Client retention and the hardest thing about being a business owner...

Whitney Love

WHITNEY’S LOVE NAIL & BEAUTY BAR
AURORA, IL
INSTAGRAM -@WHITNEYSLOVE

Whitney Fell in love with nails when she was 10 years old. By the time she was 13 she knew she wanted to pursue a career in Nails. She was so passionate that when in high school she would set up shop in one of the empty classrooms and would take clients right after school. She has been in the nail industry for almost 25 years. With a total of 10 talented artists on her team. For the past 3 years they have been consecutively voted best in their city.

As always, we hope this interview will motivate you, inspire you, and encourage you, to continue to share your love and passion for the beauty industry. To learn more about her journey in the industry check out Whitney’s IG and show her some love

1. WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 THINGS STYLIST/OWNERS NEED TO FOCUS ON IN ORDER TO BUILD A SUCCESSFUL SALON BUSINESS, EITHER AS AN OWNER OR STYLIST?

The top 3 things a salon owner should focus on to build a successful salon business is leadership. You must be able to lead your team and manage systems. Great software that will allow your business to grow effectively. And Continued Education. It's so important to stay up to date. The more you know, the more you grow.

2. HOW DO YOU KNOW IT’S THE RIGHT TIME TO VENTURE OUT ON YOUR OWN? WHAT SHOULD STYLISTS HAVE IN PLACE FIRST BEFORE GOING INTO A SUITE, RENTING A CHAIR, OR OPENING THEIR OWN SALON?

It may be time for you to venture out on your own when your current setup or location no longer serves your future aspirations or goals. Before venturing out on your own. You must have in place a set clientele. Recurring appointments are ideal. Look into what your operating cost and city regulations are. And last but not least, make sure your finances are in order. Make sure you are making a profit. And you can see what is going in and coming out.

3. WHAT HAS BEEN THE HARDEST PART OF BEING IN BUSINESS FOR YOURSELF AND WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO WORK THROUGH IT?

One of the hardest parts of being in business for myself is balancing business life and home life. This has been a huge struggle for me in the past years because I absolutely love what I do. I love going to work. In fact, it doesn't even feel like work. But I had to learn the hard way. That I need to separate the two. What I have done to work through this is having a set schedule. I allow myself a certain amount of time that is designated just for working. I make it a priority to not work outside of those set hours. I also make it a priority to set time aside to vacation and practice self-care.

4.  WHAT WOULD YOU TELL STYLISTS THAT ARE FEELING LIKE THEY WANT TO GIVE UP? TELL ME ABOUT A MOMENT YOU FELT LIKE GIVING UP AND WHAT DID YOU DO TO PUSH THROUGH?

When you feel like you want to give up, remember that success is just on the opposite side of fear. Almost three years ago, when I was expanding into my new location, I wanted to give up. I wanted to just wash my hands and cut my losses. I felt like my back was against the wall. Everything that could possibly go wrong went wrong, and then I was hit with a huge, unexpected expense. I just knew it was going to Take Me Out! What pushed me through is realizing and coming to grips with the fact that what I was trying to create was bigger than me. What I'm trying to do is change the culture of my industry. I had to believe in myself and stand in my purpose. I had to realize that I was creating the blueprint for my future & and generations to come. I had to keep striving.

5. WE ALL KNOW CLIENT RETENTION IS A KEY DRIVER IN BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL SALON. HOW DO YOU KEEP YOUR GUESTS COMING BACK? WHAT DO YOU OFFER THAT IS UNIQUE AND SPECIAL? WHAT DO YOU DO TO CREATE LOYALTY BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR CLIENTS?

We keep our guests coming back because we are very personable with our clients. They connect with us, and we connect with them. Our clients get to know us as individuals. Our clients are happy to spend their money with us because they see where their money goes. Whether it's a brand-new color collection. A client appreciation event. Or even educational workshops. We build lifelong connections with our clients. In addition, we offer loyalty points, priority booking, Birthday Celebrations and Giveaways.

5. AS A NAIL SALON OWNER WHAT ARE SOME THINGS YOU DO TO STAND OUT? HOW ARE YOU UNIQUE AMONGST YOUR COMPETITORS?

I'd definitely have to say our Vibe is what makes us unique. We have created a Happy Place for people to unwind while being serviced. As soon as you walk in you can feel our energy. We got the music bumping, incense burning, and conversions are flowing. We stay up to date on all the latest nail art and trends. When clients come in, they know that they can go with any artist and still receive that same consistency of quality work that they have grown accustomed to. We often host events catered to our clients to show our appreciation of their support. In addition to that we give our clients loyalty points to use towards services. All of these things make us unique to stand out against competitors.

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