Anyone have ideas on how gain clients?

[happy in love]

I am a hairstylist and am definately feeling the crunch of the economy! Many of my frequent clients have been coloring their hair closer to their natural color as to not spend as much $$ on the upkeep, and many have been stretching their appointments out an extra couple of weeks. This has finally made for really big gaps in my schedule, meaning lots of money lost! I am currently trying to talk the owners into letting me go part time which will save me 50% of my booth rent, and I''d only be working 1 less day a week.

While I completely understand the need for my clients to cut back spending, I need to do something to raise my income.
Bottom line is I need more clients.

I am hoping that some of you might be able to share some ideas with me as to how to make this happen.
Thanks so much!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Is it unethical to dye clients hair outside of the workplace? You''re renting a booth so isn''t that different for being a standard employee for a salon?

I wouldn''t know the details of that, but would think you''d make more by doing it "on the side."

Hopefully nobody flames me for that suggestion.

FWIW, I''ve started dying my hair at home and am saving nearly $80, since the cost w/tip was nearly $110 or more! It''s a pain doing it at home, though, and I''d probably still go to a stylist IF I could pay half that amount, but my DH is changing to a lower paying job and I''d rather spend the remaining money on clothes or FOOD!

 

[gailrmv]

You probably already do this, but how about word of mouth advertising - tell your clients that if they are happy, could they please tell their friends. Maybe offer coupons if you are allowed - 20% off for a new client, or refer a friend and each gets $10 or whatever off their next appointment...

Maybe take on a second unrelated job if it would help - like temp work with an agency for part time hours or something...

so sorry to hear it, the economy is hurting nearly everyone.

 

[VegasAngel]

Advertise on craigslist.


My stylist told me that she picks up a lot of clients if she goes in to Sally's for example. She will see someone asking the cashier for help picking colors-They usually dont know anything- she helps the person & takes it from there.

Do you have a myspace page set up to showcase your work? You can always network via MS.

I would probably offer some type of discount if they do cut & color or maybe advertise a free treatment like a glaze/glossing with a service.

 

[happy in love]

Thanks for the ideas. I appreciate your help

 

[miraclesrule]

This is so interesting, because it has actually cost me more $$ to go back to my natural color than it did when I was highlighting. I just told my hair stylist that he better make sure he mixes some permanent color in or I was going to have to cheat on him for the first time in 15 years!!

I used to be able to go months and months without my highlights, but now I have to go all the time due to color fading. grrrrrrrr.......

I don''t have any answers for you because I know a lot of my friends have swapped to doing it themselves hair color as a result. Personally, I would charge less and get more frequency than charging more and having less to do.

They may or may not work for you, but I hope that you find something. Worrying about your income is certainly no picnic.

 

[HeadOverHeels4James]

Happyinlove~ I totally understand!!! I''m an esthetician and I''ve had to cut back on my hours.. I only work 2 days a week now, and work a full-time job. The thing I''ve tried to do with my clients is up-sell while they are there, but offer it like 50%off! So lets say your doing a partial highlight, say I can do a haircut today also..they will say..no I don''t really have money for it today...say well I''ll do it for 50% off today. I don''t know it really sucks... my job got hit HARD!!!!

Ugh~

 

[happy in love]

Thanks again for all the suggestions, I have taken the first step and put an add on craigslist to find another stylist to split my station with. Hopefully someone will workout!
I''ve also started reminding all the clients I see to send me their friends so they can earn their free cut...

I tend to go through these "stress outs" every few months when I realize that if I only had "x" more clients each month, we could go here... buy this... pay off that... It is an easy enough concept, but getting the clients in the chair takes some work and/or $$. Thats the good and bad of such a flexible job though, there''s lots of freedom, but not always lots of stability.

Thanks for helping me through my latest struggle