Loyalty with Salon Tracker!

 

When it comes to running a successful salon business, customer loyalty and retention is one of the most important factors. The salon market in 2022 is one of the most condensed with a lot of different businesses offering the same services. In this blog we are going to talk about the features that are already implemented in Salon Tracker which can help you encourage your existing customers to keep coming back to your salon rather than opting to have the same services at one of your competitor salons.

Pack Quantities

One feature that is already within Salon Tracker is pack quantities. This feature allows you to sell your services in packs and take payments upfront. This means that customers can buy a bundle of services, often for a reduced price, upfront. By offering this customers can purchase multiple services upfront for cheaper and it will therefore encourage them to stay loyal to your salon. By doing it this way you are also able to take payment upfront meaning there’s no chance of your salon losing out if these customers decide, for whatever reason, to not come back.

 

Marketing

Another way you could encourage your existing customers to stay loyal to your salon is to market to them via text and email. Salon Trackers intelligent marketing suite, which is available on our professional and enterprise packages, can help you do this in the easiest way possible. In our marketing suite you can filter out your customers depending on who you want to send a message to. For example, if you are wanting to thank your most loyal customers from the past three months, you can go to the marketing suite and then select your filter for the ’10 Best Spending Customers in the past three months’. Once you have this list of customers you could send them a message as follows:

‘Congrats, you are one of our top customers this season! As a thank you show this message next time you’re in for £5 off your next booking’

This gives you the opportunity to keep in contact with your customers, encourage them to keep visiting and also reward these loyal customers.

 

Customer Groups

Another way you can use Salon Tracker to reward your loyal customers is to set up customer discount groups. You can set up as many different customer groups as you would like with different discounts on retail products and booking services. One way you can do this is to have different customer groups for silver, gold and platinum customers. You could offer different discounts in each group with the idea that customers can work their way up these groups to get the best discount by being loyal to your salon.

If you would like any more information on any of these things or would like to get booked in for a free demonstration and two-week trial, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with us on 0113 350 8230 or email info@salontracker.co.uk

Salon Tracker x

Our New Support System

We want to make getting help from us as easy as possible, which is why we have introduced a new help section on our website for you and your staff (Help - Salon Tracker). Here you will find plenty of help videos and guides on loads of different sections of the software. Perfect for staff training or if you ever get stuck and just need a quick guide on what to do.

Help Videos (Support Videos - Salon Tracker)

Our help videos have been stored within in the software for quite a while now, so we thought it would be helpful to have these accessible at any time, even when you’re not actually in the salon. The help videos follow the menu within Salon Tracker to make them as easy to follow as possible, starting with bookings all the way through to help. On our help home page there is also a search feature that brings up any videos or guides that match your search, so if you are unsure of which section the video will fall under you can use the search instead.

Each video is around 1-3 minutes and shows a walk-through of how to complete different tasks on the software. 

User Guides

Similar to the videos we also have lots of different help guides (Help Guides - Salon Tracker) to help with issues you may come across when using the system, for example how to reconnect your receipt printer. These can be downloaded to your phone and include simple steps in order to resolve any issues you may be having with the system.

Support Chat

We also now have our support chat live, here you can message a member of our team to ask any questions you may have and they will be able to point you in the right direction. You can also email yourself any chat transcript to refer back to for future help or we can email this direct to you!

 

With all the help guides now being accessible straight from your phones, it makes it 10x easier to get support and to train your staff. Of course, we will be on hand if you do need further assistance with the software, so don’t hesitate to call us on 0113 350 8230 or drop us an email to info@salontracker.co.uk and we will be happy to help!

 

Salon Tracker x

Frequently Asked Questions

At Salon Tracker, we get asked a lot of questions, some more frequently than others. Below are some of the most reoccurring questions we are asked:

Why should I choose Salon Tracker?

Salon Tracker is suitable for salons of all different sizes. Whether you are a single employee business, or a multi-site salon, we have different packages and features available that are tailored to suit your needs.

Which is your most popular package?

Our most popular package is our Enterprise package. This package contains both our in-salon features as well as our online features, such as online booking and siteview.

Can I use my own hardware?

Our hardware is entirely optional. If you already have your own hardware, we will always try to get this working for you, however there are some minimum recommendations that we recommend, as well as some brands which are not fully compatible.

Do you integrate with Tmax and Sigma?

Yes, we fully integrate with both Tmax and Sigma. Once your timer manager is connected up to the PC, you will be able to set off the sunbeds directly from Salon Tracker. You are able to set your own dress down and cooldown times which will then also send through to the beds.

Different staff members are able to do different treatments, can this be shown on the system?

We can help you setup groups so that each individual technician/beautician has their own set treatments and no other treatments will show up. This is so that when customers are booking online, they can’t book a treatment with a technician who can’t actually do it.

How does it work if I have multiple salons?

If you have multiple salons, you are able to decide if you want to share your customers and products across all sites or if you want to keep them completely separate. We offer the ability to view all your sites from home using a HQ, so you are able to check how each site is doing on a daily basis. We also offer discounts depending on how many sites you have with us.

