Hi guys, i know there are LOADS of threads simular but here goes. My salon opens next week and no one booked in yet. I know friends and family will be booking in soon but thats about it. Iv set up a fb page but not got many followers yet, put leaflets/posters in local shops and we are havin an open day on sat which im hopin will bring in lots of clients. So i suppose i just want to hear everything will be ok lol
Was your appointment book full when u opened up? Any ideas?
What were your first few weeks like?
Any ideas would be great xx
Oh and iv got 2 papers puttin an advert in for me

We have been open a couple of weeks and are doing around 2 treatments a day on average. Maybe I have low expectations, but I am quite pleased with that - as long as it grows. I haven't started marketing properly yet as I want us to get into the routine and iron out the problems before we (hopefully) get busy. Seem to be doing a lot of feet....

Good luck with your venture

xx

Hi there, nice to see another south yorkshire geek!! Where abouts are you?
Things are always slow until people realise you are there and a few have tried your treatments out.
I would say it takes a minimum of 6 months to get a steady flow.
Good luck!!

thanks for your replies im just worryin and hoping it will be a hit!
Im from rotherham and the salon is in Wath. what about yourself? xx

Aww worrying is only natural, I am a pro at it . Not far from me then, I am from rotherham too and rent 2 rooms for beauty inside a salon in maltby

Small world i used to live in maltby haha whats salon called? xx

sure is!! Its called The Barbers Room but was previously called Setting Trends, I am sure you will know it?
I wish you every success with your new venture

Yeah i know where u mean Thanks so much xx

Hi Keeley20, I've got a great way to get new clients immediately which has worked for me in the past but you have to work it completely right or you could end up broke!!

Ok here goes, you draw up a letter offering £30 worth of treatments Absolutely FREE (mad I know...bear with me on this!) and enclose 6 x £5 "Very Special Vouchers". On the letter you state that they can use the vouchers all at once, once a month or give them to their family and friends. Butthere is a catch….. They must phone you within 5 days, to register the vouchers. Make sure you put a short expiry date on registering the vouchers (or maybe get them to call you before the date the salon opens?). Without a registration call (where you give the caller a unique "voucher registration code") they cannot use these vouchers. Tip here, make sure you are on hand to take the call and have prepared a telephone script ready so you sound professional AND don't forget to get their FULL details.



The vouchers should have an expiry date that you choose clearly stated on them along with your T&C's (ie can't be used with special offers, can't be redeemed for cash, products or gift vouchers etc). All my vouchers were valid for 6 months.



Now the VERY VERY VERY important part here is to make sure you carry out a FULL consultation, when the client comes in and redeems their voucher(s). Get ALL of their details including Name, Postal Address, Email, Tel No, Mobile No, Facebook address, Twitter address, DOB, etc etc etc.


This allows you to start creating your Client Database List quickly, and once you have their details you can go back to them time and time again to offer them your services and products, using Direct Mail, eMails, Text Messaging, Facebook etc etc.



Now while this may seem a bit mad when you first look at, you need to look at how much a customer is worth to you in the long run. EG if on average your client will come to see you once a month for 2 years and will spend £25 on each visit, each customer is then worth £600 to you in the longterm and so "giving away" £30 to get a new client (or possibly £30 for 6 clients if they are the generous sort) is a great ROI (Return On Investment).


Lots of these vouchers probably won't get used, but it does allow your Salon name to get out there quickly. And if you can make a point of suggesting products that would genuinely benefit them, that you can sell them ie TopCoat in a manicure, Foot Pumice in a Pedicure, Moisturiser in a Facial etc. you can still make money on a "freebie" treatment.



It goes without saying, but obviously you need to go all out to impress your clients during these freebie treatments, so they will tell everyone they know. Don't forget to have "Feedback Forms" on hand at the end of their treatment so you can collect their hopefully positive comments, so you can use these then on all of your future leaflets, posters, website etc. And make sure you get them to rebook BEFORE they leave the salon.


Hope this helps, it worked for me, but you have to be organised or it could end up costing you dearly!


I ended up with 30 names on my database in the first week and some of them are still with me 6 years on!


Hugs


Sarah x

Groupon getting praised! Well I be damned!

good luck both of you new salons!

I relocated my small 3 seater salon to a much larger 6 seater / nail desk / tanning room salon in May and although I keep moaning its not busy enough, I must stop because the advise on here about taking 6 months to get regular clientele is spot on

We are coming to the end of our 5 months and have almost doubled our clientele to around 400 so I shall hush my mouth and stop expecting miracles

It takes time, patience, perseverence and nerves of bloody steel (and a very supportive other half at home to help pick up those pieces)

Keep going and you wont look back. PROMISE x

Best of luck with the opening.

snlynn that is a great idea! But you definitely would have to organise it properly, think I'l be trying it!

Keeley20 Best of luck to you, hope everything goes well