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A salon client complaining

Managing Salon Client Complaints

February 4, 2021/0 Comments/in Blog /by Melissa

Managing Salon Client Complaints.

A salon client complaining

Managing Salon client complaints can be an extremely challenging task for everyone involved. Emotions can run high, causing stress for both you and your client.

Learning ways to manage salon client complaints effectively is extremely important to preserve your business reputation and ensure your clients leave your salon happy.

In this article, you will learn simple but effective skills to use when dealing with a salon client complaint.

See the Value in Salon Client Complaints.

Looking for the value in clients complaints may seem counter-intuitive. However, complaints provide you with valuable insight into how you can improve your business, skills, or client service.

Moreover, when a client complains, you now have the opportunity to remedy the situation and avoid losing a valuable client.

Here are a few statistics to show the value of client complaints.

Only 1 out of 20 unhappy clients will complain. The other 19 will stop doing business with you without telling you why.

70% of complaining clients will do business with you again if their issues get resolved.

As quoted by bill gates, your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.

Keep this valuable quote in mind the next time you receive a client complaint, and you may even find your attitude towards client complaints will improve.

hair salon client complaining

Listen, Listen, Listen.

Listen to your client with the intent to listen, not just to reply. Letting your client finish without interruption is important, as your client will feel heard and is less likely to become emotional or frustrated.

Always talk to your client in a calm and concerned manner, while clarifying that you have correctly understood their complaint.

Avoid getting defensive and try not to take the complaint as a personal attack.

Imagining yourself in your client’s situation can sometimes help you understand their perspective, and you will feel more empathetic.

Body language is also a powerful form of communication, so be mindful of your body language.

Most people unconsciously respond to emotional signals you display. So keep your posture positive and relaxed and use open hand gestures when talking.

Furthermore, avoid crossing your arms or placing your hands on hips as these positions can irritate your customer. To read more about body language in the salon, click here.

Remain tactful and respond kindly to diffuse any anger or frustration.

Another important note is to make sure the complaint is being dealt with by one person only. If other staff enter into the conversation, your client may feel ganged up on and bullied.

Listening to a salon client

Apologise with sincerity.

Once the problem is defined, assure your client that you will be doing everything you can to rectify the issue.

When you make a mistake, there are four things you should do

  • Admit it
  • Apologise for it
  • Learn from it
  • Don’t repeat it

Providing a sincere apology without making excuses shows a client they are valuable to your salon.

Seek a Resolution.

Now it’s time for both you and the client to agree on a resolution.

Act quickly to rectify the complaint; however, if the problem will take more than one visit or take multiple stages to fix, clearly explain the steps and time needed.

Remain firm but polite when negotiating and provide compensation when necessary.

 

Resolving a salon client complaint

Compensation for clients is good business practice and is especially important for long-term valuable clients.

Compensation can be used to your advantage. By giving your client 50% off their next visit, they are happy, they rebook, and you get repeat business. Win, Win!

Remember, retaining old clients is much more cost-effective than finding new clients. Statistics show that it is 6-7 times more expensive to acquire a new client than to keep a current one.

So, now you see why learning to manage complaints efficiently is essential for your business and maintaining client retention.

Salon Clients Complaint Policy.

Deciding on a suitable resolution is a matter of your discretion and will depend on each individual situation. However, having a clear salon client complaints policy is an essential and valuable tool for you and your staff.

A pre-written policy provides a clear path for you and your staff to follow should the need arise.

Educate your staff on all complaint policy requirements so they can successfully manage complaints consistently across the salon.

Furthermore, a written policy also works to improve response times, as protocols are already in place, and more importantly, reduces staff stress.

Pick Your Battles.

Not all grievances are worth arguing about, and it is essential to identify which complaints are worth negotiating.

Unfortunately, we all come across the occasional client who complains regularly or are just out for a refund or freebie.

Even though we should always put the client first and find a resolution where possible, some people simply cannot be pleased.

Don’t be afraid to decide that a particular client is no longer worth your valuable time. Take a diplomatic approach, even when you know you are right and try to defuse any hairy situations.

Sometimes, offering the client a full refund and politely suggesting they choose another spa or salon more suited to their needs is a great way to rid yourself of ongoing problems.

It is also worth noting that it is never okay for a client to abuse you verbally. When a client crosses the line, don’t accept poor behaviour.

Calmly address the client and tell them you are happy to address the problem, but you will not proceed with a conversation until they calm down.

Terminate the conversation if you must and reconnect with the client at a later date.

Learn From Salon Client Complaints.

salon clients talking

Thank your client for bringing their unhappiness to your attention as most will not bother to complain and just walk away from your salon, never to be seen again.

These genuine complaints provide you with valuable ways to improve your business and reflect on what needs to be changed to ensure better outcomes or service.

You might need to consider training for yourself or staff if the complaint was a skill-based problem. Improving skills are a positive way to reduce staff errors and eliminate unwanted outcomes.

Use examples of customer complaints to talk to staff and develop scenarios that improve resolutions. This way, your team are well equipped to handle customer complaints should they arise.

If time management is an issue in your salon, consider automating your business with time-saving software like Konnect.

Konnect provides you with all the amazing tools you need to streamline your day and stay organised.

Document Complaints.

Document all customer complaints and record the details on the client’s card.

The Konnect client card feature has unlimited space to record every detail.

Don’t rely on your memory, as you may need to look back on these records if things are taken further by the client.

Conclusion.

You will not be able to please all clients, all the time. However, you can build a business based around kindness, patience and a willingness to provide excellent customer service.

So take a deep breath, deal with complaints with a positive attitude and embrace mistakes as an opportunity to flourish.

Konnect provides you with the simple, easy-to-use tools to successfully run day-to-day operations in your salon.

Not using Konnect Spa and Salon Software?  Sign up for a free demonstration today.

 

 

local map with search signs.

Local Marketing Tips for Salons.

October 13, 2020/0 Comments/in Blog /by Melissa

Don’t waste time and money marketing your salon to the world, when your salon clients are just around the corner.

Most salon clients are looking for ease and convenience when it comes to visiting a salon. So the majority of people will look locally.  But will they find YOU?

To be sure your salon business is visible to your local community, follow these handy local marketing tips.

Why is Local Marketing Important for Salon?

Local marketing may seem like a no-brainer, but many salon owners frequently overlook this simple idea, resulting in poor marketing outcomes and a loss of hard-earned money.

Furthermore, loyal local clients are a fantastic advertising asset to your salon business.

Happy clients will tell their friends and family who most will likely live and work in the same area.

Local word of mouth is your best friend and can lead to many quality referrals.

 

A blackboard with word of mouth referral in chalk writing.

Local Marketing Tips For Salons.

Claim Your Business.

Have you claimed your salon business on Google, Bing, and Yahoo?

Adding your salon business details to these search engine directories is extremely important to gain maximum visibility. Why?

Because a reported 90% of consumers used the internet to find a local business in the last year. Yep, you read that right…90%. So get your salon listed in these directories today.

Google is, by far, the most used search engine in the world with 91.5% of the population using it. Therefore, adding your salon business to “Google My Business” is strongly recommended. 

Not sure how to do this? Here is a video that walks you through the steps.

How To Rank In Google Maps — FAST Method

Or go to Google My Business Help.

Don’t forget Yahoo and Bing. These smaller search engines may not be used as much, however, listing your business is free so why not cover all bases. 

For help with Yahoo, go to https://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/local

If you are already listed on these sites, great! But please update your salon’s business details if they change, because out of date information can look unprofessional.

A local map for advertising salons

Review Sites.

Adding your salon business to a review site like Yelp can be a powerful step to attract new clients to your salon.

Yelp allows clients to search for local business listings by type of business, geographical location, price range, and unique features.

Yelp encourages business patrons to leave reviews, star ratings, and photos about your business.  

To get your salon business listed today go to Manage My Free Listing.

 

Geotargeting.

The internet is a powerful place to advertise. However, if you do decide to pay for advertising, be sure to use geotargeting. 

Geotargeting is an AdWords feature that ensures your advertisements are only visible to people from your specified area.

The great benefit of Geotargeting is that you won’t waste your marketing budget on clicks from people who live hours away from your business.

Here is a geotargeting resource to help guide you through the setup. 

 

Large letters spelling Local for marketing salons.

Targeted Facebook Campaigns.

Facebook is a fantastic place for salon businesses. Not only do you get to showcase your best work, but your audience can share posts with others. This encourages word of mouth marketing and is often a great way to get more local clients.  

Paid Facebook marketing campaigns are a beneficial way to target a specific audience. But to do this, you must be sure to identify your ideal client.

What type of clients does your salon best cater to? Do you have a specific niche or demographic you appeal to?  

Facebook allows you to refine the scope of your campaign to your local area and type of client. Parameters you can target include location, age group, life events, singles, parents, etc.

 

Join Local Community Groups.

Joining a local community group like the rotary club or even a local charity helps you stay connected with residents and other business owners.

Joining your local chamber of commerce is also an excellent way to expose your business and network with other business owners. There is an annual fee, but joining is worth every penny.  

Participating in community groups builds trust and relationships within your community which is an invaluable asset for your salon. 

 

A local community group.

Approach Compatible Businesses.

Networking with other businesses in your area can lead to more local exposure.  Think about approaching businesses that are compatible with your type of salon, spa, or barbershop.

Approach the local dance studio to advertise your salon’s hair or makeup services for dance events, and in turn, display their dance business brochures in your salon. 

Consider partnering with a local wedding photographer or florist and cross-promote each other. Word of mouth is a powerful tool for local business owners.

Contact the local high school and advertise in the school newsletter, offering a discount to students who attend that school or offer your services in the lead up to graduation season.

Hashtagging.

Hashtagging in social media can help significantly to reach local clients.

Be sure to hashtag your local area in all social media posts.  

For example: Get a fantastic #balyage at #Elantecreations in #Ashfield.

Try using hashtags to announce your participation in local events, encourage donations to local charities or cheer on the local sports team.

Boost engagement by targeting your niche audience in hashtags. Just be sure the hashtags are relevant to your salon business and your target clients.

 

A chalk board with #local written

Local Event Participation.

