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SEARCHSeveral salons have shut down due to COVID-19, but that doesn't mean you can't work on business matters. Here's 11 things you can do for your business while not seeing clients.
1. Take Inventory
Take stock of your retail and nail items and determine what will be needed before opening again, as well as what's making you money in the salon. This inventory article can help you develop a fine-tuned system.
2. Clean Out Your Kit
Maybe you're a mobile tech, or maybe you bring your own supplies to your salon space, either way, there's no time like the present to safely dispose of old or unused polish or other product that's taking up space.
3. Update Your Website
Are your prices and services up to date? Have you made it clear you're temporarily closed? Have you included any press for your salon or mentions in NAILS Magazine or nailsmag.com? Use this opportunity to refresh and re-examine your site. If you don't have one, now's the perfect time to create one. Here's some must-haves to help you get started.
4. Update Your Social Media
Many nail professionals say that there aren't enough hours in the day to post pictures to their Instagram feeds, update their bios, or create original content for their YouTube or IGTV. Now's the ideal time to post, tag, respond to comments, follow new people, answer messages, and examine the social impact of your brand.
5. Create a Social Media Setup
Without clients, it's the ideal time to take pictures of your salon decor and furnishings. It may also be time to see if you need to add in a social media setup such as a lightbox or ring lamp or create a more social media-friendly environment for pictures. Here's some ideas for creating a setup for pictures.
6. Research and Practice
Are you an acrylic user contemplating switching to gel services? Are you in the market for a new e-file? Now's the time to do your homework, request samples, ask questions, practice, and ask for MSDS so that you can make a clean transition if need be when you re-open.
7. Get Repairs Done
Do you need to send your e-file in to get repaired? Do you need your implements sharpened? Are there repairs needed for your pedicure chair? Now's the time to tend to these things without worrying about the impact it will have on your clientele. See some repair videos for here.
8. Catch Up on Content
Several of the ideas from this list came from the Outgrowth podcast, which you can catch up on. Also consider signing up for ebooks, or catch up on NAILS Next Top Nail Artist.
9. Work on Nail Art
Maybe nail art isn't the money maker in your salon right now, but is it something that with a bit of practice you could offer to upsell clients? Is there a technique you've been dying to try? Do you need to make sample tips for the salon to show off new designs once you re-open? Have you been considering trying out for NTNA? Now's the time to hone those skills and we have a whole channel to help you.
10. Exercise
Another common refrain among nail professionals is that they don't have time to get out of their chair or even eat lunch. Now's the time to take a walk, stretch, and practice healthy habits that can be carried back with you to the salon. Some simple at-home exercises can be found here.
11. Do Your Taxes
If you haven't already, now's the time to hunker down and focus on getting things right before July 15.
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