NailBook
A streamlined management system for nail salon operations—booking, inventory, and client relationships in one place.
Context
Audience
Small to medium nail salon owners who manage operations manually or with disconnected tools.
Why It Matters
Salon owners spend hours on administrative tasks that could be automated. This directly impacts their ability to focus on clients and grow their business.
Constraints
Needed to work well on tablets (common in salons) while still being functional on phones. Real-time updates for booking changes were essential.
Decisions
What I Chose
- Tablet-optimized dashboard layout with touch-friendly controls
- Real-time booking sync to prevent double-bookings
- Client history view for personalized service recommendations
- Simple inventory alerts rather than complex stock management
What I Didn't
- Complex POS integration—focused on booking and client management first
- Multi-location support—kept scope tight for single-salon operations
- Heavy customization options—opinionated defaults work better for most salons
Reasoning
Salon operations are high-touch and time-sensitive. The interface needed to be learnable in minutes, not hours. Fewer options, faster decisions.
Outcome & Reflection
What Worked
Real-time booking prevented conflicts that previously caused client frustration. Client history feature became the most-used part of the app.
What I'd Improve
Would add simple reporting for revenue trends. SMS reminder integration was requested frequently.
What I Learned
Observation beats asking. Watching the owner manage the entire operation solo revealed pain points they couldnt articulate in casual conversations.