Esthetics: A Great Career for Mothers

    

               Esthetics is a great career if you are passionate about skin care and products. It can pay well too depending on your employment circumstances, and most importantly to many mothers is the flexibility. It is so flexible, you could work as little or as much as you want, you could work one, two or even three different types of esthetics jobs. There are always brow bars, waxing centers, spas and even doctors looking to hire both full and part-time estheticians (this varies by location).
             What a great business to work 10-3PM while your kids are in school, or if you have babies/toddlers at home, think about picking up one evening shift and one Saturday. The scheduling options are flexible depending on the type of environment you choose. Many mothers are looking for part-time gigs, and esthetics is one of the best flexible careers out there to choose from.  Mothers, no matter what your age, esthetics is a good career choice for balancing work/family lifestyle. And there is no greater gift than doing two of the best jobs in the world: mothering and esthetics!

Signs Your Spa Owner is Closing Up Shop

    Generally, the career advice you will find from most human resources professionals is to stay at the same job for at least 6 months, sometimes a year or more in certain careers. I agree with this advice, however, there are times when it is better to run, no sprint, as quickly as you can from certain spas!

      There are times when a spa is not run efficiently and effectively to sustain life, and unfortunately that directly affects your income if you are working for that spa. Just because someone gets a loan to open up the doors to a beautiful facility doesn't mean they have the ability to keep it operating. Sometimes, when we work for someone else we tend to think the money will always keep flowing, but the truth is our employment is ever dependent on the success or demise of the business. Below are some red flags to be cautious of:

(1) Non-industry person running spa--this is not a 100% true in all cases, but in my opinion I have seen some spas mismanaged because the owner was not an industry person and did not care to understand the industry, or they did not hire a manager with industry experience.

(2) Overuse of price reductions--too many prices reductions=customers left wondering what is wrong with your spa.

(3) High Turn Over of Staff-Before you accept any job as an esthetician, always inquire how many estheticians preceded you. The reason being is, if there is a HIGH TURNOVER rate, there might be a reason and you might want to keep looking for another position.

(4) Owners who lie about the efficacy of the products/or replace the products with cheaper versions. They are unethical to begin with and will most likely get caught and you don't want your good reputation going down with them.

(5) Landlord calling a lot--might be a sign of lack of rent payments. Matter of time before they put the locks on the door.

(6) An owner who says "we aren't going to close."

Beware:Spa Owners Using Drug Store Products

        This story comes from an esthetician friend of mine, and as I sat and listened to her words, I nearly chocked on the food I was consuming, I couldn't believe the words that flowed off her tongue. I had to ask her to repeat what she had just shared because I had never heard something so unethical in the esthetics' world before.


      My friend works for a very nice spa that charges roughly about $75.00 for a 60 minute facial using Eminence products (if you are not familiar with it, it is a high quality organic line). As with most professional skin care lines, Eminence is an expensive product line, but in my opinion well worth the money for the highly effective ingredients.
    Even in a down economy, it seems people in this particular area are willing to pay for high quality facials using superb products. My friend told me that the owner of the spa where she works, runs out of Eminence frequently, and instead of finding another area store to buy Eminence from ( even if she has to pay retail) or going to the local cosmetology store to buy another professional skin care line, the owner has one of the employees run out to the local drug store to buy the skin care products to replace Eminence. YES, SHE BUYS CHEAP SKIN CARE PRODUCTS AND PRETENDS AS IF SHE IS USING EMINENCE PRODUCTS!
    This owner is putting the estheticians into an ethical dilemma, all the estheticians know that they are cheating their clients, but they are following the owner's orders. What are the estheticians to do? It is a tough economy and I am sure they want to keep their jobs, and she most likely will fire anyone who voices opposition.
     What a horrible spot to be in, the choice between speaking up to your employer or cheating your beloved clients, it is definitely not a situation most estheticians ever want to be in. I think it is completely unethical of this owner to do what she is doing, but in life there will always be liars and cheats. When customers plop down $75.00 they expect that the estheticians are using high quality ingredients on their skin, and at minimum using the products specified in the brochure.          
    So most of you are probably wondering what you do if the spa owner refuses to be honest and use the products advertised, but you can't afford to quit or can't find another job right away? Many of you will not like this answer, but I would buy a couple Eminence samples and keep in my esthetics kit for the day when she will ask you to compromise your ethical standards.I know you don't want to spend the money on samples, but it is far better to spend a little money and know at the end of the day you did the right thing. In the end, you will know that you are an honest and ethical esthetician. And by all means, do your best to find another job quickly! When you submit your resignation, I would voice your concerns about her cheating and misrepresentation to clients as to the reason for your employment departure.
   

