A Few Things of Note

The newest post is always on top. If you missed a post, click under the "Archives" heading in the lefthand column. Your comments are welcome, but they are moderated. Just click on the "Feedback" link under the post you want to talk about. If you want to ask Robbie a question, just e-mail him using the "Ask Robbie" link in the righthand column. He'll answer your question via the blog.

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New salon owner Robbie Schaeffer uses this space to blog about his experiences during his first year, from finding a location to hiring staff. Check back here weekly to read about — and comment on — his quest to open his first salon. He'll share his accomplishments and his frustrations with you. From the pre-planning stages to the grand opening, follow him on this exciting journey.

Events and Promotions

We’re focusing on grassroots marketing, like the Studio City holiday parade we recently rode the salon’s ROB|B logoed Smart Cars in. We’re also going to launch a campaign to attract students and parents from local schools. It will be an after-school special, where we offer promotions on services between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. We’ll be sending letters to all of the area schools and reaching out to school newspapers and parent-teacher networks.
 
We’re still having our mid-week service slowdown, though I think that’s across the board at all salons. People are slowly taking advantage of the free paraffin promo we’re running to combat this, and, luckily we are retaining our clients.
 
We’re below expectations when it comes to retail sales, but I think that’s because of the recession. I’m worried that the possible upcoming SAG (screen actors’ guild) strike will also have a huge negative impact on Studio City as a whole. But if we can get people in here and keep maintaining our level of service and our cleanliness, I don’t see us going anywhere.
 
We also recently hosted 10 celebrity travel agents at the salon. It was funny because the group’s expectations were low since it’s “just a nail salon,” but they were blown away by the place, especially by our level of detail. The hope is that some of their celebrity clients will start visiting the salon as well.

posted @ Monday, December 15, 2008 9:22 AM | Feedback (0)

Getting Into the Groove

We’re growing our clientele slowly but surely. We hosted a reader party for InStyle magazine earlier this month. It turned out really well with more than 120 people showing up. We hope to do many more events like that.
 
I’m finding that mid-week, Tuesday through Thursday, is really slow for us. We’re combating that by running a special — if you get a mani/pedi, you’ll get a free paraffin treatment. I think this will be a good way to get clients familiar with paraffin, so they’ll think about buying it as part of their services (especially since winter is the perfect season for it).
 
I’m excited to host the Nail Manufacturers Council and OSHA at the salon next month. This is part of the ROB|B Salon mission to raise the standards in the nail salon industry. The two groups will be going over safe standard salons in our salon next month. OSHA especially will be watching and learning as we do a pedicure and acrylic set. They’ll be learning what the proper environment should be for nail services and will be telling us if we’re doing anything wrong (without writing us up for it).
 
For the upcoming holidays, we’re planning on sticking with the product lines we have, but since retail is hurting so badly in this economy, I think that most of any salon’s holiday retail business will come from gift cards.

posted @ Monday, November 24, 2008 4:24 PM | Feedback (0)

Q & A: Start-Up Costs

I am very excited for all of you at ROBB|B! I want to open my own nail salon and am wondering: what are the general start up costs?
Y.J.
 
Hi Y.J.,
Thanks so much for following along on the ROB|B journey. As far as start-up costs go, a lot depends on what kind of salon you’re opening — low-, medium-, or high-end. Plus, it depends on your location and your rent. There are a lot of other factors too.
 
I know that NAILS Magazine sells a “Salon Start-Up Guide” that includes a worksheet you can fill in to estimate your monthly expenses and start-up costs. I’d direct you there.
 
Regards,
Robbie
co-owner

posted @ Tuesday, November 04, 2008 12:09 PM | Feedback (0)

Sweet Success (Mostly)

Our first few weeks have been amazing. On Friday, we got a huge plug in Daily Candy, and we really blew up after that. We were booked solid Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Best of all, most of the callers were Studio City-area residents, so it’s helping us establish a return clientele.
 
Fox 11 News came to the salon this week, and Studio City Lifestyle Magazine is planning a feature article, plus we’re doing some advertising with them. We also have an InStyle magazine reader party booked here. Harris Shephard Public Relations is handling our PR.
 
I’m also excited to say we had our first A-list celebrity client. I don’t want to compromise her privacy by naming her, but I’m thrilled that she liked her salon experience so much that she booked a four-person spa party for late November.
 
Other than that, we’re still tweaking the building. We’ve added some lighting here and there; we’re planning on adding a gate to the back. One big challenge was that one of the car lifts exploded; I came out to find hydraulic fluid spilling out all over my car. We’re still waiting on a replacement part for that. (The car is OK.) We’ve done a pretty good job with scheduling, and we’ve refined our hours a little bit, lengthening and shortening them on different days based on demand.

posted @ Tuesday, October 28, 2008 5:27 PM | Feedback (0)

Open for Business

Despite some last-minute fixes (like redoing the ceiling paint two days ago after it was showing signs of wear), our soft opening today was a success. We had 32 booked appointments, and Dan, Nadine, and I were all there to smooth out any issues that came up. My dad came in in the morning and said the salon looked great. Salon STX representatives came in just in case we had any problems with the computer system, and the fragrance line we’re carrying, Terri Michele Fragrances, came in today and was placed onto our shelves.
 
