geeg
Judge Gigi-Honorary Geek
Glad youve found it helpful.
Your personal Agony Aunt for problem solving with clients!
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Anna from Toronto
Well-Known Member
What a great thread! (I just found it and read it all)
Thank you Gigi for sharing your priceless knowledge with others!
Thank you Gigi for sharing your priceless knowledge with others!
Lunaberry
Well-Known Member
Thank you so much Gigi for this.
I have learned so much as a newbie that I am sure will be a Godsend when I do start to have my first paying clients.
Actually I have now got a Dear Gigi for you, although it's not completely customer related it is something that worries me about charging so I hope you don't mind me asking here.
I've just finished my level 2 training (start part of acrylic level 3 tomorrow). My tutors say I should be charging full price now. However, I'm just not sure I feel confident in my gel application to charge full price yet. At what stage do you make the break?! I gave a lady a full set on Friday and as of now they are all fine but if they last do I then charge her for her infills?
Many thanks again :hug:
I have learned so much as a newbie that I am sure will be a Godsend when I do start to have my first paying clients.
Actually I have now got a Dear Gigi for you, although it's not completely customer related it is something that worries me about charging so I hope you don't mind me asking here.
I've just finished my level 2 training (start part of acrylic level 3 tomorrow). My tutors say I should be charging full price now. However, I'm just not sure I feel confident in my gel application to charge full price yet. At what stage do you make the break?! I gave a lady a full set on Friday and as of now they are all fine but if they last do I then charge her for her infills?
Many thanks again :hug:
geeg
Judge Gigi-Honorary Geek
Well, you should always be charging for everything you do. If you are doing nice sets of nails and re-balances in a reasonable amount of time then there is no reason not to charge your full price.Thank you so much Gigi for this.
I have learned so much as a newbie that I am sure will be a Godsend when I do start to have my first paying clients.
Actually I have now got a Dear Gigi for you, although it's not completely customer related it is something that worries me about charging so I hope you don't mind me asking here.
I've just finished my level 2 training (start part of acrylic level 3 tomorrow). My tutors say I should be charging full price now. However, I'm just not sure I feel confident in my gel application to charge full price yet. At what stage do you make the break?! I gave a lady a full set on Friday and as of now they are all fine but if they last do I then charge her for her infills?
Many thanks again :hug:
I always asked myself the question, "Would you pay for these?" If you would then you should be charging full price. If your nails are lasting in reasonable condition without "client interference" .. they look pretty .. and you haven't taken half a day to produce them .. then go for it.
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Lunaberry
Well-Known Member
Thanks Gigi
Well I was all motivated after that. They did look nice (if I say so myself!) when I'd finished and it took 2hours 20mins to apply full set (not ideal I know but I'm working on it!) and she left very happy so after reading your reply I thought go on Hayley you've got to start somewhere.
Sadly I'm now having to eat my thoughts... she rang last night and four have come off :sad: I'm seeing her tomorrow so I'll have to see in what way they've broken and try and work out what I did wrong and need to change in my application. Sigh. Trying not to feel too deflated. I obviously need a little more practise!
On a positive note my fibreglass seems to be doing well - Mum's had hers on since November, no tips anymore just overlays and she isn't gentle with them. maybe I'll just charge her hehe!!
Anyway just wanted to say thanks again for the advice
sleepingbeauty
Well-Known Member
Bump
Thought this thread needed a bit of a rivival seeings as though a few newbies are struggling with typical Agony Aunt problems & could benefit from some of the informatin
Thought this thread needed a bit of a rivival seeings as though a few newbies are struggling with typical Agony Aunt problems & could benefit from some of the informatin
RebeccaQ
Well-Known Member
Thank you sleeping beauty and thank you Gigi. It's a scary world out there and threads like these definitely help, especially when you read about the awful clients/employers that are out there.
Whether in a salon or mobile, a bit of knowledge through threads like these and general advice from experts give newbies a bit of confidence when dealing with these people xx
Whether in a salon or mobile, a bit of knowledge through threads like these and general advice from experts give newbies a bit of confidence when dealing with these people xx
geeg
Judge Gigi-Honorary Geek
Still available as your agony aunt if I can help! X
lila22
Well-Known Member
What a great way to look at it, I will certainly be saying that (would I pay for them?)to myself from now on. X
Great thread
x
just come across this thread and had to bump. some brill advice, thank you Geeg. I must admit I am a serial "oh just give me £xxx" instead of "that will be £xxx thanks" but I am inspired by this. Especially as I have left the comfort of my home salon where every client is a friend of a friend or relative of a friend and moving into a salon environment. I love the offer of an incentive to rebook to get £xx amount off if they keep their appointment. I feel I will be using this technique. Thanks very much
What about the clients who come to you with for a rebalance and have maybe two or even three breakages for you to repair?
You are on a time limit with another client due in an hour and they sit down and proceed (as if you have all the time in the world) to start telling you the 'history' of each breakage.
"Well, this one I broke while I was getting the washing out of the machine. I had a pretty heavy load in there and I pulled ........ etc." "And this one happened when I was getting something out of the freezer! A bag of chips was stuck to the side and when I pulled .......... etc."
