For many salons and spas, the holiday season presents the opportunity to boost your bottom line. While your clients may already be in the spending mood, it’s important to maximize service and retail sales to ensure you meet your end-of-year revenue goals.
The holidays are the perfect time to push your gift card sales. Gift cards have been the number one requested item on wish lists since 2007 and are one of the easiest ways to create additional revenue. Need even more incentive to sell more gift cards? The average recipient ends up spending an extra 20% beyond the value of the card. The holidays are a perfect time to add gift card promotions such as “buy $100, get $120.”
Consider going beyond gift cards and add series and memberships to your holiday promotions. You can even give mini-memberships that are more cost-effective for clients. Studies show that increasing amounts of millennials like to give each other “experiences.” Position your promotion as gifting a “three-month experience.” Not only is this an appealing gift, but it also increases your opportunity to woo and retain more loyal clients through multiple visits. Another way to push your packages and series is through holiday-specific offerings. This time of year is full of parties and get-togethers. Offer a special on series that must be used during the holiday season for your busy clients that need things taken off their plate, such as holiday party hair or makeup.
You can target last-minute shoppers on Super Saturday, or, the last panic-filled Saturday before Christmas. Make your business a one-stop-shop for clients who still have items on their shopping list. Selling stocking stuffers, ribbons, pre-made gift baskets, men’s serums and hair products, and other holiday-themed gifts will not only increase your retail ticket but also give clients an appreciated convenience. You can even cross-market with other local businesses such as a photography studio. Families can take holiday photos while looking their best right after an appointment, while also receiving a discount on a photo package.
While the holidays are chaotic, you can be consciously maximizing your book to avoid the January lull. Pre-book your clients into January and February while they are in during the holidays to ensure your revenue boost doesn’t stop at the end of the year.
- John Harms
founder and CEO, Millennium Systems International
About: John Harms, founder & CEO of Millennium Systems International, creator of Millennium Software, has been designing industry leading salon scheduling software and educating the beauty & wellness industry since 1987. Today Millennium is utilized in thousands of businesses in more than 42 countries and operating with approximately 200+ employees worldwide. Millennium currently runs its corporate headquarters out of New Jersey and its international office is based in the U.K.
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