Here are some photos from opening day:
 
"Now Open,” much better than “Coming Soon”
 
Waiting Area
 
Manicure Station
 
Client coordinator Toni Ciaravino with our Client Profile forms
 
Nail Bar
 
We’re all so thrilled. You can see more photos in the “Soft Opening Photo Gallery”.

posted @ Friday, October 10, 2008 4:44 PM | Feedback (2)

We’re Taking Appointments!

ROB|B will be officially open to the public on Friday, October 10. This soft opening date is set in stone. We’ve even already made a few appointments for that day. We’d be so happy to take even more. For anyone who’s interested in coming in for a service, please just call the salon at (818) 980-7622.
 
I can’t believe the waiting game is almost over. This is so huge. Thanks so much for following us the whole way (I’ll still be posting as least through our grand opening, which will be in the next few months.) You can check out the latest salon photos here. Please come by and see us.

posted @ Wednesday, October 01, 2008 1:26 PM | Feedback (1)

Q & A: Manicure and Pedicure Areas

Shouldn’t the pedicure stations be close to where the manicures are being done (so the person doesn’t have to walk all the way across the room)?
Neha
 
Hi Neha,
 
The blueprint you were looking at may have been a little confusing (and a little out of date too, since we had to make so many tweaks), but in reality, the pedicure and manicure stations are right next to each other. Plus, each station is equipped to do pedicures with a portable FootsieBath spa. Also, the European Touch Murano spa chairs have pop-out arms to allow for simultaneous pedicures and manicures.
 
Regards,
Robbie
co-owner

posted @ Friday, September 26, 2008 4:31 PM | Feedback (0)

Finishing Touches

We passed the sprinkler inspection; our elevator inspection is on Monday. (We’ve already fixed the circuit board that blew out.) The salon was originally scheduled to get gas today, but the plumber installed a pipe incorrectly and it has to be moved, so now we should get gas and hot water on Monday.
 
Salon STX is up and running. We’re now inputting all of the salon’s inventory, setting up our retail displays, and just getting the products up and out. One product we’ll be carrying is Elixr Tonics. These blends can be mixed with sparkling or flat water to create a refreshing, healthy beverage. We’ll be offering this as a drink during all of our services.
 
I’m really excited about some artwork that’s on order and should arrive in November all the way from Switzerland. It’s actually a gift from my dad to the salon. It’s by an artist named Nicole Hassler, who does artwork using actual OPI lacquer and brushes. (She approached my dad at a tradeshow in Europe). My dad is going to be her U.S. distributor.
 
Also, we have a soft opening date: Oct. 10.

posted @ Friday, September 19, 2008 3:13 PM | Feedback (1)

Powering On

I’m thrilled to say we finally have power. Everything is working, from the air conditioning to the computers to the TVs. Tomorrow, the Salon STX representative will be at the salon get the software network working.
 
The new issue is that we have to add more sprinklers, including, apparently, in the shower. (I know — it didn’t make sense to me either.) We had to take down a larger awning on the second floor in order to fit in more sprinklers. It’s been so difficult to meet all of the city’s requirements.
 
On the upside, Murad skin care training happened this week. And today, we had a reflexology class for all of the nail techs and estheticians, so we’ll be able to offer that service.
 
The elevator inspector can’t come until September 19 at the earliest, but I guess that’s a good thing because the circuit board blew out on the elevator, so we need to get that fixed first. The fire and sprinkler inspector will be at the salon this week; after we pass those inspections, we’ll be able to get gas and hot water.

posted @ Wednesday, September 10, 2008 5:04 PM | Feedback (0)

Waiting for (a Higher?) Power

We used a crane to hoist furniture onto the second floor. It took about two hours. Days later, we STILL don’t have power, and I don’t know when we will. The city ran out of electricity meters. According to the department supervisor, in the 20 years he’s been working for the city, they’ve never run out. This is just my luck.
 
I’ve been keeping myself busy dealing with the building. The computer system is going in now, and I’m trying to find an Internet provider. (The phone companies in the area don’t offer it.)
 
We’ve been training our employees every week. They’re very good at their (upcoming) jobs. The downside is that I’ve obviously started paying them already, even though we won’t have any clients for a while.
 
Once the meter is installed, the salon can pass the final city inspection; things like the elevator and AC won’t work with the temporary power that’s set up right now. I have to wait until the salon is totally connected to the city.

posted @ Monday, August 18, 2008 11:32 AM | Feedback (0)
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