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SEARCHThis month we asked nail techs: Is it best to offer a wide-ranging salon menu or to hone in on a specialty or two?
I fully believe in being specialized and keeping the options simple while giving the complete service. — Suzanne Cox, Salon at the Highland, Cedar Park, Texas
It’s better to have a varied menu in the salon. You want clients to pick and choose the services they want and still be able to stay within their budget. Add-ons such as gel-polish and nail art can be made into specialty services. One thing that you don't want is too big of a menu causing clients to be confused by too many choices and services. — Sam Rivenbark, Tarheel Tanning and Spa, Eure, N.C.
I have a home-based salon and have been open for a year. Currently, I have a limited menu. I do only nails — manicures, pedicures, nail enhancements, and CND Shellac. But my area is saturated with discount salons, and people do frequent them, as they are quick and cheap. In order to compete, I’m considering further training to be able to offer more services to my clients, such as waxing, lash tinting, tanning, etc. As much as my passion is only nails, I feel that if I want a successful and profitable business, I need to add other services. — Rita Tailor, Ritzy’s Nail Boutique, Slough, Berkshire, U.K.
We get all kinds of requests from clients who can’t get certain services when they visit discount salons, so our motto is, “We do everything!” Although the three of us who work in the salon all have our strengths and weaknesses, it works out well. We all do nail art, gel-polish, and traditional manicures. Kim and I specialize in acrylic sculptures, and only I do tip and overlays. Natalie and Kim specialize in pedicures, and I am the only one who does hard gels, wraps, and any unusual services such as dip systems. This way we are covered no matter what the service is and can offer the client a variety of options they may not have been aware of. — Vicki Peters, Polish Salon, Brea, Calif.
I have a wide menu, but it breaks down each service so that clients pay exactly what they want, not for included extras that they have no desire for. I also hone in on specialties that I up-charge for, such as exclusive cuticle treatments using my diamond bits for superb and perfected cuticle trimming, dead skin removal, and callus skin removal. — Melissa Loya, Liberty Nails by Melissa, Fort Riley, Kan.
While I do enjoy variety, I practice specialty services, especially when it comes to foot care. I don’t go for gimmicky pedicure themes that change every season; I’m more focused on problem feet and finding solutions using specialized products and foot care techniques that are safe for diabetics, seniors, and feet in need of extra TLC. — Savanna Glazier, SG Foot Care & Aesthetics, Regina, Saskatchawan, Canada
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