Are you a nail enthusiast thinking about turning your hobby into a profitable business, or are you an established nail tech thinking about other ways to offer your craft, like selling custom-made press-on nails? Or maybe you love press-on nails and want to join this side of the nail industry! Any of those are achievable, but where do you start? What do you need? What is the first step? Thanks to some of the established press on nail artists and the post-pandemic era of online education, you can find all the answers and support you may need in one place.
Nails are hot right now, and because of our lifestyles and personality, the option to wear press-on nails has become the way to go for many people. According to market research, the press on nail industry has consistently grown since the pandemic. It will become a billion-dollar industry by 2030, which means there is room for you and your unique nail art style, so now is just a matter of how starting, planning, and executing. Easier said than done, if you ask me.
For that reason, I went to one of the OG's of the Luxury press on nail business to ask her, right now, what are the 5 things you need to start a press ons business and succeed. There is good information about starting as a press-ons artist, but this is the updated version of how to make it work in 2023 with our current resources.
I am a press-on nail artist myself. I started during the pandemic and learned from the little information online; later, my mentor suggested I talk to Jerri from Dippy Cow Nails. Now, a little background information about the Queen of Press on Nails.
Jerri, the owner of Dippy Cow Nails, started her business in 2016. Dippy Cow Nails was one of the very first luxury, custom press-on nail brands and has worked in projects like Claws, TNT and been featured on MTV, Insider Beauty, Kylie Cosmetics, BBC, etc., and was fortunate enough to become a full-time press-on artist after four months of opening her store.
Fortunately for us new press on artists, she has scaled back on her press on business and invested more into the education part of the business, which turned into the Press on Portal. Inside the Press on Portal, you will find masterclasses covering everything from the fundamentals of press ons creation to managing, marketing, and owning a press ons business.
The Press on Portal is specific to press on nail artists, which currently established press on artists like Jerri wishes they had when they first started. She put all the hard work and lessons learned through the years so new artists can bypass that and learn from her and other press-ons artists to save us headaches, money, and time.
From one of the most successful press-ons artists, these are the five focus areas for starting a press-on-nails business in 2023.
Figuring Out Your Branding
Your brand is essentially the personality of your business, the vibe. It's what people experience and feel when they experience your products or services. It sets you apart from your competitors and builds trust with your customers. Therefore, it's important to take the time to research and plan your branding strategy. Initially, you can keep things simple, like using your name or signature as your logo and changing it later. However, before making a final decision, it's important to carefully consider all your options. Remember, your brand is what will make you unforgettable, so make sure it truly represents you.
Securing Your Website Domain and Social Media Platforms
Even if you do not use your social media profiles right away, secure your domain and profile so it's consistent on all platforms, and you don't end up being "HotNails" on Instagram and "Hawt_Nailzss57" on TikTok. Also, having a domain is exceptionally crucial for creating your own website and branded business email address; this will build trust with your customers too.
Getting the Basic Materials
One of my mentors says, "Use what you have first" Then, if you are starting from scratch, to start a press ons business, you need:
- A few basic colors, black, white, red, blue, green, pink, purple, etc. You can always mix your colors to create new ones.
- Some embellishments like chrome pigments, glitters, foils, stickers, studs, crystals, or whatever your nail art style needs.
- A few brushes, liner brushes, etc.
- Nail stands, nail tips, nail solutions.
- A good quality Top coat and Base coat. Jerri recommends the Luxa Shine by Luxa, which she has been using for years and swears by! I have been using the Japanese gel nail brand Kokoist Utra Glossy top coat and Mega Stick Base.
The most important thing here is to invest in brands you trust, quality products, and brands that offer education for artists. The cost of materials and products is a factor to consider when starting, but look thoroughly into the quality and reputation of the products you use for your own sake and your clients. The topic of allergies triggered by nail products is a hot topic at the moment, and Jerri feels like, especially press-ons artists, are at risk of developing these types of allergies.
A small inventory of designs.
You will need to to create content and showcase what you can do. This can be a combination of a few solid colors, and nail art designs incorporating chrome powders, foils, and glitters. Things that are not too extreme or crazy but show people options.
Setting up a lead magnet.
A lead magnet is a great way to get someone's email address. It can take different forms, like a pop-up on your website or a coupon or discount when people sign up. Your mailing list is a really important asset to your business. Even if you lose your social media accounts, your email list will be your savior. You'll still have all your clients and contacts and own that list.
The people on your mailing list are likelier to buy from you than those on your Instagram account. They've visited your site and had some interactions where they trusted you enough to share their email address, which is a valuable currency. So, it's worth investing in learning and growing your email list because the number of sales you make will only be as significant as the number of email contacts you have.
Okay, so let's review the five focus areas to start a press on nail business in 2023:
- Branding. Do the homework and find your brand personality.
- Secure a website domain and social media platforms.
- Get the basics. Quality over quantity. Basic colors, a few brushes, and a good base and top coat.
- Create a small inventory of designs.
- Set up a lead magnet. Free shipping, a free guide, discount offers, etc., something exciting to invite customers to your email list.
If something picked your interest, join this awesome community at the Press on Portal. You get a three-day free trial to check it out, no commitment, and you can binge-watch all the content available, like masterclasses, nail tutorials, previous like calls, and see how you like it and would like to stay and join. When you're ready you can click here to check out the best press-on nails portal ever!
I hope this helped with getting a better picture of what you need to start and where you can start. Like any business, it takes time, dedication, patience, and a strategy to turn it into a fully profitable business; it's super fun! But consistency is key. If you have any questions, you can comment below, DM me on Instagram, or contact Jerri directly; she is super approachable and the sweetest. Thank you for hanging out with me, I'll talk to you soon, byeee! :*
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