Starting mobile please need your help and advice.
Hello everyone, I am qualified beauty therapist and I am going to work as mobile beauty therapist also I am setting my treatment room in the house.
I need your help and advice. I would really appreciate your opinions and your help.
1. First of all I am not sure HOW TO COST BEAUTY TREATMENTS? I live in Dublin, Ireland and I have brochures from local salons but the prices are so diffrent. I am really not sure what prices to put. I don't want to overcharge or undercharge myself. But I WANT TO GET WORK! any advice would be great.
2.Second of all how shall I attract clients to come to my place rather than going to theirs. I don't mind to go to their place but I would prefer if they would come to mine as there are certain things I can't carry.
3. ADVERTISING. What is the best way? I was thinking to do leafleting. What would be the best "catch" to mention on leaflets for people to ring? Any recommendation.
4. SKIN CARE PRODUCT. What skin care products would you recommend? I am keen on Yon Ka , Decleor, Dermalogica but not sure they would sell it to me as they only sell their products wholesale prices to the salons.
I was looking in "salon services" skin care range. Kinda keen on CHI, SKIN TRUTH, NATURE'S WAY. Do you know is it any good? I don't mind to spend money on good staff as I would like to provide the best service to my clients.
5. MANICURE/PEDICURE/BODY TREATMENTS range? What would you recommend?
I would like to thank everyone and I am sorry that I ask too many questions but I am really into starting it quick and choose the right product.
Thanks and good luck xxx
Answers:
Hi
Firstly good luck and go for it I did the same thing not long ago and it was the best thing I could have done!!! With regards to prices because you are going to be working from your home you can afford to go a little cheaper than the salons but not so cheap that the clients think you are no good but also they will expect you to be slightly cheaper perhaps than high street salon. For mobile treatments you may want to add on a little extra for petrol etc. If you would prefer your clients came to you advertise that you have a specified treatment room more than a mobile therapist but offer mobile treatments on some treatments. This is what I do, most people prefer to go to different surroundings anyway to feel like they are treating themselves and getting away for a bit of relaxation time.
Advertising in your local paper and offering special offers regularly helps.
For the skin care range I use Susan Molyneux which are lovely have a look at their web site for info.... I think it is www.susanmolyneux.com
They are more reasonable than say Decleor which are lovely but rarely supply to mobile or home therapists and have orders of over three thousand pounds if i remember rightly each time you have this as a minimum order!!! I am sure you agree unless you are an established salon this would be near impossible to keep up. Susan molyneux I think use similar ingredients to Decleor to and work on a similar concept with aromatherapy oils. I used to work with Decleor and these two products are high on my list!!! SM products sell very well and the clients love them. Plus they are not overly expensive either, which is good. For manicure treatments I use opi and Cuccio naturale and for pedicures i use a nice range from my local wholesalers of beauty and hair products called sally's. Hope that all helps!!
Love angelic xxxx
Answers:
Thank you Angelic for your help. I really appreciate it. You are great! I sent an email to susan molyneux and they are going to send me some samples and more information about theire product. Can't wait! Thanks again and all the best to you and your business.
xxx
Answers:
Thanks good luck to you too hope you enjoy the products as much I do!!!
Answers:
Hi aquarius. I'm in the same boat as you, I've just started doing mobile :)
As for the advertising, if there are any local groups, e.g. mother and toddlers, etc - would you mind going along to them and doing a little demo thing, this would be free advertising and also, the people who might be a little reluctant or who have never had a beauty treatment before get to meet you and that will make them more likely to give you a call this is free advertising.
