Our 'nails and manicure' business on thebestofHinckley - Five Star Nails, who specialise in manicures and pedicures, has had a really positive write up in our bestof business-to-business newsletter that is publish and sent to our bestof businesses twice monthly. I thought it worth repeating hear in full for you all to read about the benefits that they have enjoyed since joining us on thebestofHinckley 18 months ago. Read on ....

Carol Howard, owner of Five Star Nails, started the business up over 6 years ago. During this time she has advertised with many local advertising mediums but to no avail.

Carol explains: "We've advertised through all the usual local newspapers, and leaflets and so forth since we've been running the salon, but through doing this we have virtually received no response if not nothing at all. It's all been very disappointing. I guess local ads don't have the pulling power that they once did. More and more people are using the web for their first point of call."

So it was just under two years ago that Carol decided that it was about time her marketing began to really shine for her and her business. And by joining thebestof hinckley the five star treatment that the site provided her business began to shine through almost immediately and has carried on doing so.

"thebestof has been terrific for us. On average we receive between 5 and 6 new customers a month, and double the amount of enquiries. In fact during our busy periods, such as the Summer holidays, we find we attract 2-3 new customers a week!"

With this in mind, and the fact that the majority of Carol's customers come back time and time again, because of the excellent and friendly service that the experienced team of 7 provide, Five Star Nails is fast becoming a very polished business.

"These last few months have been absolutely fantastic for us, so much so I've had to recruit new staff, which in a time where many local businesses are suffering, really is quite something. I think the more thebestof grows the more we grow."

Carol focuses most of her marketing activity through thebestof. At times she takes out joint ads with other local businesses, but when new business enquiries come in all her staff including herself always ask where they had heard about them and 9/10 times the answer is thebestof.

What has proved a real success for Carol and her business is the testimonial pages that thebestof provides. "The testimonials are brilliant. All our new customers have said how after reading testimonials that our clients have left prompts them to pick up the phone straight away. This is one of the main reasons why I like thebestof. They are a lot more than just an online directory, they offer a full five star treatment."

Five Star Nails of Hinckley can be found in the Health Circle, Spa House, 10-12 The Lawns, Hinckley. The fully equipped salon has been designed to provide customers with the pampering that their hands and feet deserve. Geoff Waters, site owner of thebestof hinckley commented: "Carol and her fantastic staff make a great team, and a great business. It's a real pleasure that we are able to help champion and promote them throughout Hinckley's online audience. Our clients' success is our success, so here's to another great two years!"