Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Renee Lee on February 23, 2012 at 8:15pm

Hi Sheila, 
Congrats on your new spa business! I too hit the ground running when I got my license. I opened up a "spa room" inside a salon, Big Mistake! It was way too loud and my room happened to be too small as well. If I had it to do all over again, I would never work in a salon, unless,it was completely separate and noise free. I stayed there about 8 months and then moved out. I mainly closed it brcause I moved to another town about an hour away. It had some advantages with regards to advertisement. The owner and all the stylists  would tell all their clients about me and I'd gain customers that way. The other perk was that there was a receptionist there which was paid by the owner. Also, there was a washer and dryer on site and I did not have to pay the electric bill or water bill or worry about having to be on the job all the time. My only gripe was the loud noises and the too small room.
I shared the same worries you are experiencing regarding the effectiveness of my set up. I also worried about every little detail.... NOT NECESSARY ! ha! You will see what I mean after two weeks onto it. I don't know if you are in a salon or just rented a room in a shopping strip or what, but I found that at first, I had a lot of word of mouth as my advertising and of course the salon folks telling people. Then I got a little website. It all seemed to be okay but then I moved. I would recommend that you get your feet wet a litle bit (a few months, unless you are comfortable now) run a Groupon special. They are the best free method of advertising. It will get you people " there " and then it's your job to 
Get them back!  If you want to do a grand opening, I'd wait until you get a few clients going and then do it, unless you are advertising via your local " neighborhood" paper. 
You can join your local chamber of commerce as well and offer up some free services with purchase type of deal. You can also be creative and get a sidewalk chalkboard on a stand amd run daily specials... I have a friend who does a "Wax That Wednesdays" :) but you can take the chalkboard stand inside each night !!
You could put advertise at your local cosmo  supply store too! There's a lot of ideas out there. You can leave your cards at  all the restaurants and salons and where ever u go, leave cards !!! Male deals with the managers of places you go into. They will tell everyone about you if you give them a free service, so tell her ot him that of they send you three people, theirs is free!!  Well, I could say a lot more but don't know if this is all gonna get printed. email me personally @ godseyr99@yahoo.com if you'd like more info ot just a sounding board!! GOOD LUCK!! 

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Permalink Reply by Renee Lee on February 23, 2012 at 8:26pm

Sorry for ALL THE TYPOS!! I'm on my cell phone, not to easy to see or type on !!! Lol if you are not sure of what I meant, Please email me!! Or you can Facebook friend me, Renee Godsey Lee :) 

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Permalink Reply by Shelley Hancock on February 24, 2012 at 7:12am

Hi Sheila...Renee made many good points! It's been almost 25 years since I bought my first skincare center. I had only been an Esthetician for a year (working in a derm office). It was the best move I ever made! Working for yourself is fabulous. Yes, it takes some time to build momentum and it can get a little scarey at times. My best advice is to stay positive, treat every client that walks through that door like they were gold. They will be your best and least expensive advertising.

Groupon and Living Social get a bad wrap but if done correctly, it can get the ball rolling for you with no out of pocket expense. I've ran it three times now for the Esty working for me and she's retained a huge percentage of these clients. You can read about how we did it here: http://www.shelleyhancock.com/businessideas.html

 

Congratualtions and much success to you.....Shelley

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Permalink Reply by Juliette Zweig on February 24, 2012 at 8:48am

Very cute!  I would like to make one suggestion.  Please consider removing the carpeting under your table and replace it with something that can be taken away  and washed.  Bacteria LOVE carpeting! Bacteria also travel quickly, and are very unpredictable.  Air on the side of caution, ALWAYS.  You can’t properly disinfect carpeting should you have a spill of some sort.  

Quick story about MRSA.  My daughter contracted MRSA while laying on a massage table, which sat on top of carpeting.  The person who was working on her also allowed her dogs into the area.  The result was one large lesion which had to be lanced, and two more which took many months to heal.  

Your place is very charming, and provided it’s situated in an easy to get location, and you provide an exceptional experience, you’ll be swamped.

Best of luck,

Juliette

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Permalink Reply by Susanne Schmaling on February 24, 2012 at 8:56am

Hi Sheila,

ASCP has some great tools for members as well as webinars. Check it out at www.ascpskincare.com. There is also an SBA program connected with community colleges called the SBDC. It is a great program for new business owners,

Good luck!

Susanne

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Permalink Reply by Sheila Gordon on February 24, 2012 at 9:02am

Thank you all for the advice and information. Right now I have placed my information at the gym, given menus to friends with discount cards, local post offices, nail and hair salons, made shirts for friends and family.

It's all so new as I have never owned a business before and never realized all of the hidden expenses but I figure it will be at least a year before seeing a profit.

I am so excited to be a part of this forum and am looking forward to gaining insight from the pros :).

Hope you all have a wonderful day.

Also...with regard to the carpet, I do now have a plastic chair thing for under the chair and bed that I wipe down daily. Great advice! I am actually appalled at some of these spas that I go to that are filthy. Everything gets wiped down daily and will b/t clients with hospital grade disinfectant and all linens changed.

