon is lovely and I do love the location and the clientele, it's just so hard when you are not seeing anything back and there is that constant worry about finances..... Hears a pic! View attachment 188698View attachment 188699

Ands how many of those salons are closed within 2 years?
How do you advertise? It's all very well saying word of mouth but that's a lot of words. Good, regular advertising, an excellent website, a Facebook page, regular leaflet drops and keep on doing it again and again and again.

We're also in a village and each client needs to be virtually led to our door. Our location is our usp and once they've found us, they usually come back, but they have to find us.

I had a new client in this morning and asked her how she found us. She said "oh you're everywhere. Google, the local mag. I don't know! " and that kind of says it all. You want them to absorb your name so that the minute they think of a leg wax, they think of you.

The old saying goes that in your first year in business you'll make a loss, the second, if you're lucky, you'll break even and the third (if you're still in business) you might turn a profit.

Good luck with it all

Vic x

 

[RED STAR]

Ditto to all that's been said so far.....
I have a flat above the shop which I rent out...thank God!, as this bring's a better income than the hairdressing side of the business!
Today's customer can be a fickle thing.
As good as your service might be....next time, she just might try someone else., for no other reason than.....she just did!
I know that feeling sooooo well, the one where no one comes in, but when you drive around, it seems everybody else is BUSY.
The next day, guess what, the wind of change just blew, and it's your turn to shine.

 

[Mill_vic]

Ah thanks guys! It's so good to finally hear from some that have been there! I'm all over FB, have a great website...just been featured in our local paper and in all the local villages newsletters. Got to do another leaflet drop soon, just need time off to do it!

 

[redlottie13]

What is your foot flow like? I was once told by a very successful person that if 30 people walk past in 10 minutes then it's a good location...... I'm still not sure about that though as I think there's so much more to it.

Squidgernetball.... Can I ask what you mean by your location is your usp please as this is what I'm weighing up at the moment...... Found a gorgeous building but I'm just not sure if it's visual enough? X

 

[redlottie13]

Great thread by the way x

 

[FlawlessBeauty]

I'm just about to jump into that boat myself, as i've moved away and i'm starting a business from home where i don't know anyone. I did it before and looking from my first year to my last was an amazing difference.

Great advice there from the geeks. Check out Lynn Baker's threads about Does it make the boat go faster and the marketing one, which i currently can't remember the title of, lol. There are loads of tips there.

Good luck and your salon looks gorgeous, i would love to have a treatment there! xx

 

[squidgernetball]

What is your foot flow like? I was once told by a very successful person that if 30 people walk past in 10 minutes then it's a good location...... I'm still not sure about that though as I think there's so much more to it.

Squidgernetball.... Can I ask what you mean by your location is your usp please as this is what I'm weighing up at the moment...... Found a gorgeous building but I'm just not sure if it's visual enough? X

We are in a barn in a village that has a butchers shop in it and absolutely nothing else. There are no main roads through the village. We are down a dirt track off a side road, 5 miles from the nearest town. Our passing footfall are the odd dog walker and horse rider. We have cows outside our window. We have clients who drive from the far side of the nearest town to come to us. There are 2 of us - me and my daughter - and we are pretty much fully booked. We're interviewing for new staff this week.

We have an a board at the top of the dirt track which attracts some attention but many local people still don't know we're there after 2 years but once they've found us they rebook. We have free parking outside our door and we offer premium products. We retail around £500 a week as we have become known as the skin place. Clients will often just pull in to pick up products.

In any business it is naive to think that if you're in a premium location you will succeed. Many many businesses have put that as a positive - we're right on the high street, load's of passing clients etc. Now, all I think is parking issues and coming out after waxing looking bright red. In all honesty, most passing clients on a high street will probably want nails or quick treatments which aren't really your money spinners - think of the competition with nail bars. You want to get them in for money earners such as premium facials, waxing etc.

Have a look at our Facebook page for an idea of our location
www.facebook.com/blissandbeautyltd

Any questions, please ask. Really happy to help.

Sorry if this has gate crashed the op's thread but hope it helps.

Vic x

 

[coco.]

Another good way to advertise are the local school newsletters, at my children's school there is a hairdresser that advertises on it and it's roughly £3 a week and she got a lot of customers from that, every parent gets the newsletter via email so with 600 plus children at the school, it reaches a lot of people for a few pounds each week

 

[daydreams01]

What is your foot flow like? I was once told by a very successful person that if 30 people walk past in 10 minutes then it's a good location...... I'm still not sure about that though as I think there's so much more to it.

Squidgernetball.... Can I ask what you mean by your location is your usp please as this is what I'm weighing up at the moment...... Found a gorgeous building but I'm just not sure if it's visual enough? X

I'm Quiet this afternoon so tried this little experiment and amazingly 27 people in 10 mins walked past even though it's sweltering heat outside and hardly anyone around this afternoon! Never thought of counting footfall before, v. interesting!

 

[squidgernetball]

I'm Quiet this afternoon so tried this little experiment and amazingly 27 people in 10 mins walked past even though it's sweltering heat outside and hardly anyone around this afternoon! Never thought of counting footfall before, v. interesting!

Haha. So did I. Three cows and a horse xxx

 

[redlottie13]

Hahaha @squigernetball [emoji13]

 

[redlottie13]

Thanks guys and sorry for hijacking the thread. But everyone's opinion is much appreciated x