lookin to do my own thing
I really want to have my own studio! something really small that my one day get bigger. any solid advice for someone just starting their first business venture?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Crickett Enos on
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Going out on your own takes guts, that's for sure. Are you currently working anywhere? Do you have any clientele yet?
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Permalink Reply by Tiffany Carmona on
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Hi Crickett... Thank you for the reply. I actually remember you and Stephanie from the skin care show in Long Beach. I know it takes some MAJOR balls to do your own thing... I think I have the balls :) and the guts. failure is not an option, so I have a lot of drive. I have been working for myself and out of my home and attending as many classes as I can. Most of the clients that I do have are from word of mouth. I do makeup as well so many of my waxing clients are my makeup clients. I have found a really small space to work from because I don't really want to work from home anymore. It is hard to advertise from home and my hubby does not like the idea of people we don't know coming in and out of our personal space. I also have a job that will help me support myself and business expenses until I have built a loyal following from my new space. I am hoping that is a good place to start. I have never had my own business but I have a really strong support system and I am determined because I love skin...
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Hey Tiffany,
Support is a must, and it sounds like you have it. My advice would be:
1. Make a list of everything you need. Just the necessities (not wants, but needs) The wants can come along later :)
2. Don't try to do everything at once, choose a few services and stick with them adding as you grow
3. Specialize! Find something that is unique and marketable (a service or product that you believe in that no one in your area offers)
4. Sell retail!!!! VERY IMPORTANT
5. Market! social media is the best way to do it. There are a lot of free ones out there. Also constant contact is great and it's not very expensive.
Just keep it simple, let your dream grow with you.
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Oh, one more thing.
Set a budget and stay with it, no matter what!
Good luck go you. :)
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Permalink Reply by Susan Ferguson on
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Crickett's advise is right on the money. The only thing I would add would be to make sure you get a website. Either the free one with ASCP and follow their advise on submitting to the search engines, or Intuit websites is the one I use, it is low cost and I submitted to the search engines as well. In addition to those there are many other free sites to list your website with that are free that assist in getting you up in the listings. They take time but it is worth it. I did that and I am now in the top listings for the keywords used. If you want more info on those you can contact me directly and I will share those with you. I found them by spending lots of time online. Best of luck to you.
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Thanks to the both of you for your advise. I am glad I got the advise when I did. I have a website and have had one for the last 6 months. Because I do makeup I needed a site. I will focus mostly on hair removal because I am OBSESSED! I have been spreading the word through family and friends and hope that I can continue to spread the word. I am so glad for someone (Crickett) to tell me to stay with my budget.. I ALWAYS go over my budgets so I plan on taking that advise and running with it. As far as retail... what are your suggestions? I really need help in that aspect. I am also looking for a business mentor... how do I find someone in my area or maybe not in my area that will be willing to "teach"? I have asked around and I feel lie people don't want to give up what they know... which is weirs because I am all for helping out anyone... Thanks again. I hope to hear from you soon... xoxo Tiffany Maybe I can send you both my website address via your inbox and you can tell me what you think...
Thanks Again
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Hi Tiffany,
As for retail, since you are doing makeup, find a private label line that you like and bring it in to sell to your client's. I would suggest starting with the basics foundation, setting powder, blush, eye shadow and brushes. Perhaps a line that allows you to customize your foundation colors for your client's? This will give you a unique twist. That way you don't have to carry tons of every color foundation just 4-5 shades that you can blend to create tons dozens of hues. Also will save you from stocking hard to sell colors.
An eye shadow trio or quad in neutrals that go with every eye color is good as well, again you aren't stocking a bunch of colors that won't sell. As for blush, depends on your client base, but I would say, pink for the fair skin, plummy for darker skin and peach as it's good for pretty much any tone. Then some good brushes and a few glosses and you're set.
For your waxing retail, post wax supplies for keeping the area hydrated and ingrown free. I'm working on an awesome trio of products for ingrowns that should be out by spring, or start with any number of products on the market.
Hope this helps.
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Thank you Crickett!
The advise is something I am listening to! I am so thankful for all of your words of wisdom. I will check into private label and I amalso interested in the treatment you have coming this spring. Please keep me posted. I am going to continue spreading the word and hope i can build a healthy client following.... Do you utilize yelp? Does it help?
Thanks
Tiffany
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You're a poet and didn't know it :) LOL
I don't use yelp. I don't really know anyone that does, so I don't have any experience, sorry. I recently signed up for the Google business thing though, we'll see how that goes. You can have your client's go on your google listing and post positive stuff about you which will move you up the search engine ladder. Whether it's yelp or google, I'm sure they all start out with their friends and family posting great reviews to get the ball rolling. As long as it's free, I say, it's worth a try. For me constant contact, facebook and twitter are a must to keep in the eyes of the client.
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Lol! You are too funny Mrs. Crickett!
I also got the info for Google Search... I was waiting until my address was concrete before I jumped in. I now have a space and once I am all ready I will post that on the search engine. I find myself nervous as heck but so determined to be great! I have set mini goals for myself and once I hit those I will make more goals. Lucky for me I will be next door to the college, so I plan on working with some of the sorority leaders to drum up new clients from the campus. I am going to try everything I can to make it happen. My mom was asking me about all the little things I would need to "decorate" I told her... CRICKETT says I ONLY need to get the necessities... everything else can wait :)Thank you. I am not sure if you know it but you have been a great help and I TRULY value everything you send back to me. I was wondering if you would be able to check out my website and give me your thoughts... I can inbox you the address once you reply. It's just a thought i understand if you say no... I am in the process of making some changes as well.
On a side note... don't you want to mentor someone (like me)? you know let them them come in and learn from you? spend a day or two learning? If you ever decide to take on a weekend waxing apprentice... pick me, pick me I'll do it for FREE! (There I go again rhyming) I just want to learn how I can have my own successful waxing business!
Thanks again for all of your help!
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Permalink Reply by Erica Suppa on
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Susan,
How did you submit to google search engine? I have a website thru Intuit as well, but I can't find it at all on the google search engine.
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Hello Erica,
If you e-mail me directly I will give you the list of everything I submit to and where I have gone. I also pay the extra fee for Intuit to submit, but mostly I have done the work myself. Also if you would share your website I would like to see it.
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