Supply Side Economics

So, here in California we're supposed to throw our files away after each client. Believe me, I can go on more than one rant from here! But what I'm thinking about today is why don't the supply companies capitalize on this?

Here in Visalia we have a grand total of two beauty supply houses. We have a Sally's and a Cosmoprof — oh wait, three! We also have a Maly's. And every time I walk into any one of them I am reminded of how little the professional beauty industry seems to think of what I have to contribute to it as a nail tech.

Never mind the fact that out of five or six aisles and the perimeter of the store, only a scant one side of an aisle is dedicated to nail supplies, but upon closer inspection you will find yourself absolutely frustrated if you are actually trying to stock your supply needs from any of these sources.

For one thing, if I were to buy my supplies entirely locally, I'd have to double my prices just to cover my overhead. Cosmoprof finally started carrying files in bulk packs, but they are priced at three times what I pay online. Just a little note: That's crazy.

Thing is, I've talked to suppliers before about this and I get told that there isn't enough money in nail supplies.

Well how does that math work? No, we don't go through polish as fast as a hair stylist goes through color. But we go through polish remover at a good clip. We go through monomer and gel pretty fast. Gel top coat goes really fast for me.

But what really goes fast are the files and buffers. Because California won't let us disinfect them. Why aren't our suppliers selling this point? It's in their best interest to not only be aware of this, but to market the heck out of it! They should not only have the files and buffers available to supply the market, but they should be sending out mailings to let nail techs throughout the land know that they have files and buffers galore to meet our needs. And the reps that come into the salons should be making a point to stop by the nail tables and be sure that we are well stocked every week. Heck, the reps from the local supply houses have never even bothered to stop and say "hi" to me when they come into the salon.

I don't understand why these businesses insist on overlooking us as part of their revenue? It's bad business in any economy, but these days, with so many businesses crying about how bad things are, you'd think they'd be stepping it up a bit.