Share the Love - Purchasing Stuff for Friends and Relatives

Well, we've had those that are pissed at manufacturers who are selling their stuff in Sally Beauty Supply to the general public.  We have had those who are pissed at industry professionals teaching consumers how to use a consumer brand of gel polish.  Now, it seems as though we have those who are pissed because people with a license are purchasing retail for family and friends at cost.

REALLY?  Come on!  With all the things going on in the world, this is what has put the bee in your bonnet?  As I was out shopping, on Black Friday, as I was standing in line, which was snaking through the Health and Beauty Department, I couldn't help notice "Professional" hair products for sale.  I noticed a can of Big Sexy Hair hairspray for $17.95.  In the beauty supply stores we can get that for about $8.95.  It is worth, $8.95.  You have to be on some really good drugs to think that it is worth $17.95.

So, if I, or anyone else, decided to share the love with my family and friends, who cares?  Are we breaking any laws or rules? NO!  A licensed person is purchasing the stuff.  So now we have people who want to tell us what we can and can't do with the supplies that we purchase?  I think not.

I can totally understand, not purchasing color or perms for unlicensed people, but come on, shampoo, conditioner, hair spray, polishes and lotion are not in that category and lets face it the mark up is ridiculous.  Just think, the manufacturer is making a HUGE profit on it from what WE pay them, so once it gets to the consumer, they have been totally raped in the pocketbook.  So, if I want to help out my family and friends, how dare you look down your nose at me or anyone else who does it, even if they have a license and have never practiced before.

If you are losing so much by not being able to retail, I am going to say it again, you need to look at your business plan, because you have some serious problems in your business.  Maybe you bought into one of those classes years ago that pushed you to sell so much retail each month so that you could retire early.  Now that people aren't buying as much retail, you are hurting.  Look at your service menu, add new services, determine how to make money by doing your craft not by being a product salesperson.

It's time to stop pointing the fingers at everyone else, blaming them for our own shortcomings.  Remember, when you point a finger at someone, three other fingers, point right back at YOU!

Who's Afraid of the Big, Bad Do-It-Yourself-er?

Not me.  Come on people!  Are you really so offended by these people, who purchase product and do their own nails?  Really?  Do you really think that those people would even consider walking in your salon door?  If you think they would, if they didn't have access to things like Gelish or Sensationail, well you obviously don't think too much of your own work.

Not everyone is going to be a client of yours.  Some people are cheap and want to do things at home.  Look at the results!  The photo shown, is one that has been passed around the Internet by a lot of people.  It is a DIY'er.  WOW, don't those nails look snazzy!  So, I guess your work looks like this, huh?  Oh, it doesn't?  Then why the hell do you have a wild hair up your ass about all of this?

First everyone got all pissed off because Gelish is being sold in little, itty, bitty bottles with a tiny, battery operated UV light in Sally's.  *GASP*  Never mind that you can find other brands of acrylic and gel by your favorite manufacturers in that store, just under a different name.  I've got to give it to Danny Haile, at least he keeps it honest.  So, very few of the colors are sold, they are little bottles, big deal.  Again, the people buying these products will never be in your chair to begin with.  Calls were made to boycott Harmony Nail and all of their products.

Next we have the big uproar about Vicki Peters and company teaching the general public how to use Sensationail gel polish, by Nailene.  Again, they are teaching those who will never be in your chair how to use a product that may or may not be a professional product in a consumer package, with a consumer label, marketed to the consumer.  Knives were thrown, virtually, at Ms. Peters and her team of educational ambassadors.  Their integrity was questioned and some very nasty things were said PUBLICLY.  

Finally, last week, Jennifer Cherry of Nail Talk Radio, posted this photo of KISS nail wraps that she saw for sale.  It was immediately determined that they look very similar to Dashing Diva's new wraps.  So, what?  Is everyone going to start boycotting Dashing Diva?  Should Patricia Yankee-Williams start watching for the knives to start flying her way, since she is in a pivotal position in that company?

It's time to just shut up, get behind your table and do the best job you can do.  All this bitching and moaning and pointing fingers and boycotting is just ridiculous.  You are all pissed off about product being in the hands of people who will never be your client.  You are pissed that people are teaching those non-clients how to use their products.  You accuse companies and industry professionals of taking money out of your pocket, taking business out of your salon and taking food off your table.

