Wow! What a series about pre-booking we’ve had over the last two months. Just by implementing one of those pre-booking ideas with incentives, you will raise your pre-book percentage. Who has implemented one of the three pre-booking contests from the last two weeks? Please leave a comment at the end of this article telling us and other nail techs what you’re doing. Tell us what your basket is filled with. Share what it looks like and what you’re saying to get your clients to pre-book. Just think, someone else can learn from you or get the courage to follow suit and implement this contest just because you did. Please post and share your thoughts. We’d love to hear from you!

So, it’s that time of year when we are all starting to think about the holiday season. It will be upon us before we know it, Thanksgiving is two-and-a-half weeks away. It’s a busy time of year and now is the time to start working on our Holiday Game Plan. Have we thought about how the holidays can impact our career yet?

Let’s start with Thanksgiving week. Hopefully all of us will be enjoying a day off with a great meal with family and friends. Since we will be off for the Thanksgiving holiday, we will miss a day of work and that means we also miss a day of money. Have we thought about adding an additional day before Turkey Day to our books? I have already added additional hours on Monday to my books. Here’s why: 1) Christmas is coming and Christmas means a lot of added expenses; 2) We are so busy and swamped the day before Thanksgiving. Stretch it out and pace yourself so you can breathe.

The holiday season is a great way to earn some extra money. I always say you have to make your hay while the sun is shining! That means, take advantage of the opportunity when it’s presented to you! If you add additional hours, you will not only make up money, you’ll make additional money. You’ll also be accommodating your clients during this busy week.

Ask your clients, “Do you have any family or friends coming to town for Thanksgiving? Wouldn’t it be nice to come in and relax with a pedicure after you’ve been on your feet all day preparing Thursday’s big meal? Bring one of your family or friends and wind down here with pedicures together. Then you can really catch up and enjoy each other’s company.”

Suggest that your client bring in a friend or family member and double your income. Do two services at the same time. You may have to add a little extra time, but it’s worth it. Do two manicures at the same time, let one client rest with paraffin while you are working on the other, then switch. Figure out how you can double your income; the clients won’t mind —they are spending quality time together with a family member/friend. Be sure to figure out how you will accommodate two clients at once before you just wing it.

Ask your clients, “Are you going shopping on Black Friday?” Tell them, “You should book a pedicure with your shopping buddy! Come in after running around getting all the deals and relax. Take a load off your feet and rest your tired feet in our whirlpool bath. Unwind in our heated massage chair and take it easy.” If you don’t offer it or suggest it, they probably won’t think about it. Plant the seed — it sounds wonderful just thinking about it, doesn’t it?

We also do a lot of pedicure and manicure parties the Friday after Thanksgiving. Since grandma, aunts, cousins, and family are all together, come get pedicures together! We have several families that have made this a tradition every year. If you don’t have six pedicure thrones like I do, offer manicures and other services. It’s a great way for the women to hang out and enjoy some down time since they were probably the ones who prepared the meal.

Come back next week to hear more about the Holiday Game Plan. Planting the seed for more income around the holiday season — one more way to make you stand out above the rest and become the BEST!

— Jill