It sure seems like summer just began but the stores already have their back to school items on display and before you know it, parents will be prepping their kids for the upcoming school year.
In addition to buying new backpacks and school supplies, parents spend a ton of money buying their kids new shoes and clothes and they also will get their student a fresh haircut so they look clean and ready to tackle the new school year. Often time’s schools take school pictures within the first couple weeks of school so a new haircut is definitely in order!
Wait! Summer isn’t over!
To capitalize on the last month or so of summer vacation, you could run a promotion asking parents or teachers to stop in and treat themselves to a spa treatment like a pedicure, manicure, facial, or hot stone massage. Promote that they should swing into your salon for a last moment of pampering before they get back to the hustle and bustle of the school year.
To get those clients to book their future appointment, why not run a promotion where anyone who books their next salon service during their August appointment receives a percentage off of the next appointment? That will entice your current clients to pre-book. You could also mention that with all of the back to school cuts, appointments fill up fast and mention that it’s best to book their next appointment now.
Want to get multiple pre-books? Run a promotion where your customers can either receive a complementary deep conditioning treatment at a future visit, a free sample size product, free polish change, etc. Figure out what you can afford to offer and run with it. Giving them a new freebie at each appointment will get them to book further out. Make sure to give them the value-added item at their future visit, not at the time that they make the appointment. You don’t want people booking, receiving the free item ahead of time, then canceling or doing a no-show.
How is your referral program? Do you have one in place? One of the best and easiest ways to draw in business is by client referrals. Encourage clients to refer a friend to your salon. When they do and that friend has their appointment, give the client who did the referral some type of thank you. This could be a phone call or a quick post card that says you appreciate them referring friends and offer them a percentage off of a future visit. This will let them feel valued and appreciated (and, hopefully they will feel inclined to continue referring you!).
Freshen up for back to school.
Now that you’ve drawn clients in for some last minute summer pampering, now is the time to drive your back to school business. Encourage clients to come in for a trim, new hairstyle, or for a freshening of their hair color so they start the school year off looking their best! Remind them that now is the time to come in so they look sharp in their back to school photos and can boast the latest hair trends when returning to school.
If you have before and after’s of some of your clients, share them (with their permission, of course). Boast how you are well versed in providing clients the latest hair color techniques, haircuts, styles, etc. This will position you as a leader in your field and clients will want to sit in your chair. Do you have an amazing nail artist at your salon? Team up and run special promotions where clients can do a one-stop visit and leave with a whole new look, from head to toe (literally!).
We talked about the importance of offering incentive to get clients to pre-book and that remains true for your back to school crowd. End your client’s appointment by telling them how frequent they should return to maintain their look and let them know that if they book their future appointments now, they’ll receive a special gift at each of those appointments. Follow up this suggestion by showing them the products you used on their hair and thanking them again for their business. You don’t want to sound pushy, rather it’s good to take a helpful tone because after all, you are helping them out by getting them locked into your books and are helping them stay looking their authentic best.
What promotions do you run during this time of year to draw in business? Leave us a comment below and let us know! We love hearing from you.