Sometimes it's not about making a load of money. I've used groupon and itison (Scotland) and came away with between £12 and £16 an hour. This was a mixed deal so the costs for the treatment varied from very little (massage) to slightly more than I would like (facial). Granted this isn't full price and overall we probably only made a minimal profit, however this was a great way to drive footfall into the salon, boost a quieter time of the year and fill up a new member of staffs column. And if I'd been paying her to be there anyway then why not at least cover her wages and get her some new regulars.
We provided our normal level of service and offered a further 20% discount on the clients next booking and overall we have gained about 40 new regulars from it.
I would consider myself as 'quite bright' and would never run a deal for nails as this is what we are busiest with, or tans or lashes as the profit margin becomes to small. But let's all stop being so stuck up and start to think with an open mind. I don't know how many times I've seen on here people moaning they're quiet (both employers and employed) yet they're the same ones to slag off any promotions that 'devalue' (deals or otherwise).
The reps can be a little pushy I agree however if you pick a smart deal and don't discount it too much it can work really really well for you!
If anyone thought of using the search facility then you would see just how many times this subject has been discussed and how many times I've replied to posts relating to this subject, just for another week to go by and the same thread appears just with a different OP!
Apologies for my flippant comment.
I have used both Groupon and Social living but only once, not continuously. I used one in 2011 and one in 2012. Use common sense with these sites, to advertise your name to 180k people in a radius of 10 miles probably would cost you more than using Groupon. Make sure the offer is one with little product usage and the service time is short and the staff members used are on minimum wage. If you think you are going to make money from this you will not, it is a form of advertising the only thing you can do is upsell and encourage your clients to re-book, we kept a very high percentage of custom from these offers, and none of them are chavs, rude or want something for nothing. They are ordinary people that look for cheaper alternatives and they are not always poor or jobless, which most people think these sort of clients from deal sites are. I never used either of these deal sites to make money, the year I bought my salon I changed the name and opened on days it was shut...I worked for me. It's not about being stuck-up it's about using business acumen and common sense, often of which, is not that common.
The rest of your comments I agree with, you have to pay staff regardless of if they are busy or not. Some money is better than no money. I do my own deals and offers, my salon is not in an affluent area, the owners that turn their noses up at deals/offers are generally the ones that have been established for many years, charge £60 for a cut and blow dry and the minimum spend of one client is £100+ per appointment, but it is all relevant, it's the naughts on the end of the figures that change, nothing more.
