What People See That You Don’t

Probably the most powerful view you can offer your customers is no view. This is by far the last thing you want them to see, but unfortunately it is all too common when business is slow. It is an important lesson we must all learn; if you aren’t busy, look busy! Your motivation will draw customers through the door; it will positively send the message that you are indeed open for business, and not waiting to leave. There are several key functions that will help you in productively using this time to move your salon above the rest.

 Renew Your Displays

Retail displays should never become stagnant. You want to continuously change their look in a significant way to attract your customers’ attention. If you are seeing your customers once every 60 days then your displays should be altered in that time period as well. By alternating products, changing adds, and adjusting lighting or fixtures your clients will notice the change and take a closer look. You want your customers to be drawn to your displays in the hope they will pick up the products, as it is well known that touch will begin a bonding process.

Build Your Skills

Use this time to work with your personnel on skill building. Every member of your team has their own specialties that they can share. Take the time to share tips, teach new skills, and practice with one another through trial and error. This practice will decrease competition among staff and help build store quality as a whole, while promoting personal appearance of each member of your team. Your customers deserve the best, and so does your staff.

Product Knowledge

Take the time to go through you product lines and learn them. Can you list reasons why you have a specific brand of product? What does this product offer your client and why? Customers tend to purchase within the same product line, can you recommend the proper line to suit all of your customer’s needs? Learning the product lines you offer will create a confidence in being able to endorse them which will help in the sale. Your customers will purchase more when they trust in what they are purchasing.

Get to Know Your Neighbor

Slow times are great for taking a closer look around. Try expanding this look by including your neighboring businesses. Do they offer a service that you don’t? Would a combined offer from this business in conjunction with yours be beneficial? A shared marketing venture in the right demographic location could prove beneficial to both you and your customers. Take the time to approach these businesses with your ideas and come up with a presentation and a special offer that would appeal to both sets of customers. 

Plan for the Upcoming Season

Is spring and summer approaching? Use typically slow days to invite friends and family, or even preferred customers to your business to try out new techniques in wedding and prom styles. Sharing the most recent trends and styles with your preferred customers will promote excitement and bring new customers in from word of mouth referrals. Obtain some banners and posters from suppliers to brighten up walls to help keep you and your customers in tune. Your customers want to feel special and by sharing this opportunity with them will increase talk of your business.

Backup and Update

With days seeming to run together and life being more hectic than ever, backing up your customer information is easy to put off. It is crucial to take the time to do this each and every day. Without backing up, you are potentially throwing away your clients. Take the time each evening when things slow down to backup your computer data. Even if you have a slow spot during the day this can be done. Look into automating backup to online server storage. Many of these services are free for small storage. Another way to utilize these times is to take the time to upgrade the software you have. Staying on the leading edge of technology will help you advance above the other salons. This may seem like too much of a hassle, but it needs to be made a priority, just like staying current with the latest styles.

Personalize

Sharing a personal moment with your customers is something that will make an unforgettable impact on them. Take the time to call them about a new product you think they will enjoy or a special on something they frequent. Write a thank you note for their repeated services, or just to say hello or show concern about something they shared with you. A birthday card with a special discount just for them is a great way to bring them back and make them feel special. Try sending “haven’t seen you in a while” cards to customers that have not been in for a while, you can do this from lists obtained by a database query most software programs will run. In making this extra effort they will not only feel special but feel bonded to your salon as a friend and not just a number.

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