What makes Salon Tracker unique?

At Salon Tracker, we are always striving to be the best, and in order to meet this, we are constantly updating our software and introducing new features to meet your needs. Our team are always on hand to help with any questions you and your salon may have.

I use another system, can I transfer my data over to Salon Tracker?

Yes you can! We can usually import customers, services (including existing minutes) and products. Give us a call on 0113 350 8230 and speak to a member of our team who will be able to advise you further on what can be brought across.

Why should I start using Salon Tracker over my trusted pen & paper?

Salon Tracker allows you to have everything in one place, increasing the salon’s efficiency. Track customers’ history and bookings electronically to ensure that you have the most accurate and secure calendar.

If you have any further questions at all, please feel free to e-mail us at info@salontracker.co.uk, check out our Chat system on our website or give us a call on 0113 350 8230.

Salon Tracker x

5 ways to increase your Salon Bookings this Autumn

With the busiest season of the year for Salon Owners coming to an end, you may be wondering what you can do to try and keep your calendar as full as possible... luckily we're here to help!

We've come up with 5 ideas that are bound to push your bookings this Autumn giving you a full calendar that you have worked so hard to achieve 

Hype yourself up

Believe it or not but you are your own biggest supporter and social media is exactly the place to show yourself off! You can use your Instagram as a portfolio to upload all your best work and your potential future customers can see just how good you are. A key tip is to tag the client you have done the treatment on so they can interact with the post and even better - comment on it telling you just how much they love it! 

I would also encourage your clients to write reviews on all your social media platforms to organically build your reputation and on Instagram make use of your highlights! Create a story with a 'questions' function on and ask for reviews on here. You can then repost every review you get and add it to your highlights so people browsing on your profile can easily access truthful reviews that people have given you and even more so will encourage them to book. Did you know that 94% of people say positive reviews make them more likely to use a business?

Another tip: Add your Salon Tracker booking link to your highlights too. You can call the highlight 'book now' then use the 'add link' function to put the link on. This can also be in your Instagram bio giving clients easy access to booking an appointment as a study found 90% of people prefer to book online rather than in person or on the phone.

Automatic follow ups

The most common mistake made in Salons is using follow-up texts incorrectly. Texting a client 2-3 days after their appointment has proven to be less successful than if you were to text your client 4-6 weeks after their appointment saying something along the lines of:

" Hi Client, it's been 6 weeks since your last hair cut, please use our online booking platform online.salontracker.co.uk/thesalon to book your next appointment! "

To make this even easier for you, Salon Tracker's effective marketing suite can do this all for you. If you create your own custom marketing campaign, you can use the filters to select 'appointment booked' and change the dates back to 6 weeks ago which will then filter out all the customers who had an appointment 6 weeks ago - convenient eh? This will then prompt the client to book an appointment again instead of remembering a few weeks after.

Use an effective referral scheme

If your clients love what you do, then why not encourage them to talk to their friends & family about your Salon and introduce a referral scheme? Lots of clients will be more encouraged to sing your praises if there is an incentive involved so why not try some of the following schemes:

- If your friend uses your Unique reference when booking their appointment both you and your friend will get 10% off your next appointment.

- Mate date! Bring your friend along for this treatment to get £5 off each.

- For every 5 friends you refer to our Salon you will get a 1 free appointment for any treatment up to £50.

Utilise google Ads

Google Ads are one of the hidden gems that aren't spoke about enough. If you utilise them properly, the function of google reviews plays an important part as well as as the functionality to book through a google ad. 

If someone is new to the area, and they google 'salons near me', it's important your Salon remains near the top as realistically, nobody is going to sit scrolling to find the Salon that is right for them. They're going to pick one from the top that has the best reviews and provides convenience such as an online booking functionality.

Salon Tracker is your Personal Assistant

Above all, Salon Tracker can act as your very own personal assistant and can do the majority of the work, without you even realising it. 

We provide free training and support to help you get the most out of the software as well as lots of help videos that are always accessible.

Our enterprise package is our most popular package and it costs just £90 per month which is less than one Full Head of Highlights per month! With this package you have Unlimited online bookings at no extra charge, the ability to take online deposits and payments with a small % fee plus much more.

If you'd like to trial our software for 2 weeks free, please leave your information by clicking this link and a member of our friendly sales team will be in touch!

Salon Tracker x

Trends 2022

It’s coming towards the end of summer so we decided this was the perfect time to do a quick roundup of some of our favorite hair and beauty trends from 2022 so far.

Clean Girl Aesthetic

One trend that has taken the internet by storm this year is the idea of a ‘Clean Girl Aesthetic’.  The clean girl aesthetic can be described as being minimal. The foundations of this trend are: glowy makeup, a strong skincare routine and the idea of a capsule wardrobe.

One of our favourite products to help achieve this glowy makeup look is the very popular Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter. This product is great to use as a base for your foundation or just on its own if you’re just wanting a light coverage. Here’s a link to where you can get yours: https://bit.ly/3AQrS2r . If this price tag is a little too expensive for you, we have found some dupes which work just as well, if not better! You can get the Collection Lasting Perfection Filter Finish from Boots for just £6.49 https://bit.ly/3QV0cPj or Elf’s Halo Glow Liquid Filter https://bit.ly/3PRWTqM .

