TPTW ... Starting Up a Nail Business

[geeg]

I have been in my business for 3 years next month. I quit my job and went back to school and knew all along I would open up my business in my basement. While in school, we worked on my little room and the day I received my certification I opened up. I absolutely love what I do and feel badly that I get paid to do it. I must say business is increasing and quite happy.

However, enhancements aren't going anywhere.

Geeg,

How do you know when to give up, I mean in my heart I feel I should just sell all my stuff and specialize in natural nail care only. I think in my heart it's what I want to do but afraid of failure. I don't have a need for this at all, competition is huge in my town. So I question my thoughts on this daily...do I give it up, is three years enough time to know if I'll succeed in enhancements?

Paragraph one. Money is not my God nor is it my entire motivation but it is the reason I work. It is the reason most of us work. If not ... then what you are doing is a hobby and not a business.

With your attitude (about feeling bad you get paid to do it) you will be 'apologising' to your clients every day .. whether you know it or not this will come across to them in your manner and your body language and facial expressions. Maybe it comes out more when performing enhancement services, and this could be why that side of your business has not grown; because you clearly do not enjoy it.

Your 2nd paragraph says it all. You say your business is growing and it is growing in the area in which your heart lies. You've answered your own question. Why would it fail? If it is growing you are not failing.

Thinking of failure makes you fail. Why? Because you believe deep down you will fail instead of never even considering failure.

I never once EVER thought I would fail. It never occurred to me. The nail business was an adventure for me ... if I was good at my job and with people and in business and I worked all hours ... how could I possibly fail???

No one new about nails when I started .. no one I knew even knew what enhancements were!! So my challenge was making people WANT what they didn't even know existed!! Today the challenges are different. More competition so the challenge has to be that you are BETTER or the BEST at what you do. That if you don't have it you get the business training you need. That you work you little tush off.

I believe that people should specialise. Nails is a speciality service that should be performed by absolute experts. Adding on all the small beauty treatments to me dilutes your speciality and just says to people .. I haven't got enough business on the nail side so I'm having to add extras, and if you have time enough to do the extras then it's true .. you haven't enough business on the nails side.

IF your enhancement business is not building and non existent after 3 years then yes, my advice is to stop offering it. It is not for you. You have discovered where your passion lies so put your heart and soul into it.

 

[geeg]

This thread has popped up at the most appropriate time for me.
Very thought provoking, right what I need as I am in a upside down world with my thoughts right now, so please excuse me if none of it makes sense.

Right down to my question.

How do you overcome the fear? The fear of success or of failure?

Well you are absolutely right that the number one reason why people are afraid to do anything is the fear that they will fail. But if you don't do anything then you won't do anything.

Here are the questions you should be asking:

• Am I good at what I do?
• Have I got a pretty good head for business?
• Am I a hard worker and prepared to give it my all?
• Have I got the money I need to set up in business without doing it on a shoestring??
• Am I good with people?
• Am I in the right location to do what I want to do?
• Have I got the family support I need to allow me to do what I know I must do to ensure my success? This one is vitally important. Without the backing of your partner and family to allow you to give your all to your business it will never get off the ground.

If you can tick all the boxes then why would you fail?
If you can tick only some of them, are you prepared to put the hard work into gaining the things you lack and tick those boxes too?

From what I've seen you are good at what you do. :hug: Better than average. You will have to answer the rest.

 

[Doorie]

Don't you all think it is sad that in our profession, I would say that 99%, of the people who are attracted to it start out with the mentality of "where can I buy the cheapest products" or get the cheapest education? What kind of mentality is that for someone who wishes to have success in business?

I'm just making the observation that so many enter our business with no funds at all to start a business so they start out with cheap naff education, and cheap naff products and they never get anywhere. I would guess that less than 30% of all those who try to enter the nail industry actually ever get anywhere with it or ever make any money at it. The reason being that they are not dedicated to it as a business. They think it would be 'fun' or sounds like a cool thing to do ... use it as a little hobby etc etc when they could do so much more if they showed willing to go for it and went for it in the right way ... Right from the start!.

I hear many say, "I'll give up the day job when I have a sufficient number of clients!!" But how can you ever have sufficient clients if you don't give up the day job?? I know it is scary ... but what change isn't scary? You have to believe and you have to have that sense of adventure too and confidence in yourself and your ability and the funds to do it. If you don't have that or at least the expectation of that, don't you think it is better to give it up altogether?

I talk to many who do really well in their nail businesses, they tell me they KNEW from day one that they could and would do it (I have heard that from hundreds of flourishing nail tecnicians) ... and they have done it. They borrowed or found the funds to do it and they worked like hell and dedicated themselves to growing their business and made a thriving success of it. That is not just a coincidence.

