Maggie Rants [and Raves]

Get a Non-Compete Clause

by Maggie Franklin | November 7, 2014 | Bookmark +
Maggie enjoys the view from her office building location too much to move.

Maggie enjoys the view from her office building location too much to move.

When I moved into the building where I work, I was the only nail tech in the entire building. I chose the office building because it was an office building. It’s full of CPAs and family/marriage therapists and our congressman’s offices with a bank taking up the entire first floor. I figured it would provide a professional atmosphere with quiet hallways and I’d never have children running up and down the halls outside my door.

Nearly five years later, I am one of four — soon to be five — establishments licensed by the State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology spread out between the building’s five-and-a-half floors of offices (there’s a mezzanine level as well.) Three of those establishments are on my floor.

There’s me, the girl who does hair across the hall, and just a few days ago I met our new neighbors — an esthetician and another manicurist.

The new neighbors are very nice. I have nothing personal against them and I hope they are very happy and do well in the building. The new manicurist also claims that she does “natural nails and pedicures.” Not even gel manicures, just traditional manis. Not only does she not offer services that directly compete with mine, but — in theory — there’s no difference between having my competition down the hall than having them sitting next to me in a booth rental salon.

I’m not particularly concerned about the potential competition. But I’d be in denial if I claimed that I wasn’t disappointed in my landlord for putting my competition three doors away from me without so much as the courtesy of asking me if I cared first.

I wasn’t thrilled when the second nail tech arrived in the building — but she didn’t exactly make a stellar first impression on me either. I’m glad she’s on a different floor.

I wasn’t thrilled when the third nail tech was added to the building — and I like her! — but I was even less thrilled when the management “asked” her (rather politely, as I understand it) to leave the building. There were already two of us here; why not let the third one prosper as well?

After that, I was under the impression that the management wasn’t planning on approving any more salons for the building. So I was a little surprised that not only is one more being added to the list, but they are being added to my floor.

I did not choose to rent a space in a beauty mall. I would prefer this building not become a beauty mall. It lessens the clout of the location for me. 

It’s kinda too late for me to call my landlord and say, “Hey! About this lease? Yeah, I’d like a non-compete clause that says I’ll be the only nail tech in the building...at least the floor. OK?”

So take my advice and negotiate that up front if you find yourself leasing a spot in a high-end location.

I like the view from the window too dang much to make a fuss. Even if the building does become a beauty mall... I’ll be staying. I’m spoiled now.

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