Apparently you should only expect 1-2% of the leaflet you drop to actually come to anything, so it's up to you if you do that
When you launch, tell your local papers, however, make sure you do something interesting - they will most likely do an editorial on you and, hey presto, you are advertising in the papers for free :)
The products. As you have mentioned, dermalogica only sell to salons or to therapists who have a room as they believe that their product range is too large to be mobile, as for decleor and yon-ka, i'm not sure. However, if you phone the reps (you'll get their details on the website) I'm sure they'll be happy to talk to you and explain a few things. I wouldn't recommend calling the thalgo rep as she didn't really want to know! About the skin truth I don't know. We used some natures way at college and quite a few people had reactions to this, however it was probably because the stuff was back-up and had probably been sitting since the dinosaurs roamed! I have heard that chi is quite good. Also P8/N8 - I had a sample of their multi vita professional cleanser and - omg - this is amazing stuff (you will find their website here: http://www.oochi.biz/ ) The rep is nice and the start up, I think, is around £400 (compared to the 3000+ of the larger houses)
You can get some good info at the babtac website, I have found this quite useful
I agree with what angelic said about offering some treatments as mobile and others which would be at home, however, if someone phoned desperate for something, but could only do it at theirs, or the other way round, would you do it? The person could be a very valuable client.
With the costing you obviously have to take into account your products, if you were going for, e.g. darphin you would expect to add more than if you were going with natures way, from s. services.
For mani/pedi, a general rule of thumb is, once you decide on your manicure price, you add another £10 and that will give you a pedicure price. You should also add on around £10 for a paraffin wax treatment. But it depends on your area, and you, after all know more about that than me. The one thing I would say is, do not deliberately undercut someone as there will always be someone cheaper. Try to add value to your services (e.g., even if it's just an extra 5 minute pedicure massage), rather than just making yourself cheaper. Also it is easier to lower your prices than to raise them, So if you feel that you are not getting as much custom as you would like, then think about doing a promotion, or lowering your prices.
Um, I think that's about it. I don't know if I was any help or if I was just rambling, but there ya go anyway.
Good luck, and I'm sure you will find working for yourself fantastic, if slightly stressful!
Linzi
Answers:
Hi aquarius.
I've been working from home for the past 4 years and it's the best thing I could have done. It was a slow start because I don't advertise and still don't. The majority of my clients like that fact because they feel that I'm exclusive to them. Fortunately, this works for me and my personal situation but if you're looking for a higher income then maybe some guidance about advertising etc can be found on here (there appears to be a wealth of knowledge and experience).
Just a little plug for Susan Molyneaux. I trained and worked with Dermalogica and wanted to use their products within my business but their initial set up fee put me off. I did my homework and I have to say that once I'd sampled SM for myself I was just as impressed. SM ethics are the same, the products are wonderful to work with and my clients love them.
For both manicures and pedicures, I use the Gena/Orly range.
Very best wishes for your new business.
Wendy:)
Answers:
Hi its lovely to meet another fellow Susan Molyneux therapist I too love their products the only thing that does cause me a problem as I too work in my own home treatement room/mobile is the fact that each time you place an order for clients you have to build up the orders for everyone so they are enough to reach the minimum order price which is £50 each order, all well and good but what if you are desperate for one product for a client arghhhhh this drives me mad what do you do? Any suggestions as dont stock all the products. Never the less I love SM products and they smell and work sooooo well and my clients love them too.
Love angelic xx
Answers:
Hi Angelic
It IS a pain regarding the minimum order because once you add the p&p and then VAT on the top it's good-bye to £100. I'm the same as you and don't stock for retail. I only use retail sizes for treatments (apart from the masks and moisturisers) so it's annoying when I want one item - always seem to run out of the Firming Moisturiser no matter how many I have. The ideal would be if you know another SM therapist nearby you and you could share the cost etc.
What SM treatments do you do?
Love
Wendy:)
Answers:
Hi again
I just checked out your very informative website. Looks great!
Love
Wendy x
Answers:
Thanks very much!! Where are you based? Hows things going would be great to share ideas and treatment feedback with you!!!
Love angelic xxxx
Answers:
Hi once again
I'm based in Grantham, Lincs. Would love to share ideas and client feedback with you.
Feel free to ask away.
What is your favourite treatment to give and receive?
Wendy x
Answers:
Angelic, which make up do you use, did you have a post a while ago about some?