I would say, you seem too optimistic with your 30% of success...

here, with the best education of the country, with ~20 Students per year learning gel, l&p, NNO, and the obvious polish and mani, there is ONE student who succeeds. success here doesn't even mean opens a business and survives and makes it grow. it also includes ppl who will work at other nail studios around.

with the "industry education" (60 students in a room, 2 "educators", one week, one day mani, one day l&p, 2 days of gel, last day exam [SIC]) the statistic gets even worse... they all go for the black market.
with bad products...

the few that I know who wanted to learn from the wrong option don't work full time, they may have tried but what do you know after one week, during which your educators repeat that you will be fully ready to open your nail studio?

when I started my course, the women with me were all is their late 30'... (and I'm being nice) and they wanted a hobby, a way to get some money because their hubby had gone with someone else. (10/12 students in this case)

the problem to me is the image of the job. when I say I work in the nail industry ppl still think you cannot make a living out of it because you are never paid enough, and how hard it is to listen to ppl talking about themself all day long. aestetic courses are the option taken by the ppl/girls who failed at school and their family convince them that finding a rich man to marry is quite a hard option.
then they pick nails because you just sit on your chair and it doesn't ask much.

it is just so sad to hear that everyday, to have to convince ppl who have this passion that YES you can make a decent living out of it (and more than decent) you can be your own boss with all the good things coming from it, you will see new ppl, etc etc etc, but you have to learn, you need the money, the place, the sense of nails... ppl act as if we were gonna give them everything like that.

 

[geeg]

Well the people you describe just fail .. here today and gone tomorrow. I do not waste my time worrying about them.

Creative techs have a better than ordinary success rate in the UK because they are mentored and helped and I also think the people who are attracted to CND have a serious head on their shoulders and are prepared to get it 'Right from the Start' with the best education and they know where to come for any help they need to further their business.

The ones you talk about Doorie are the ones who also have the attitude Like this:

I work when I want, my clients fit in around me.
How dare clients call my mobile out of hours for an appointment?
Me? Work on a Saturday, are you kidding?
I can buy products cheaper on Ebay!
I have this awkward client so I told her to sod off!
Retail?? What's that?
Client was rude to me .. I don't need to put up with that!
Can anyone give me a name for my business?
Can you believe it? A client wanted me to go all the way to her house just for a repair?

Any of these sound familiar?

 

[Carol at CottageNails]

Hi Guys n Gals

After reading the thread that Gigi started and all the relpies, I im 99% sure you have all helped me make a decision. I started working from home home as a Nail Tech in 2004, after training with CND (l&p foundation,Brisa, spa Mani/Pedi/one to one etc). You may recall some of you how I bought a summer house and converted it into a nail salon in my garden. This was working well, but unfortuntely my father was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2006 and for the next 11months I nursed him until he passed away in Jan 2007. Unfortunately this lost business the time I took of with dad, but worth it and glad I did, but since then I have had to re-build the business, so to do this I decided to train in Beauty, went to The White Rose School of Beauty in Huddersfield and this April qualified my Itec Level 2 Beauty Specialist course, and did this in honour of my dad.
Business is doing fine but I now need more space. I have just viewed a salon to rent from an adjoining hairdressers and really want to go for it, but also feel a little scared. Its a lovely salon,good location, (busy Passing traffic) its
£150.00 week rent all in (electric,rates,water etc) and I really want to go for it. I have around 35 clients at the moment from re-starting, but as I work from home I dont get the passing trade etc, so surely this would be the best move (i think). After reading all these replies to Gigis thread Im nearly there, I have until 2moro to decide thern the salon will be advertised in the newspaper.,A young girl has had the salon for 12months but is not interested in the business and never really opens much (apparently a relative did it for her).

Also can anybody advise me on Insurance, I have insurance with PB for client cover, can anyone advise for cover for contents etc.

Sorry for this long winded post but sometimes I am a little unsure of my own self, and need that kick up the rear.

Thankyou geekies, all advise would be really appreciated.

Regards
Carol
Cottage Nails/Beauty:hug:

 

[Kittensgotclaws]

The ones you talk about Doorie are the ones who also have the attitude Like this:

I have this awkward client so I told her to sod off!
Retail?? What's that?
Client was rude to me .. I don't need to put up with that!
Can anyone give me a name for my business?
Can you believe it? A client wanted me to go all the way to her house just for a repair?

Any of these sound familiar?

