Although it may be nice to have a break after the holiday madness, no salon likes to feel the slowness of the January lull. Here are some tips from George Tsinokas and the staff at Valentino’s Grande Salon, in Whitby, Ont., to prevent business from being sluggish in the new year.
1. Special Offers
Special savings or bonuses are the best way to encourage clients to book ahead for January appointments.
“We do ‘Casino Month’ throughout the latter half of November and for all of December. We have every client who cashes out make a selection from a pile of large playing cards. The face value of the card is the percentage they get if they come back in January,” says Tsinkoas. They are also entered into a draw for a grand prize when they come in for their January appointment.
Clients at Valentino’s can also use their discount on retail or services, so even if it’s not time for a cut or colour, they may come back in for a blowout or to buy products.
2. Educate yourself
Beyond making sure stylists have the salon in tip-top shape, stylists should use their downtime in January to invest in their education.
“Stylists can use their downtime to increase business in the future by shadowing their peers. By doing this they will inevitably learn new tips and tricks of the industry,” says Tsinokas. Knowing the latest trends and techniques will impress clients when they come back wanting a new look in 2012.
3. Push product
Brushing up on the products and tools being carried by your salon is a great way to help increase sales when business does pick up. And, although it’s unlikely there’s a lot of holiday product leftover, if they do have something (like a holiday special) they no longer intend to carry, Valentino’s often uses it as prizes for clients to win.
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