In thing: Beauticians at your doorstep
The concept of a mobile beauty salon is growing in Bangalore, and 38-year-old Meenakshi from Sahakarnagar, is one among those driving it. She makes a living by being a mobile beautician.
A nurse by profession, it was not her dream to become a beautician. "I shifted into a mobile beauty salon mainly because I had to leave my daughters alone at home. My husband had left me long ago because I had two daughters and not a son. I took up a nightingale job to look after an old couple when I got to interact with one of their relatives who was a beautician. I wanted to learn the course only because it would help me to be with my two daughters. Today, I am happy as I am able to give them good education with my small beauty business," she states.
Today Meenakshi, who is running the business for the past 4 years, is busy throughout the year. "I roam almost entire Bangalore as I have clients all over the city. I leave home by 6 am with my case of all the beauty products in small pouches. I have a bus pass, which will take me to the required destination," says Meenakshi.
Meenakshi has regular clients who fix particular dates for beautifying themselves. "I have around 20 to 30 clients. Weekdays is for housewives and old people and weekends will be for the working women. My treatments are facial, pedicure, manicure, head massage and body massages for women only," she explains.
Lady beauticians face some hiccups too. "I had to register myself through a phone service in the category of body massage and I started getting calls from men. So I asked them to delete my listing from that category," says Lakshmi, a beautician in Indiranagar.
Another success: A mobile beauty salon offers everything a standard beauty salon does, but all in the comfort of your home, says Manjunath, who owns a small parlour in Hennur Road.
"I have been in the beauty salon business for the past 15 years. I wanted to do something on my own. So I decided to own a small salon. But then the place is very small and I could not accommodate all the clients at leisure. So I hired three beauticians, trained them and now I try and cater beauty services at their door steps," he says.
Though a mobile beauty salon can really benefit someone; it has become a competitive business now, explains Manjunath.
"I serve clients who are just 5 kilometers in and around Hennur. When I started this business by taking a loan, I was content. But now I know the pros and cons of this business. I need to keep changing my staff as when I send them to the client, they convert it to business for themselves by reducing the price. That becomes exceptionally beneficial for the clients," he added.