September 25 was the open house for our grand opening. This is an event I couldn’t have pulled off without the help of a couple of friends from another business networking group I'm involved in, Coffee & Contacts Clayton Chapter. These ladies pulled through for me in a huge way (yet another example of the wonderful benefits of being involved with good business networking groups). They took care of all of the food and helped me get set up.

I was booked solid all day with clients right up to the time of the event. I was baking the cake for the event but I ran into major hiccups. It was going to be the signature chocolate mocha ganache cake from a dessert cafe that my son and I used to own. The cake is just to die for. But the oven at home died on me, so then I tried a convection oven but it didn't fit the cake pans I needed to use, so I had to use smaller pans, and at the end, I ended up over baking and drying out the cake. So I resorted to a grocery-store cake. We had door prize donations from several businesses that are in the two networking groups I'm in. And one of my clients showed up unexpectedly with two more door prizes to add to the table, as well as bringing gifts to Lucy and me. Attendance at our open house was good. I'm not sure exactly how many people came and went throughout the day because not all of them entered their names for the drawings. But we had not only regular clients, but also new faces that heard about us from the Harvest Festival, plus the support from many of the businesses we network with. The food was great, everyone enjoyed themselves, and we are looking forward to the next open house.

Here are some of the lessons I’ve learned from my first few weeks of being open:

1. Sometimes things don't go as planned, but just go with the flow and it will all work out.

2. Stay involved with business networking groups as they are invaluable resources.

3. Have at least double the amount of towels on hand than you think you will need for services.

4. Space events out a little more than a week apart (particularly when they are large events).

5. Set up the booth at the next festival so that I can talk to people both from the front and the rear of the booth (people walk up and down both sides of the streets).

6. Wear sunscreen on my feet when wearing open-toed shoes during an outdoor festival.

7. Just pay someone to do the cakes for events instead of trying to make them myself.

One of the most amazing things I see happening at Tickled Pink is the remarkable sense of comfort our clients have when visiting our salon. Many of them have been coming in just to visit. Or they stay long after their appointment has ended just visiting with each other. I noticed several of them exchanging contact information and sitting on the couch in the waiting room chatting. And there are clients who didn't know each other outside of the salon who are now requesting to have their appointments on the same day so they can visit with each other. We keep the lights dim, have complimentary beverages (tea, coffee, and water), music in the background, and a warm and cozy waiting area. Tickled Pink is becoming a comfortable, safe, and warm environment for women to come to get away from the stresses of everyday life. They are meeting new people each time they visit and are becoming more and more like family every time they come in. And I am proud to be able to provide all of this for the women in my community. 

—Melodie, Tickled Pink Salon & Nail Spa, Clayton, N.C.