Friday 2nd October 2009
POST IT, STICK IT, BIN IT
Looking for a way to get more clients be a little cheeky. Conventional advertising is often overlooked but something cheeky, slightly quirky and found in unexpected places can attract new clients without paying over the odds.
Going to keep this blog quick and simple.
1. Get some post it notes
2. Buy a rubber self inking stamp or two with a brief message, web address or phone number on it.
3. Stamp the post it notes.
4. Stick them everywhere you would walk by.
For example pub toilet doors and mirrors, changing rooms, car windscreens, magazines in tescos, dr surgeries and dentists. Basically anywhere you can think of.
Clients see them, and can peel them off and keep your details.
And if someone clocks on deny all knowledge lol!
Monday 16th November 2009
Never follow your Competition - Be the Competition
I have been a beauty therapist for many years and have had lots of experience from different backgrounds from being mobile to owning my own salon. Every business opportunity I enter in too I set out my aims and goals of what 'I' wanted for 'MY' business. I basically re wrote the rule book. In every town you see the same salon or technician cloning each other and the problem you have with this is if you sell product B and five other salons in the area sold the same product your client can choose who they use based on price or appointment availability etc. You may spend thousands marketing the lastest cream by product B but if you have no easy parking facilities your potential customer may 'google' the item and find your competitor and go to them instead. Maybe because they are cheaper, or have easy or free parking or perhaps they post out.
Now its impossible to be the only salon or therapist with one product in an area. However choosing a product that backs up your ethos, and makes you stand out from the crowd are a must. Theres nothing wrong with having the same brand as another salon IF your salon compensates in other areas. An example is pre facial washing your clients feet in warm water and wrapping them in warm towels after to keep there feet cosy. Its the tiny little things your clients remember not just the product.
Do clients pay much attention to the brands you use? Yes and No. Some clients will be generated from celebrity endorsements which help to create demand for that particular brand, however its your own passion that sells it to the majority of your clients. When choosing a product for your salon, endorsements help but more importantly having a good quality product that you believe in is by far the highest criteria.
Bringing this back to spray tanning I want to ask you:
your clientelle, making you look like a professional?
How are you going to create an experience superior to your competitors?
How can you make that client comfortable?
How do you create further sales?
Learning spray tanning is not an art. The experience is. Without adequate training your business will not be as successfull as someone that has. Training is not about just applying the spray tan solution its everything else and very few trainers cover this and fail to tell you some of the most basic of information which helps you understand how to give the perfect spray tan no matter what brand you use.
When choosing training ask your trainer questions first and if they sound knowledgeable about how the skin works and how machines work and how DHA affects the skin and what you can do to achieve a flawless look then thats a great trainer. If you have doubts or they don't instill confidence in you prior to your training then they will not be able to during training either.
And when choosing a product range write down a list of things you think a range should have or should do. Is colour choice important? Are your clients older and needing hydrating products? Do you want a supporting retail line? What price range are you happy to pay per litre? Once you have your equipment theres no harm trying a few out to see what you prefer or more importantly what your clients prefer. And finally if all you do is spray tanning, don't have a one price suits all stratergy, create an exciting menu of shades, tan types, block bookings, and retail etc, tell that client your the expert and no one else will do!
Kate Camilleri