Similar business as friend - would I bu?

[aibunamechange2023]

I have been close with my friend for around 10 years. She has a beauty business, mostly specialising in acrylic nails. She has converted one side of her garage into a therapy room for all her treatments, so her clients come to her house.

Over the last 12 months, I have been doing my own gel nails since having my daughter and my friend has always complimented my nails when she sees me. Lately I have started doing my own press on nails and some of my colleagues have been asking me to do them a set and have also been sharing pictures of their sets online so I've had a few people approach me asking me to make them a set.

My question is, would I BU to start selling online (doing it legitimately and keeping track of any earnings etc), or do you think it's a bit too closely linked to my mate?

To add, none of my colleagues etc are clients of hers as far as I am aware, and I have no intention in learning to do acrylic nails, or open a salon or anything like that, just purely selling custom press on nails on the likes of Etsy.

I think it’s different enough that there shouldn’t be a problem. Why don’t you talk to your friend about it -if she is a true friend she will be encouraging!

Do you intend to follow health and safety etc procedures? People can't really just sell things they make in their spare room anymore without following guidelines. Especially if it will be used on the body.

Absolutely. I'll be throughly researching all the correct policies

I do think there's a risk you'll be looking for the same customer base. But I guess if yours is purely online then your potential geographical reach is far wider.

do you have mutual friends who might be in a dilemma which one if you to go to when they want a nail treat?

why don't you speak with her. Be honest that you don't want to tread on her toes and will have a different business model to hers. See what she says. Hopefully she'll appreciate you being upfront with her.

Is your friend qualified and insured?
Are you qualified and insured?

That would be my first question. As a person in an industry that anyone can just hop in to, it really bothers me when people start trading that aren't qualified and are unlikely to be insured as well.

Personally I think this is a bit close to your friends business so you'll have to decide what you care about more and if you want to risk damaging your friendship. Or, speak to your friend. She might be happy to refer clients to you if there's a specific service she doesn't enjoy offering that much, in exchange for referrals for what she does enjoy.

I think it's fine, but I would still talk to your friend about your plans - it would be horrible if she found out after the fact and felt you had hidden it from her.