First you need to determine who your customers are. A lot of my clients are working women who prefer to coming in to the salon on their way home from work. I keep three evenings open for appointments. I suggest salons that are considering extending their hours keep at least one night open for starters.-Melinda Borrego, Mindyfingers, Granby, Conn.
Extending your hours really depends on the location of your salon — whether you live in a big city that stays up all night or in a small town where businesses close early. Also, if you provide daycare in your salon, like I do, it may cost you more to have someone there in the evenings. You need to consider that.-Sandy Norris, Sandy’s Nails, Kernersville, N.C.
I don’t advertise set hours because I don’t want clients to think they can’t get an appointment after a certain time. I do offer extended hours by appointment only. If you extend your hours make sure you have enough nail technicians available.-Cindy Blair, Cindy Blair Salon and Barbershop, San Manuel, Ariz.
When our primary technician found that she was working overtime and booked solid every Wednesday and Thursday evening until 9 p.m., we knew we had to do something. So we hired another full-time technician who also covers Mondays and two weeknights, doubling our small salon’s appointment availability. This conservative approach, as well as advertising our extended hours, seems to be working out just fine.-Inga Carmack, WeDu Nails, Seattle, Wash.
You need to work around clients’ schedules, and that may require extending your hours. Many of my clients are working-class people and to accommodate them I work two to three evenings a week. A lot of clients prefer to come in to the salon on a weeknight rather than taking up a Saturday.-Shirlene Barchus, For Ever Nails, Tempo, Ariz.
You need to adjust your availability to the trend in the marketplace. If I’m doing a lot of full sets and fills, I need to schedule more time than if I’m doing natural nail manicures. The time of year is also a factor when extending your hours. Holidays are especially busy.-Denise Boger, Beyond Nails, Florence, Mass.