Be on the lookout for community events or charity fundraisers in your local area and consider volunteering. 

Many fundraising events will advertise the participating businesses in brochures or local news articles which is excellent local coverage for your salon.

Be sure to wear T-shirts with your salon’s name and carry business cards or flyers to distribute. 

You may like to donate a gift card or a basket of products which, of course, will include your business card. 

Sponsoring a local sporting team, social or educational event is another way you can get your business noticed.

Letter Box drops and Flyers. 

Printed flyers or brochures are still a cheap and effective way to get noticed by the locals.

Let people know what you offer, where you are, what your niche is, and how they can get in touch with you.

Distribute flyers in a local letterbox drop, hand them out to people walking past your salon during quiet times, or pop them on car windscreens parked nearby. 

Approach your business neighbours and swap flyers to cross-promote each other.  

Both businesses can display these flyers and help each other get traction with the locals. It’s a win-win!

 

Marketing brochures in local letter boxes

Drive Your Own Billboard.

Magnetic car advertisements or vinyl wraps are an inexpensive way to transform your car into a driving billboard.

Statistics show that 97% of people remember vehicle ads compared to only 20% for billboards. Furthermore, vehicle marketing has been shown to get more audience impressions than any other form of marketing. 

So just by driving around town, you are effectively marketing your salon business and building brand awareness. In fact, even a stationary car is still working as a powerful billboard.

However, there is one downside: if you are an arrogant driver who frequently gets into road rage arguments, maybe this form of advertising is not for you. After all, first impressions matter.

 

Local Newspapers.

Local newspaper advertising is still a great way to get noticed and gain new clients. Of course, there is an outlay, but the exposure to the local community is significant.

Plus, most newspapers have a website or social media page that you can advertise on, so you are sure to be noticed.

Local Business Awards.

Most local councils or newspapers run an annual business award campaign where they pick the most outstanding business or best customer service business.

And here’s the secret to winning…You have to be in it to win! 

Check out the local business awards group online and be sure to register your salon for nominations.

Encourage clients to vote for your business. Most loyal clients will be delighted to vote for you and see you succeed. 

Winning such an award has excellent benefits for your salon business. Not only do you get the prestige of winning, but you also get to display a sign in your salon which people recognise and trust.

Such awards help boost the credibility of your salon and encourage new clientele.

 

Online Bookings.

You already know (or should know) that online visibility is important for exposure to new clients.

However, once a client has found you, don’t lose them by expecting them to pick up the phone and call to make an appointment.  

Make it easy for clients to book by providing an online booking opportunity customised for your website and/or social media channels.  

Potential clients may be browsing for a new salon during their work commute, on a lunch break, or after hours when calling is not an option. 

Konnect provides you with an online booking feature that allows you to take bookings, provide confirmation, include a cancellation policy, or take payments.

Once an online appointment is made, you will be automatically notified, and your appointment schedule will be updated across all devices.  

Konnect makes the process easy and painless for both you and your clients.

a woman booking a salon appointment online.

Conclusion.

It is essential that you consider targeting your salon marketing to the local surrounding community.

The tips discussed prevent you from marketing your business to the masses and wasting your time and money.

Listing your business in as many local sites as possible and geotargeting your paid ads is vital if you want to get noticed in your local area.

Participate in your local community and charity events to propel your salon business into the hearts and minds of your community.  

Foster local business relationships to encourage cross-promotion and word of mouth. 

Successful local salon marketing includes advertising in your local newspaper, using your car as a billboard, and distributing flyers. 

Finally, give potential salon clients every opportunity to book a service with you by providing an easy to use online booking tool.

Konnect provides you with the simple, easy-to-use tools to successfully run day-to-day operations in your salon.

Not using Konnect Spa and Salon Software?  Sign up for a free demonstration today.

Jump on board and let us help you take your business to new heights.

Konnect Spa and Salon Software – the simple, affordable key to making your business brilliant.

 

A happy woman with a bag of money after salon upselling.

Salon Upselling and Cross-selling Techniques.

June 26, 2020/0 Comments/in Blog /by Melissa

Salon Upselling and Cross-selling Techniques.

A happy woman with a bag of money after salon upselling.

Salon upselling and cross-selling techniques are something all salon owners should know and use. By following the easy and practical techniques in this article, your business will experience improved client relationships and increased revenue.  

When used correctly, upselling and cross-selling can benefit both you and your clients. So let’s get down to business.

What is Salon Upselling and Cross-selling?

Upselling is a technique where you encourage a client to purchase a product or service of higher value. On the other hand, cross-selling is when you persuade a client to buy a related or complementary product or service. 

Upselling and cross-selling are often confused, so here is an easy to remember example;

The staff at McDonald’s are famous for their upselling and cross-selling skills. Think of that famous line, “Do you want fries with that?” That’s cross-selling. Whereas upselling is, “Would you like to upgrade to a large soda? It’s so simple; teenagers can do it. 

But Beware! These two sales techniques are only successful when the sale benefits both you and your client. If you try to take advantage of your client and push useless or unwanted products and services, you run the risk of looking money hungry and untrustworthy. 

 

Salon staff using upselling

Solve Your Client’s Problems.

If you look at salon upselling and cross-selling as a sales technique that solves a problem for your client, you are on your way to mastering this strategy.

Successful salon upselling and cross-selling requires you to know your clients and products well.  

What is your client trying to achieve? What do they dislike about their hair or skin? Do you have a new product line that would help this client achieve better results?

By understanding your client’s problems and suggesting an add-on treatment or product that fulfills their needs shows a deeper level of care and understanding.  

“Don’t find customers for your products, find products for your customers” Seth Godin

Poor recommendations may damage your clients trust in you or cause resentment. No one likes to spend their hard-earned money on useless treatments or products.  

So please take the time to provide a thorough consultation to understand everything you can about your clients style, personality, needs and wants.  Be sure to record everything on your client’s card for future reference. 

 

Beauty salon staff member with products.

Salon Upselling and Cross-selling Education.

The key to confident and successful selling lies in knowledge and knowledge comes from educating yourself and your team. 

Having a thorough understanding of your products shows your expertise and can encourage a client to accept your recommendations. Product knowledge also ensures you can answer any queries from a client. Again, showcasing your expertise. 

Another thing to consider, is to only stock products that you genuinely think has merit or will benefit your particular clientele. Stocking products that align with your salons brand is also essential. Continuity in your business vision creates a more powerful message to clients. 

Offering products that set you apart from your competitors can also increase your chances of cross-selling. Exclusive merchandise is very enticing to clients. Many studies have shown that most people view more expensive and exclusive products as better in quality. 

Most suppliers are happy to send a sales rep to your salon to educate both you and your staff about their products. Always ask for samples so you and your team can personally trial the products. Experiencing the product yourself gives you a better understanding of the client experience.

 

Salon Staff educating client.

Client Education.

Client education is a brilliant way to encourage a client to buy a product or upsell to a higher-end treatment. 

Remember, your clients won’t buy your products just to do you a favour, they buy because your product or service will make their life better in some way. 

Encouraging an at-home treatment routine with your products is also another great way to cross-sell. Even if your client can’t buy everything you recommend, send them home with some samples, if possible.  

Giving your client a brochure explaining your products is also a great way to encourage future purchases.

The more informed and empowered your clients are, the more satisfied and confident they will be in their choices.

Salon Upselling and Cross-selling Opportunities.

Every interaction with your client has upselling and cross-selling potential. Encourage and educate your team to spot sale opportunities.

Providing incentives to increase product sales can also encourage staff to work on their upselling and cross-selling techniques.

Making sales more fun by making a game of it can stimulate your team to participate. Every month, provide a prize to the staff member with the most product sales.  

Konnects reporting tool makes this easy as you can search your staff performance by sales.  

You can also search the Konnect database to find which products are the best performers.

Salon staff upselling at the front counter.

 

Enquiries and Bookings.

When answering enquiries or taking a booking, always suggest your premium treatments first and work your way down to less expensive treatments. Now your client will consider a treatment or service they may not have even thought about before contact.

Always look for the opportunity to change a single treatment to a package deal. Why? Firstly, you are guaranteed repeat visits, and secondly, you are providing a more cost-effective option for your client. Happy client, happy you!

The Waiting Room. 

When sitting in your waiting room, expose your clients to all the beautiful products and services you offer via eye-catching posters, brochures and displays.

Before and after look-books are also a great way to instil confidence in your abilities and to encourage future treatments that your client may not have considered. 

Consultations.

During a client consult, remember to use open-ended questions such as “How do you care for your hair/skin at home?” or “What are the main issues you face with your hair/skin?” By understanding your client’s habits and issues, you can make appropriate and useful treatment or product suggestions.

 Konnect gives you the ability to customise client questionnaire forms, which the client can fill out on a tablet upon arrival.  Furthermore, you can track your client’s progress by including before and after pictures.

Consultation for salon upselling.

 

Engage With Clients During Treatments.

During your client’s treatment, keep conversations friendly and always listen out for upcoming events that your client mentions.

These are great opportunities for you to suggest a particular treatment or product to enhance their look for the occasion. 

Do they have a holiday coming up? Suggest a travel-friendly product or encourage them to book an appointment before their trip, so they are looking fresh and radiant. 

Always use products you sell during the treatment to pique your client’s interest. Use this opportunity to cross-sell products that will help your client achieve their skin or hair goals.

Start a dialogue about the product. Use lead-in statements like “Smell this, isn’t it divine? It’s a new range we are carrying” or “This shampoo/cleanser is so lovely, we are using it on all our clients now, and it’s perfect for your hair/skin”. 

Compliments are also a great way to start talking about a product. You can say things like “Your curls are gorgeous. If you have trouble keeping them in check, I have this great new smoothing serum”. Get the idea?

Be careful not to sound pushy or insincere and keep the conversation light and friendly. If your client is not interested, simply move on to another topic and educate your client when you can. 

A male hairdresser engaging with a salon client.

 

Packages and Promotions.

Savvy salon owners know the power of seasonal or holiday promotions and bundled packages. 

These are a great way to increase your sales. Social media is your best friend when it comes to seasonal promotions. Use fun and attractive pictures to encourage your clients to purchase a great money-saving deal for themselves or as a gift.