Alli
Answers:
Hi wendiwoo
My fav treatment I think is the aromatherapy facial and the active collagen facial I just love that the clients find them so effective and they have even had good comments from friends the next day who have remarked on their skin not even knowing that they had had a facial-how good is that!!!!!!:) What about you which is your favourite treatment? I would love to offer a non surgical face lift treatment too but need to find a machine that is not too expensive am trained in a couple of different ones the one I used to use in the salon was Belle Sante.
Love angelic xxx
Answers:
Hi Alli
Yes I did post about make up a while ago. I use two ranges now Moonlights/true colours and Super cover both of which are amazing I lurvvvvv them!!!!
Love angelic xxxx
Answers:
Angelic
My favourite treatment to give is an Aroma Body Massage.
I have the SM NSFL machine and think the AC Facial would be a great one to offer alongside.
Carlton are offering a NSFL machine with a High Frequency machine thrown in (seen it advertised in Prof Beauty mag) and would like to upgrade mine as this one offers bust lift and upper arm treatments too.
My priority, once I've got 'into' the Reflexology course that I currently doing (not been studying for a couple of years and it shows), is to offer more of the SM facials. The college, where I'm learning Reflex, use SM products so I'm going to have a word with the tutors.
I think I read that you're about to do a Wedding Show? Tell me more.
Love
Wendy x[sm=wave.gif]
Answers:
Hi yes there is a post on here in the beauty forum ive updated it to tell everyone that it went really well, great fun very tiring but well worth it!! I gained two new clients for treatments the next day and the following weeks after some more and have eight weddings booked for next year already!!!! Woohoooooo I am so pleased I love doing wedding treatments especially make up this is my favourite!!!
Love angelic xxxx Good luck with your studies:)
Answers:
well done, angelic! I have been considering doing one, so it's worth it then?
Answers:
Angelic
Well worth your trouble then. Well done!
Wendy x[sm=jump1.gif]
Answers:
Hi
I cant help with most of your questions but I can answer about one of your product queries.
I have just started a beauty course and have started using natures way. The products are okay but I think they have too much purfume in them exp the toner. We were also told we could use the eye make up remover on the lips but it completely dried them out!
good luck with your business!
I need your help and advice. I would really appreciate your opinions and your help.
1. First of all I am not sure HOW TO COST BEAUTY TREATMENTS? I live in Dublin, Ireland and I have brochures from local salons but the prices are so diffrent. I am really not sure what prices to put. I don't want to overcharge or undercharge myself. But I WANT TO GET WORK! any advice would be great.
2.Second of all how shall I attract clients to come to my place rather than going to theirs. I don't mind to go to their place but I would prefer if they would come to mine as there are certain things I can't carry.
3. ADVERTISING. What is the best way? I was thinking to do leafleting. What would be the best "catch" to mention on leaflets for people to ring? Any recommendation.
4. SKIN CARE PRODUCT. What skin care products would you recommend? I am keen on Yon Ka , Decleor, Dermalogica but not sure they would sell it to me as they only sell their products wholesale prices to the salons.
I was looking in "salon services" skin care range. Kinda keen on CHI, SKIN TRUTH, NATURE'S WAY. Do you know is it any good? I don't mind to spend money on good staff as I would like to provide the best service to my clients.
5. MANICURE/PEDICURE/BODY TREATMENTS range? What would you recommend?
I would like to thank everyone and I am sorry that I ask too many questions but I am really into starting it quick and choose the right product.
Thanks and good luck xxx
Answers:
Hi
Firstly good luck and go for it I did the same thing not long ago and it was the best thing I could have done!!! With regards to prices because you are going to be working from your home you can afford to go a little cheaper than the salons but not so cheap that the clients think you are no good but also they will expect you to be slightly cheaper perhaps than high street salon. For mobile treatments you may want to add on a little extra for petrol etc. If you would prefer your clients came to you advertise that you have a specified treatment room more than a mobile therapist but offer mobile treatments on some treatments. This is what I do, most people prefer to go to different surroundings anyway to feel like they are treating themselves and getting away for a bit of relaxation time.
Advertising in your local paper and offering special offers regularly helps.
