Business
Self-employment help for nail techs: marketing advice & networking tips
Here’s how to gain the attention of clients by building a buzz around your business… Once you have registered your business, considered tax requirements and made decisions regarding legal, financial and operational considerations, as well as safety and interior design choices, it’s time to build your clientele through effective marketing techniques. “Everything you do as a…
Read MoreBreak the glass ceiling: how to attract premium beauty clients & grow your business
Beauty business mentor & award-winning entrepreneur, Stevey Powell, shares advice for if you’re experiencing the ‘glass ceiling’ effect… We start our beauty businesses with a passion for what we do and over time, build a loyal client base and keep our calendars booked. But for some of us, there comes a point when we hit…
Read MoreSelf-employment help for nail techs: interior design, safety & more considerations
As a self-employed tech, you can take control over your nail environment: from interior design and décor to cleaning schedules and product inventories. Here’s everything you need to know about tailoring your business to you… Interior design If working solo from a home salon or rented space, your aesthetic allows your creativity to flow –…
Read MoreNo-shows & cancellations: how to prevent & handle them in your beauty business
Session nail stylist, salon owner & educator, Marie-Louise Coster, shares advice for client no-shows and cancellations… Every beauty business, at some point, has a client that doesn’t turn up for their appointment. You will have blocked out time and potentially turned other clients away, but are left with an empty appointment slot and no pay. It’s…
Read MoreNail & beauty apprenticeships: salons share benefits, their experiences & advice
In a February 2025 poll on Scratch’s Instagram, almost 80% of respondents shared that they’re considering taking on apprentices. Here, two UK salons share how they’ve reaped the rewards of the apprenticeship process… Nailspa, West Yorkshire “As a business owner, I believe that when it comes to employees, you cannot beat ‘growing your own’. Nailspa…
Read MoreNail techs: This is why thorough client consultations are so important
Scratch Stars Natural Nail Specialist of the Year finalist 2024, Tanya Jeskins, shares why thorough client consultations are the key to effective and safe nail services that keep clients returning. So, what exactly is a client consultation? Tanya explains: “It’s a professional conversation that takes place before every appointment, to ensure you have all the…
Read More3 must-have digital tools for beauty pros, according to a business & marketing expert
Beauty business and marketing mentor, Stephanie Barnard, aka Beauty Business Bestie, shares her digital tool recommendations… Whether you’re a solo worker or managing a team, staying organised can feel like a full-time job. Running a beauty business can get messy, and without systems in place, you might find yourself forgetting appointments, losing client details and…
Read MoreShifting your mindset for success: 4 tips from a beauty business coach
Scratch columnist & beauty business and mindset coach, Zaara King, shares advice for transforming your mental outlook… When I ask beauty business owners what changed for them when they found new levels of success, they say their mindset – and the same is true for me. You may be working with either a fixed or…
Read MoreSelf-employment help for nail techs: legal, financial & operational considerations
All the legal, financial and operational factors to consider before making those all-important choices… Deciding to become a self-employed nail tech is just the beginning, and we’re here to help you navigate it all. From choosing whether to work from home or as a mobile tech, to deciding which insurance coverage to get and which…
Read MoreHow a Scottish inventor & son created a product nail enthusiasts can’t live without
Have you ever damaged a nail opening a can, prying open the clips of photo frames or opening keyrings? It’s these nuisances that led husband and son duo, Brian and Gregor Eadie, to create Keysie: a handy device to save nails from unnecessary damage. It was Gregor who approached his father, an inventor & product…
Read MoreSelf-employment help for nail techs: registration & tax essentials
Are you keen to take the leap into self-employment? Here’s a guide to the registration and tax essentials you need to know… For nail technicians working in salons who seek greater control over their careers, self-employment often feels like a natural next step. It offers professional and creative freedom, aiding in the pursuit of personal…
Read MoreAI is changing the beauty salon game: here’s how it can help you stay ahead
Richard McCabe, aka the Lifestyle Salon Coach, shares how artificial intelligence can benefit your beauty business… Love it or hate it, AI is changing how businesses work – and that includes salons. Just like past tech revolutions, if you jump on board early, you’re more likely to come out on top. Remember when the internet…
Read MoreA beauty business coach’s guide to goal setting for 2025
Beauty business and mindset coach, Zaara King, offers up advice for the new year… It’s time to consider how you wish to make your mark on the industry over the next 12 months. You get to choose how you show up, what you offer clients and how you make a difference, which is exciting. First,…
Read MoreNew year, new you: How nail businesses can plan for the year ahead
Session nail stylist, salon owner & educator, Marie-Louise Coster, shares her tips for reviewing the last year and preparing for the next, in order to achieve success… Here we are again, another year gone and a new one in front of us full of opportunity, possibility and hope. It is time to review the year…
Read More4 updates to make to your beauty business in 2025
Kim Ford, global business & beauty education expert, shares ways to make the most of quiet spells to improve your business long-term… The beginning of a new year is a great time to focus on business administration, such as updating operational and legal documents, and to consider if your marketing strategy, website and social media…
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