Make sure you have your “book now” feature activated, so you don’t miss out on online bookings or sales. To learn more about the advantages of online bookings click here.

Sending out SMS or email marketing promotions are also a fantastic salon upselling and cross-selling technique. Offering discounts on higher-end services and products can entice clients to try a service they may not usually consider. Konnect makes sending out SMS or email targeted marketing promotions easy.

Beautiful packaging will also encourage clients to buy gifts around Christmas, Mother’s day, or Valentine’s day. So take advantage of these high spending seasons with free social media advertising. 

What Not To Do.

So we’ve covered all the great techniques you can use when upselling and cross-selling, but there are things you should avoid doing to make a sale. 

Never be pushy or insistent. Your client will not appreciate such treatment. Don’t take it personally if your client declines to purchase something, as you don’t know their financial situation. 

Never suggest a treatment or product that won’t benefit your client. This will only deter your client from listening to your recommendations in the future and will reduce trust. 

Always be upfront about costs to your client. They need to be fully informed of the cost when going ahead with a treatment or once again, you will lose your clients trust. 

And finally, never take advantage of your client in any way. You will lose clients this way, and you may even develop a bad business reputation.

A happy woman with a bag of money after salon upselling.

Conclusion.

Look at salon upselling and cross-selling as a positive sales technique designed to help solve your client’s problems. 

Aim to improve your sales technique to encourage business growth and drive more sales.  

Take advantage of Konnects handy features to help you record and measure your upselling and cross-selling success. 

Konnect provides you with the simple, easy-to-use tools to successfully run day-to-day operations in your salon.

Not using Konnect Spa and Salon Software?  Sign up for a free demonstration today.

Jump on board and let us help you take your business to new heights.

Konnect Spa and Salon Software – the simple, affordable key to making your business brilliant.

 

A coronavirus cell with text "your salon and coronavirus"

Your Salon and Coronavirus. A Practical Guide.

March 13, 2020/0 Comments/in Blog /by Melissa

Your Salon and Coronavirus, a practical guide. Unfortunately, the number of Coronavirus (Covid-19) cases is rapidly growing around the globe and has now been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The health and safety of your salon clients and staff should be a priority. So here is a practical guide to help your salon, spa or barbershop business during this challenging time.

Your Salon and Coronavirus. A Practical Guide.

Before we go any further, one vital thing to remember is “Don’t panic!” The World Health Organisation states “Most people who become infected from Coronavirus (Covid-19) will experience a mild illness and recover.”

Of course, there will be some people at higher risk, such as older adults. Plus, people who suffer serious medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes or lung disease.

Try to remain calm, educate yourself and staff and follow the directives of the World Health Organisation. The World Health Organisation is the leading global source of information, and all nations follow their guidelines.  Try to lessen your anxiety by educating yourself and avoiding media hype. 

A coronavirus and stress poster from the WHO

Encourage Clients to Reschedule When Unwell.

Before your clients even arrive in your salon you can set the standard you want your clients to follow.

You may like to send out an informational SMS or email to all salon clients.

The idea behind this is twofold. You can reassure your clients that your salon is following and maintaining strict hygiene and infection control standards. Plus you can ask your clients to refrain from attending your salon if they are unwell.

A woman in a cafe looking at her iPhone

SMS or Email Message to Clients Template

Dear client,

In light of the current in Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, we would like to ensure our clients that your health and safety is our top priority.

We want to assure our clients that we are following strict hygiene practices and infection control measures as outlined by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

We also require your cooperation and ask any clients who are unwell to reschedule your appointment until you have fully recovered.

If you have come into contact with a suspected coronavirus case or have travelled overseas in the last 14 days, please call us to reschedule.

Maintaining a safe environment for all our valued clients and staff members is essential to us.

Kind regards,

Salon management.

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Konnect makes this task easy. Simply use your SMS or email campaign feature to capture the attention of your clients. 

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

Appointment Confirmation SMS Template.

Dear Client,

This is a friendly reminder that your salon appointment with ______ is on _________. 

Due to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, we politely ask that if you are unwell to reschedule your appointment until you have fully recovered.

If you have come into contact with a suspected coronavirus case or have travelled overseas in the last 14 days, please call us to reschedule.

Thank you for your understanding 

Salon Management.

a woman in bed calling the salon

Waive Cancellation Fees.

During this time, do everything you can to encourage your clients not to come to your salon when unwell.

Losing a deposit may deter your client from cancelling an appointment if they feel unwell. So, waiving your cancellation fees may be something you might like to consider during the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

 

Extend Gift Cards or Expiry Dates on PrePaid Purchases.

Make special allowances for clients who fall ill, or who have travelled overseas. Extending the expiry date of gift cards or prepaid packages shows your goodwill.

Some clients may not want to attend your salon during the Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak. Encourage your clients to let you know if they have any pre-paid packages or gift cards they want to extend.

Offering some flexibility shows that you care for your client’s wellness. Furthermore, this helps to foster relationships with your clients and cement loyalty. 

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

Konnect has great loyalty features.  Click here to read The benefits of a successful loyalty program.

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Talk to your staff.

Get your salon, spa or barbershop staff together and reinforce the hygiene measures you should already have in place.

Educate yourself and your team by reading these current workplace recommendations regarding Coronavirus (Covid-19) and your salon from the WHO.

Rather than listening to media hype, it is important to only take advice from the WHO or the government health authority in your country.

Australia – https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert 

USA – Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 

UK – https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

Due to the close nature of salon services, following the correct sanitation, disinfection and sterilisation procedures is a must. Protect both your staff and clients by reinforcing these methods in your meeting.

A blue poster showing coughing and sneezing etiquette.

Educate Yourself and Staff About Handwashing

Make sure your staff are aware of how to wash their hands properly. The WHO recommends that hands should be washed for a minimum of 20-30 seconds. Alternatively, the WHO also recommends washing your hands for the duration of the song “Happy Birthday.” twice. Click here to view the WHO handwashing brochure.

The CDC states that “keeping hands clean through improved hand hygiene is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. Many diseases and conditions are spread by not washing hands with soap and clean, running water.”

If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol to clean hands.”

You should also wash your hands;

  • Before and after eating or preparing food
  • Before making a client a beverage
  • After sneezing and coughing
  • Before putting on and after removing gloves or other personal protective equipment
  • After using the toilet
  • When hands are visibly soiled
  • When caring for the sick
  • After handling money or credit cards

The WHO hand washing guide

Coughing and Sneezing Etiquette.

By following good coughing and sneezing etiquette, you protect the people around you.

Covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze prevents the spread of droplets. These droplets are the main way Coronavirus (Covid-19) is spread. You should then dispose of the used tissue immediately and wash your hands thoroughly.

Provide tissues and no-touch disposal receptacles for use by clients and staff members.

Ensure you and your staff are modelling good coughing and sneezing behaviour in the salon, spa, or barbershop. Encourage your clients to do this by displaying posters in the waiting room or treatment areas.

Maintain Strict Hygiene and Infection Control Standards.

Why is it so important to clean all surfaces in the salon? According to the WHO, surfaces touched by an infected person is one of the main ways to spread Coronavirus (Covid-19), or many other infectious diseases.

Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.

Routinely clean all frequently touched surfaces in the salon with disinfectant. Be sure to clean workstations, countertops, doorknobs, keyboards, phones, remotes, chairs and any salon, spa or barbershop equipment. You can use disposable alcohol wipes for this, but the alcohol content must be above 60% to be effective.

Use the disinfectant cleaning agents that are the standard from industry advisory committees in your country. Follow all standard sterilisation methods for equipment that is in contact with skin, hair or bodily fluids as usual.

Be sure to use towels, capes and other personal protective equipment (PPE) like gloves and face masks once only.

a gloved hand washing a surface.

Display Posters Promoting Hygiene.

Contact your local health authority for posters to promote hand hygiene for staff and clients.

The World Health Organisation has many informational posters you can download to promote hand hygiene awareness.

Display these posters in prominent positions to remind staff to wash their hands. Place one on the back of the toilet door, in staff rooms and near workstations.

You can also display precautionary posters in your salon, spa or barbershop in regards to coughing and sneezing etiquette. The WHO recommends making sure you, and the people around you, follow coughing and sneezing etiquette at all times.

A who poster prompting hand washing

Supply Sanitiser for Clients.

Encourage all your clients to clean their hands with hand sanitiser upon entry to your salon, spa or barbershop. Placing a sign on the front door of your salon can help to reinforce this.

Place hand sanitser on the front counter and combine this with a sign or poster, promoting good hand hygiene. 

 

Avoid Touching Your Face.

We all know that we shouldn’t touch our face unless our hands are clean, right? But quite often we don’t even realise we are touching our eyes, nose or mouth.

One study from Australia, as cited in the American Journal of Infection Control watched medical students and found they touched their faces over 23 times per hour! That’s a lot of face touching.

Touching your face, especially your eyes, nose, and mouth with contaminated hands one way a virus enters your body. Coronavirus (Covid-19) or any other viruses are easily spread this way.

So, now you see how important it is to wash your hands regularly.

 

a man touching his face

 

Encourage Staff to Stay Home When Sick.

The WHO’s advice is to “stay home if unwell and to encourage your staff to do the same. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention. Follow the directions of your local health authority.”

Encouraging your staff to stay home when unwell show your clients you care about their health. Furthermore, you are ensuring your good business reputation remains intact.

Erring on the side of caution is always a better option than contributing to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) numbers and spreading the virus to your clients.

Encourage Staff to Self Isolate after Overseas Travel.

If staff need to travel at this time, ask them to factor in a 14-day self-isolation period. The health of your clients and staff directly affects the health of your business.

Ensuring staff self-isolate after travel or after contact with a suspected Coronavirus case (Covid-19) gives your business more chance of staying virus-free. 

A toy plane on a world globe.

Confirm and Update Client Contact Details.

Keeping your client contact details up to date is essential. Always confirm your client’s contact details before they leave the salon.

If the unfortunate happens, and you do encounter a confirmed case of Coronavirus (Covid-19) in your salon, you will need these current details to contact every client exposed.

Always document anything out of the ordinary on the client’s card. 

