Want to Run a Mobile Salon? Get Your Foundations Right First.

Owning a mobile salon is about low cost and flexibility. It offers you a great number of advantages over your bricks and mortar counterparts. When trying to develop a new mobile business it is important not to forget your foundations. The success of your business depends on your ability to maintain relationships, and break into the lifetime value of individual customers.

If you are able to build up a loyal group of people who are able to recommend you to their friends, family, and beyond, you have the makings of a successful business. When it comes to taking your mobile salon to the next level, here are five critical areas to consider.

Location

A great salon location (But since you’ll likely be travelling, you’ll need license. Check out Gov.uk license finder to learn about the legalities). Seek external help if unsure as failing to get the right license could mean losing your business before you’ve even started. You’ll also need to study your health and safety responsibilities to be on the right side of the law.

Personality

Are you suited to running a mobile salon business? As much as the business is around the skill of cutting hair, being an independent hairdresser comes down to treating your clients well. Learn to appreciate them as people and listen to them. Having a client base that likesand trusts you will lead to sustained success. 

Financial astuteness

The end goal of any business is profitability and sustainability. This relies heavily on financial prudence. You should be able to distinguish business and personal funds. You should also be able to differentiate between operating capital and profit. There are plenty of onlineguides designed to help explain how to maintain accounts so you can keep on top of the money side of things. Take advantage of them all. 

Leadership 

As your business grows, you may need helping hands. Leadership skills will be required to ensure a smoothly functioning group. Know how to manage and leadpeople and watch your business grow. 

Insurance

There are huge benefits, but let’s look at the risks of not insuring. Nobody wants to be dragged before the judge; it’s a waste of money and time. So before you put your beauty shop on the road, you should consider getting beauty salon insurance for these scenarios for which you may be sued. 

• Your client’s SUV’s windscreen is smashed by your advertising sign outside your shop when Hurricane Katie decides to travel. 
• A client sustains an allergic reaction after getting her eyebrows threaded and tinted at your salon. 
• A staff discovers with crude shock that her once glowing skin is marred by work-related dermatitis due to the treatments she’s been carrying out at your salon. 
• Fire breaks out and you lose valuable equipment. You wouldn’t care to know after the fire has been put out that the cause was a used towel, which wasn’t properly washed.

Marketing
Mastering your marketing strategies is important and market experts recommend moving it online or to social media. This is in conjunction with any other offline marketing strategies you have in place.

By properly getting the foundation sorted, your mobile salon business will have a higher chance of success. The most important part to remember is maintaining the relationships of your customers. They are the lifeblood of your business and their satisfaction and loyalty will make the difference between success and failure.

Purrfectbox | September Edition

The theme for Septembers Purrfectbox is 'All Snuggled Up' and if you have never heard of the concept before, I have featured a few of these boxes on my blog before. If you haven't seen the posts, the Purrfect box is a UK subscription service which allows you to treat your cat, or your dog (Pawsome Box). Each month you will receive a box of treats, toys, accessories, hygiene and personal care products customized and based on the cat's age, size, weight, fur type and preferences. Anyone who reads my blog or follows me on Instagram will know what a big part my three cats play in my life, Hector even has his own Instagram!

Each month has a different theme so you get different goodies each month. The cost is £19.50 per month or £15.50 if you subscribe yearly and this was what was in the box.

There are six different products within this box for your kitty and as soon as I opened the lid, my three swarmed to get a look in.

Cat Grooming Mit - This one-size-fits-all grooming mitt provides pets with extra attention and closeness while giving owners the satisfaction of a cleaner cat. This versatile mitt can be used on a pet but also picks up hair left behind on furniture, fabrics and carpets. Perfect for all coat types.

Purr By Wagg - These delicious mini heart shaped treats, taste great and are good for your cat and mine would eat the entire bag if I let them. However as you may know cats are clean animals who enjoy grooming and with grooming comes furballs as they often find it difficult to control the formation of hairballs as they swallow hair and this can lead to intestinal problems. Wagg have formulated their tasty biscuits with natural cellulose to help combat hairballs. Made with taurine; an organic acid found in animal tissue to help maintain an acute vision and healthy heart. They also contain Omega-3 oils which promote healthy supple skin and a glossy coat. Also enriched with vitamins and with added antioxidents from rosemary extract and they have no artificial colours or flavours. 

Alien Catnip Toy - This is one of the items my three clambered for once the box was opened. This large stuffed alien designed top is filled with catnip, this toy has a strong aromatic fragrance, that stimulates playful behaviour when it might look like they have gone a little loopy by licking and kicking the toy.

Yellow Trixie Bird Cat Toy - Again this toy has created hours of fun for Hector, he is captivated by the bright yellow tale which he likes to roll over and throw around in the air as though it is alive and he has hunted for it and even more so once it rattles.

Trixie Rainbow balls on an Elastic Band - There are 3 balls and 3 bells on an elastic band, which rattle when you shake them. Both Hector and Dexter are obsessed with this toy and both seem to want it at the same time. Hector likes to be able to jump up and catch it, whereas Dexter, who is a little older and a lot more destructive is trying to constantly find a way to dismantle it.

The final item in the Box are Sanal Soft Sticks in Lamb and Rice flavour and they contain no added colourings but do contain taurine for healthy eyes and heart plus they have extra added vitamins A, D3 and E stimulate the zest and vitality of your cat.

