FOREVERTAN

HI GUYS. I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU? WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU HAVE A CLIENT WHO LETS SAY WANTS TO BUY A LOTION AT YOUR SALON AND YOU PRICED THE LOTION AT $37.00 DOLLARS AND THE CLIENT STATES THEY CAN GET THE LOTION ON LINE FOR LESS (MORE LIKE 30 BUCKS) WHAT DO YOU DO?? ANY SUGGESTIONS. PS I'M NOT YELLING I'M JUST USED TO TYPING IN CAPS. ITS A GRAMATTICAL THING WITH ME-HE HE

Bronze Star

Feeling a little self concious these days about yelling?Well, I know in my experience (which is limited to being a client at this point) when a product is offered less expensive somewhere else... there might be a problem. Perhaps it's "hot" merchandise or even last year's formula. Depending on which product it is, there might be a label change.I would suggest to my client that they be aware that they could be purchasing an old product. Be careful not to step on any toes... maybe their just sleeping with their distributor. Might mention that too... will get a laugh.Laurie

Tan-U-Too

Good luck with returns also.

FOREVERTAN

all sales are final. that is why i sell little cups of this lotion, and packets so the cutomer knows how the lotion works before they buy a bottle of it!! so far no one has given me a straight answer on how to handle the situation of a customer who can get a better deal on lotion online. i would appreciate any advice.

Bronze Star

Even though we haven't opened yet, one of the things we're planning on doing is NOT allowing any outside lotions in our salon. We are going to buy stickers with the salon name and logo on and place them in a prominent place on all lotions. The stickers won't be the kind that can easily be peeled off and placed on another product. If someone attempts to bring something else in, we'll simply remind them politely that only products purchased onsite can be used here.Though I'm anticipating this will initially ruffle some feathers... I'm going to stick by this policy for several reasons. One is, beds and acrylics cost money and I don't want inferior products damaging my equipment. I also don't want to be responsible for the results of a product I have not approved in my salon. Ballsy, I know... but I am a firm believer in CYA.I hope this was helpful.Laurie

FOREVERTAN

thanks laurie this was helpful. that is a very good policy to abide by. i wish you the best of luck with your salon, and if i can help in any way, even though i too am new to the business, please let me know. finally a straight answer!!!! about time

Gene

You can make the statement about not accepting outside lotions but it's impossible to inforce unless clinets wave the offending lotion in your face. What are you going to do, search pocketbooks or dufflebags? There is little you can do about on-line sales. Is it fair to your other clients if you match a price for one customer? Many times a csutomer buys ONE LOTIONS A YEAR on-line and stretches it out so how are you going to match that? (BTW, you can get it cheaper on-line than the above post suggests.) This is another pursuasive argument for private labling your lotions. That's what I did. No, it doesn't stop some of my clients from buying on-line or from the beauty supply houses, but it doesn't raise my blood pressure as much now when they do. I sell DIFFERENT products, you see.

JeffinKC

Private label is the only answer. I don't agree with not allowing other lotion to be used in your salon unless it is an outdoor lotion it will not harm your beds or acrylics and even then probably not harm them much. I allways offer to match other prices and special order any product at anytime $5-$10 prifit on a bottle is better than none. However if you go with a quality private label product in good packaging you can get em hooked. Then its up to you to make the profit you want. Stop letting manufacturers and distributers control what you make. They don't seem to understand we made them and we can break them.

Bronze Star

I had never even considered private labeling, so no need to flame me right from the start... I'd love to know more about it. As far searching bags, actually because of the type of area NJ is known to be, we were going to have our clients use clear bags and duffles if they wanted to bring anything into the salon. This is also a theft deterrant and to protect ourselves against robbery. I know that sounds peculiar, but a lot of industries in the area that people typically bring bags too use the "clear bag" policy. Most people are willing to accept that when you explain it's for their protection as well.Laurie

Sunboy

Laurie,Really, as a client I would choose to go somewhere that doesn't tell me what I can bring in and/or what type of bag I may bring it in to. Your not the UN, you're a tanning salon and that policy will ruffle more than a few feathers and that's something you don't want to do especially in the begining. Besides, you can still get around the clear bag by applying the lotion prior to arrival at your salon.As long as the lotion is for indoor beds let them use it. They're bound to run out and you can switch them onto one of your products. Concentrate on a strong brand or private label line and be consistant with whatever you pick. Some salons switch brands so frequently it becomes confusing to your client base as to what lotion you really stand behind.Just my two cents of course. Good luck with the opening.