For example, if you do notice that your client is unwell during their visit, be sure to note this on their client card. This information may be useful if anyone does fall ill in your salon.

Do Not Stigmatise or Spread Fear.

According to the WHO, many people are experiencing stigma in the community.

Always treat people with kindness and respect regardless of nationality, travel history or profession.

Educate yourself on the facts and do not spread fear and anxiety among your staff and clients.

  • COVID-19 Resources – Australian Department of Health.
  • Common Questions – National Health Service – UK
  • Share facts about COVID-19 – Centre for Disease Control and Prevention – USA
  • COVID-19 FAQs

Conclusion.

Finally, try not to panic. Remain calm but diligent in your infection control measures. 

Stay in contact with your clients during the Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak and reassure them you are following proper hygiene and infection control measures. Transparency in your practices will help your clients feel safe and comforted.

Always get your information about Coronavirus (Covid-19) from a credible source such as your local health authority, the WHO.

Use your common sense and don’t forget to wash your hand regularly and provide hand sanitiser for clients and staff.

Keep your staff informed and educated on maintaining a hygienic salon environment at all times, even when busy.

Practice proper handwashing, coughing and sneezing etiquette and display posters or signs to encourage clients and staff to do the same.

Avoid touching your face and going to work if you are unwell.

Encourage staff to self-isolate after overseas travel.

Follow the WHO’s advice “If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and follow the directions of your local health authority.”

Confirm and update your client contact details regularly. Document any issues you may come across, but please try not to stigmatise or spread fear among your clients and staff members.

Take care of yourself, your clients and your employees to promote a safe and clean salon workplace

The staff at Konnect are dedicated to helping our valued customers in any way we can. We hope you found these practical tips helpful.

Konnect provides you with the simple, easy-to-use tools to successfully run day-to-day operations in your salon.

Not using Konnect Spa and Salon Software?  Sign up for a free demonstration today.

 

A hand putting a clock into a piggy bank with text "Effective Salon Time Management"

Effective Salon Time Management.

February 22, 2020/0 Comments/in Blog /by Melissa

Learning to master salon time management is the key to improving productivity and increasing profits.

If you don’t have enough hours in the day to complete all your salon tasks, then this article is for you.

What is Salon Time Management?

Salon time management is organising and planning how you will divide your time between specific salon tasks.  

Effective salon time management means using your time with a more considered approach which enables you to achieve more in less time.

Time management is especially important in the spa, salon and barbershop industry as salon owners today have so many different hats to wear. 

Your daily tasks may include anything from implementing marketing campaigns, keeping abreast of bills and maintenance, ordering stock, plus managing staff and clients.  

If you have not adequately planned your day, you may end up juggling so much that you become overwhelmed and frazzled.

 

A woman looking overwhelmed with clock.

Benefits of Effective Salon Time Management.

Utilising your time better can have a significant positive impact on your salon’s growth and productivity.

Cultivating a salon workplace culture that values time management has many benefits, such as;

  • Increased productivity
  • Better service outcomes
  • Less procrastination
  • Reduced stress
  • Improved revenue/profits
  • Happier workplace 

 

How Much is Your Time Worth?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“The key to time management is to see the value in every minute.”

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Most salon owners don’t want to waste money, right? But how many salon owners are aware that wasting time is the same as wasting money? Time is money!

If you look at every time-consuming task with a monetary value, you will soon make a conscious effort to spend your time more wisely.

Let’s break your hours down to a monetary value. If you earn, say $100,000 per year (Go you!), then your hourly rate would be $48.00 per hour for a 40 hour week.  

If you break this down further, then 15 minutes of your time is worth $12.00. Reframing you’re time as a monetary value gives you more motivation to save time.

Knowing this may make you less likely to waste your time scrolling on your phone when you know how much it costs you? 

“Take care of the minutes and the hours will take care of themselves”

To automatically calculate your hourly rate according to your salary, use this free wage calculator. 

Once you know how much your time is worth, I bet you will want to spend your time much more wisely. But how do you go about it?

Money and a clock balancing.

 

Effective Salon Time Management.

Plan ahead.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“Failing to plan is planning to fail.”

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Planning is vital to your success in reducing wasted time (+money)

At the start of each day, allocate yourself 15 minutes to make a list of everything you need to accomplish on that day.  

This list will help you avoid wasting time by procrastinating or mindlessly using your time when you have spare time.

Think about those 20-minute gaps between clients. By having a list that you can refer to, keeps you on track and prompts you to complete a task during these lull periods. 

Not only should you be scheduling your day, but also your week, month and year.  

 

Once a week and month take time to consider the tasks that need to be completed and put them into your calendar. Consider adding things like the due dates of bills, ordering requirements, working towards a specific goal or even your marketing campaigns.

Add any events to your yearly calendar ahead of time such as; expos, staff training events, holidays and special occasions like Valentine’s Day or Mother’s day. 

Now you can prepare your yearly schedule and marketing campaigns around these events to keep your weeks running smoothly. To read more about salon marketing, click here.

Schedule Your Most Important Tasks (MIT’s).

Once you have planned your days, weeks, months and year, you can rank your tasks from most to least important.  

Attend to your most important tasks immediately or at least schedule some time in your calendar for completion.

Each time you mark off a task, you will feel satisfaction in your achievements, and you can go on to address the next chore.

 

A happy salon client and hairdresser

Task Batching.

What is task batching? Task batching is blocking out some time in your schedule for similar tasks. 

We all know how important it is to be visible on social media, but unfortunately, this takes time and consistency.  

Set aside a few hours per month to make up your social media posts and schedule them in advance. Facebook allows you to schedule your posts ahead of time, or you can use a social media scheduling program like Hootsuite or others.

Batching your administrative tasks is also a great way to keep on top of your finances and business management. For example, set aside an hour when you know you will not be disturbed and get those necessary tasks completed. Your business will flourish when you have your finger on the pulse.

Setting time limits for batched tasks encourages you to focus on one specific task at a time while not getting carried away and losing track of time.

 

Decrease Distractions.

Distractions can take up more time than you realise. Of course, there will be some distractions that are unavoidable, such as; accidents, client complaints or other unseen events, but there are many avoidable distractions.

Awareness of what is distracting you and your staff is the first step in eliminating time slipping through your fingers.

A huge distraction these days is phones. Implement some boundaries for yourself and your staff around phone usage in the salon.  

Losing concentration and focus is a real problem when we are a slave to our phone. If you or your staff are constantly checking phones for texts or social media notifications, your salon clients will suffer, and so will your business. 

The easiest way to avoid phone distraction is to ban phone usage during work hours, other than breaks. It is too easy just to check your phone and end up falling down the social media rabbit hole and wasting precious money-draining time.

a woman distracted by her iPhone.

 

We all think we are great at multitasking, but the reality is, after a distraction, it takes a whopping 23 minutes to refocus completely. Break that down to a monetary value, and you can see how detrimental distractions can be to your salon business. 

Another common distraction in the salon is idle chit chat and gossip. Whether you are chatting to co-workers or clients, try to be time aware. Learn to wrap up conversations in a polite manner to enable yourself to get back to spending your time more wisely. 

Learn the Art of Delegation.

You may be the boss, manager or even a solo operator, but that doesn’t mean you have to do absolutely everything yourself.

To ensure your focus is where it needs to be, you and your business may benefit from outsourcing or delegating tasks.

Delegating tasks to your staff can be difficult for some owners, as you have to trust your employee’s capability to take on the allocated job. However, giving your team more responsibility can empower and motivate them to rise to the task.  

Think back to how much your time is worth. Consider this when looking at jobs you can outsource.

Is it worth your time and money to curate your website and social media channels? Depending on your hourly rate, it may end up cheaper to outsource jobs like this, so you have more time to focus on other essential tasks.

Learn to Say “NO”.

Do you find yourself saying yes to things you don’t want to do or don’t have the time to complete? You may be a people pleaser.

Learning to be more assertive in the workplace is vital. When co-workers, friends, family or clients know you will always agree to do favours, they may take advantage of your kind nature.

Permit yourself to say “no” when it is not convenient for you. Taking on extra work or doing favours can suck up your valuable time.

Stick to your schedule and set strict boundaries for yourself, or you may find yourself becoming overwhelmed. 

 

A hand in front of a face signifying "NO".

Late Cancellations or No-Shows.

Late cancellations or no-shows are just a part of salon life. However, you can use this time to your advantage. By having a contingency plan in place for yourself and staff, you can use this free-time more wisely.

Check your list of uncompleted tasks and start working through them. Always make sure your staff is aware of what you expect them to do in the event of a no-show. Allocate tasks such as general cleaning, washing towels, dusting shelves, cleaning mirrors, or ordering stock.  

By squeezing the most out of every minute of the working day, your business will stay on track and productivity levels will remain high.  Want more information on how to eliminate no-shows in your salon, click here.

 

a woman cleaning a salon mirror

Eliminate Gaps in your Schedule.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“Either you run the day or the day runs you.” Jim Rohn.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Do you have those pesky gaps in your schedule? A spare 15 minutes here, 20 minutes there. Well, just take a second and add up how much these gaps are costing you.  

Use the hourly salary calculator and work out how much time these gaps amount to over a week. These gaps may be costing you hundreds of dollars a week, not to mention the annual loss.  

Yes, you can use those gaps to do quick tasks, but why not try to eliminate them. Check your salon bookings regularly, and if you see these gaps, don’t be afraid to contact your client and ask them to come in 15 minutes earlier. Worst case scenario, they say no. Best case scenario, they come that little bit earlier, and you don’t waste time/money on such a large scale.

Automate Your Salon with Salon Software.

Effective salon time management is a must in today’s busy salon industry. Automating your salon business with an all-in-one management system like Konnect Spa and Salon Software enables you to streamline your business with easy to use scheduling tools.  

Set and forget automatic SMS reminders that sync to your calendar are great time savers and studies show they reduce no-shows significantly.

Salon Software takes the hard work out of doing paperwork. All your financial, sales or performance reports can be accessed quickly and all without the chance of human error.  

Spend less time on the phone by taking online salon bookings. These online bookings are then automatically synced to your booking calendar. Every little bit of this time-saving technology saves you money and time plus, your business will run more professionally.

