Opening a Salon

Salon tips

Summer is here and its time to get your salon busy! In the hairdressing industry Summer often means working harder to entice or keep clients with your salon. Clients disappear on vacation, move home or go crazy with the heat and try a new hairdresser! Some of the ideas you will find below are subtle, others are more \"in your face.\"

Have fun trying different combinations of ideas. Some salons managers like to try to mix and match these ideas in new ways constantly. Don\'t undervalue any of these ideas - try them in order to see if they work for you. These are some of the best ideas salon marketers have had success with:



INSIDE YOUR SALON
# Ask for the sale in a way that your client can comprehend by emphasising how the product or salon service they are thinking of trying will perform for them.
# Use money as a gimmick. People are intrigued by it and feel obligated to say yes to your offer when you give it to them. Try putting a Ł5 gift voucher inside your \"welcome to our salon\" thank you note. You can design \"salon money\" that can be used for a discount at your salon. This can be especially effective because people have been taught from a very young age to \"never throw money away.\"
# Create a different way to introduce yourself to clients. It helps people know you immediately and to remember you for a longer time. Try a gimmick that is fun: \"Hello... I am Sally your stylish stylist.\" Have fun with it.
# Donate money and present awards at your salon. If you know of a school leaver who is going to begin hairdressing training, give him or her some form of sponsorship. Invite the local media to cover it and announce it throughout your local market and at your salon.
# Every time a client comes in and you begin working on them, give them exciting news. The emotional charge you share with them will spark them up.


OUTSIDE YOUR SALON
# Salon Marketing When creating an ad or any other client communication or promotion, be sure to claim that you are the best in the business or that you have the best talent in the business. Tell people about the strengths you have that will give them greater advantage. Tell them what they will gain. Don\'t lay back or feel insecure or shy.
# Develop a creative mastermind group. Have a group of other business people you trust who work in industries that are non-competitive with your business. Discuss with them marketing ideas every other week. If you can visit online websites such as hairdressingworld.com, develop relationships with other salon owners on the forums and talk with them regularly to discuss how to improve your businesses. Each of you will benefit from the other\'s \"learning curve\" experiences.
# Put your own creative team together. Hire an art student from a local college or art school. Hire a free lance writer with experience working for an ad agency.
# Think \"over the top\". Make outrageous offers to get new clients in the door.
# Write an advertisement for your local newspaper that has one to three columns of editorial information. This is called an advertorial ad. You can also offer your expertise to your local newspaper as a \"beauty agony aunt/uncle\".
# Help your clients find your salon. Make your ads and client communications shout with ways to connect with you. Make your phone number jump off the page. Make your location crystal clear. Don\'t make it hard or time consuming for clients to find your salon.
# Spread the word that you love to get new clients by asking your existing clients to tell their friends. Clients tend to feel really wonderful when they can give you the help you ask for.
# Set an advertising budget and stay within the guidelines. Barter your services in exchange for advertising, when possible.
# Be consistent. Follow-through with your marketing plan. Clients have to see an advertisement seven to ten times before they will take action. Be patient and you will increase your salon business.
# Volunteer to work with local charities. Be certain that your promotional objectives are met in the process. Request cooperative publicity, mention in advertisements and other promotions that coincide with your activities.
# Become active in local networking groups and business associations. Join committees make everyone on you committee look their best because it will reflect on you.
# Sponsor community events.
# Create a publicity stunt for charity. Hire your local school band to play and give the school band leader a small donation, they\'ll love the practice, and their parents will come to your salon to watch their children play. Hey presto! 20 new potential clients!
# Take media representatives to lunch and write them frequently about all the wonderful newsworthy activities and charities you are involved with.
# Carry your business cards everywhere. Hand them to people who you engage in conversation with. Give out five cards per day. This will put about 100 of your salon cards into the hands of new potential clients every month. That\'s 1200 per year for just you. If everyone in your salon does the same think of the multiplied effect it will have on your business.
# Read all of the trade journals you can get your hands on and stay ahead of the competition.

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