When analyzing the professional nail industry it is impossible to look at it at face value. The industry has been dominated in the last decade by Vietnamese-owned business, known for a business model that has traditionally relied on discounted service prices, quick service turnaround, and no-nonsense amenities. That has evolved, though, especially in the last several years. The prices for basic services in Vietnamese salons have come up (this year the overall average service price increase since 2006 is 16%). That’s good news. When prices are reasonable, competition is fair, wages are livable, and profits are incentivizing. The information in these two pages comes from a survey of 3,000 Vietnamese nail professionals (with 791 responses), conducted in September 2008. This year we expanded our questionnaire to include computer use (you may be surprised to see how Internetsavvy this group is) and primary training resources. If anything, there are lots of opportunities for growth in an already fast-growing salon community.
WHERE DO YOU GET TRAINING ON NEW PRODUCTS AND NAIL TECHNIQUES ?
I learn from reading beauty magazines . . . . . 59.0%
I look up stuff on the Internet . . . . . 42.4%
I learn from other nail technicians . . . . . 40.1%
I attend training at tradeshows . . . . . 31.7%
I teach myself . . . . . 27.9%
I watch videos . . . . . 25.9%
Our dealer or product supplier provides education . . . . . 23.0%
From the salon owner or manager . . . . . 20.3%
I don’t get training . . . . . 10.2%
Other . . . . . 4.7%
SALON SERVICES & PRICING
TOP 5 INTERNET USES FOR VIETNAMESE NAIL TECHS
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DOING NAILS?
HOW MANY CLIENTS DO YOU PERSONALLY SERVICE EACH WEEK ?
Less than 10 . . . . . 12.5%
10-20 . . . . . 10.1%
21-30 . . . . . 16.2%
31-40 . . . . . 16.2%
41-50 . . . . . 12.9%
51-60 . . . . . 10.4%
more than . . . . . 60 21.7%
GENDER STATISTICS: 72.8% female & 27.2% male
HOW OLD ARE YOU?
- Younger than . . . . . 21 1.7%
- 21-30 . . . . . 13.8%
- 31-35 . . . . . 23.9%
- 36-40 . . . . . 20.5%
- 41-45 . . . . . 19.6%
- 46-50 . . . . . 10.4%
- Over 50 . . . . . 10.1%
WHAT IS YOUR TITLE?
- salon owner . . . . . 42.0%
- salon manager . . . . . 7.7%
- nail technician . . . . . 37.4%
- cosmetologist . . . . . 4.9%
- esthetician . . . . . 3.1%
- other . . . . . 4.9%
Do you have a COSMETOLOGY LICENSE?
” YES: 57.4% & NO: 42.6% “
Do you have a LICENSE TO DO SKIN CARE?
” YES: 41.2% & NO: 58.8% “
Do you sell RETAIL PRODUCTS?
” YES: 65.2% & NO: 34.8% “
Are you responsible for PURCHASING YOUR OWN SUPPLIES?
Yes, I provide all my own supplies, including tools and equipment. 41.6%
I provide some supplies, the salon provides some supplies. 13.5%
The salon provides all my supplies, except my tools. 36.5%
The salon provides all supplies, including tools and equipment. 8.4%
How would you DESCRIBE YOUR SALON?
- Full-service salon . . . . . 27.3%
- Nails-only salon . . . . . 62.6%
- Day spa . . . . . 4.2%
- Home-based salon . . . . . 2.5%
- Mobile salon/spa . . . . . 0.5%
- Resort/hotel/destination spa/salon . . . . . 0.3%
- Other . . . . . 2.6%
Do you carry PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY INSURANCE for yourself or your salon?
” YES: 54% & NO: 46% ”
How many nail technicians WORK IN YOUR SALON?
- Just me 51.3%
- 2 nail techs 20.0%
- 3 techs 10.8%
- 4 techs 5.6%
- 5 techs 3.8%
- 6 techs 1.8%
- 7+ techs 6.7%
How much is your MONTHLY BOOTH RENTAL?
” $405 (average) [2007: $380] ”
- $150 or less . . . . . 14.0%
- $151-$200 . . . . . 8.1%
- $201-$250 . . . . . 5.1%
- $251-$300 . . . . . 15.4%
- $301-$350 . . . . . 7.4%
- $351-$400 . . . . . 12.1%
- $401-$450 . . . . . 1.8%
- $451-$500 . . . . . 9.9%
- More than $500 . . . . . 18.8%
- “A percentage of my service income” . . . . . 7.4%
Does your salon have a DRESS CODE OR REQUIRE A UNIFORM?
” YES: 38% & NO: 62% ”
What is the SQUARE FOOTAGE of your salon?
- I don’t know 11.0%
- 5,000 square feet or larger 3.5%
- 3,000-4,999 square feet 4.2%
- 2,000-2,999 square feet 9.3%
- 1,000-1,999 square feet 25.4%
- 501-999 square feet 18.4%
- 101-500 square feet 19.6%
- Less than 101 square feet 8.7%