4 answers
2
Questions
Updated
692 views
How do cosmologists keep businesses going ?
I know that being a cosmetologist itself is hard but what are the biggest struggles a cosmetologist faces in order to keep businesses going? I know that the most important thing a cosmetologist focuses on is customer satisfaction. However I wonder what other obstacles a cosmetologist faces in order to keep the businesses thriving?. For example how do u make sure the products you are using are of the highest quality or how to manage your time or how do u get costumers along with frequent costumers
Login to comment
4 answers
Updated
Nadia’s Answer
Hi Leslie,
Although I am not a cosmetologist, I can advise based on friends' opinions and my own experience as a customer.
Regarding obstacles, the most common one is related to those services becoming increasingly popular. Especially in larger cities, you have many options, so you must promote yourself intensively and ensure you are up to date with the newest trends. Mindful and effective social media accounts (like IG) are vital in marketing your services, especially from the younger generation's perspective.
Most of my friends started working for professionals as apprentices. It helped them to get their first customers and learn best practices.
When it comes to the products, it's also all about learning how to read ingredient lists, how they can impact health (for example, if it's safe to sunbathe after using them), and... testing :)
Good luck!
Although I am not a cosmetologist, I can advise based on friends' opinions and my own experience as a customer.
Regarding obstacles, the most common one is related to those services becoming increasingly popular. Especially in larger cities, you have many options, so you must promote yourself intensively and ensure you are up to date with the newest trends. Mindful and effective social media accounts (like IG) are vital in marketing your services, especially from the younger generation's perspective.
Most of my friends started working for professionals as apprentices. It helped them to get their first customers and learn best practices.
When it comes to the products, it's also all about learning how to read ingredient lists, how they can impact health (for example, if it's safe to sunbathe after using them), and... testing :)
Good luck!
Updated
Curtis’s Answer
The biggest challenge is to build your target audience. Obviously, you've got to be good to excellent in what you do, so customer satisfaction is important. But, 99% of cosmotologists and their business owners do NOT own a database of past and potential clients. Any ad spend is ultimately wasted because they don't COLLECT and LEVERAGE the people who came in. And unless you do something to get them to come back you're forever relying on first time customers to keep you afloat.
The solution is VERY simple, and I think, easy.
You're in a retail business. And the Retail model dicates that, first, you need to build a database of customers who see your brand and location as easy and convenient. Second, you need a Loss Leader. This is a service or product that you give away for free or at break even cost. It MUST be a service that your customers need on a regular basis. Third, you need an emailing system like Constant Contact or Mailchimp (NOT expensive... maybe $75 to $100/month). Look, you don't have to be an expert at this, nor do you have to do it perfectly to benefit. But, if you DO IT, you'll start to prosper in ways that you can't imagine.
Let's consider how Kroger, a grocery store chain, does this. To build their database and brand they use two Loss Leaders: milk and gas. They keep the price for these down to the lowest possible minimum, but ALWAYS lower than any competitor's milk and gas. And they don't go cheap on milk and gas. It has to be high quality. This attracts people to drive their car onto the parking lot -- they've got to show up.
If it is for gas, they know they're going to get a discount. But, when they've bought $100 of gas they get an ADDITIONAL .10 cent discount on their next tank.
Kroger knows that if you've driven your car onto their parking lot that there's a strong chance that you'll park and go in for a few essentials or a drink and snack.
Many customers go in for only a gallon of milk. But, milk is strategically positioned at the back of the store. What happens is that customers walk ALL the way back to the milk and by the time they're back at checkout they have a shopping cart full of groceries. Ta Da!
If you'll be strategic about your loss leader -- something that every woman/girl needs and wants -- that doesn't rob you of your higher profit services, you can then craft a strategic, long-term thing that you use to get attention and a flow of eager buyers.
I did this with a retail butcher and deli. We offered a "$100 in Free Select Cuts" Sweepstakes as an enticement to get them to fill out an entry form. At the POS (point of sale) we put a poster advertising "Win! $100 of Meat Free Every Month", and participants were encouraged to fill out a form with their name, email, and address, and a check box for permission to communicate with them electronically.
In 10 months we'd built a list of 2700 customers which we mapped. This blew them away because they got to see where their customers lived. Before this they were wrong and spent half their ad spend where none of their customers lived.
Then we offered a once-a-month "Buy One Dozen Eggs, Get One Dozen Eggs Free" via an email. They offered ONLY the highest quality eggs.
Within just four months of launching this they had more business than they could handle. In fact, one weekend they sold 650 dozen egges.
Your biggest challenge is to graduate is from what everyone else does or has been taught for how to get clients and carve out your own customer list and DO what I'm recommending.
The solution is VERY simple, and I think, easy.
