8 | 2014 NAILS CAREER HANDBOOK
Congratulations on your graduation!
New beginnings are exciting, but they
can be overwhelming too. That's why
NAILS created the Career Handbook.
We understand the need for support
when you're frst getting started in a new
endeavor. In fact, time and again, we hear
from veteran nail techs that one of the
most important things you can do to ease
your transition from complete newbie
to seasoned professional is to fnd
someone to take you under her wing, a
mentor who will show you the ropes and
help you avoid pitfalls along the way.
Until you fnd that person, learn from
the professionals around you, from
videos, workshops, tradeshows, and the resources in NAILS Magazine and on
NailsMag.com. To get you started, I asked veteran nail techs on our Facebook page
(www.facebook.com/nailsmag) to divulge the most important thing they learned
in their frst six months as a new nail tech. Here's what they said:
School does not prepare you for the real world work environment;
continuing education is a must.
On-the-job training and continuing education are imperative for your
success. A good place to start is by reading "10 Common Causes of Nail Service
Breakdown" (pg. 58). We identify the top reasons you might run into a problem
during a service, and then show you what to do to prevent it.
Another important area that might have been neglected in your education is
nail art. A huge part of boosting your income — in some cases, doubling it — is
incorporating nail art into your menu. In Nail Art Studio (pg. 82), we show you
four easy step-by-step tutorials for creating beautiful nail art that will leave your
clients coming back for more (trust me, it's an addiction!).
Sanitation is the most important aspect of this business.
Your client's health is your number-one priority. In "Keep It Clean" on (pg. 66),
we show you how to set up an efective sanitation program you can always count
on, and we provide you with a list of online resources you can always access for
the latest updates on salon safety guidelines.
Starting to build a clientele right away is essential.
Without clients, you have no business. "Calling All Clients: 67 Ways to Fill
Your Chair in 6 Months" (pg. 20) can be used as a checklist to make sure you're
doing everything you can to build a solid roster of loyal, long-term clients.
Please keep in touch with your progress. Drop me an email at
tracy.rubert@bobit.com any time to share your experiences, ideas, and thoughts
about your frst year as a professional nail technician. Here's to your success and
a bright, happy future in the world of nails!
Publisher Michelle Mullen
Michelle.Mullen@bobit.com
Associate Publisher/Editor Hannah Lee
Hannah.Lee@bobit.com
Features Editor Judy Lessin
Judy.Lessin@bobit.com
Senior Editor Beth Livesay
Beth.Livesay@bobit.com
Senior Editor Tracy Rubert
Tracy.Rubert@bobit.com
Associate Editor Brittni Rubin
Brittni.Rubin@bobit.com
Contributing Writers
Michelle Pratt, Erin Snyder Dixon, Sree Roy
Art Director Danielle Parisi
Danielle.Parisi@bobit.com
Graphic Artist Kimberly Pham
Kim.Pham@bobit.com
Graphic Artist Yuiko Sugino
Yuiko.Sugino@bobit.com
Production Manager Carla Benavidez
Carla.Benavidez@bobit.com
West Coast Sales
Shannon Rahn, (310) 533-2434
Shannon.Rahn@bobit.com
Eastern Sales Manager
Mary Baughman, (562) 377-0465
Mary.Baughman@bobit.com
Sales & Marketing Coordinator Amy Martin
Amy.Martin@bobit.com
Audience Marketing Director Tony Napoleone
For subscription inquiries:
(888) NAILS-44, bobitpubs@halldata.com
Send business and editorial correspondence to:
3520 Challenger St., Torrance, CA 90503
(310) 533-2507 Fax
www.nailsmag.com
Chairman Edward J. Bobit
CEO/President Ty F. Bobit
Chief Financial Ofcer Richard E. Johnson
COO/Group Publisher Cyndy Drummey
A BOBIT BUSINESS MEDIA PUBLICATION
Tracy.Rubert@bobit.com