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Permalink Reply by sandy howe on February 24, 2012 at 10:14am

Hi Sheila,

You are a risk taker and I am proud of you.  I too am a new Esti.  I have been approached to rent a room in a unique Fragrance Boutique.  The owner wants to incorporate Esthetics using her almost organic facial products.

I can grasp her concept, but have to admit I am "dragging my Feet" so to speak, because of the overhead.  The concept focuses on "Back to the Basics" for facials. No Botox, Fillers or Technical aspects. The rememberance of the relaxation, being pampered and the "this time is for myself" indulgence.  The location is in a small village and does bring in alot of seasonal tourist.  There is a Medical Spa/hair salon 2 doors down and that is also a concern for me. What was the #1 reason you opened your own business, is my question for you? Anyone else reading this comment, your input is also appreciated.  I'm not sure what direction to go.  To an already established spa/salon and work for 30/40% commission, with regulated hours or to set my own hours, income and future endeavors.  Help! ~S

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Permalink Reply by Sheila Gordon on February 24, 2012 at 5:24pm

Well after I graduated I took a few weeks off and when I started looking or jobs, there wasn't much.  I applied to tons of places in one week and people just weren't calling or they wanted you to have a full book to bring.  One place wanted a 50/50 split but I thought...hmmm what if I make more than I would in paying rent, then that kinda screws me, plus this was a newer place and the guy was all over the place.  I started getting very discouraged but my last stop was this really neat little place called The Conscious Connection.  I looked at it online but thought, nooo I wouldn't fit in, I am not into "organic" necessarily and although I love the spiritual concept, I didn't know much about it.  All I knew is that I love the relaxation side of esthetics and the medical and didn't want to get caught up in a Dr ofc and lose the papmering side.  So with that said, I went to this pplace as a last ditch effort and said, are you hiring...she said, I dont hire I only rent rooms, do you have clients.  I said, well aside from friends and family....no.  After talking to her for an hour about what my thoughts for my career were and what I wanted to do and pursue...she says...are you sure you want to work for someone?  You have a lot of great ideas and should really think about renting so you can own your own business.  I never thought about it really, never p[ictured myself owning my own business, never had dreams of it, or the drive.  I went home, talked it over with the family, the boyfriend, all were supportive and said....let's do this.  Whats the worst that could happen, you fail but you can say, hey I owned my own business....so I took this leap of faith (no I am not religious), but you know what I mean...and now I am praying for the best :). 

My advice would be to follow your heart.  Maybe it's not at either place....but maybe you will find a room to rent elsewhere since you are on the fence.  If you can afford to do it, and afford to not necessarily make a profit to start, I say go for it!!!  I will honestly say it hasn't been easy....and i have been REALLY stressed the last 2 months...but now i walk into my room (little house) and think, this is all here because of me.  I didn't give up, I kept moving forward even when I wanted to cry and now I just hope the people come.  I think word of mouth is huge, even facebook really.  I know most people probably don't do this (or so I was told by another esty) but I discount all of my really close friends...they in turn take my menus and give to their friends...

Sandy.....I am 100% confident that you will be successful no matter what you decide to do...but I will say that the whole owning your own little place is pretty nice.  I go in like a normal 9-5 job, clients or not, hang with the owner in her shop and talk to people that just walk in.  If you are going to own, you just have to have in mind...ok I probably won't profit for a year, I will have to pretty much work for free for a while (meaning, you need to be there even when you don't have clients), I have to always make sure I am wearing my shirt and give shirts to friends to wear wherever, make sure you have menus and biz cards with you all the time, and just give it your best!!!  GOOD LUCK and please keep us posted!!

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Permalink Reply by sandy howe on February 24, 2012 at 9:51pm

Sheila,

Thank you so much for your heartfelt words of encouragement. Honestly, I can totally relate to the applying at numerous places.  I have been doing it since the middle of December and I am exhausted. Not having any responses certainly has worn down the confidence level that was in high gear when I graduated from the school of Esthetics. 

I do want to say how beautiful your little house is.  It is very apparent that first of all, you care, and also put alot of thought in to comfort and the feelings of serenity for your clients.  I wish you many blessings and true  prosperity in your exciting new career.~S  

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Permalink Reply by Sheila Gordon on February 27, 2012 at 8:58am

Thank you Sandy!  I wish you the same.  Please keep me posted on your decision!!

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Permalink Reply by Margo on February 27, 2012 at 6:03pm

I love your space. I too am new and still deciding if I want to jump out on faith and start my own thing or do I want to work for someone. I think your question and everyones answer helped me a lot and hope it help you as well. Good luck and keep your head up.

 

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Permalink Reply by Sheila Gordon on February 27, 2012 at 6:55pm

Yes all of the information has been awesome!  I should have thought to join this prior to starting out on my own but regardless, it's been great help!  I wish you much luck and as I said to Sandy...why not go for it!  Doesn't have to be anything crazy, just rent a little space and give it a shot!  You could always try to work for someone even part time or in the meantime, see if places will let you shadow them, do it for free, just to gain some insight.  I thought about doing that also, before I started my little place.  Tomorrow will be 1 week that I have been open and people are already scheduling appts this week, which is exciting!  Please keep us updated on your decision!!  We can all do this together and learn from eachother!

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