Hi Geeg, i have seen a few post's floating around with these title's or similar! Why cant people be a bit more professional? I have read many a post with people ranting about "bad customers" yes people can be grouchy, yes people can get on your nerves, but why oh why would you want to work with the public if you are not able to just smile nicely and get on with whatever you are being paid to do?? If people are gonna get snotty with theirclients then they may aswell pack up shop and find something else to do. Sorry if it sounds harsh but it's true.

On another note, i cant wait to do my CND training, ever since i found CND i have wanted to train with them,

 

[grafxgal]

Well you are absolutely right that the number one reason why people are afraid to do anything is the fear that they will fail. But if you don't do anything then you won't do anything.

Here are the questions you should be asking:

• Am I good at what I do?
• Have I got a pretty good head for business?
• Am I a hard worker and prepared to give it my all?
• Have I got the money I need to set up in business without doing it on a shoestring??
• Am I good with people?
• Am I in the right location to do what I want to do?
• Have I got the family support I need to allow me to do what I know I must do to ensure my success? This one is vitally important. Without the backing of your partner and family to allow you to give your all to your business it will never get off the ground.

If you can tick all the boxes then why would you fail?
If you can tick only some of them, are you prepared to put the hard work into gaining the things you lack and tick those boxes too?

From what I've seen you are good at what you do. :hug: Better than average. You will have to answer the rest.

:hug: thank you gigi, on all accounts.

 

[Kittensgotclaws]

Hi Guys n Gals

After reading the thread that Gigi started and all the relpies, I im 99% sure you have all helped me make a decision. I started working from home home as a Nail Tech in 2004, after training with CND (l&p foundation,Brisa, spa Mani/Pedi/one to one etc). You may recall some of you how I bought a summer house and converted it into a nail salon in my garden. This was working well, but unfortuntely my father was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2006 and for the next 11months I nursed him until he passed away in Jan 2007. Unfortunately this lost business the time I took of with dad, but worth it and glad I did, but since then I have had to re-build the business, so to do this I decided to train in Beauty, went to The White Rose School of Beauty in Huddersfield and this April qualified my Itec Level 2 Beauty Specialist course, and did this in honour of my dad.
Business is doing fine but I now need more space. I have just viewed a salon to rent from an adjoining hairdressers and really want to go for it, but also feel a little scared. Its a lovely salon,good location, (busy Passing traffic) its
£150.00 week rent all in (electric,rates,water etc) and I really want to go for it. I have around 35 clients at the moment from re-starting, but as I work from home I dont get the passing trade etc, so surely this would be the best move (i think). After reading all these replies to Gigis thread Im nearly there, I have until 2moro to decide thern the salon will be advertised in the newspaper.,A young girl has had the salon for 12months but is not interested in the business and never really opens much (apparently a relative did it for her).

Also can anybody advise me on Insurance, I have insurance with PB for client cover, can anyone advise for cover for contents etc.

Sorry for this long winded post but sometimes I am a little unsure of my own self, and need that kick up the rear.

Thankyou geekies, all advise would be really appreciated.

Regards
Carol
Cottage Nails/Beauty:hug:

First, sorry about your dad, ((hugs))

I dont know if they do contents but why dont you give the Guild a call? They'll be able to help you and if not then they might be able to point you in the write direction.

As for renting a salon, that sounds like a fantastic opportunity, like you said you will also benefit from walk ins, i say take the plunge, go for it!

 

[Carol at CottageNails]

Thanks Jo. I will keep you posted, but I am gonna go for it:hug:

carol
Cottage Nails/Beauty

 

[Kittensgotclaws]

Good for you, :hug: I'm pleased for you.

 

[geeg]

Hi Guys n Gals

After reading the thread that Gigi started and all the relpies, I im 99% sure you have all helped me make a decision. I started working from home home as a Nail Tech in 2004, after training with CND (l&p foundation,Brisa, spa Mani/Pedi/one to one etc). You may recall some of you how I bought a summer house and converted it into a nail salon in my garden. This was working well, but unfortuntely my father was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2006 and for the next 11months I nursed him until he passed away in Jan 2007. Unfortunately this lost business the time I took of with dad, but worth it and glad I did, but since then I have had to re-build the business, so to do this I decided to train in Beauty, went to The White Rose School of Beauty in Huddersfield and this April qualified my Itec Level 2 Beauty Specialist course, and did this in honour of my dad.
Business is doing fine but I now need more space. I have just viewed a salon to rent from an adjoining hairdressers and really want to go for it, but also feel a little scared. Its a lovely salon,good location, (busy Passing traffic) its
£150.00 week rent all in (electric,rates,water etc) and I really want to go for it. I have around 35 clients at the moment from re-starting, but as I work from home I dont get the passing trade etc, so surely this would be the best move (i think). After reading all these replies to Gigis thread Im nearly there, I have until 2moro to decide thern the salon will be advertised in the newspaper.,A young girl has had the salon for 12months but is not interested in the business and never really opens much (apparently a relative did it for her).

