Protect Your Salon This Season! Christmas

Christmas is just around the corner, and for a lot of people it’s a time to celebrate, party and look their best. That means, for the salon industry, it’s an incredibly busy time.

To make sure your business is prepared to handle the holiday rush and protect your operations, we’ve compiled Timely’s top tips to safeguard your salon business and get you through the busiest time of year.

1. Secure appointments with deposits and card capture

Cancellations and no-shows can put a real spanner in the works during the holiday season. They disrupt your schedule and could even mean you lose out on income.

And that’s where deposits and card capture systems work wonders.

Requesting a nominal deposit when your clients make bookings is a fantastic way to ensure both their commitment and protect your valuable appointment slots. It provides a level of assurance that someone just won’t show up at the last minute – and if they do – well, you’ve got their deposit.

This approach can also help clients to split the cost of their appointment, by allowing them to prepay for part of their appointment with the deposit.

If you’re hesitant about deposits or think your clients might be put off by them, then try a card capture system instead. This means securely storing your clients’ card details and having the option to charge them in case of a no-show or late cancellation.

Deposits and card capture are a win-win. They ensure your time is respected while giving clients flexibility and the option to split the cost of their appointment.

2. Fill last minute spots with a waitlist

Deposits and cancellation fees can have a massive impact on your no-shows, but there might still be rare instances of last-minute cancellation – like an unexpected illness.

To ensure that no valuable appointment slots go to waste, set up a waitlist. Clients who add themselves to your waitlist get the benefit of being the first person to hear about any available appointments.

It’s a proactive approach that ensures your schedule stays fully booked, you don’t lose out on any income, and a client gets an appointment who might not have got in otherwise. This is especially helpful over the busy holiday season, when you’re booked out weeks (or maybe even months in advance)

3. Make client visits perfect with digital forms

Providing an exceptional salon experience means keeping things as smooth as possible for your clients. One way to help with this is to incorporate digital forms into your booking process.

Digital forms ensure that clients are booked in for the right services and get a proper consultation. And, by sending them out in advance, it gives you a chance to understand any special requests or preferences – from allergies to desired looks. Knowing exactly what your client wants and needs before they even step through the door means you can tailor your services to them really effectively.

You can also use digital forms in-salon to get sign-off on services and aftercare instructions. No more trying to keep track of bits of paper, everything is kept safe digitally so you can access it whenever you need to.

4. Protect your business by blocking problem clients

While we always want to believe the best of our clients, every business at some point eventually encounters people who disrupt and jeopardise the daily operations.

Create your own ‘naughty and nice’ list, and if you encounter clients who consistently disrupt your business, it’s time to take action.

These clients might be chronic no-shows, make excessive demands, or simply be rude. Block their ability to book and create room for clients who genuinely appreciate your expertise and value your time.

With these strategies, you can safeguard your salon and create a smoother, more joyful holiday season for both you and your clients.

While you may want to get your salon prepped with festive decorations and a buzzing atmosphere, it’s equally important to make sure you’re also prepped to protect your salon for this hectic season. To find out how Timely can help you safeguard your salon for a busy and joyful Christmas season, visit gettimely.com.