Maggie Rants [and Raves]

Great, Just Great

by Maggie Franklin | October 15, 2010 | Bookmark +

I think I've spent enough time describing the building I work in: built in 1923, big brick office building, five floors/six stories tall (secret, hidden "mezzanine" level adds a story, but not a floor). The upper four (and a half) floors are cut up into tiny office suites. A perfect haven for accountants, tax preparers, psychologists, massage therapists — and nail techs.

There's one other licensed nail tech down on the second floor, but she primarily does esthetics and only occasionally does natural manicures. And then there's lil ol' moi here on the fourth floor.

I've been here nearly a year now and I've seen more than one nail tech prowling the building with visions of tenancy in their eyes. And, so far, the building management/owners haven't approved any of their applications. The property manager told me a few months ago that they weren't planning on adding any more nail techs to the building.

Well, that's just fine by me, of course. But honestly, I don't really mind. It doesn't matter too much to me if my competition is down the hall or down the street ... unless I can keep my nearest competition five miles away or more, it's all the same. That's why I advertise, that's why I continue my education, that's why I work so hard to make sure my name comes up in Internet searches — that's why I ROCK MY JOB — so it won't matter if my nearest competition is down the hall or down the street.

So why is it that when I met the nail tech who stopped by this morning to check out my plumbing set up, I am irritated at the prospect of having another nail tech down the hall?

Well. First off, she hasn't even turned in a rental application yet, so there's still a strong possibility that I won't have a new nail tech neighbor, but she certainly seems sure that she's moving in.

Here's the thing: She seems genuinely nice. I can't say I didn't like her. But she specializes in "liquid plastic" nails — I've already blogged about my pet peeves concerning these "our product isn't a 'gel' " gel companies. It just makes me sick — physically nauseous — that not only are there product manufacturers out there who are preying on the ignorance of the average American in the subject of chemistry with their misleading marketing schemes, but that our industry is full of people who eat up this marketing and buy this hogwash hook, line, and "polycrylic" sinker!

If you truly LOVE the product, then by all means, use it. But DO NOT choose the product that is OBVIOUSLY a gel, because the company promises you it isn't a gel. How does that even make sense?! And DO NOT contribute to the problem of a confused and misinformed consumer base by telling them that your product is a "polymer" and that other products are ... what? You know that ALL our products are polymers, right?

Oh wait — went off on a tangent there — it occurs to me that the problem isn't whether or not I like another nail tech, the problem is whether or not I respect her professionally. That's gonna make it awfully difficult to keep my mouth shut.

At least they could initiate a "one nail lady per floor" policy. *sigh* I guess I have to write my landlord a letter.

 

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, Click here.

Read more about
a Bobit media brand

Create your free Bobit Connect account to bookmark content.

The secure and easy all-access connection to your content.
Bookmarked content can then be accessed anytime on all of your logged in devices!

Create Account