For the skin care range I use Susan Molyneux which are lovely have a look at their web site for info.... I think it is www.susanmolyneux.com
They are more reasonable than say Decleor which are lovely but rarely supply to mobile or home therapists and have orders of over three thousand pounds if i remember rightly each time you have this as a minimum order!!! I am sure you agree unless you are an established salon this would be near impossible to keep up. Susan molyneux I think use similar ingredients to Decleor to and work on a similar concept with aromatherapy oils. I used to work with Decleor and these two products are high on my list!!! SM products sell very well and the clients love them. Plus they are not overly expensive either, which is good. For manicure treatments I use opi and Cuccio naturale and for pedicures i use a nice range from my local wholesalers of beauty and hair products called sally's. Hope that all helps!!
Love angelic xxxx
Answers:
Thank you Angelic for your help. I really appreciate it. You are great! I sent an email to susan molyneux and they are going to send me some samples and more information about theire product. Can't wait! Thanks again and all the best to you and your business.
xxx
Answers:
Thanks good luck to you too hope you enjoy the products as much I do!!!
Answers:
Hi aquarius. I'm in the same boat as you, I've just started doing mobile :)
As for the advertising, if there are any local groups, e.g. mother and toddlers, etc - would you mind going along to them and doing a little demo thing, this would be free advertising and also, the people who might be a little reluctant or who have never had a beauty treatment before get to meet you and that will make them more likely to give you a call this is free advertising.
Apparently you should only expect 1-2% of the leaflet you drop to actually come to anything, so it's up to you if you do that
When you launch, tell your local papers, however, make sure you do something interesting - they will most likely do an editorial on you and, hey presto, you are advertising in the papers for free :)
The products. As you have mentioned, dermalogica only sell to salons or to therapists who have a room as they believe that their product range is too large to be mobile, as for decleor and yon-ka, i'm not sure. However, if you phone the reps (you'll get their details on the website) I'm sure they'll be happy to talk to you and explain a few things. I wouldn't recommend calling the thalgo rep as she didn't really want to know! About the skin truth I don't know. We used some natures way at college and quite a few people had reactions to this, however it was probably because the stuff was back-up and had probably been sitting since the dinosaurs roamed! I have heard that chi is quite good. Also P8/N8 - I had a sample of their multi vita professional cleanser and - omg - this is amazing stuff (you will find their website here: http://www.oochi.biz/ ) The rep is nice and the start up, I think, is around £400 (compared to the 3000+ of the larger houses)
You can get some good info at the babtac website, I have found this quite useful
I agree with what angelic said about offering some treatments as mobile and others which would be at home, however, if someone phoned desperate for something, but could only do it at theirs, or the other way round, would you do it? The person could be a very valuable client.
With the costing you obviously have to take into account your products, if you were going for, e.g. darphin you would expect to add more than if you were going with natures way, from s. services.
For mani/pedi, a general rule of thumb is, once you decide on your manicure price, you add another £10 and that will give you a pedicure price. You should also add on around £10 for a paraffin wax treatment. But it depends on your area, and you, after all know more about that than me. The one thing I would say is, do not deliberately undercut someone as there will always be someone cheaper. Try to add value to your services (e.g., even if it's just an extra 5 minute pedicure massage), rather than just making yourself cheaper. Also it is easier to lower your prices than to raise them, So if you feel that you are not getting as much custom as you would like, then think about doing a promotion, or lowering your prices.
Um, I think that's about it. I don't know if I was any help or if I was just rambling, but there ya go anyway.
Good luck, and I'm sure you will find working for yourself fantastic, if slightly stressful!
Linzi
Answers:
Hi aquarius.
I've been working from home for the past 4 years and it's the best thing I could have done. It was a slow start because I don't advertise and still don't. The majority of my clients like that fact because they feel that I'm exclusive to them. Fortunately, this works for me and my personal situation but if you're looking for a higher income then maybe some guidance about advertising etc can be found on here (there appears to be a wealth of knowledge and experience).
