Jill, I will ask every client if she wants to schedule a pedicure with her next appointment. That is a great idea to build with my current clients. I have used this technique with my natural nail clients and I have had good success with my manicure clients getting their feet done with their nails. I had been working on balancing my books last year very diligently. I had gotten my pedicure numbers up to about 36 a month seeing about 105 guests a month, and then the salon had some events happen that stalled me right in my tracks.

My hold up has been for two reasons: Firstly, before Rachael came to us, we had two nail techs leave within about six months to do other things, so I felt that I needed to absorb the clients that didn’t follow them to keep them coming in to the salon.

Secondly, I was taking all of the new clients I could fit in around my other appointments to try to keep at least some flow going so that when we had another nail tech we would be able to shift some clientele to her books.  However I shot myself in the foot because of this tactic, as Rachael needed training to learn gel enhancements and to retrain for acrylics.  She had not done acrylic for years, had never done gels, and had only done natural nail services because she felt she got such a “rushed through, just enough to pass her boards”  training from her cosmetology school.

As a result, since December of last year, I have been the only nail tech taking any new artificial nail clients in addition to my standing appointments. We have spent the last few months working really hard to get her skills ready to take clients, and she is starting to take them on Monday.  I am so excited to be able to really work on helping her to build her clientele with body balance in mind. And I am simply over the moon to finally be able to work on balancing mine. I will keep you updated on our progress in balancing out our books.

— Sandy