Hello All!!
This is such a cool site! I LOVE the section for "Solo Esty" and all the other extra forums!! I was a fan of visiting your other site "Spa Board" and then read where y'all were starting this one too!!! A girl loves choices!!!! Now, I'm even more addicted to my computer when i get home!!!

I wanted to introduce myself to this board, I never did it on the other one.

I'm a solo esty, that went out on my own from the get go. I know that sounds silly, but it just worked out that way! I took over for a girl who had her own "solo salon" while she was out on maternity leave and when she came back....I was hooked! I prayed about opeining a skin care salon in my little town, and doors just opened and well...people came!!! I've been open in my small town of Alvin, TX for 2 1/2 years and I feel very blessed to be booked out on the average of about 5 to 6 weeks! God is good! It's kinda of a catch 22 though...I love that i'm soooo busy, but I'm pooped and feel awful that i cant give people appts. when they want. I'm starting now, in the last few months, to book my regulars for the rest of the year, so they can get when they want! It's time to go up on my prices, i know that will scale down some of my business....thats scary though!!

I've made the move to have Private Label products!!! Yes....with Preston Inc.!!!!! So now....finally, I am making some money off of retail. It feels GREAT!!!! And i guess more importantly....my clients look great too!!!! We ALL love the products!

OK....enough about me.....

LOVE THE NEW BOARD!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Congratulations on your success! It will be fun and inspiring to hear updates on your growth.

Welcome to the board. Interestingly enough going up on your prices doesn't always mean you lose clients-see Sue's story in the Staff Management section....Best of luck with all your growth. Be sure to let us now how things are progressing for you.

Glad you found us on the new Preston board! We're happy you joined the conversation now, and I'm looking forward to hearing more from you.

You are so lucky, I'm still in school for my esthy license, and I really want to go out on my own too, but I'm so afraid to do so, because so many people tell me it's going to be really hard to bring in your own clients, and it's always better to start out in a spa first, and build your client tel. But I really don't feel like that's what I want to do.

Can you give me some advice?


NaNaLee

Hello and welcome to the board! I congratulate you on your courage for working independently, although I think that being employed by a fine spa or skincare salon is great, too. I did both but happened to succeed as an independent and, later, as a spa operator. And kudos to you for going for a service price that you feel you're worth! I'm forever pushing estheticians past their own comfort limitations and toward the income they truly can have.

As a Preston Private Label client we'll be there to help you with business wisdom and moral support anytime. This is a company of true believers with generous spirits so don't hesitate to call on us when you have an idea, a concern or a drop in energy. It happens to us all! We'll be planning a 2-day Preston Private Label/Yum client educational event in Santa Fe, NM for later this year. We'll announce that as soon as the details are polished. Look for fun, excitement and some very tight career training!

I have just gotten my aesthetician license (as I have posted ad nauseum...lol) and my thought on what I would like to do is, as much as I would like to be "the captain of my own ship," what I intend to do (and have to since it is the law in Massachusetts) is work in a fast-paced, high-end spa or salon for two years (as required by law) working under some experienced aestheticians who can share their experience and knowledge with me...I have a lot of learning still to do and I want to learn from the best I can find. Then after I have accomplished this (in 2 yrs I hope, but however long it takes), I will then see about opening or going out on my own. I want to expand my skills and knowledge before I would work on my own. As confident as I am about my skills so far as an aesthetician, I KNOW I have a lot more to learn and want to do that with the best I can find. I can't wait to start doing that. So if anyone hears of anything, or anyone knows where the best aestheticians are in Massaschusetts is, let me know and I will go there and introduce myself and tell them how much they need me in their employ....lol.

That's just my thought anyway.

Kelly

Hmm - I wonder if you could find someone who would want to sell their business in two years...and mentor you in the meantime?

ValM

I don't know about that ValM....Wouldn't that be just the most perfect situation... But I like the way you think. You never know what is around the next bend or what the new day will bring. I am going to keep my eyes peeled for the perfect situation, that's for sure.

Kelly

Congratulations! It's inspiring to hear such a success story with your business and Preston Private Label products in a little Texas town. Let's me know there is hope for opening in Texas. Please keep us posted.