1. Lorri Ducharme
The Prestige Salon
Lorri does my nails
Emily DiFederico
Nichols College
Business & Society
MGMT-100-08
2. The Prestige
Sole proprietorship
- Lorri chose this structure because at the time she
started her business, she wanted to work from home to be
with her children.
The Prestige salon is a service.
Has been doing nails for 27 years but has had her own
business for 8 years.
3. Background of The Prestige
Lorri started her business by taking her past experience in
other salons and using it in her own salon.
To finance her purchase of her salon she had to get a
personal loan
She started the business because she wanted to stay at home
with her kids and to do something she loves doing.
Lorri went to Vocational high school and then went to Rob
Roy’s beauty school.
The Prestige is more known now then it was 8 years ago. Also
Lorri grew the size of the business in square footage.
4. Successes
The successes have been personal connections with the
clients, networking and the addition of the birthday parties
which helps enhance girls appearance while building self-
esteem from the inside.
The most rewarding aspect of running a business is making
people feel good about themselves, loving connection, life
long connections with clients, watching client’s face
expressions and being able to use artistic abilities.
The critical success factors for a salon are good people skills,
managing skills, organization and constantly keeping up with
the latest trends and styles.
5. Challenges
The challenges have been dealing with dissatisfied clients,
financial frustrating, the ups and down of a business, and trying to
bring n money on off seasons.
The most challenging aspect of running a salon is the down time in
the business, not having clients come back because of the economy
and planning ahead of time for the down time.
Lorri overcame these challenges by trying to make sure clients are
satisfied with the service, being more creative during off seasons,
offering discounted services and setting money aside for down time
which does not always happen.
The fatal flaws in the salon are poor customer service, time
management, and financial planning.
6. Competition
Lorri considers Golden nails and Peter’s Salon her
closest competitors because of walk-ins.
The Prestige salon try's to achieve competitive
advantages by consistent customer satisfaction,
exceptional quality of work and to educate clients.
To keep the customers satisfied Lorri always try’s new
things, being a people person, and exceptional customer
care by going the extra mile.
To build customer loyalty you need to treat them right
and be faithful.
7. Marketing/ Staffing
The strategies that Lorri uses to market her business is
referrals, word of mouth, advertising, and social media
(Facebook and The Prestige website).
When Lorri considers new employees for her business
she looks for people who are committed, interaction,
good customer skills, quality of workmanship, honest
and very involved.
The employees that Lorri has are not technically her
employees because they rent booths.
8. The Future
Lorri hopes to stay in the business and expand her
services.
Also wants to be more involved in the community and
be involved in retail.
9. Unique Questions
What made you chose to do nails as a career?
- Lorri said she loved doing nails ever since she was
young and loves using her artistic abilities on nails.
Why do you rent our booths to people?
- She rents out the booths because it helps her pay
the rent and gives a variety of different aspects of
cosmetology in her salon.
10. Unique Questions
What advice do you have for people who want to do
nails when they are older like myself?
- To follow your dreams and make sure doing nails
is something you love because you do not want to do a job
that you will hate.
Do you regret any decisions that you have made in the
past?
- No because I learn from my mistakes and it has
made me the person I am today.
11. Summary
The advice that Lorri has for members of this class is to
do something you love doing, be consistent, treat others
how you want to be treated and always follow your
dreams!!!
I learned that opening a business is not as easy as it
seems. Also clients will not always be there so you need
to make sure you can take care of your business.
