Quality customer service is a key to succeed in business

Modern lifestyle has made people conscious of their look and appearance. Both men and women started experimenting different styles, be it hair styles, makeup, makeover and many more. Latha, a successful beautician started her career by opening a beauty parlor named 'Latha Beauty Parlor.' She expressed her experiences in an Interview with Bizz Buzz. She said: "I always had the desire to stand on my feet and the passion to do something attracted me to become beautician."

Her success story is of one such beautician who has not only secured herself, but also her family. "It was very hard for me to start a parlor first because at that point of time we were facing financial crisis. I faced many ups and downs during the process of starting my parlor. But today, life has changed and it feels so happy," expressed Latha.

"My inspiration is my family and I used to always experiment my talent on my family members. I completed my beautician course from Jawed Habib and this helped me a lot in my business. My sister who is also a beautician taught me different procedures and techniques connected to be a professional beautician," she added.

"In my parlor we use mostly herbal products which do not affect the skin. If a customer wants a particular product to be used on them, we arrange the product too. First we test the product on the customer if it suits them we continue applying it. Most of the skins are sensitive so keeping this in mind we select and suggest the right product be it facial, waxing, make up and many more. My parlor charges are very reasonable compared to other salons, this is because any category of customers visit and enjoy the experience," adds Latha.

"Starting a beauty parlor is all about providing exceptional customer service. But in order to focus on exceeding expectations, you need to make sure you have everything else in order. That's where your business plan comes in." shares Latha.

Being an entrepreneur is not easy as many twist and turns happen without our knowledge, but that experience teaches a person to face the situation and move forward with more confidence and positivity," expressed Latha.

Many people apply for loans or finance to start a business, I am also one among them. Latha shared, "at first it was not easy for me to get a loan. I struggled a lot as I did not know whom I should approach. Before my loan got sanctioned I had to submit few documents to show them the proof that I could repay back the money."

Once I opened my beauty parlor, I had to start advertising it, which was again not easy. I printed pamphlets and hired a person, asked him to go around every colony and place the pamphlet it in front of every gate. Initially I did not have many customers, but slowly word of mouth spread about my services which helped in increasing my customers. It took time for me to build trust in customers too," added Latha.

A business person should have a lot of patience as they get to meet different mentality of customers. "I had to deal with customers in a friendly and careful way because one single customer also can just change my life by giving a negative publicity," she said.

"I even started training students at my beauty parlor. I teach them waxing, threading, facial and many more. Once they get to learn the process, I ask them to do it on my customers, but not all customers cooperate as they have trust only on me," she added.

"Since when Covid began spreading I followed proper rules and regulations, so that my customers feel comfortable and safe. During Covid days hardly, any customers visited my parlor, due to which went into loses. I felt a little depressed, but did not give up, as time passed everything became normal and I overcame my loses." Latha said.

Many customers who visited my parlor suggested me to start clothing business. I thought a lot about it and now it's been two months I started garment business too. I took about three lakh loan and this time it was a little easy for me to get a loan because of my regular income. Women who visit my parlor purchase clothes from me and again word of mouth is helping me in marketing my clothing business too," she adds.

"Rules and regulations have to be more entrepreneur friendly so that a person who wants to start a startup should find the process easy and faster. Too many policies may stop or restrict a person from fulfilling his or her dreams to be part of the business industry," pointed Latha.

Talking about startup Latha said: "No business can function properly without a business plan. A business plan acts like a roadmap, a document that will guide your business to success. Business planning doesn't have to be a long drawn out process. In fact, you've probably already put together a lot of the information mentally, or even scribbled a few notes on paper. The point of a solid business plan is to figure out what your business is, how it will be successful, and how you'll troubleshoot the problems."

"Business is one of the best fields to excel in life that is why these days we find many entrepreneurs coming up with different ideas," concluded Latha with a smile.