Esthetician Students: Creative Ways to Make Money in Esthetics

     It seems like today there are always  MLM (Multi Level Marketing) companies out there selling cosmetics and skin care products. I constantly get those little books in my mailbox advertising their products, I see them in the dentist's office, and various other places around town. I wonder why people buy that stuff when there are professional products out there that are more effective and available at nearly the same cost as these MLM products. WHY? The question is why would they buy anything else? They don't know they can get professional grade products for nearly the same price because no estheticians are hosting these type of parties.
    Want another way to make money besides doing facials and selling products for your employer? Open up an account with a skin care product line/make-up line and start your own party business. Tell everyone that you do product demonstrations. Yes, even as a student you can do this (check your state guidelines) as long as you can get a student account at this companies (many companies will grant you a student account) and take a page out of famous make-up MLM companies and start demonstrating how your products work. Get the products for wholesale; encourage family and friends to host a party by offering them a free gift (skin care or make-up item); and have products on hand for the guests to test and start calculating those orders!
   

Esthetician Students-Wanna Win Free Stuff???

Wanna win free esthetics' gifts? You've come to the right place. Once a month I do a drawing for a free esthetics' gift. This month, I am giving away a free Farmaesthetics gift! Don't miss your chance to win a great gift!

Send me an e-mail to:gracerileypublishing@gmail.com and put in the body of the e-mail "enter me in the August drawing."

The contest ends on August 31st at 5PM. Please enter soon for your chance to win! The winner will be notified via e-mail.

Recent Esthetics' Graduates-Should You Do Some Volunteer Work?

    OK, so you just graduated from a great esthetics' school, but your phone is not exactly ringing off the hook with job offers yet. What should you do? Sit around for months until you get an esthetics' job and forget everything you learned in school? No, get motivated and use your social media to offer free facials to friends, family and church members. Get your name out there so when you do get an esthetics' job these people will remember you and come to you for facials and waxing instead of another esthetician.

     In this economy you have to strategically think of a game plan, and while you interview for jobs don't forget to tell the employer that you donate facials to new moms or the elderly at your church...it looks good that you have a heart. It shows your passion for esthetics, it demonstrates your passion to be in the game even if you aren't getting paid with money quite yet.
    I know a brilliant 20-year-old now, she just graduated recently and she has two part-time on-call esthetician jobs and she posts on social media sites/ and advertises to her church about her facials for charity, and she is busting at the seams with clients ready and willing to relax in her bed. I know many of you are thinking why would I give away something for free? Sometimes you have to think outside of the box, and try a different approach, and this recent graduate I know is building a clientele. Sure, some won't come back when she starts charging money for the facials, but those who do come back will help build her business. This is what I call smart career planning!  (check your state laws)

Krista, if you are reading this one, I am so proud of you! You are truly an inspiration to all the aspiring estheticians out there!

Esthetics Students: Why I Love Universal Companies

         

                One company all you aspiring estheticians should get familiar with is Universal Companies. It is an all purpose esthetics company where you can find everything from professional make-up to equipment. There are plenty of good skin care product lines to choose from, and you can purchase them singularly or in bulk depending on your needs. This is a great option for you booth renters! No need to hold inventory that you can't sell, instead only buy what you need. For those of you who are focusing on make-up you can get all your professional make-up products either in a pro kit, mini pro kit, or you can buy make-up by the piece. Buy one lipstick or buy in bulk...that is the benefit of this company. In addition, there are educational products, uniforms, and lots of ideas to add on to your services for higher profits. http://www.universalcompanies.com/