Image how much time you will save by automating your business with Konnect Spa and Salon Software. Check out all the great features Konnect has to offer or request a free demonstration with one of our friendly consultants.

 

 

Conclusion.

Mastering effective salon time management is imperative to keep your business productive and stress-free.

Giving your time a monetary value is a great way to deter you from wasting your time encourages you to see the value in every minute.

Taking the time to forward plan and prioritising your most important tasks can make a massive difference in how your business runs.

Task batching and decreasing distractions can go along way to ensure you complete all your jobs in advance, thus keeping your focus on your clients.  

Delegating, outsourcing and learning to say no are excellent skills to learn and implement to give your business the best chance to grow.

And finally, automating your salon with an exceptional salon management system like Konnect Spa and Salon Software is the key to creating a well-run business that you can work on, rather than in.

Effective salon time management is a great skill to acquire to propel your business into future growth and increase profits.

Konnect has all the tools you need to help you master effective salon time management.

Konnect provides you with the simple, easy-to-use tools to successfully run day-to-day operations in your salon.

Not using Konnect Spa and Salon Software?  Sign up for a free demonstration today.

Jump on board and let us help you take your business to new heights.
Konnect Spa and Salon Software – the simple, affordable key to making your business brilliant.

 

A woman with her hands in a heart shape and tex "Salon body Language"

Salon Body Language – How to Build Better Relationships.

January 21, 2020/0 Comments/in Blog /by Melissa

Salon body language is an essential tool to master in your salon. 

Why? because understanding and using appropriate body language enables you to build better salon client relationships. 

By learning basic non-verbal communication cues, you can ensure your clients feel more comfortable during their salon consultations and treatments. 

Furthermore, being able to identify these cues will give you better insight into how you are presenting yourself and how your client is feeling, enabling you to deliver a more personalised salon experience.

Plus, as we all know, an exceptional client experience in your salon leads to improved trust, loyalty, and ultimately better client retention. To read “The Top 10 Strategies to Boost Salon Client Retention”, click here.

What is Salon Body language?

Body language is a form of non-verbal communication in the salon that may or may not accompany words, but where an intention or feeling is conveyed. 

Facial expressions, gestures, and posture are all forms of body language that reflect inner emotions, either positive or negative.

Even during periods of silence, the communication of feelings and intentions are possible via body language. 

This form of social language is often more informative and revealing of a person’s actual emotional state.

Body language includes; facial expressions, eye movements, gestures, spatial boundaries, and touch.

Barbers talking over a coffee

Salon Body Language – How to Build Better Relationships.

If used properly, your body language can enhance your interactions with salon clients and help to form better connections.  

Many studies have attempted to find out the ratio of non-verbal cues to the spoken word in our language. However, the exact ratio is still under exploration. 

Some studies say body language is more than 50% of what we convey during a conversation, while others suggest up 75%. 

Whatever the exact ratio is, it is safe to say that body language plays a significant part in our communication with our salon clients.

Fostering good relationships is the cornerstone of building a healthy salon business. Displaying confidence, genuine interest, competence, and empathy help to make your clients feel like they are getting expert treatment, are understood and that you care about the outcome.   

On the other hand, understanding your client’s body language can help you to notice and reassure an anxious or apprehensive client.

People may not always tell you how they feel, but they will always show you, so pay attention! 

The importance of understanding body language should be pretty clear by now. Happy clients make loyal clients, and more loyal clients increase client retention, improved client retention leads to business growth and business growth leads to increased revenue… well, you get the picture by now. 

A hand drawing a line for increased revenue.

Types of Body Language.

Specific postures displayed can reveal the demeanor of a person at a glance.  

Postive postures that display honesty and confidence include;

  • Standing tall
  • Shoulders back
  • Open hand gestures
  • Leaning forward
  • Palms open
  • Head tilted to the side
  • Weight evenly distributed on both legs
  • An average rate of breathing

A woman with her hands in the shape of a heart using body language

Whereas, negative or apathetic attitudes are displayed by; 

  • Slouched position
  • Arms or legs crossed
  • Closed body positions
  • Hunched shoulders
  • Feet pointing towards the door
  • Fidgeting
  • Head down

A man using body language with crossed arms

Making sure you and your staff are displaying positive body language can help to make clients feel more comfortable and build better connections.

These tools are especially important to remember during consultations as body language experts agree; positive body language congruent with speech leads to a more trusting exchange between both parties.

Gestures.

Gestures are movements made by the hands and body, and include;

  • Hand movements
  • Fiddling with hair
  • Lint picking
  • Touching face
  • Tapping
  • Covering mouth
  • Nodding

When chatting with clients, your gestures must match your words.  

According to the experts, women are much more in tune with recognising slight differences in non-verbal cues and speech due to an evolutionary adaptation to child-rearing. Babies and small children rely on body language to communicate their needs, so this is a well-honed skill for women.

As most of your clients and staff are likely to be women, you must be aware of your gestures to appear genuine.

Can you recall having a conversation with someone who you don’t know, but you sensed something was a bit off? Maybe you felt a sense of unease or distrust. A mismatch between body language and the spoken word was likely the cause. 

Subtle signs can be displayed that you are not consciously aware of, but your gut tells you to be wary. 

Negative gestures during a conversation include;

  • Shuffling feet
  • Looking away often
  • Blocking the body with an object or bag
  • Wringing of hands
  • Fast breathing
  • Visible swallowing
  • Red face, cheeks, ears or chest

“Your body speaks the truth, even when your mouth lies.”

 

Two woman talking with their body language.

 

Positive gestures to include when talking to your client may consist of tilting your head to one side and nodding. Add a smile to the mix, and you will convey a sense of interest and agreeableness.  

Studies have indicated that a person is more likely to open up and talk 3-4 times longer if you nod three times, otherwise know as the triple nod. 

On the other hand, nodding too fast can be a sign of impatience, and you are ready to interrupt. 

Eye Contact.

The right amount of eye contact is a significant component in any conversation.  

Good eye contact indicates interest and full attention. But what is the right amount of eye contact?  

Research found that maintaining eye contact for around 60-70% of a conversation is comfortable for both parties. Don’t try to force eye contact but use enough to show you are engaged and undistracted.

A woman looking at her nail salon client

Whereas, staring too long or intensely can unnerve people and lead to awkward interactions. 

I’m sure you have all experienced a conversation where the other person is distracted. I bet you felt unimportant and annoyed. Your clients are no different. Constantly checking your phone, reading texts, or looking at yourself in the mirror sends negative signals to your client.

Your client deserves your complete attention and respect. Your actions speak louder than words, so put that phone away and make your clients your priority!

Spatial Boundaries and Touch.

A woman receiving a salon facial

 

The salon is an environment where clients are expecting to be touched and have a staff member close to their body, but it doesn’t mean they are comfortable with it.

In other everyday environments, our spatial boundaries are usually much larger. Close contact is often only accepted from close friends, family or loved ones.  

As you are working closely with your clients, whether it be hair, face or body treatments, their spatial boundaries should always be respected. 

Watch your client’s body language to get clues as to whether they are comfortable or not. Tell your client what you are going to do beforehand and always ask permission to start treatment in intimate areas.

Showing respect for your client’s boundaries can help to create a more comfortable experience for your clients.  Always record anything you notice that makes your client uncomfortable on their fully customisable Konnect client card

However, there is a distinct advantage to working in such close contact with your clients. Have you ever noticed how quickly your clients open up to you about their private lives? You are in a unique position, as studies show the intimacy of your salon work builds a closer and more trusting relationship than any other business. 

Mirroring

Two woman mirroring each other in conversation

 

Mirroring is a subtle yet effective way to build great rapport with your clients. When conducting a consultation, make sure you sit opposite your client and give them your full attention.

Mirroring is a discreet reflection of your client’s speech pattern, gestures or energy levels. By mirroring your client’s posture in an unobvious way, you instantly communicate empathy and understanding.  

According to Forbes, mirroring during a conversation results in a feeling of connection and increases your likeability. You can also tell if a client is responding positively to your suggestions as they will unconsciously mirror your body language. 

Mirroring is shown to encourage a more comfortable conversation and helps your clients to open up more, helping you to understand what they want.

Mirroring is also a fantastic tool to use with your staff also as communicating empathy will ensure a more collaborative and cohesive team. Watch this quick video to learn more about how to use mirroring in your salon.

Conclusion.

The simple act of being aware of body language can help to build strong and authentic relationships with your clients. 

Taking note of how you are presenting yourself via postures, gestures, or facial expressions during conversations with your clients and staff can result in the portrayal of a more genuine and empathetic attitude. 

On the other hand, watching more carefully for non-verbal cues from your clients can help you decipher how they are feeling. 

Mirroring is also a great tool to use during consultations with clients to show your understanding and to encourage your clients to open up. 

Finally, as creating a stellar salon client experience is at the heart of building loyalty, using these techniques will ultimately lead to improved growth and revenue in your salon.

At Konnect, we love to educate our clients on how to improve their salon business in every way possible. If you have a particular topic you would like to learn about, feel free to comment below with your suggestion.

Konnect has all the tools you need to help you manage your salon from client notes to loyalty programs and much, much more.

Konnect provides you with the simple, easy-to-use tools to successfully run day-to-day operations in your salon.

Not using Konnect Spa and Salon Software?  Sign up for a free demonstration today.

Jump on board and let us help you take your business to new heights.
Konnect Spa and Salon Software – the simple, affordable key to making your business brilliant.

 

A man writing "Salon Client Retention" on a page.

The Top 10 Strategies to Boost Salon Client Retention.

December 6, 2019/0 Comments/in Blog /by Melissa

Salon Client retention is essential to ensure growth in your salon business. Competition for your salon clients is fierce. So, the key to keeping your salon a viable and healthy business is not only by maintaining but increasing your salon client retention rate.

By following the top 10 salon client retention strategies discussed below, you will boost your salon client retention rate and ensure an increase in business growth.

What is Salon Client Retention?

Salon client retention is the continuance of a long-term relationship between you and your client.

Your salon client retention rate is the percentage of clients who remain loyal to your business and continue to purchase services or products during a set period. Client retention numbers are reduced by the number of clients who don’t return during this same time frame, often referred to as churn rate.