Also can anybody advise me on Insurance, I have insurance with PB for client cover, can anyone advise for cover for contents etc.

Sorry for this long winded post but sometimes I am a little unsure of my own self, and need that kick up the rear.

Thankyou geekies, all advise would be really appreciated.

Regards
Carol
Cottage Nails/Beauty:hug:

This sounds so exciting for you and a great opportunity!
You need to see a solicitor to check the lease.
The rent sounds good, very reasnable.
Is it a ground floor position? Position sounds good (most important is there parking close by?)

The Guild will sort out your insurance queries and yes they will cover most eveything I'm sure.

Contact CND who will give you all the help you need (and maybe some more that you didn't expect!! :hug

Get all your soldiers in a row and check the LEASE out legally. Leases can be a BIG potential problem.

Best of luck.

 

[aj1]

Gigi,

You are a very intelligent woman and I admire you so much.

I thank you for your advice on what I already know, 3 years is enough time for me to know what I'm not doing well in.

However, having said that I feel badly for taking their money, I never show that I only meant that they're like having tea with friends and they pay you for your time as I love my work.

Although, you read me like a book without even knowing me in regards to my fear of doing enhancements. I do have that fear, I mean I am only doing them here and there. Therefore confidence dwindles away for me.

Anyways, babbling here, thanks again!

You're a say like it is kinda lady and I love it!

 

[geeg]

Gigi,

You are a very intelligent woman and I admire you so much.

I thank you for your advice on what I already know, 3 years is enough time for me to know what I'm not doing well in.

However, having said that I feel badly for taking their money, I never show that I only meant that they're like having tea with friends and they pay you for your time as I love my work.

Although, you read me like a book without even knowing me in regards to my fear of doing enhancements. I do have that fear, I mean I am only doing them here and there. Therefore confidence dwindles away for me.

Anyways, babbling here, thanks again!

You're a say like it is kinda lady and I love it!

Well I have made my mistakes like the rest of you, but I am in the position now where I can pass on intelligent choices to others facing the same things.

One of my friends once said to me, "Gigi, you are so clever and so good at everything!" I answered, "I just don't do the things I am not good at doing so it just looks like I'm good at everything I do."

Who can be bothered to spend time and energy on trying to master something that does not interest you or that you know is not something you'll get expert at?? I like being the best at what I do .. I sure don't need to feel the pain of doing something badly.

I KNOW if I'm going to like doing something and I KNOW if I am going to be good at it before I do it. I think I can't be so unique. I'm sure most people have a sense of what they will enjoy and do well at. It is not failure not to be great at something that in your heart you have no interest. If you haven't got the passion you haven't got the drive. If you haven't got the drive you will never get where you want to go.

You have obviously not failed ... you are just better specialising in the things you love doing.

 

[RedAdmiral]

I couldnt agree more and I started by fluke! It doesnt matter how you start out what does is that you have the right attitude today. I believed that I could make a go of my business and went for it, I was professional and keen. I made cards, aftercare leaflets, and set up an area in my house with my products, I bought countless books aft realising I had received shoddy training.

I couldnt afford to train with CND even tho I was desperate to so I attended every FREE seminar, signed up to samuelsweet.com and took his advice to never let a year go by without learning. I eventually got my training and continue to learn and advance my business.

I grew my business from Red Admiral Nails at home, to renting in a Tanning salon, to Free lance Tech, to Educator, Salon Manager and now salon Owner. failure is not part of my vocab, even through any low points I told myself I was learning and would be fine.

Last year I was a manager for a hair, nails and beauty salon and the manager told me something that stuck - "Learn from those who have, not from those who havent" This I feel represents my career in the Industry. My business would not be the same without help from my Mentors and my Dad - who has had a business for 27 years (a Dental Tech - no wonder the smell of monomer is no bother to me!)

I wish any of you taking the plunge all the best

 

[Doorie]

Well the people you describe just fail .. here today and gone tomorrow. I do not waste my time worrying about them.

Creative techs have a better than ordinary success rate in the UK because they are mentored and helped and I also think the people who are attracted to CND have a serious head on their shoulders and are prepared to get it 'Right from the Start' with the best education and they know where to come for any help they need to further their business.

