I'm running an offer a special at the moment, it's a bit drastic but I have just opened the business and missed the yellow pages deadline. The offer is called Bring a Friend for Free - Two spa pedicures for the price of one. I have handed out about 200 leaflets with this offer in mailboxes and have had several new clients call about them. I have included a voucher for 10% off any treatment also to encourage them to return for more treatments.
My reasoning for this offer rather than an upgraded treatment for one person was that this way I have two potential new client walk in the door for every voucher redeemed.
You may not want to offer such a large discount, but this is really working for me at the moment. I have made a (very small) profit in my first week of trading.
hth a bit
Well done, as long as you are happy with it, and it's making you money, that's great.
I did some special offers when I started out, such as free lash tint with every facial - that was a mistake really as I had to patch test them - and free luxury upgrade for mani's and pedi's but since then I've not really done any offers.
However, the other day I bought in a new facial range and although I wasn't quiet at the time, I offered clients a chance to try it for £20, i.e. a facial for £20. They were biting my hand off! But what I learnt from this, in a way, was to look after my existing clients rather than attracting new ones. OK, I realise when you're starting up you need to attract new ones, but make sure you nurture every client that walks through the door, because you don't actually need many regulars, you just need them to BE regular!