The Price is Fright
Dear Barb, Dreaded price increase time is rolling around again. I struggle to charge our worth, as I know everyone is struggling with the cost of living. Help!
Dear Dreading It,
Well, the late and great Donna Summer put it best when she sang “She works hard for the money, so hard for it, honey”.
It’s a good thing the queen isn’t around today or the words would continue to say “She’s in Coles, and found the holy grail, she can finally wash her knickers, detergents on sale!”
Because that’s the hard knock life at the moment my sweets! With the current cost of living we’re all working hard for the money and it often feels as though it’s barely touching the sides! Rent, tool maintenance and utilities are competing in their own version of a race that stops the nation that’s neither crowd pleasing nor does it inspire me to wear my best fascinator.
Unfortunately, the only simple solution that doesn’t come with a side serving of burnout - is a price increase.
I was certainly caught off guard with my own hairdresser when my usual service came with a $45 hoist of the pants. I thought “Love, take me to dinner first!”, but caught the words before they spilled out of the cuppa, because we’re all doing it tough. It’s costing her more to continue to keep me from looking like a wet Bichon, so of course she has to charge me more! So of course I paid it, because it would be an absolute crim not to love this trim!
Will all of her clients be as charming as myself with their own price increases? Give it a bone, ploise! But will she continue to enforce it? Yes, because she has to, and so do you!
You’re not being greedy. You’re not taking advantage. You’re doing what every other small business has to do to keep going. Be fair, be clear, and be kind - but don’t apologise for needing to make a living.
There will be snide comments. I almost let one slip and I’m as eloquent and delightful as they come (if I do say so myself), but don’t take it to heart! Give plenty of notice where possible and then people can prepare accordingly.
Your clients care about you. The good ones understand. And the ones that don’t? Well, they’ll come around - or they won’t. Either way, your rent still needs paying, your tools still need oiling, and you still deserve a wage that reflects your skill.
Barb-bye!