Just a little plug for Susan Molyneaux. I trained and worked with Dermalogica and wanted to use their products within my business but their initial set up fee put me off. I did my homework and I have to say that once I'd sampled SM for myself I was just as impressed. SM ethics are the same, the products are wonderful to work with and my clients love them.
For both manicures and pedicures, I use the Gena/Orly range.
Very best wishes for your new business.
Wendy:)
Answers:
Hi its lovely to meet another fellow Susan Molyneux therapist I too love their products the only thing that does cause me a problem as I too work in my own home treatement room/mobile is the fact that each time you place an order for clients you have to build up the orders for everyone so they are enough to reach the minimum order price which is £50 each order, all well and good but what if you are desperate for one product for a client arghhhhh this drives me mad what do you do? Any suggestions as dont stock all the products. Never the less I love SM products and they smell and work sooooo well and my clients love them too.
Love angelic xx
Answers:
Hi Angelic
It IS a pain regarding the minimum order because once you add the p&p and then VAT on the top it's good-bye to £100. I'm the same as you and don't stock for retail. I only use retail sizes for treatments (apart from the masks and moisturisers) so it's annoying when I want one item - always seem to run out of the Firming Moisturiser no matter how many I have. The ideal would be if you know another SM therapist nearby you and you could share the cost etc.
What SM treatments do you do?
Love
Wendy:)
Answers:
Hi again
I just checked out your very informative website. Looks great!
Love
Wendy x
Answers:
Thanks very much!! Where are you based? Hows things going would be great to share ideas and treatment feedback with you!!!
Love angelic xxxx
Answers:
Hi once again
I'm based in Grantham, Lincs. Would love to share ideas and client feedback with you.
Feel free to ask away.
What is your favourite treatment to give and receive?
Wendy x
Answers:
Angelic, which make up do you use, did you have a post a while ago about some?
Alli
Answers:
Hi wendiwoo
My fav treatment I think is the aromatherapy facial and the active collagen facial I just love that the clients find them so effective and they have even had good comments from friends the next day who have remarked on their skin not even knowing that they had had a facial-how good is that!!!!!!:) What about you which is your favourite treatment? I would love to offer a non surgical face lift treatment too but need to find a machine that is not too expensive am trained in a couple of different ones the one I used to use in the salon was Belle Sante.
Love angelic xxx
Answers:
Hi Alli
Yes I did post about make up a while ago. I use two ranges now Moonlights/true colours and Super cover both of which are amazing I lurvvvvv them!!!!
Love angelic xxxx
Answers:
Angelic
My favourite treatment to give is an Aroma Body Massage.
I have the SM NSFL machine and think the AC Facial would be a great one to offer alongside.
Carlton are offering a NSFL machine with a High Frequency machine thrown in (seen it advertised in Prof Beauty mag) and would like to upgrade mine as this one offers bust lift and upper arm treatments too.
My priority, once I've got 'into' the Reflexology course that I currently doing (not been studying for a couple of years and it shows), is to offer more of the SM facials. The college, where I'm learning Reflex, use SM products so I'm going to have a word with the tutors.
I think I read that you're about to do a Wedding Show? Tell me more.
Love
Wendy x[sm=wave.gif]
Answers:
Hi yes there is a post on here in the beauty forum ive updated it to tell everyone that it went really well, great fun very tiring but well worth it!! I gained two new clients for treatments the next day and the following weeks after some more and have eight weddings booked for next year already!!!! Woohoooooo I am so pleased I love doing wedding treatments especially make up this is my favourite!!!
Love angelic xxxx Good luck with your studies:)
Answers:
well done, angelic! I have been considering doing one, so it's worth it then?
Answers:
Angelic
Well worth your trouble then. Well done!
Wendy x[sm=jump1.gif]
Answers:
Hi
I cant help with most of your questions but I can answer about one of your product queries.
I have just started a beauty course and have started using natures way. The products are okay but I think they have too much purfume in them exp the toner. We were also told we could use the eye make up remover on the lips but it completely dried them out!
good luck with your business!