I think this is such a great little box of treats and so do my three fur kids who have devoured the treats and fight over the toys, usually with Hector winning the battle.  Now they use the box as something to lie in.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Perfect Pamper Box

When I was given the chance to try the Perfect Pamper Box I jumped at the chance, how good is the sound of a perfect pamper box and I love the idea behind it - The Perfect Pamper Box is the ultimate pampering experience, delivered to your door every month! We believe everyone deserves a little ‘me’ time and with hectic schedules and ever busier lives, it gets harder to take some time out for you. This is why we created the Perfect Pamper Box, a collection of luxury handmade bath and body products, candles and more delivered to your door.

Every month the team will hand pick at least four products which will provide you with the perfect pampering experience, and best of all a lovely surprise in the post each month. Unlike other subscription boxes we only include full sized products no samples or sachets. Inside my box, which smelt just absolutely divine before I had even opened it and delving inside there was an explosion of scents which made me want to run a bath and chuck everything in.

Candy Girl Bath Bomb Fizzer reminds me of the smell from my childhood when I used to go to the shop for the 1p sweets. With a fragrance like bubblegum and it really is just amazing.

Sweetie Pie Handmade Soap again smells just incredible. Containing jojoba and avocado oils for their rich and skin nourishing properties. What I do love about this soap is that it reminds me Rhubarb and Custard sweets with its design.

Grapefruit and Orange Face Mask is handmade using Kaolin Clay and it includes Orange and Grapefruit essential oils. Together with the Kaolin Clay, this face mask will deeply cleanse, tone and help balance the oils in your skin. It is also designed to brighten up tired and undernourished skin making it the perfect treat for those of us with hectic lifestyles.

Raspberry Ice Dream Skin Smoothie Cube. This body conditioner, our raspberry ice dream smoothie cubes are the perfect way to treat your skin after a hard day.. Containing both shea and cocoa butters these wonderful raspberry and cream scented smoothie cubes will condition your skin leaving your body soft and beautifully scented. Designed to be used on your skin after a bath or shower to release the nourishing butters and beautiful fragrance.

I absolutely love the idea of this box, it is something that is a little bit different to any other subscription box that we currently have on offer here in the UK and the people behind this box are passionate about handmade and cruelty free products which is why all of their products are sourced from small businesses here in the UK. This means you will get to try great handmade products that you wouldn’t find on the high street.   

So, if you like the sound of The Perfect Pamper Box, it costs just £12.00 per month + £2.95 P&P and also free in your first box there is the inclusion of a luxury, 100% cotton face towel.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Your Truly Organics

Yours Truly Organics is a range of luxury face care products for oily and acne/blemish prone skin. Formulated with organic and natural ingredients which are proven to reduce inflammation, repair the skin's surface and control sebum production. Created by Kelita Bignall, whom I was lucky enough to meet a few months ago at a We Are Thirty Plus event, she told her own personal story of suffering with acne and oily skin but unable to find any effective natural and organic solutions, she created her own.

With four products in the range, I have spent a few months using them to before they have appeared on my blog, though it is good timing given it is Organic Beauty Week!

Take It Away! Gel Cleanser - This is a really gentle cleanser which is formulated to maintain the skin's natural elasticity and it manages to clean and cleanse the skin without stripping it of natural oils. Using Orange Oil to increase collagen production and to detox the skin, it gives an incredible citrus scent when used and it is just divine. The second ingredient is Sandalwood Oil which works to rehydrate the skin a well as toning and firming.

Balancing Toner - This toner is designed to return your skin to its optimal pH level and improve its ability to absorb moisture. To do that it two uses essential ingredients, the first being Avenacare Oat Beta Glucan soothes the skins surface, reduces the appearance of fine line and wrinkles whilst at the same time reducing redness. Pentavitin ensures instant deep hydration and generates a moisture reservoir which lasts for 72 hours. What I love about this toner is the scent and how refreshing it feels on my skin when using. The pump spray is great for ensuring you use enough each time you use it.

Fix me! Repairing Serum - If you have oily/blemish prone skin you will be told how important it is that you need a product that will regulate the production of sebum in the skin and repair damaged areas of the skin, this serum is designed to do all of that using three active ingredients. Gatuline Skin-Repair Bio which aids cell regeneration and targets damaged areas. Avena Sativa reduces inflammation and REGU-SEB helps to control and reduce sebum production, especially in the t-zone area. This is such a light textured serum which doesn't feel too heavy on the skin and is just a delight to use.

Face Base Face Balm - This face balm is incredibly moisturising and acts as a great base for makeup application too. Using Daisy Flower Extract which has skin brightening properties, Pea Extract which contains vital amino acids and proteins necessary for the production of collagen and elastin. What I love about this is the texture, it is fairly thick and luxurious but without being too thick to leave your skin feeling clogged and blocked. It makes an amazing makeup primer having left your skin so smooth to the touch.

Your Truly Organics is such an amazing brand and one that you need to look for and give a try, especially if you have oily or blemish prone skin. Made in the UK and tested only on willing humans Yours Truly Organics believe that beautiful skin is deserved by all and their organic skin care UK products are approved by Ecocert and suitable for vegetarians for additional measure.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise