It's Show Season!!

I've been a little MIA for awhile.  Truth is, I've been working by behind off so that I can take some time off to attend one of the largest beauty shows of the year.  Actually, it is the kick off to show season.  Yes, that's right, I am going to be at ISSE Long Beach!

Actually, I am already here.  I arrived Thursday evening so that I could attend a class before the show.  The show begins at 1:00 today and continues through Monday.

I've already started compiling a list for a "Thing's I've always wanted to say at a Beauty Show".  I am sure those of you, who attend big shows will totally relate to most of them.

If you are going to be at the ISSE Long Beach show.  Look for me!  MEOW!!!

--Nancy

Follower Friday - Reader Submissions 11

Newborns do not need an appointment for a mani/pedi.  EVER.

Why must smokers litter our parking lot with their cigarette butts?  Why can't they use the container, provided to them for that purpose?

Sticking your fingers, into your mouth, right before I put gel on them contaminates them.  Do you really think that it's a good idea to do that?

I am sick and tired of people calling at the last minute to say that they can't come to their appointment.  Did they just find out about the scheduling conflict?  I don't think so.  People are rude.

Just Sayin' - Every time you use that phrase, I want to hit you.  In the head.  With a 2 x 4.  Just Sayin' ;o)

Passive aggressive people, especially on Facebook, piss me off.  You really got some Cyber Balls.  I bet you are a coward in real life.

Pay your rent on time, pay your rent on time, pay your rent on time.  PLEASE.  I have bills too!

People need to concern themselves with their own life and their own businesses and stay out of others lives and businesses.  If they put as much energy into their business as they do in meddling, they would have a salon that didn't warrant worrying what others are doing.

I really hope you don't get a lot of these everyday cause I need help :)! I am a newly licensed nail tech. I do acrylics but I want to master nails!  I want to learn gel, and shellac.  Where can I get info (besides you tube) that do tutorials, nail shows or classes, or ways to help me build clientele ( I currently am doing booth rental  and it is killing me) I don't have any clientele yet except the people I work with! Do you know of any classes near Norfolk, VA.   Sincerely,  Confused  Newbie!!

My Honest Feedback

I recieved an email from a reader:

"Are you going to post any honest updates about the Lomasi Gel Line? I don't "want" to feel like I have to call Habib and I don't appreciate the secrecy around things...but my curiosity is killin' me! Sigh."

It seems as though Young Nails way to handle this is for you to call and talk directly to the CEO, Habib.  They will not be issuing a statement, they will not be answering the numerous questions on their Facebook Page and it seems they are not answering emails about this, just asking people to "Call Habib"

It is obvious that a great majority do NOT want to "Call Habib".  They want their questions answered and addressed without having to sit down, call someone and be told he's on another call and then wait for a return call.  Props to the guy, though, to be able to sit and talk to his customers, all day long.  It has to be exhausting, especially considering the subject.

So, I took a closer look at the whole thing, as requested.  I am still not upset about this.  DIY'ers don't concern me.  I think I agree with the statement above that the whole secrecy thing is annoying.  

BUT there is only one thing that kind of ticks me off.  The names.  Why do we, the professionals, get such stupid, generic names like Green 101 and Blue 101 and the consumer gets LANDSCAPE and ISPIRE for the exact same colors.   THAT is what ticks me off about the whole thing!

So, if you still have concerns about Young Nails selling a soak off gel polish kit to the general public, under the name Lomasi Mani Pedi, then give Habib a call at 1-800-777-9170.  Please be sure to let us know what you think of his response.


--Nancy

Friends and Family

For me, friends and family, who are clients, seem to be my most challenging ones.  They don't listen to my rules, they don't take care of their nails and they don't care if I lecture them.  Why do I put up with them?  Because I love them!  However, there are a few things I would LOVE to say to them, but, obviously, I can't, so I will now.  Here.

Mother.  I love you, I know you gave birth to me after 26 hours of labor, but for the love of all things good, can you please wash your hands, without being told, before you sit down.  Please wash them right the first time, removing all the cookie dough, bread dough, hamburger and whatever the hell you were cooking or baking, before you came into the salon, that is under your nails.

