Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Nondy Llewellyn on March 13, 2013 at 4:26pm

UGH!  This is a tough one.  About the only thing you can to is to try and differentiate yourself from those high-volume gals.  Stress your sanitation, wearing of gloves, attention to detail, not making folks feel rushed, etc.  Any, and EVERY thing that sets you apart.  I went to the whiz-bang $35 Brazilian Waxer gal, and was less than impressed with her technique.  Say it loud and say it constantly and get YOUR clients to talk you up to their friends and co-workers.  Get on Yelp and City Search with some great testimonies...  And perfect your craft.  I dislike Brazilians, so only do my die-hard faithfuls who won't GO anywhere else!  LOL!!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kristy Floyd on March 13, 2013 at 4:35pm

Thanks :)

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Breanna M on March 13, 2013 at 6:40pm

I agree with Nondy on doing something special to differentiate yourself. Maybe include a treatment afterwards of a post-wax cream that helps soothe the skin like No Trauma Momma. It'll also help with your product sales! I don't feel like $35 is enough for a quality brazilian. Prices around here are $60+ unless there's a big special or something.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jamie Jacob on March 13, 2013 at 7:01pm

I am dealing with the $35 Braz competition too! I won''t price match as they usually use cheap wax and I don't. They will try it out and they always come back. Do you want your ”jewelery box” to be for a Rolex or for a Timex/Casio?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Eryn Cook, RN, LE on March 13, 2013 at 8:37pm

What is wrong with our fellow "estys" cheapening our services? I just put in my ads that I am not a Skin Care Factory and that my clients will receive 1:1 personal, professional attention. I would never try to price match. Who wants to be the Walmart of skin care anyway? Try adding value-plus service, maybe throw in a trial size sunscreen or (?) with a facial. Gift with purchase preserves your professionalism yet gives the client a perception of value. In this economy we are all watching our pennies. Just don't sell your soul in the name of business. I feel the same about Groupons-ugghhh!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kristy Floyd on March 13, 2013 at 10:40pm

Thank you guys for all your input.  I really appreciate hearing from you :)

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Teresa Farrah Sullens on March 15, 2013 at 8:41pm

I totally understand your frustration with the competitive new affordable waxing establishments that have cropped up all over the place. To be honest though, it shouldn't be about the "cheapness" of the service that worries you, it should be about the quality. Are you also not feeling pressure to compete with other more expensive places that do brazilians? Here's my point, I have been offering $35 brazilians in a college town out of my tiny one person studio, using very expensive hard wax for 3 years now. My clients don't come to me because I'm "cheap", although they love that it allows them to come back more often. They come to me because I offer the best Brazilian wax in town. That's what I strive for. I hate all this competitive crap in our industry to be honest. Who made the rule to charge$60+ for a service you have to get every 4-6 weeks?? That's $500 + a year for waxing your bikini!! the wax isn't that expensive and even though a lot of estheticians think they deserve more, I find it hilarious that a profession that only requires a year of school and 6 hours of CEU's a year takes themselves so damn seriously. We aren't medical professionals, people. Get over yourselves! My advice is to lower your prices a bit to compete with our economy, not the girl down the street. And do a fabulous job, never act rushed or impersonal and always make the client feel like you are truly happy to see them.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Claire Barnes on March 15, 2013 at 9:04pm

With Theresa on this one!!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Natalie on March 15, 2013 at 9:06pm

You can wait until they stop going because of cheap and unprofessional services- $25?? C'mon the average eye wax is $15-$18-
( starting at $35 I can deal with but I would question the people who would buy a $25 below belt wax!!
I took woman and Men ' private areas off menu' I have done in past and not bothered by it just not my thing. Wax and the supplies are a lot cheaper than other services- if you can do a wax in 35-40 min then a buck a minute ( not including tip isn't bad-

I would do a summer package ($ x ) for 3 bikini or 3 Brazils ( every 3-5 weeks ) if you can do 3 for $149 or something plus take home product ( get little containers and put aloe or whatever after care you use and see how it runs)

I am by no means saying waxing is a cheap or easy service - just if your fast and can afford to sell some real cheap ones- then they prob figure get them in for first one and keep them coming back all spring/summer- I guess time will tell - don't try to underestimate your value!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Breanna M on March 16, 2013 at 12:23am

I can understand where Teresa Sullens is coming from, but I also believe that you pay for what you get in life.  Honestly, if I was looking into getting something done professionally, price is certainly a concern, although if something is unusually cheaper than others, there is almost always a reason why and I get suspicious. At the end of the day owning a business is like a competition. You want people to go to you and only you, not just anybody hosting a groupon for half off services every month.  You want people to give referrals. You want to have as many loyal clients as possible so you can pay your bills and live comfortably. It's not like we didn't pay money and invest time to get the schooling, experience, and our license. Also, just because the wax itself is fairly inexpensive, doesn't mean you don't have other expenses. Everything from the rent you pay for your studio, down to all of your supplies (wax, sticks, cotton rounds, back bar products), even the gas you use to get to work and the food you eat for energy to pull those hairs out. You could say the same thing about hairstylists. Sure you can spend $10 on a mediocre hair cut from Great Clips or $40-50 on the best haircut you've ever had from a "master stylist." So why shouldn't we take ourselves and our professions seriously? I don't see anything wrong with it.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Eryn Cook, RN, LE on March 16, 2013 at 1:10pm

I have to agree with Breanna. There are costs involved, plus time, experience and know-how. That is WHY they come to us in the first place. They could conceivably do this service at home with a home kit and pay $5 but they want a professional job and are willing to pay for it. $35 is not fair compensation for my time, product, effort when doing a Brazilian. The cost of wax is not the only factor. It does make it a little easier to cut the rate back if that is all you do (Wax Factory). I'm sure you can get pretty quick at waxing when doing it all day, every day, plus the quantity of clients also plays in. I don't get clients coming every day for a Brazilian. I do get my fair share of calls for this service, but it is not my favorite thing to do and I hate the sticky mess!! I actually do more sugaring than waxing but the sugar paste is more expensive than wax so I have to keep that in mind. Bottom line is, we have to balance a failing economy with our need to service clients in order to stay in business. I always thought it was better to give value added service rather than cut prices i.e. a complimentary express facial with Brazilian service, etc. Just my opinion....

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tiffany Carmona on March 16, 2013 at 10:37pm

Hi Kristy... I feel like you have to do what works best for you and your business. I have a waxing studio and I give my clients a discount for rebooking. My clients also tell me they keep coming back because they know I really care about them and their skin. It's like Cheers... I know EVERYONE by name and things about their personal lives! So I think they love when they come back and I can ask them about their last trip or their childrens' soccer games.  I've even had clients go to someone else because it was "cheaper" and then come back to me because they say I made them feel comfortable and I did a great job. When you have earned their trust they will always come back to you no matter what you charge! Stick to your guns and be the best esthetician you can be. I say set your price and stick with it.    

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page