By Kristi Valenzuela, Crystal Focus

Are you a starving artist or a successful nail technician? There is a big difference between learning how to do nails and making a very good living at it. I’m Kristi Valenzuela of Crystal Focus Coaching and I will be your success coach! I am excited to be part of the NAILS Magazine Coaching Chronicles, and will be presenting my first “blog series,” which will help serious nail technicians understand the business behind the nail table. In the coming months, I’ll be showing you how you overcome the top 10 nail tech business challenges.

Challenge #1: Don’t Just Sit There, Do Something!

If you are like most salon professionals (even myself when I first began my journey as a service provider years ago), you don’t have a plan to “get up and grow” your business. Most of us begin by finding a salon, getting the job, then sitting at our station waiting to be blessed by walk-ins or for people to somehow find us. Well my friends, I am here to tell you the only way for your business to grow is if you fertilize it!

Here are three steps to begin building your nail business:

1. Decide what you do best, and what you love doing. Is it natural nail manicures, pedicures, acrylic nail enhancements, nail art, gels? Stop trying to be something for everyone and be a specialist in what you love to do most. This doesn’t mean you have to stop performing all the services on your menu, it just means FOCUS.

2. Create a 30-second elevator speech and use it. After you have discovered your specialty, learn how to tell people about yourself! Let me give you an example: Someone asks you, “What do you do for a living?” Your answer: “You know how sometimes when you do your summer pedicures yourself, your nail polish may chip sooner than you like? I specialize in creating perfectly polished toes, and am best known for my relaxing spa pedicures. I work at Salon XYZ located [_________]. I would love to have the opportunity to pamper you for an hour. Can I give you my card?”

3. Put yourself on special. Whether you are on commission or a booth renter, an empty chair means no money! Create a special. This could be a monthly special or a featured service. It could be a gift with purchase or a service bonus such as nail art on one toe or a free a paraffin dip or elbow exfoliation.