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Hi Heather,

I am a solo esthetician that moved into a new city and started with no clients.

Now, I have 10 clients.  Not nearly enough to keep me busy.  As we are approaching the holiday season, is it prudent to offer gift cards?  (I am an esthetician in a beauty supply store with three hair stations.  I am not in a fancy day spa.)

Also, I have a very strong retail sales ability but the traffic in my place is slow.  Should I even buy some small gift sets for my clients to buy?

The owner has no problem with me selling anything as long as he and I are not selling the same items.

What is your input?

Thank you,

Christy

Thanks for your questions Christy.  My quick answer to your first question of offering gift cards or certificates is: yes, absolutely!  Gift certificates allow your clients -- or the clients who get their hair done at the store -- to purchase your services as a gift to another. It is an easy incentive to offer a bonus with the purchase of a gift certificate.  Some ideas include a second $10 off certificate with the purchase of a $100 or a free product to be given with the certificate.   [If you already have gift certificates, then no -- adding plastic gift cards are not needed in my opinion.  Keep it simple with paper certificates for you.]  Be sure to post a small flyer at each of the hair stations and the check out area about the gift certificates. 

In terms of gift items in a low traffic location, I would advise you to not purchase anything that does not directly relate to your services.  Any retail inventory should be something you can demonstrate, educate and talk about in your session. This includes retail sizes -- or sample sizes that you sell -- of the skincare products you actively use with your clients.  Leave holiday gift items -- and the risk that comes with the possibility that they will not move -- to your beauty store owner.

And now for some unsolicited advice...your ability to market your business as a stand alone business will be very important to increase your number of clients.  Things like having your own website and reaching out to businesses beyond the beauty store are needed to add to what ever the beauty store owner is (or isn't) doing to market and advertise.  I have linked a few related articles below that can provide some more information that I hope help you get your business off the ground.  

Best of luck!

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• Must-Do Marketing for Solos
• Do you really need to advertise to bring in new business?
• Postcard marketing made easy
• Trade for mutual marketing

Comments

[Permanent Makeup Texas]

Heather's advice is proven and tested. It would also do you good if you experimented with new untapped makeup techniques