"It’s a small price to pay to help set myself apart from the rest of the salons in my area," says Melodie Hand of Nail Designs by Mel in Clayton, N.C. She’s talking about her new client gift packs, a special gesture to welcome new clients to her salon. Each pack contains at-home care cards, plastic cuticle pusher, buffer block, file, nail brush, instructions for using each of these items, a custom-wrapped chocolate bar, 10 business cards for referrals, and a calendar business card for the client’s wallet.  "Everything is packaged in a nice Action Bag gift box," says Hand. "It sounds like a lot to give away, but the final cost is less than $4 per pack and clients feel like they’re getting more than they are paying for and know they are appreciated."

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