Why is Salon Client Retention so Important?

A page with the word "Why?"

Your business relies on a regular income from your clients, which is why salon client retention is vital to the long term health of your business.

Client loyalty is a key component to ensuring client retention. A high client retention rate is a sign that you are taking care of your clients consistently and meeting their needs.

But don’t take my word for it! Here are a few statistics to show you why salon client retention is so important;

  • A 5% increase in client retention can lead to an increase in profits from 25-95%.
  • A 2% increase in client retention is the equivalent to cutting costs by 10%
  • 80% of future profits come from just 20% of your existing clients.
  • Existing clients are more 50% more likely to try a new service or product than a new client.
  • An existing client will spend, on average, 31% more than a new client.
  • Loyal clients are more likely to refer new clients to your salon, and these clients are 16% more valuable than a new non-referred client.

Get the picture? Your existing clients are worth their weight in gold and should be treated as such.

Read on to learn how to improve your salon client retention rate.

The Top 10 Strategies to Boost Salon Client Retention.

 

A salon Team with a sign "The top 10 Strategies".

Provide Exceptional Client Consultations.

To ensure the best outcome for your client, you must provide an exceptional client consultation. Most salon owners think they provide a great consultation, but they often lack consistency in this area. A thorough consultation should accompany every service.

You must be on the same page as your client to avoid poor outcomes. You may perform the best service, treatment or style, but if it isn’t what your client wants, then it’s not a great result, regardless of how great a job you think you have done. Moreover, poor results are sure to reduce your client retention rate.

So, you must take the time to review your clients’ expectations at each appointment. Consultations may seem time-consuming but will pay off when your client is happy. And happy clients return!

Furthermore, happy clients won’t hesitate to refer friends and family.

 

A salon client consultation

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work.

Without a reliable team who are all on the same page, chances are, your business will suffer. It’s essential to educate your staff about client retention to ensure they know all the strategies you will be implementing.

Encouraging teamwork in a salon is a positive and effective way to provide a stimulating and fun work environment. Remember the mantra, your staff work with you, not for you. Treat your team with kindness and respect while remaining firm regarding your expectations.

Proactively encouraging a positive workplace culture helps to keep staff wanting to perform at their best. Providing a little incentive is also a useful tool to have up your sleeve.

Incentivising your staff can help to stimulate more interest in meeting your salon business goals. There are numerous ways of incentivising staff, but you must find an option that is right for your team and budget.

 

A team of salon staff bonding

Here are a few ideas to consider when staff reach a goal;

Commissions.

  • Bonuses.
  • Key performance indicators
  • Competitions and prizes.
  • Try a gamification app.
  • Offer movie tickets or a mystery gift.
  • Provide a free service or product in your salon.

Konnect has all the tools you need to track the performance of your staff members. You can search your database for each staff member and pull up records for numbers on individual sales, client numbers, client retention rates, number of no-shows and attendance records. To learn more on our reporting tools, click here.

Regular Client Engagement.

 A woman receiving a salon SMS

Client engagement is a great way to keep your business on your clients’ mind. There is a multitude of ways that you can engage with your client without being invasive or annoying. Regular client engagement, done right can make your clients feel special and improves loyalty.

Here are a few ways to increase engagement;

  • Send birthday messages with a discount code
  • Send a thank you text after each visit
  • Send a regular newsletter with upcoming specials or events
  • Entice former clients back with a return discount
  • Send holiday or special occasion package deals

Client engagement is a cheap but very effective way to build upon relationships with your clients.

Keep your correspondence light and in-line with your brand. Every interaction counts, so think about these engagement tactics carefully to reap the rewards.

Provide VIP Treatment.

VIP letters in lights.

The salon customer experience must be consistent and of a high standard. Clients often come to a salon expecting to be pampered and to unwind from their day to day monotony.

Many salon owners or staff make the mistake of providing a stellar client experience for the first time client but don’t continue this special treatment at subsequent visits.

Consistently excellent customer service and outcomes are vital to ensure client retention numbers increase.

Let me back this up with some pretty revealing statistics;

According to a study on why customers leave a business, 14% did not return due to dissatisfaction in the service, whereas, 69% did not return because they felt like the staff did not care about them.

69% is a pretty significant percentage, and it shows just how important excellent customer service is to maintaining client retention.

So roll out the red carpet for each and every client. Treat them all like VIPs, or they are sure to go to your competitors.

Look out for my next blog on how to provide the best salon client experience.

Ask for feedback.

A sign with "Feedback" and feedback icons.

You don’t know what you don’t know. Therefore, knowledge is power!

If you know where you are falling short in your customer service or treatment outcomes, you have a chance to improve. But, the only way you can find this out, is by asking your clients.

You may like to send a “thank you for your business” text with a short rating system. However, most clients will feel awkward giving negative feedback, even if it is truthful. A good way around this is to have an anonymous feedback option on your website to gather client insights. You may also like to give out client feedback forms and ask your clients to send them back anonymously.

This type of information is extremely valuable, so take these criticisms as sources of learning for you and your staff. After all, keeping your clients happy is one more step to improving your salon client retention rate.

Start a Loyalty program.

A salon with a hairdresser and client.

Salon loyalty programs are a great way to incentivise your clients to keep coming back. Everybody likes something for nothing. You do! I do! We all do! It’s human nature to feel pleasantly surprised and more valued when we receive a gift or discount from a business. Loyalty programs are one of the best ways to cement loyalty and in turn, increase salon client retention.

In fact, 81% of clients say a loyalty program encourages them to continue going to the same business. Furthermore, clients will even spend more to unlock more rewards.

Konnect has an easy to use loyalty points program that takes all the hard work out of managing such a program. Take a look at our article, The Benefits of a Successful Loyalty Program, to learn more about how to go about implementing a salon loyalty program.

Make use of this great Konnect feature to increase your client retention.

Package Deals.

A cosmetic clinic - rebooking.

Want to guarantee repeat visits from your clients? Then package deals are your answer!

Package deals are a great way to keep clients coming back and allows you to work on making great relationships with your clients.

In combination with a loyalty program, you can’t go wrong. But wait! There is something you must remember here, and that is consistency! This is your chance to show your client how every visit is as good as the last. If your standards slip at each subsequent visit, your clients will go elsewhere.

Remember the previous statistic? 69% of customers left a business because they felt like the staff didn’t care about them. So always keep this in mind at each and every visit.

Use these visits to educate your clients and promote take-home products while you are at it. Always recommend products that you are confident will benefit your client to build trust. Building trust is essential to improving client retention.

Always Re-book and Pre-book.

Nail salon client and employee.

 

One of the most overlooked strategies to maintain and increase client retention is to always re-book and pre-book your clients. Try to make sure every client does not leave your salon without re-booking their next appointment.

Teach your staff to plant the seed of re-booking during treatment. Educate your clients on the importance of maintaining the results of their treatments with repeat visits. Also, always ask your client to re-book before taking payment at the point of sale, as this tactic has a higher re-booking success rate.

Pre-booking is taking bookings in advance. Pre-booking works well in conjunction with selling package deals but can also be work very well in the lead up to Christmas.

Think ahead for your client and show you care by pre-booking from September on, to guarantee they have an appointment before Christmas. Explain to your client that if they want to look fresh for Christmas, they need to book ahead to avoid disappointment. This technique encourages pre-booking and helps to improve salon client retention.

Be Consistently Consistent.

A sign on a cork board "Consistency is Key"

Now I know I have mentioned this before, but it is worthwhile repeating to make sure you take consistency seriously. The key to success is consistency! Small efforts repeated day in and day out will lead to the growth and success of your business.

Consistency in your work ethic and customer service improves client trust, loyalty and retention. Why? Because your clients want predicable and reliable service and treatment outcomes. Even if you are having a bad day, it is essential to keep your work attitude positive. Always treat your clients with respect and kindness, even when they are downright annoying. Deal with complaints calmly and politely. Always make eye contact with your clients and greet everyone with a smile. Addressing your clients by name is also essential.

You can be sure that consistent action creates consistent results. Consistency is the backbone of a successful business with a high client retention rate.

Measure your Results.

A woman looking at a good salon report.

Implementing the above strategies are a great way to increase your salon client retention. But, how do you know if all this extra effort is paying off? As I said before “Knowledge is Power!” Set a quarterly time frame and track all the numbers since the implementation of your new strategies.

Konnect makes this super easy. You can search your database for any information you wish. Bring up client retention numbers. Have they improved in the last quarter? If so, why? Is your new loyalty program making an impact? Are you selling more package deals? Have your pre-booking rates increased?

These are all areas you can track and compare easily with Konnects fantastic reporting capabilities.

Furthermore, as your Konnect database is accessible anywhere, anytime, you can do this research in your own time. Kick back at home with a coffee as Konnect comes with convenient mobile access.

Conclusion.

Salon client retention is a key indicator of the health of your salon business. A high client retention rate indicates you are doing a great job, whereas a low number can mean you need to lift your game.

The statistics given in this article are proof that any increase in client retention results in the growth of your salon business.

Striving to provide the best customer service and treatment outcomes with consistency, is your key to success.

Konnect has all the tools you need to help you reach these new heights by boosting salon client retention.

Konnect provides you with the simple, easy-to-use tools to successfully run day-to-day operations in your salon.

Not using Konnect Spa and Salon Software?  Sign up for a free demonstration today.

Jump on board and let us help you take your business to new heights.
Konnect Spa and Salon Software – the simple, affordable key to making your business brilliant.

 

 

 

a computer with Santa hat.

10 Jolly Good Christmas Salon Marketing Ideas for Social Media.

November 17, 2019/0 Comments/in Blog /by Melissa

Tis the season for Christmas salon marketing, especially on all your social media channels.

The public uses social media much more in the lead up to Christmas. Everyone is preparing for Christmas with 67% searching for holiday gift inspiration on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. Plus, people are spending tonnes of money at this time of the year, so your salon needs to be visible and attractive to the gift seeking client.

By increasing your exposure on social media in December, you can harness the power of free marketing. But How? This article will give you ten jolly good tips to grab your clients attention, increase their spending and increase your revenue.