The ones you talk about Doorie are the ones who also have the attitude Like this:

I work when I want, my clients fit in around me.
How dare clients call my mobile out of hours for an appointment?
Me? Work on a Saturday, are you kidding?
I can buy products cheaper on Ebay!
I have this awkward client so I told her to sod off!
Retail?? What's that?
Client was rude to me .. I don't need to put up with that!
Can anyone give me a name for my business?
Can you believe it? A client wanted me to go all the way to her house just for a repair?

Any of these sound familiar?

YEAH STRIKE!!

here there is no rate of the educational programs... there is nothing for nails after all. so anyone can now decide they can be a nail educator after... (TRUE STORY) 2 monthes with a "diploma", she calls herself "state" professionnal and therefore makes her clients believe there is such a thing, and NOW in fall she starts educating ppl...


oooh, and she learnt everything off youtube.

switzerland can help you realise your nail american dream...[/sarcasm]

I can find so many examples of that, it just...
like that girl complaining about ppl working black and then she buys her stuff from Ebay? HELLOOOO

anyway. to get back on the topic itself, I always wanted to do this job. it was my thing, no one believed I would do a so un decent job, but here I am. when I decided I had no money, I worked my a** off to pay the Swiss OPI education (4 MONTHS) and then I worked a bit to buy my intro kit to practice and every months after my OPI certificate I would go back to "school" and show my educator my new sets (on my hands) and she would correct me, teach me more stuff, etc. I felt like, OK, I don't have the money for now, and I don't wanna apply NOW cuz I don't wanna have a boss. and after a while, now it pays off, I am planning everything now, so that within a year I'll be fully dedicated to nails, but to a bigger view than just my nail studio since I will join the distributors, and do many other things, so now I am learning all the commercial/marketing/managing things I'll need... along with perfecting my skills all around Europe.

it's just giving myself everything and more to succeed. as you often said Geeg, I don't even consider I could possibly fail. I just won't, period.

 

[geeg]

Doorie it sounds like you are `perfectly placed to be one of the best in the country then. Seize this opportunity with both hands.

 

[Lucy-Jayne]

Without this site, I wouldn't be where I am today.

With the support of fellow geeks and someone to believe in me (my other half), I've given up my well paid day job and taken the step of opening up my own salon. Scariest thing I've ever done in my life. Hard work and A LOT of money as an investment. So much so, we've got to sell up or rent the house out and go and live with Steve's mum and dad. All because Steve believed in me enough to invest in me.

I started with CND education right from the beginning. And I completed day 3 of 5 of my Masters today, and the first thing I did was come home and put a new set on myself. I've been inspired by CND, Gigi, the Sam's and today, Ketan. :hug:

The biggest compliment to me was today when Ketan said that my nails were 'pretty good' and looked like a lovely set. OH MY GOD, never thought I'd hear Ketan say that without laughing! :lol:

That gave me the most recent confidence boost to confirm that I AM in the right job and I can only get better.

I can't see me feeling like this if I'd have done a one day course and bought tat off Ebay!!

 

[Doorie]

Doorie it sounds like you are `perfectly placed to be one of the best in the country then. Seize this opportunity with both hands.

I will!!

I will steal that quote from you Geeg, about being good at what you do

 

[pretty_in_pink]

Hello Everyone


I've been "lurking" on this fantastic site for months, I've picked up so much information and great advice by reading the posts that it had spurred me on and I'm currently in training at the moment.

I currently work for a small company but have a great job, good pay, good conditions and more importantly great work mates. Sounds good, yes, but im not happy. I have always had an interest in nails but due to many circumstances I never had the opportunity nor the financial availability to pursue it (just think horrid ex husband!). I was floating along quite happy with my life until we found out my Dad had cancer and had 9 months. This was in December 07. Daddy died 8 weeks ago. From then on I really dont care about unimportant things. I decided I want to do something I love instead of something I get a company car out of. As the saying goes, lifes to short to stuff a mushroom.

Im now training in L&P and hopefully will train in gel too at some point.
My plan is to hopefully pass firstly, advertise locally as we live in the country, charging practice rates until I feel happy with my work. Hopefully do this part time for a few months then bite the bullet and sink or swim. I have a massive empty spare bedroom, as we speak im ordering a new wooden floor for it and going to paint it at the weekend. I've been looking at desks, chairs etc.. all very exciting.

Im fully prepared to work my bum off, I might not make a million by the time in 40 but at least I'll be happy.

 

[Doorie]

good decision, and sorry for your father.

tick the options Geeg posted before, and give it a go