Posts by Guest Writer
How to make the most of seasonal events in the salon
Thanh Vu, managing director of four Dream Nails salons, reveals how and why you should make the most of seasonal events in the calendar… I thoroughly enjoy writing for Scratch as it gives me time to sit and reflect on Dream Nails as a business and helps carve out a clear methodology for future events. Our…
Read MoreThinking of renting a space in a salon? Here’s some advice…
Kara Kotsonis, owner of the award-winning NailSquad salon in Deal, Kent, shares her top tips for those thinking of renting a space inside a salon… A self-employed position within a salon usually involves renting a space, desk or room for a fixed rent or commission split. However, its not uncommon for business owners to offer…
Read MoreCoronavirus: How the habits of nail clients have changed since reopening
Thanh Vu, managing director of four Dream Nails salons, serves up insight on client habits since reopening… Since nail salons were allowed to reopen on 13 July following the coronavirus outbreak, I have seen a number of changes in client behaviour and demands at Dream Nails salons. Across all four salons, we have been surprised at…
Read MoreHelen Burton-Ward on how to increase client spend
Scratch Stars Natural Nail Specialist of the Year 2019 and CND education ambassador, Helen Burton-Ward, shares her advice on how to increase client spend through add-on services & treatments… One area that I am currently focusing on in my business is average client spend. A great way to maximise your profit is cross-selling (and it doesn’t have…
Read MoreNeed to spruce up your nail salon? Here’s some design tips…
Thanh Vu, managing director of four Dream Nails salons, reveals her top tips for salon styling and how to keep design fluid across more than one premises… Salon design is one of the areas of my job that I enjoy most. It has been incredibly satisfying to see my vision turn to reality across four…
Read MoreCaught short this month? Here’s how to monitor your business cash flow…
Beauty industry accounts expert & qualified nail tech, Ria-Jaine Lincoln, shares her advice for maintaining good cash flow so you to prevent business losses… The key to budgeting and control is good cash flow, and I want to share a guide to this using an example Excel spreadsheet. It does take time to get this…
Read MoreTruro educator shares success stories of former nail students
Sarah Brenton-Sara, lecturer in Level 2 & 3 Nail Services & Beauty Therapy at Truro & Penwith College, shares how she supports her present and past nail students in the quest for a great career in the industry… My role as tutor, lecturer and assessor does not stop at the end of the day, or when the learners…
Read More#TeamTalk: Get to know the Dream Nails team – part 2
Discover who’s behind the handiwork at the Dream Nails chain of salons with an insight into its staff members… Lisa Le – Manager, Dream Nails Royal Wharf How did you get into nails? My interest started when I was in secondary school. I always came to school with the long acrylic enhancements with crazy airbrush designs (even…
Read MoreWhy & how you should remove fumes & dust from the nail space
The team at extraction specialist company, Vodex, reveals why it’s imperative to remove fumes & dust from your workspace – and what the consequences are if you don’t… If you work with nails, you will have experienced fumes and mess from filing and enhancement products. If you don’t wipe surfaces at the end of a…
Read More4 tips for safely maintaining your PPE
With salons operating under strict Covid-19 guidelines, its important to pay attention to the condition of your protective equipment. Kelly Friel, from PPE experts Zoro, shares four tips for ensuring yours is fit for purpose and properly maintained. In July, the UK finally saw the reopening of many beauty salons for certain services, including those…
Read More#TeamTalk: Get to know the Dream Nails team – part 1
Discover who’s behind the handiwork at the Dream Nails chain of salons with an insight into its staff members… Roseline – Dream Nails Loughton How did you get into nails? By accident. My aunt opened her nail salon in Roman road and I started as a Saturday girl. How long have you been with Dream…
Read MoreSalon Chat: How to overcome the pressures of social media
Salon Chat hosts, Kelly Colley of Lavish Nails and Isabel Porter of The Beauty Garage, share their thoughts on the nail sector… I’m typing this out on a bank holiday Monday morning having already posted by ‘mandatory’ Instagram post. Mandatory I say because, without it, my posts won’t be seen, no one will interact with me and all…
Read MoreWhy stepping out of your comfort zone can welcome rewards in the beauty biz
Kara Kotsonis, founder of the award-winning NailSquad Nail Bar in Deal, Kent, reveals why you should step out of your comfort zone in order to reap greater rewards… Habits can play a role in determining our future and achievements. So why do we often cling onto the ones that proffer little to no benefit at…
Read MoreSalon Chat: The power of the nail community
Salon Chat hosts, Kelly Colley of Lavish Nails and Isabel Porter of The Beauty Garage, share their thoughts on the nail sector… “It was incredible to see how the nail tech community evolved and supported each other over the lockdown period. When we started Salon Chat, our live discussion, we were all individual techs (some salon…
Read MoreNail art: How to perfect animal portraits on nails
Scratch puts the spotlight on the esteemed educators at Beauty2trs, the online platform for nail classes… THIS MONTH: Beauty2Trs adds exciting new course to it repertoire with animal portrait painting by Australia’s Viv Clements-Simmonds Viv Clements-Simmonds has taken her passion for animals and depicted into art on the nail. During this class, Viv teaches how to create…
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