Christmas Salon Marketing for Social Media.

What are your Christmas Business Goals?

 

Decide on what areas you would like to improve upon in your salon business. Targeted marketing is very beneficial and enables you to focus on what you would like to promote and who to aim for. Konnect has great marketing tools that allow you to target a particular audience from your database.

Areas you may want to focus on this Christmas;

  • Increase retail sales.
  • Sell more gift cards.
  • Push Christmas package deals.
  • Attract new clients.
  • Attract a new type of clientele.
  • Upsell or Cross-sell to existing customers.
  • Introduce new products or treatments.
  • Increase social media engagement and exposure.
  • Cement existing client loyalty.
  • Improve client retention.

Konnect has many reporting features that allow you to measure which areas need attention. Plus, you can always measure the results of your campaigns once they are finished.

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Konnect: Reporting at your fingertips

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Schedule, Schedule, Schedule.

December is absolutely the busiest time of the year in the salon. Everybody wants to look fabulous for Christmas, so you know you will be run off your feet. Finding the time to make festive social media posts can be difficult. Without proper planning, time management and scheduling, you will likely run out of time to post consistently. And consistent posting is essential.

Try to set aside some time you can dedicate to making your salon social media posts. Batching and scheduling your Christmas posts in November ensures you don’t miss out on this most profitable time.

If you are not very creative, delegate this task to a staff member who is more proficient in this area. You could also consider outsourcing this job, if financially viable.

Remember, planning, scheduling and consistency is the key to getting results.

 

Social Media Christmas Decorations.

Just like you decorate your salon to evoke the festive spirit, your social media page needs sprucing up too! Add some Christmas sparkle to your profile picture and cover photos.

Try to incorporate a Christmasy theme that is in line with your logo and branding colours. Make your posts eye-catching and interesting to grab attention.

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Konnect: Manage bookings online with the handy “Book Now” button

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Engage your Audience with Salon Competitions and Giveaways.

A woman in Santa outfit holding a present.

 

 

Engage with your clients by advertising exclusive Christmas competitions or giveaways. Clients will be more likely to take an interest in a post that is enticing and gives them the chance to get something for nothing.

Competitions and giveaways guarantee more engagement and sharing of posts. The sharing of your posts increases your salon visibility and increases followers.

Furthermore, this is a great way to use up older or surplus stock in your giveaways. Thus, reducing the burden of profit loss. So spread the magic of Christmas by giving, and your business will be rewarded.

 

Promote Salon Products and Treatment Packages.

Christmas salon packages

Create beautifully wrapped gift packs with products from your salon or create discounted bundled treatment packages. Post lovely pictures of these packages to give gift-giving inspiration to anyone who sees your post.

Bundled packages are a great way to entice clients to buy multiple treatments which increases your chance of creating a loyal client. What a great way to keep clients returning to your salon.

Your client feels valued by receiving a discount, and you potentially gain a new long term client. Its a win-win situation for both you and your clients.

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Konnect: Takes care of stock management

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Salon Gift Card Promotion.

A box with a gift card inside.

Gift cards are $160 billion industry, with Christmas being the prime buying time. Advertise your gift cards on social media. Embellish gift cards with pretty Christmas themes and packaging.

But wait, have you considered selling your gift cards online? Digital gift cards are the way of the future. Clients much prefer a digital card that they can store on their smartphones, rather than carrying around a physical card.

Moreover, by making gift cards available online, your clients can make an instant purchase without even leaving the house! Which is essential for last-minute Christmas purchases and impulse buyers.

 

Christmas Salon Selfie Frame.

A woman looking through a christmas wreath.

Providing a Christmas salon selfie station is gold! It’s so easy to embellish a large frame with Christmas decorations and hang it from the ceiling or lean it against a wall.

Make sure the frame is not too heavy so clients can hold the frame in front of themselves for great photo opportunities with their new hairdo, lashes or makeup. Alternatively, you could use a large Christmas wreath.

Be sure to add signage with your hashtag handle and ask your clients to add this hashtag to their photos.

It’s fun, festive, increases social media engagement, attracts comments, likes, and most importantly, shares.

Furthermore, you may attract new clients who love the results they see on their friend’s posts.

Staff dressed up for christmas

You can also showcase your Christmas salon decorations on social media. Plus, get staff to dress up in Santa hats and create some Christmasy photos to provoke a fun, festive atmosphere in your salon posts.

Spread some Christmas cheer to your followers and have fun doing it.

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Konnect: Happy Staff = Happy Clients

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The 12 Days of Salon Christmas Posts.

The 12 Days of Christmas is an excellent excuse to engage with your followers daily.

Pick a 12 Days of Christmas theme and schedule a post for the last 12 days leading up to Christmas.

Here are some theme ideas:

  • 12 Christmas hairstyles
  • 12 before and after photos
  • 12 best salon Christmas gifts
  • 12 best salon products
  • 12 video posts showcasing a product or treatment
  • 12 ways to look after your skin this Christmas

Providing educational and engaging posts are a great way to interest your followers and encourage sharing, improving your social media exposure.

Your only limit is your imagination.

 

Align your Salon with a Charity.

Hands around a heart signifying charity.

Konnect with your clients and appeal to their emotional side by aligning yourself with a local charity or good cause.

By donating a portion of a gift card or Christmas package to charity, shows your community spirit.

Furthermore, your clients feel good about contributing to a good cause. Make sure you post this onto your social media sites and tag the charity you are supporting, encouraging sharing and goodwill.

Some local newspapers will love to print a story about a small local business supporting a charity or community cause. Giving you much more exposure in your local area while also creating a view that your salon is more trustworthy, giving and community-minded. Powerful marketing at it’s best.

Conclusion.

Christmas time is fast approaching, so now is the time to do your planning and scheduling to make the most out of your social media marketing this year.

Social media truly is a powerful tool, and with a little innovation and forethought, you can harness this beast to drive your salon sales this Christmas.

Furthermore, social media engagement can attract new clients through the doors, cement existing client relationship, improve client retention and loyalty, and spread your business name to a broader audience.

Konnect better with your clients this Christmas by using our great targeting marketing tools, reporting tools, stock management feature and gift card management. Let Konnect give your salon the gift of time this Christmas.

Konnect provides you with the simple, easy-to-use tools to successfully run day-to-day operations in your salon.

Not using Konnect Spa and Salon Software?  Sign up for a free demonstration today.

Jump on board and let us help you take your business to new heights.
Konnect Spa and Salon Software – the simple, affordable key to making your business brilliant.

 

A hand holding a phone with online booking text

Online Booking for Salons – The 9 Advantages.

October 30, 2019/0 Comments/in Blog /by Melissa

A hand holding a phone with online booking text

Online booking for salons is the way of the future. Do you want to grow your salon? Look professional? Stand out from your competition?

Well, offering online booking is a sure-fire way to achieve these goals and more.

THE 9 ADVANTAGES OF ONLINE BOOKING FOR SALONS.

 

SAVE TIME AND CUT YOUR WORKLOAD.

An orange piggy bank with a hand putting in a clock.

Spend less time on the phone taking bookings, explaining treatments, taking deposits and going through your cancellation policy.

Instead, dedicate your time to the client in front of you, without annoying interruptions. 

Managing bookings while you are juggling everything else in the salon isn’t always easy. That’s why online booking streamlines your working day. 

Your clients can make a booking, pay a deposit, receive a confirmation text and an SMS reminder without you lifting a finger. There’s no doubt automating the booking process gives you more time to focus on your clients.

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Konnect: Giving you the gift of  time. 

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CLIENT CONVENIENCE. 

A man annoyed waiting on hold.

Client convenience should be a crucial factor in your everyday business considerations. Clients find online booking so convenient and here’s why:

  • 90% of people prefer to book online.
  • 60% are made during business hours because consumers would prefer to book online as opposed to calling for an appointment. (LSAinsider)
  • 77% of people think that having the ability to book, cancel or change their appointment online is important. (Accenture.com)
  • 25% of millennials (under 35’s) will only book appointments online. (Fitsmallbusiness)

Consumers are becoming increasingly impatient these days due to the ease of online accessibility. So clients no longer want to wait on hold on the phone. 

Also, as most salons don’t have a dedicated receptionist, clients are made to leave a message for an appointment and wait for a return call. Waiting for return calls can be very frustrating for clients, especially for workers who don’t have access to their phones during work hours. 

So if you want to make booking an appointment more convenient for your client, online bookings are the way to go.

TAKE BOOKINGS 24/7/365.

A neon sign. open 24/7

Ever wondered how much business you could attract if you could take bookings 24/7, every day of the year?

Research shows, the most popular time for making online bookings are on a Sunday from 4 pm to 8 pm (Finance online) plus, 40% of online bookings are made after business hours.  (LSAinsider)

Most people are time-poor these days and love the flexibility of online bookings. 

Also, If a potential client discovers you on social media or your webpage, you increase your chances of gaining a new client. If they like what they see, they can book right there and then. 

Just think of the potential to build your clientele.

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Konnect: Access anywhere, anytime.

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REAL-TIME AVAILABILITY. 

 With Konnects great automated features, it’s easy to see your availabilities all the time, from any device. Not just for you but also for your regular and potential clients. 

When you make a booking for a client in the salon or via phone, your online booking availability’s are instantly updated. Your calendar is integrated with your online bookings too. So when a client makes an online booking, you receive a notification, and your calendar is instantly updated. Online Bookings 

 

REDUCE NO-SHOWS.

A man missing his appointment.

At first glance, you wouldn’t think that allowing your clients to make an online booking would help to reduce no-shows. But it does and here’s why.

When your clients can book an appointment in their own time, they are more likely to put a lot more thought into making a booking that is suited to their schedule, thus reducing the chance of missing an appointment.

Also, sometimes when clients are asked to rebook in the salon, they may feel pressured or rushed to make a quick decision which they are not sure about, and this also increases the chance of a no-show.

The other benefit of offering online bookings is that you can include your cancellation policy and/or take deposits, which again, will reduce no-shows.  Click here to learn more on how to reduce no-shows in your salon.

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Konnect: Everything at your fingertips.

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LOOK PROFESSIONAL.

