It’s not easy, but it can be done. I always try to buy either from the manufacturer, a nail company, or a large distributor. By buying at these places, I obtain the most-used materials in my salon – acrylic, monomer, cotton, non-acetone, pure acetone, files, buffers, etc. – at a good price, keeping my operating costs down. A great place to find good deals is at a beauty show, but I cannot always attend. Another way I keep operating costs down is by not wasting any materials.
Leticia Gonzalez
Letty’s Unas y Algo Mas… (Lares, Puerto Rico)
We try to be as cost effective as possible. Some of the many things we do to save money include buying in bulk, as well as purchasing products from hair and nail shows. Instead of tossing out the peanut-shaped foam pieces that are used in boxes, we use them as toe separators. We also use old files to de-sharpen new ones. I personally use old orangewood sticks as props for my nail art. I glue the tips on the sticks and place them in a foam board so my clients can see the various styles I offer.
Tina Daubenspeck
Sanibel Beauty Salon (Sanibel, Fla.)
Since I work out of my home, I don’t have to worry about paying overhead, and that also cuts down on utility costs. I work by myself, so I don’t purchase a lot of supplies. That means I can really splurge on the products I do buy, which is certainly a plus when it comes to my clients. They really notice the little extras.
Carol Beauchesne
Body Comforts (Southwick, Mass.)
I have four children and a household to maintain, so I usually recycle acrylic product containers. The can usually be used to store nail art supplies. I also use empty tip containers to hold the rhinestones I use for my nail art. When working on clients, I use a sable brush instead of cotton to clean and disinfect their nails. Not only do I use less disinfectant, I also spend less money on cotton balls.
Annette Golz
Nails By Annette (Montgomery, Ill.)
A good way to cut down on costs is by buying items at shows. They usually have very good deals, and it’s a good way to try new products. Also, I offer clients soda, and I always try to recycle the cans.
Jessi Stalder
Sun Tannery (Lincoln, Neb.)
Besides making sure the salon is spotless every day, we do your own heavy cleaning once a week. We vacuum, dust, mop, and clean everything, including our sinks and filters. We also do our own laundry (the salon has a washing machine and dryer) and we answer the phone. In terms of products, we purchase from several distributors, and a few of them give us discounts.
Cynthia Albin
Wendy’s Beauty Connection (Ilion, N.Y.)