Sales & Marketing

5 Salon Special Offer Ideas That Don’t Undermine Your Prices

5 min

5 Salon Special Offer Ideas That Don’t Undermine Your Prices

One of the greatest challenges of running a salon is discovering unique ways to increase business without giving away services or retail for reduced prices (or for free!).

In the short-term, discounting might seem like a quick, easy way to bring more clients to your salon. However, lowering your prices does absolutely nothing to create long-term business. With that in mind, we’ve rounded-up some highly effective salon special offer ideas that you can put into action.

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Salon Special Offer Ideas

Research tells us that the majority of your clients are not motivated by savings but instead by rewards for their loyalty. So, the question is: why produce salon special offers based on discounting?

1. Add Value Rather Instead Of Discounting

salon-added-value

Small extras are, more often than not, perceived as little luxuries. The aim, of course, is for your client to love the results so much that they will pay for the same treatment on their next visit.

[Tweet “Lowering your prices does absolutely nothing to create long-term business!”]

I know from personal experience, that if it weren’t for a hair stylist popping in a complimentary deep conditioning treatment many moons ago, I would have saved a lot of money since then on blow-drys. However, ever since I had that experience, I cannot forgo asking for the same treatment as I know that my results just won’t be as good without it (besides, who can say “no” to 15 minutes in a massage chair with your hair all wrapped up in a warm towel? Bliss!)

Another example of added-value salon special offers would be the introduction of an additional treatment during a client’s facial. For instance, if you know that a customer will be required to let their face mask set for about 15 minutes, that time would be ideal to offer them a mini service like perhaps, a quick file and polish or a head massage.

Adding value to your client’s treatment is a fabulous idea (if your customer is anything like me) as they will more likely be inclined to start paying for that same treatment time and time again.

2. Bring a friend

salon-special-deals

It is said that the best form of flattery is a referral. Of course, the best referrals come by surprise. Read more about referrals here.

There is no harm in giving your clients little nudges towards introducing their friends and family to your business. Rather than merely suggesting that your client brings a friend along next time, why not check out our brand new Phorest Referral Card, part of our Loyalty Program? If you are not a Phorest client, think about personalising business cards perhaps, turning them into a space to leave a name for a referral.

august salon marketing ideas
Phorest’s Referral Card. Contact <growteam@phorest.com> for more information.

The personalised element of this card makes your client feel good, meaning that they would be much more likely to encourage someone to come try out your services for themselves. You could go one step further and leave a space on the card for your client to write down the name of whoever they think would most appreciate being brought along for a sample service like, for example, a curly blow-dry – now they have someone to give it to!

This is one of the best ways to increase your client database as the idea is that the friend will be super-impressed and become a loyal (full-price paying) client! Check out this other easy way to grow your client database. Furthermore, another part of our Phorest loyalty system, the TreatCard, rewards clients with loyalty card points for referrals. This has been proven to get your clients to come back more often and spend more money.

3. 3 for 2

salon special offer

You only have to look at the health and beauty retailer Boots to see how successful a 3 for 2 offer can be. I mean, who amongst us can resist picking up some products when we feel like we are getting one for free?

A great way to put this salon special offer into practice without feeling as though you are giving away products is to ensure that only ever the cheapest of the 3 items is given for free. Say, for example; a client is interested in a shampoo, conditioner and deep treatment. The shampoo would be the cheapest product, and the deep treatment is considerably more pricey, meaning that you should make a decent profit regardless while still giving your client the feeling that they’ve been treated. 🙂

4. Oh, Happy Day

salon-special-offer-idea

If you find that one day of the week tends to repeatedly attract less business, why not create a buzz both in the salon and on your social media about your salon’s ‘Happy Day’?

Just choose a day that you think could be busier and spread the word that, on that particular day, all clients will walk away with a special Treat Jar. It could be filled with sample/small products related to the client’s treatment. For example, if somebody is having a manicure, you could pop in a sample hand cream and a nail file.

Another idea would be that, for someone having a full body massage, you could put together a Treat Jar containing some exfoliator and maybe a sample of some body oil to help your client prolong their treatment.

Look to Pinterest for super cute, affordable Treat Jar ideas like these:

salon special offer

5. Monthly Look – Celeb Birthday

salon special offer

Stuck for ideas on packages? This is a fun salon special offer to consider.

Why not put Google to the test and assign a celebrity to each month in your salon according to that star’s birthday.

You could put together a salon special offer package without reducing prices and base it on a particular celebrity’s look. For example, Kim Kardashian would be a good one for October. How about a contour masterclass with a little glass of champagne?! Give your clients the star treatment they deserve. 🙂

 *Bonus Salon Special Offer Idea* –> Believe in your Selfie / Before&After Photos

phorest-salon-marketing-strategies-woman-before-and-after-makeup

It goes without saying that selfies and before & after photos are having a very prolonged ‘moment.’ Why not buy into the hype and create an offer for clients who agree to take one or the other after their treatment?

As well as giving them some additional points on their Phorest TreatCard you could create a ‘Who Needs A Filter’ deal? The idea behind this is that, rather than needing a filter, your clients will be gifted for taking the selfie with a product to help them achieve that flawless look.

As well as creating a bit of fun in the salon, the before and photos will become a fantastic collection of photos which you can use to promote your work on your social media. A little creativity never goes amiss. There is absolutely no need for you to lower your value with low cost / free services or products. Instead, add value to your offers and see your clients return time and time again – We promise you it’s worth it!

Did you know that Phorest recently released a new Before & After Photos feature on the Phorest Go App? Find out more about it here.

Are you looking for some more help with salon special offers & Client Retention solutions? Phorest Salon Software is delighted to give you The Phorest Retention Marketing eBook absolutely free! Get the tools and knowledge to bring your salon to the next level.
salon-client-retention-ebook

Thanks for reading!

#LetsGrow


Post updated July 21st, 2016.

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