Esthetics: Organic Facials For A Different Customer Base

      Some students go into esthetics knowing that they want to work for a high end cosmetic surgeon's office, using anything but organic products. Then there are other students who would like to work for a wholesome, earthy type of spa. Our focus today is on the second group of students, the organis as I like to call them, those that want to be in touch with mother nature.
         If you want to open up your own organic business consider using products that evoke customers to think organically. Farmaesthetics has a line of organic products, I have only used a couple things from them so far, but they are definitely back to nature. The name itself conjures up images of rolling hills, fresh produce, and nature. If you want to sell yourself as an organic spa consider using products like this one that use natural words in their names and/packaging.
       Another organic line, Eminence, is one of my all time favorites...I have used this line extensively. While Eminence's name doesn't evoke all natural feelings from me, the product line names such as the Chocolate Mousse Mask, the Pear Mircodermabrasion, and the Coconut Milk Cleanser all get my senses moving and my mind envisioning the natural ingredients.
       If you want to booth rent or even open your own organic salon you have to start with a product line that is going to touch your customers organic senses. It also has to be something you love because you have to be passionate about the product line to get your customers excited about it.
          

Esthetics: A Rich Boss

  
      Imagine getting a job at luxurious spa with all the bells and whistles and now you finally feel at home in the esthetics world. Bliss, I know. What could be better than a spa that carries four skin care lines, a nail collection, hair products and even custom art work? Butter cookies and coffee for the clients, sparkling wine and cheese, this was luxury at its best, or was it? This happened to me, I thought I landed in esthetics heaven, a perfect place to hang my license!
      I soon realized, after I witnessed the revolving door of technicians, that this lady did not have a business plan at all. Instead she wanted to shop, she didn't have a plan in the works to grow the business, but she kept buying and buying more things. We had four skin care lines, but we didn't have enough clients to turnover all those products on the shelves. We had an overflowing hair line bursting from our shelves and yet most of those pretty bottles sat as statues because again we didn't have the customers to sell the inventory. We had a make-up line, but the owner played with the make-up more than she tried to sell the services. Finally, the last straw for me was when she decided to incorporate a doggie line into this luxury spa.
        Unfortunately, this was not a place I could work and feel confident that I would have a job at the end of the year. I say this because it felt like this spa was doomed before it got its start. This was a lady with zero spa industry experience, and in everything she did from buying four skin care lines to trying to wax people herself (without a license!) it was clear that this was a sinking ship! This owner reminded me of a teenager with a credit card a never ending limit. I am not sure she ever had a budget or a way to turn money spent into income.
       Many of you aspiring estheticians will never experience this particular situation because I would say with confidence that most spas are run by industry people (thank goodness!). If you do encounter a situation like this one, where the owner is not in the spa industry proceed with caution because in the end, the spa I worked for had to close up shop. This owner should have started with a business plan instead of randomly spending money like a Las Vegas winner. If you ever find yourself in this type of situation, please take a moment to pause before accepting that offer, it might be better to wait for the next offer than work for someone like this who spends more than they try to grow the business.

How I Created a Successful Esthetics Business

      I didn't start out in esthetics thinking I would work for myself, and when I graduated I immediately went to work for a great medical spa. As time went on, I didn't want to sell another product for someone else; I didn't want to be bound to certain hours; and I wanted to be in control of my own income. As I worked I was always double dipping and trying out new things.
      I ended up creating a small, but certainly fun party business. I do make-up parties and product demonstrations (and then I sell those skin care products to guests at the party). I make good money while having fun. I decide how much to charge for parties, how much for products and what hours I am willing to work. I sell professional skin care and make-up to the guests at this party.
       To start this business, I did have to spend some money early on. I had to have many skin care products on hand to demonstrate, and I had to buy a professional make-up kit. I had to buy my own supplies (brushes, cotton rounds, towels, etc). I also invested in a logo, professional business cards, and ads. Most of my business comes from word of mouth, and I give away a lot of free facials to get ladies to consider doing a skin care/make-up product demonstration party, but in the end giving these freebies away has helped me get parties going and money in my pocket. This is a good business to start part-time while you have another more secure job.

Esthetician Students-Free Give Away for August

Calling all future, current and recently graduated estheticians to join our August give away! Just send me your e-mail and say " enter contest." Enter at: gracerileypublishing@gmail.com