If DIY'ers are hurting your business, them maybe you need to look at your business plan.  Maybe there is another reason why your business has dropped.  Maybe your skills, just aren't up to par.  Maybe you are so stuck in your ways, that you will never consider doing anything new.  I remember all the stubborn, old timers, dissing soak of gel polish when it came out.  Finally, nearly two years later, they jumped on the bus because they saw the business they were losing.  Guess what?  You are two years behind the rest of us who were innovative and took a chance on a new product.  We have now mastered it, and are now taking it to another level, while you are still at square one, trying to master application.

So stop your damn bitching about manufacturers and professionals selling you out.  No one sold you out, you sold YOURSELF out, you just refuse to stay on the cutting edge of what is happening in the nail world.  I could care less about the DIY'ers and if you do, then maybe you need to take a couple of classes because your work is obviously on par with that lovely photo at the top of this post.

--Nancy

The Viciousness Of It All

The nail industry is vicious and it is such a shame.  Technicians will put some up on a pedestal and then when they do something that they don't particularly agree with, they will rip that person to shreds.  Sometimes, it is quite disgusting to watch.

It's almost like they get enjoyment from watching a peer go through a bad situation.  What makes it even worse is when they gang up and really go at someone.  Is that really necessary?  To gang up against someone?

Those of us in the business see the same things as you.  Some of us feel the same way as you.  But there are some of us who choose not to be so vicious, and totally lambaste someone in public.  We choose to pick our battles.  We choose to let the person learn from their mistakes with dignity.

Those who are vicious better hope that when they slip up in life, and we all do, that when their time comes that their gang of merry friends will be there to support them.  My guess is that they will turn on you faster than a dress comes off on prom night.  Past history has proven that.

So, everyone should treat each other with a little kindness and respect.  EVEN if you don't think the person deserves it.  Otherwise, you are nothing but a bully and because of people like you, we have to have a website like this, so that people can say things without others holding it against them, even when it is things that they need to hear.

--Nancy

Attitude is Everything and Yours Sucks

Today, I finally am going to use your wonderful blog to “Say what I really want to say but can’t”  Why can’t I say what I really want to say?  Because the truth hurts and people will have bruised egos and just up and quit on me.  However, these things need to be said.  Who knows, maybe they are readers of this blog and will see this and think, “Hey, I am being a jerk too” and straighten up.

DO YOUR JOB.  It’s that simple.  You were hired to do a job.  Nothing that is required of you are things that I, as your boss/salon owner, would not do and do not do.  Everything I expect of you, I do myself, and then some.  Why must you all be so lazy?

Why must I feel like a parent, reminding a child to do their chores?  You are adults.  You see me doing it, setting the example, why can’t you do it?  I have the answer for you.  You are lazy.

It is very important to keep accurate client record cards, especially when we all do services on the same person from time to time.  Why are you too lazy to pull the client’s card from the file and instead you make a new card.  So, one person has six cards in all different places.  How is this efficient?  You’ve been told over and over to not do this, yet your laziness wins out every time.

Why must you spell the client’s name in the computer or on their card using your “Hooked on Phonics” method?  I mean I know some people spell their names differently, but come on, not every Linda is Lynda,  not every Kylie is kaileigh, not every Molly is Mollee, etc.  People love their name and it is an insult to them when you misspell their name.  How hard is it to say “Is that Carol with a C or K” or “How do you spell your name?”  Over and over again we go through this.  So in our computer, we have one client in there no less than six different ways.  How hard is it to figure out that one of the five already there that is spelled funky is HER and you don’t need to add another entry.

All of this laziness on your part is just creating more work for me and I am personally sick to death of it.  I don’t know what else to do.  I’ve asked over and over again for you to comply.  We are doing our client’s a disservice due to your laziness and lack of focus.

Quit acting like children and do you mother loving job.  I am tired of doing your job for you, however, I have no choice but to do it.  Keep it up, you will burn me out and I will close, then what will you do?  I am betting your next boss will not be as nice.

--Tired of Working With Inconsiderate Assholes

CAUTION: They want your SOUL!