I would like to continue to work for may more years, so please do not look at your nails while I am working on them.  You are putting constant pressure in an upward motion, causing me to put constant pressure in a downward motion.  This results in me having numb hands after we are finished.

It's been 18 years .  Do not try to pay.  I won't take your money.  You are the ONLY person who is given this luxury.  Enjoy it.

Sister.  Please be on time.  When you are late, you put me behind all day long and it stresses me out.  It's not like you have a job or anything.  There is no reason for you to be late.  Your Starbucks run can wait until after your appointment.  Since you are already late, you should know exactly what you want when you sit down.  I am going to start telling you your appointment is 30 minutes before it actually is and then I think we will both be in sync.

Best Friend Barb.  I love you, but you have to stop firing up all the other techs, and their clients, in the salon with your topics.  By the time you leave, everyone is all pissed off at their husbands.  We are angry and ready to go home and castrate them with our stiletto nails.  That is my only complaint about you.

The above things, are things I would never tolerate from clients.  I guess these three get away with these things because they are family and friends and I love them.  What things do your family and friends, who are clients, do to annoy the ever living crap out of you?

--Nancy

Another Sellout?

So, it looks like all you bitchers and moaners out there that hate the manufacturers that cater to the DIY'rs can add Young Nails to your boycott list.  I, still, don't care.  DIY doesn't affect me at all.
http://www.lomasigel.com

--Nancy

Under Appreciated

Reader Submission


So I been thinking for awhile to raise my prices, I'm very inexpensive for the work that I do.


I love what I do but at the end of the day I feel overworked and under appreciated because the creativity I put out. I decided that this year I get my own place as well, so 2 weeks ago I posted a heads up I'm raising my prices by $5. Today I worked on my price list and posted it, honestly I still feel like I'm not charging enough, I cant get it through my head that I'm under cutting myself, for some reason I feel bad to charge more than I am, I know stupid on my part.


Anyway I had a client text me asking if that means her price is going up too. WOW! I didn't know how to respond especially since shes one of the reasons my prices are going up and her price is the same as everyone elses so I don't get what she meant by that. I'm a little offended she'd even ask me that. I finally text-ed her back and said "well it means everybody s price is going up"...


--Under Appreciated 

New Year's Resolutions

Readers have submitted their resolutions for 2012!

• I am going to set my schedule and STICK to it, no more adding hours and days.
• I would like to become a better nail technician and find a job!!
• I don't usually set resolutions, but my plan this year is to take (at minimum) two more CND classes, and attend at least one networking event.
• Take some CND classes hopefully 2 or 3), set and stick to a schedule, expand my art abilities, be completely booked solid at least 2 days a week-every week.  I just started this August and am still building my clients.....Christmas season rush has been awesome, tho! Booked solid every day Tuesday thru Saturday, and now that I know what it feels like I want it every day!  OH! And set up a blog with my nail art stuff to link up with Pinterest!
• I am working on rebuilding my clientele after taking a few years off.
• I'm REALLY going to build my new desk this year... really.
• I am going to take charge of my employees and hold them accountable for not following salon rules and procedures, especially paying their booth rent on time.
• I am going to implement a Cancellation/NO-Show Policy and enforce it.  Strictly.
• I am going to raise my prices.  First time in seven years!
• I am going to bring in two new services to the salon before summer.
• A cleaning schedule!  A different room will be on schedule each week so that once a month each room gets a total overhaul and in the off weeks just the normal weekly cleaning.
• We WILL get our client records in order this year!
• I want to get rid of my paper appointment book.  I want to go all online and utilize a mobile phone and laptop and online booking.  I'm scared!!
• I WILL go to Premier Orlando this year!
• Enter a competition and finish on time.
• Start using an efile.  My shoulder can't take hand filing much longer.
• I want to not only learn gels this year, I want to master them.  Better yet, I will conquer them!
• Clutter be gone.