We’re raising our rates: not because we want to, but because we have to!
Ladies and gentlemen, a topic I hate to bring up, but absolutely must: PRICE INCREASES (dun dun dunnnn.) As of March 1, 2020 we will be increasing the price of all services.
Why must we increase prices? To be honest… there’s a long list of reasons that I’m going to share with you all because we’d never want our clients to feel we were being shady or unfair.
So let’s get to it:
In the nearly 5 years that we’ve been open, we’ve never once increased prices. NEVER.
Our rent has increased every year
Our merchant services -- that’s the fancy phrase for credit card machine company -- charges a percentage per swipe (and nearly everyone seems to like to swipe which means we make less from each service)
Employee compensation (minimum wage) has increased to $13.50/hour and we pay at least that (recall that many salons sadly have found ways to play the system and do not pay their workers minimum wage…)
The costs of supplies/products have increased (as has the shipping); by law files and nail buffers may only be used ONCE which currently costs about $1 per service; plus to complete each service costs us money for polish, clean towels, additional products, etc. (in order to save money for ourselves and our clients, we do however make our own lotions and sugar scrub which also ensures a truly organic product)
As of last year, we are required by law to pay 1 hour of sick leave for every 40 hours worked for all full-time employees (basically $624 per employee per year); this also means that when someone uses sick time, I have to pay double (both for the person who is sick, and then for coverage of the sick person)
Other monthly -- or in some cases annual -- costs to Charme Studio:
Utilities (can’t our water and electric just be gifted to us?! haha)
Our booking software (which we’ve recently upgraded to make booking appointments easier)
Annual licensing which includes a Washington State Business License, a City of Tacoma Business License, professional licenses, and salon/shop licenses
Accounting services
State, City, and Employee Taxes plus taxes due to the big hitter, The IRS (not to throw more shade but as we’ve discussed in previous posts, a lot of salons find ways to avoid paying taxes… including those seemingly harmless “discounts for cash”)
Giving back to the community; while this will never change, it has become harder to do with our shrinking profit margin
So there you have it. Does this totally suck? Yes! We wish we could keep the same prices for life (like some of these shops who’ve literally charged the same prices for 20 years), but because we do follow all the rules and regulations for our industry, and because everything eventually increases (that’s the cost of living as they say) we simply must increase the prices. I mean really, doesn’t it seem weird that gas prices go up? Rent goes up. Food goes up. But not nail services??? That’s because it IS totally weird. Additionally, I also heard that a perk of owning a successful business is making a profit?! I’m hoping to start doing more of that one day soon… haha.
We value all of our clients and consider you part of the Charme family. Though this will be an adjustment, please know we appreciate you sticking with us and supporting our efforts to provide great services with quality products!
P.S. Starting March, gel removal will be complimentary if the gel was done by us and when booked with another gel manicure! See, it’s not all bad! Haha.