You're in a retail business. And the Retail model dicates that, first, you need to build a database of customers who see your brand and location as easy and convenient. Second, you need a Loss Leader. This is a service or product that you give away for free or at break even cost. It MUST be a service that your customers need on a regular basis. Third, you need an emailing system like Constant Contact or Mailchimp (NOT expensive... maybe $75 to $100/month). Look, you don't have to be an expert at this, nor do you have to do it perfectly to benefit. But, if you DO IT, you'll start to prosper in ways that you can't imagine.
Let's consider how Kroger, a grocery store chain, does this. To build their database and brand they use two Loss Leaders: milk and gas. They keep the price for these down to the lowest possible minimum, but ALWAYS lower than any competitor's milk and gas. And they don't go cheap on milk and gas. It has to be high quality. This attracts people to drive their car onto the parking lot -- they've got to show up.
If it is for gas, they know they're going to get a discount. But, when they've bought $100 of gas they get an ADDITIONAL .10 cent discount on their next tank.
Kroger knows that if you've driven your car onto their parking lot that there's a strong chance that you'll park and go in for a few essentials or a drink and snack.
Many customers go in for only a gallon of milk. But, milk is strategically positioned at the back of the store. What happens is that customers walk ALL the way back to the milk and by the time they're back at checkout they have a shopping cart full of groceries. Ta Da!
If you'll be strategic about your loss leader -- something that every woman/girl needs and wants -- that doesn't rob you of your higher profit services, you can then craft a strategic, long-term thing that you use to get attention and a flow of eager buyers.
I did this with a retail butcher and deli. We offered a "$100 in Free Select Cuts" Sweepstakes as an enticement to get them to fill out an entry form. At the POS (point of sale) we put a poster advertising "Win! $100 of Meat Free Every Month", and participants were encouraged to fill out a form with their name, email, and address, and a check box for permission to communicate with them electronically.
In 10 months we'd built a list of 2700 customers which we mapped. This blew them away because they got to see where their customers lived. Before this they were wrong and spent half their ad spend where none of their customers lived.
Then we offered a once-a-month "Buy One Dozen Eggs, Get One Dozen Eggs Free" via an email. They offered ONLY the highest quality eggs.
Within just four months of launching this they had more business than they could handle. In fact, one weekend they sold 650 dozen egges.
Your biggest challenge is to graduate is from what everyone else does or has been taught for how to get clients and carve out your own customer list and DO what I'm recommending.
Updated
Lisa’s Answer
Being a cosmetologist is a great rewarding career. How to maintain a business that is saturated with non professional cosmetologists? First you build. Great relationship with your clients. Each individual is a special part of your business. Learn all the new techniques there is to offer. If you have employees is very important to have them continue education. What makes your salon different. You need to be creative with advertising your business and your work. The salon should be extremely welcoming for all people.
Offering products that you have used and you swear by it. Natural made products are the best. Learn your product knowledge. Have a budget in your business
Offering products that you have used and you swear by it. Natural made products are the best. Learn your product knowledge. Have a budget in your business
Updated
Patrice’s Answer
Great job! When considering some things it's always good practice to consider advantages and disadvantages. Allow me to ask. Do you like or love cosmetology? The love of things makes work enjoyable and it doesn't seem like work. The biggest struggle is maintaining your clientele. There are a few reasons why I say this. First, you have to be customer-friendly with a personality to befriend new people. So, in other words, you have to be a conversationalist. A person who is good at engaging in conversations makes the environment more welcoming. Second, you have to make the business about your clients, not solely focus on making money. Although making money is the key to the solution. Using a customer service strategy keeps you with returning customers and provides an opportunity for new customers. You always want to put your best foot forward. Your work will speak for you. Third, you want to have diverse clients. Focusing on one age group narrows your potential clients. Fourth, you want to consider the things you will specialize in. Even though you are very capable of doing other things consider the specialty.
Other barriers are in your decisions of goods you purchase to maintain healthy hair. No one wants failing out hair. Understand solutions for repairing and restoring the hair. You will have to examine products that are good for most hair. When deciding on the location pick a shop that compliments your personality. You may be good at your craft, but if you pick a bad location or the environment is bad the clients will move. Time management is one of your biggest obstacles. Aim for no more than 15 minutes of wait time. The best solution is to know how long it takes for different processes.
Other barriers are in your decisions of goods you purchase to maintain healthy hair. No one wants failing out hair. Understand solutions for repairing and restoring the hair. You will have to examine products that are good for most hair. When deciding on the location pick a shop that compliments your personality. You may be good at your craft, but if you pick a bad location or the environment is bad the clients will move. Time management is one of your biggest obstacles. Aim for no more than 15 minutes of wait time. The best solution is to know how long it takes for different processes.