It's that time of year again.  The time, where manufacturers start recruiting educators.  Younger, newer nail tech's, tingle with excitement of the imagined glamorous life of being an educator.  What they really need to do is look around and ask some questions and proceed with caution.

They need to ask why some companies totally turn their backs on the creative people who have helped to make their companies and products what they are today.  Tech's who were so innovative and creative that they set the bar for all others to want to copy and to be like to this day.  But hey, when you have a baby and take some time off, when you come back it's like you are an untalented newbie again.  You've been replaced and with someone who thinks they are now better than you.

Or how about a company who uses a big name tech, to help them develop and fine tune their product.  Once the product is a hit, they throw the person, who is ultimately responsible for the success that they have, to the curb, with no regard to the fact that they have a family to feed.  They are expendable.

See, with a majority of these companies, they will use you and abuse you for everything they can get out of you.  They don't care about you, despite the good show that they put on.  They just want all you have to offer them and I do mean ALL.  Once that has been procured, you will be kicked to the curb with the rest of the "little people" that they have stomped on to become the mega power house that they are today.

So, this is a message to all you new, aspiring educators out there.  We will be here, when you need us, to pick up the pieces.  We will soothe your bruised ego.  We will help you build your self-esteem back up.  We will be here to support you when things end, because they always do and it's never a "good" ending.  We've been through it and no matter how much we warn you or try to make you proceed with caution, you have been bit by the bug that they have set out to you.  You have bought their line.

--Nancy (And all the other veteran educators out there who have been there and done that)

STATE BOARD - You SUCK!

Two months ago, I contacted my state board about a local salon, who was advertising that they were performing services that were beyond the scope of their license.  The complaint was registered and a case file number was assigned.

Through the past two months, I have provided more and more evidence of the salon’s violations.  Photos of signs, advertisements and announcements on Facebook.

Finally, last week I sent two more photos and asked what the hell was up.  Why are they still, two months later illegally doing services that they are not permitted to do and doing them poorly, may I add, to the point that they are destroying people’s hair.

The response I received makes me want to kick a puppy and I love puppies. 

Please be advised that this matter is still under investigation.  Normal processing time is 9-12 months; however, it can take longer depending on the caseload of the investigator and/or the attorney.

REALLY?  Nine to twelve months???  You are kidding, right?  WOW, way to enforce those rules.  I mean do you realize how much damage they can cause in nine months to ONE YEAR??  How much money are they making ILLEGALLY in a years time?

People wonder why things are the way they are and THIS is the reason.  WHY have the government regulate our industry when they really AREN’T regulating it, they are just pretending to.  Pretending, so that they can take money from us in forms of individual and facility license fees.

So hey, the next time you are worried that you “may” be doing something inappropriate, just go on ahead and do it.  No one cares.  By the time that they get around to caring, a year has passed and that trend or fad has already passed.  Most of us with professionalism and integrity won’t do that, but you bet your sweet ass others will.

--Nancy

Follower Friday - Reader Submissions 9

If I had it to do all over again, I would never open a salon.  I would just work for someone else and do my clients and go home.

Some days I really want to go in and say "I quit!", but then remember that I own the place.

Dear client – if you are going to Facebook  me for an appointment the same day, YOU NEED TO CHECK for a reply from me!!!   How many times have I responded to such a request within the hour, many times within minutes, to let you know available times, only to never hear back from you!  Or to hear back after that space in my book is long gone.  Or after I’ve closed for the day.  And no, I can’t magically make time appear again.  If it’s that important that you need to get in ASAP then it’s important enough to pick up the phone and call me.    I don’t care if your Blackberry doesn’t show you the Facebook messages.  YOU initiated the contact via Facebook, so YOU need to check for a reply.


Some people really are full of themselves, especially on Facebook.  Are you really that fabulous or do you just THINK you are.


When YOU don't do YOUR job, you create more work for OTHERS.  Do your job.  Everyone else is!


This is a salon, not a snack bar.


Thank you so much for putting back an EMPTY pot of gel.  It's like going to the refrigerator and seeing an empty milk carton.  How can we order it if we don't know you used the last of it?


It joys me so that I have to stop working on a client to wait on another client that came in the door while you sit there and surf the net in the other room.