Becoming a mobile hairdresser is a great alternative to working in a salon, giving you the freedom to choose your own hours and work as you see fit. But it also requires dedication, commitment and an entrepreneurial spirit.
Here we talk to up and coming mobile hairdresser, Claire Keogh, of Mobile Hairdressers Sydney about what is involved.
After working for many years as a hairdresser in salons, Claire has been working as a mobile hairdresser for just ten months. According to her, one of the main benefits of working as a mobile hairdresser is the extra attention and convenience you can deliver to clients.
Mobile hairdressing is an exciting career choice.
“As a mobile hairdresser you are your own boss and can fit people in out of regular salon hours,” she says.
“It is also nice concentrating on the one client for the whole appointment rather than running in between clients and having it feel like a production line.”
Of course, with these benefits come unique responsibilities. After all becoming a mobile hairdresser means starting your own business. So what are the main things involved?
Transport
When it comes to mobile hairdressing, Claire says one of the key steps is to have “your own car, which is reliable”. This also means ensuring it is well stocked with supplies.
In case a client changes their mind or an appointment comes up at the last minute Claire says, “You need to make sure you have all equipment in your car, even if you don’t think you’ll need it that day.”
Marketing
Claire also highlights the importance of marketing your business. For Mobile Hairdressers Sydney she uses a combination of search engine optimisation, social media and of course word of mouth.
“To begin with I had a website built, then a Facebook and Instagram page. I also sponsored different networking nights in my local area, talking to as many people as possible to get my name out there.”
Claire says keeping on top of social media is one of the key elements to working as a mobile hairdresser and regularly posts promotions and pictures of her clients hair on her networks across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Google+.
Claire’s website is also optimised to show up in search results for Google and other search engines. She suggests “using keywords to market your business as mobile and set yourself apart from salons.”
Organisation
According to Claire one of the main characteristics of being a mobile hairdresser is staying organised.
“You need to be extremely organised and always have your phone on you,” she says. “It’s important to return clients enquiries within two hours.”
“You are also working on your own so you don’t have any staff or team mates to get opinions from or help you if you’re running late.”
People skills
Of course like any client-focussed business, Claire emphasises the importance of great people skills and building relationships with clients.
“It’s important to feel comfortable in client’s homes, to make their experience as relaxing as possible.”
Training and education
To become a hairdresser in Australia, the most popular and recognised qualification is a Certificate III in Hairdressing – a 40-week course which teaches you the practical and theoretical skills you need to cut, colour and style hair.
Of course it’s also a great idea to build your practical experience and reputation working in a salon. In her case Claire worked in a salon for eight years before venturing off into mobile hairdressing.
“Honestly, I am still building my business,” she says. “It takes one to two years to build up a solid clientele.”
So if you are considering becoming a mobile hairdresser, you may also want to look into a course that helps you promote, run and administer your business such a Certificate IV in Small Business Management.
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