As they are explaining these 'interesting' tales, they are not giving you their hands but pointing to each individual digit like 'this little piggy went to market'!!
I used to say, as I grabbed hold of a hand, "I'm here to fix 'em, love, not to hear the story of their lives!!!" (of course with a smile on my face) :green:
This is the first time I have read this thread and I have come a cross each scenario I'm sure lots of times this one made me chuckle... Why do they insist on telling these stories and I can't wait to quote your line lol!
I don't know if anyone has had this but when a client says I don't know what you did differently last time but they lasted perfect.... To which I reply : I think you'll find that I do exactly the same every time!!! What did you do differently?? I do say it grinning but I really mean it ha 👹
geeg
Judge Gigi-Honorary Geek
If you find it uncomfortable to 'talk price' (and many do) or if you realise that many clients similarly do NOT like to ask the price of services then one simple trick solves both problems ... A glass top on your desk.
I would hate to be without my glass topped desk. You just put your price list right under there to the right hand side so that it is not covered by your towel and the client can see all and you can charge the right amount. Clients will also ask for services they previously have not asked for, because they can see them and be tempted by them. After all they have nothing else to concentrate on for an hour and they throw those price lists you give them away and never remember the prices of anything ... You can also put special offers there .. Photos .. Anything you want them to see. VERY useful tool and they can't help but see it.
Dear Gigi
As Christmas is approaching fast I have the same problem every year which leaves me in bed ill from doing too much! All my clients want their nails done for Christmas so I have to fit them all in which means 3 weeks worth of clients in one week which means long days late nights, last Christmas I had flu up until I started back to work! To top this off my husband works away and every three months he's home for 3 weeks which usually lands in the middle of my busy period! My question is as I won't be the only one this happens to is how do you keep healthy, happy and sane??
As Christmas is approaching fast I have the same problem every year which leaves me in bed ill from doing too much! All my clients want their nails done for Christmas so I have to fit them all in which means 3 weeks worth of clients in one week which means long days late nights, last Christmas I had flu up until I started back to work! To top this off my husband works away and every three months he's home for 3 weeks which usually lands in the middle of my busy period! My question is as I won't be the only one this happens to is how do you keep healthy, happy and sane??
geeg
Judge Gigi-Honorary Geek
This is a really good and timely question. First I will answer it and then give you a link to consider as well.
For the very reasons you state, Christmas can be a really busy time and you also find you are turning new business away because your regulars are cramming in all at once and you have no spaces ... Then because they all come at once, you have zilch business after Christmas because they do not need their regular slot.
I told all my clients that they did not need a full appointment (or possibly any appointment) right before Christmas unless it fitted into their normal point,ent schedule and fell at that time! In other words ... "You come every 3 weeks no problems, so why do you feel you have to come right before Christmas? Stick with your regular schedule and if you just want a repaint or something glittery before the day then just book for that. ". ..... They do not all need full maintenance if they are not due.
Then consider this ... http://www.salongeek.com/nail-geek/62335-christmas-appointments.html
Usually I post that thread every Christmas just for the busy hard-working techs like yourself ... It is really worth taking the advice on board. X
Wellyb
Well-Known Member
What great advise again Geeg. I have managed to finish on Saturday 22nd this year and I can't wait, I am however still chocker that whole week running up to it with clients from 9 till 9 so will probably need to sleep from when I finish till the big day. It is so difficult to get clients to stick with their routine especially at Christmas and around my annual holiday and it always exhausts me, and takes me ages to get them back into a routine, causing me to have really busy, then really quiet weeks while I sort them out.
Brilliant thank you Gigi I am going to have a review of this situation and I will let you know my outcome! I really do have to not run myself ragged as you said in something I read that some clients will cancel the appoint last minute and see you in the new year because they are to busy to fit you in. Which I have also experienced ha x
Thats a great idea, Not sure if I will be able to fit on my table but Im definitley going to put it somewhere within reach. I do find that I am worse with friends or friends of friends asking how much they owe, but then the trouble is, the clients end up your friends and its a never ending circle lol.
Your mention of photos got me thinking to the time I went to a therapist and she had an ipad on her windowsill and had all the photos of her nail art flicking through. Definitley eye catching and something else to talk about. Im off to do a sign for my new desk "Book your next infill today and get £XX off your next bill".
Great idea, thank you xx
Melissa82
Well-Known Member
Dear Aunt Agony,
I know this isn't about clients but maybe you can help?
How do you deal with drama in the salon? I thought it'd be easy as keeping to myself but it's hard. I have to admit, sometimes I cave and give in to some of the drama myself but I really don't want to. Most of the people I go to beauty school with are around are 17 years old and are still in high school. I'm 30 and definitely feel like I have a higher standard of learning than they do and probably (well I know I do) seem uptight. I'm starting to dread every day I have to go there.
I know this isn't about clients but maybe you can help?
How do you deal with drama in the salon? I thought it'd be easy as keeping to myself but it's hard. I have to admit, sometimes I cave and give in to some of the drama myself but I really don't want to. Most of the people I go to beauty school with are around are 17 years old and are still in high school. I'm 30 and definitely feel like I have a higher standard of learning than they do and probably (well I know I do) seem uptight. I'm starting to dread every day I have to go there.