Show your clients you are running a professional salon by offering online bookings. When a client perceives your salon business as more professional, they are likely to have more trust in your services.

We are living in the internet age where the world is becoming increasingly more reliant on the web. So if you want to keep with the times, stay relevant and stay ahead of your competition, online bookings are a must. 

The internet, your website and social media offer huge potential to help grow your business. Being visible online and providing bookings are a direct link to your salon. Konnects online booking feature allows you to customise colours and fonts to match your branding. 

LAST MINUTE BOOKINGS.

A woman happy after booking a last minute appointment.

Just as when you or a client makes a booking and your calendar is instantly updated, the same goes for cancellations or rescheduled bookings.  

Once a client cancels, either with you or online, the newly available spot is made instantly visible.

Having these appointments made available online gives clients the ability to make a booking they might otherwise miss. Making it more likely to fill same-day or next-day appointments.  

Alternatively, you can set cut off times so you decide how late a client can book beforehand.

Another handy feature is that you can set up a secure log in system for VIP clients only.

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Konnect with your clients.

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MEASURE YOUR SUCCESS.

The great thing about having an automated booking system like Konnect is that you can measure your success.  

Are online bookings working for you? Is your website compelling new clients to book?  

You can bring up reports from your Konnect database to measure exactly how your business is progressing. Add this capability in combination with google analytics to track website conversions, and you will know what is and isn’t working for you.  Konnect Reporting Features

 

Salon booking reports

REDUCE HUMAN ERROR.

Another added advantage is the reduction in human error. Say goodbye to double bookings or forgotten SMS reminders. Konnects powerful booking system takes the guesswork out of your salon bookings and automatically sends confirmation texts and SMS reminders to booked clients. Just set and forget, while Konnect does all the hard work for you. SMS Reminders. 

CONCLUSION

As you can see, there are many advantages to offering online booking to your clients. Studies have proven how much clients value online booking capabilities.

Online booking is also advantageous to you as a business owner, as you save time, reduce no-shows, look more professional and can measure your success with easy to access reports.

Streamline your booking process with complete automation, so you have real-time bookings available to you and your staff on any device at any time of the day and night.

Plus, you will never miss another booking opportunity again!

At Konnect Spa and Salon Software, we enjoy providing you with useful business strategies that work in conjunction with our great software.

Konnect provides you with the simple, easy-to-use tools to successfully run day-to-day operations in your salon.

Not using Konnect Spa and Salon Software?  Sign up for a free demonstration today.

Jump on board and let us help you take your business to new heights.
Konnect Spa and Salon Software – the simple, affordable key to making your business brilliant.

 

 

A woman paying at the beauty salon for salon loyalty points.

The Benefits of a Successful Salon Loyalty Program.

September 30, 2019/0 Comments/in Blog /by Melissa

Do you ever wonder whether your salon, spa or barbershop should implement a salon loyalty program?  Is it really worth the effort?

Well, to answer these questions, you need to ask yourself a question. Do you want to improve client retention and increase revenue? If you answered yes, then you have your answer. You NEED a salon loyalty program, and it IS absolutely worth the effort! Let’s look at the benefits a successful salon loyalty program will bring.

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Konnect provides you with simple, easy-to-use tools to successfully run day-to-day operations

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The Benefits of a Salon Loyalty Program.

  • Increased client retention
  • Improved brand recognition
  • Improved business reputation
  • Attracts new clients
  • Increased client engagement
  • More referrals
  • Increased bookings on slow days
  • Easier to Upsell and Cross-sell
  • Increased revenue

 

A happy client being served by a hairdresser

Why do Salon Loyalty Programs Work?

So let’s start with the cold hard facts.

  •  75% of businesses see a return on their investment in a loyalty program.
  • Clients who join your loyalty program ensure 12-18% more revenue annually compared to clients who don’t participate.
  • 66% of clients will spend more to unlock rewards.
  • 81% of clients say a loyalty program encourages them to continue going to the same business.
  • 73% of clients are more inclined to recommend a business with a good loyalty program.  2019 loyalty statistics

Are you convinced yet?

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With Konnect, it’s super easy to introduce and manage your loyalty program.

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How to Start a Successful Salon Loyalty Program.

Whether you are a salon, spa or barbershop, do some research on who your top clients are. On average, the top 20% of loyal clients provide you with 80% of your business. So finding out who these clients are should be first on your agenda. Loyalty program Statistics.

Konnect Spa and Salon makes this task easy by allowing you to bring up a report on just about any parameter you can think up. If it’s in your database, you can measure it. Konnects reporting tools are a quick and easy way to check the health of your business. Reporting tools

A successful salon loyalty program should focus first on cementing the loyalty of your current clients. After all, these clients are the backbone of your business. Clients are more likely to feel valued by you and your business when they receive special treatment or small discounts and gifts.  67% of customers said surprise gifts are very important for loyalty programs.

Think of other areas in your salon, spa or barbershop that need a little help. Do you fall behind in gaining new clients? Do you fall short in selling retail products? (Which by the way are an easy way to boost your profits). By running reports on these areas and knowing what needs improving gives you direction in how you should set up your salon loyalty program.

 

A happy client getting a reward for a salon loyalty program.

How to set up salon loyalty program points.

The most popular reward system is to award 1 point for every $1 spent. However, this is by no means the only way you can tailor your salon loyalty program.

Setting an achievable and financially viable salon loyalty program is the key to ensure success. Depending on your unique salon goals, you may decide to allocate extra points in the areas your business needs boosting.

For example, points are only redeemable on products if your retail sales are low.  Here is a guide for point allocations,  However, you should tailor your program according to your salon.

  • Encourage spending by allocating 1 point for every 1 dollar spent.
  • Offer a reward, discount or VIP treatment when a client reaches X amount of points.
  • Encourage clients to book on slow days by giving extra points — for example, double points on Tuesday.
  • Encourage upselling and cross-selling by offering extra points for add-on services or products.
  • Entice clients to buy gift cards for friends and family by giving extra points.
  • Encourage online bookings with points.
  • Increase positive online reviews by incentivising clients with points.
  • Make sure your clients feel the love by giving special birthday points.
  • Gather client emails by giving points for signing up to newsletters or blogs.
  • Incentivise clients to follow you on social media with points.
  • Encourage word of mouth by rewarding points for client referrals.
  • Move older or overstocked products by allocating extra points for the purchase.

 

Hands holding up a sign for a salon loyalty program.

 

Things to Consider.

When designing your salon loyalty program, remember that you want to attract clients by providing rewards that are tangible and attainable. On the other hand, the rewards must not be so high that your business suffers a loss of income. Tailor programs to suit both your business and your client’s expectations.

To maintain trust and loyalty, you must be willing and able to provide the promised rewards. Thorough planning and crunching the numbers is the only way you can be sure not to overextend your promises.

Salon loyalty programs also require clear and transparent restrictions on the redemption of points, such as points not redeemable for cash. Ensure you have a strict terms and conditions policy to support your salon loyalty program. This policy must be appropriately worded to avoid misinterpretation.

 

Clients in a hairdressers enjoying the benefits of a salon loyalty program

 

Do You Need Software for a Salon Loyalty Program?

Punch cards are no longer seen as a valuable system. A large number of clients will hesitate to join a program that requires a card. In fact, 79% of consumers say they would be more likely to join a loyalty program without a card system.

Punch cards are often lost, damaged or misplaced which only serves to frustrate clients as they have no proof of accrued points. Furthermore, punch cards are outdated and look unprofessional.

Konnect Spa and Salon software takes the guesswork out of calculating points and remove the chance of human error. Salon loyalty program feature

Behind every excellent salon loyalty program is a powerful database. Konnect delivers this for you and gives you the ability to run whatever type of salon loyalty program you choose. You set the parameters, and konnect does all the allocation of points of and values at the point of sale. So there is no more manual calculation of points. How easy is that?

Salon loyalty programs take around 3-6 months to show results. After putting in a lot of thought, time and energy into the implementation of your program, you must be sure that you can measure the improvements made. Without an automated system like Konnect, it is tough to calculate these improvements and to compare them with previous months. With Konnect, it’s all right there at the touch of a button.

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Behind every great client loyalty program is a powerful database.

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Loyalty

 

Conclusion

A salon loyalty program is just what you need if, you want to encourage spending in a specific area, plus improve client retention and increase revenue in your salon.

The benefits of a successful salon loyalty program definitely outway the time and effort it takes to implement one. And the statistics prove this.

Konnect provides your salon, spa or barbershop with all the tools you need to run a successful and automated salon loyalty program.

So why not check out all the other great features Konnect Spa and Salon software has to offer your salon, spa or barbershop.

Konnect is a complete all-in-one management system that will help your business reach new heights with less work.

Want to see for yourself? Go to  https://www.konnect.software/free-demo/ and sign up for a free demo.

Konnect Spa and Salon Software – the simple, affordable key to making your business brilliant.

 

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Recent Posts

  • Managing Salon Client Complaints
  • Local Marketing Tips for Salons.
  • Salon Upselling and Cross-selling Techniques.
  • Your Salon and Coronavirus. A Practical Guide.
  • Effective Salon Time Management.

Features

  • Calendar & Bookings
  • Client Cards
  • Reminders
  • Marketing
  • Client Loyalty & Gift Cards
  • Mobile App & Remote Access
  • Online Bookings
  • Reporting
  • Point of Sale
  • Staff Management
  • Stock Management
  • Multi-site Management
  • Accounting Integration
  • Phone & Email Support
  • Data Migration

Salon Software Features

  • Calendar & Bookings
  • Client Cards
  • Reminders
  • Marketing
  • Client Loyalty & Gift Cards
  • Mobile App & Remote Access
  • Online Bookings
  • Reporting
  • Point of Sale
  • Staff Management
  • Stock Management
  • Multi-site Management
  • Accounting Integration
  • Phone & Email Support
  • Data Migration

Blog Posts

  • Managing Salon Client Complaints
  • Local Marketing Tips for Salons.
  • Salon Upselling and Cross-selling Techniques.
  • Your Salon and Coronavirus. A Practical Guide.
  • Effective Salon Time Management.

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Phone Numbers

02 8004 7684

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