 

When it comes to Skin Care, I decided to as a few members of the Salon Tracker Team their holy grail skincare product and this is what they said.

Leah- My number one skincare product that I use every day, twice a day is the Paula’s Choice BHA Exfoliant. I use this on a cotton pad every morning and night and this helps freshen the skin and unclog pores.

Naomi- The Liz Earl cleanser has been my number one for years now. I use this to wash my face every night. Its full of natural ingredients and leaves me feeling fresh.

Ellis- My top pick for skincare is the Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Clarifying Lotion. This leaves me feeling moisturised for hours after I have applied it and leaves me glowy.

Christie- I love The Ordinary Niacinamide solution. I apply this every night before bed and this help balance any oils in my skin and helps prevent spots.

Having a capsule wardrobe is based on the premise of having a small wardrobe full of basics which you can mix and match into loads of different outfits. Some staples for this are: an oversized white shirt, neutral-coloured tops and bodysuits and then some wide leg jeans.

Hailey Bieber Nails

One big nail trend for summer 2020 is known as ‘Hailey Bieber Nails’. These nails use one goal of ‘Funny Bunny nail polish which is a sheer baby pink, followed by a shiny top coat and then rub some of the OPI Stay Shiny Top Coat.  This combination gives a natural look, with a bit of shimmer, perfect for summer and wedding/prom season.

Slick Back Styles

When it comes to hair styles, the stand out trend for 2022 has been slick back styles, whether that be buns, braids or ponytails. This trend is great, especially in the warmer weather as it keeps your hair off your neck and face whilst still looking stylish.  The ‘Got2B Glued’ hairspray and gel are great at slicking your hair back and keeping it there.

 

Salon Tracker x 

 

Our New Website!

You may have noticed that we have completely redesigned our website - Salon Tracker to a brand new, more modernise & more accessible channel.

We decided that after a long while of the website being the same website we designed over 5 years ago that it was time for a new one with much more features and a lot of adjustments.

Some of our biggest changes are:

-  A whole new help section 

We've added a convenient help section to our website to help our customers navigate the software easily. Search for a specific key word in our help search bar such as 'TMAX' and it will come up with a range of help guides to help you navigate any issues you may be having. You can also access our big range of help videos & our live chat for any queries.

- A much improved Blog Page

Our blog page has had a complete makeover! We've added a search function so you can find exactly what you are looking for without having to scroll through each and every blog. Additional to this, we've added a 'filter' option so you can find multiple blogs that all fit under the same topic, giving you lots of insightful ideas that you can apply to your Salon life.

- Updated Testimonials

Our lovely clients have been kind enough to leave us some excellent reviews on our Facebook page and google so we've gathered them together and added them to a section of our website so you can easily find what real people have to say about Salon Tracker in their Salon!

If you're one of our clients and would like to leave us a review you can click on either of the below links to do so - we really appreciate hearing from you!

Leave a review on Google 

Leave a review on Facebook

- A section dedicated to our Upcoming Events 

Since Covid, we have taken most opportunities to attend a trade show as we love showcasing our new features and meeting lots of new people at the events. We understand as Salon Owners yourselves, it is also great to attend trade shows so you can get ideas off other industry professionals and network your tips and tricks too. This is why we have created this section of the website so you can easily find when the next event is and book your tickets in advance!

We hope you enjoy the new layout of our website, if you do have any feedback we're always open to hearing it! You can email info@salontracker.co.uk or call us on 0113 350 8230.

Salon Tracker x 

Salon Tracker Hardware

 

As many of you know, as well as providing many salons across the UK and Ireland our booking software system, we also provide many different types of hardware for salons to use alongside their software. This blog will detail what hardware we sell and also how these pieces of hardware can help the day to day running of your salon that little bit smoother.

PC

In order for you to run Salon Tracker to the best of its ability, we recommend using a PC which is Windows 10 or above and one with quite a high memory. This is because the better your PC is, the smoother Salon Tracker will run meaning you will be able to run your salon in the easiest way possible. The All-In-One PC’s we sell come directly from DELL and come with a wireless mouse and keyboard to give your salon that modern look.

Cash Draw

We can also link your Salon Tracker up to the cash draw we sell; this can be either through our receipt printer or what we call a ‘cash draw trigger’. Having your cash draw linked up to salon tracker means two things, every time you put through a payment your cash draw will automatically fly open so you can put any cash or receipts in there. Having your cash draw linked up also means that the system will register in the system every time its opened, be that through the PC or manually with the key in the action log.

Receipt Printer

Salon Tracker also gives you the option to connect it up to a receipt printer. This means you can print customer receipts off whenever they buy either a service or retail product. In Salon Trackers report section, there are a handful of reports which have receipt in brackets, for example ‘Cashing Up (Receipt). This means that these reports are formatted to fit the receipt printer size so you can print them off here. One thing this is useful for is to help you do a stock check. You can print a stock report off the receipt printer and take this with you to do the stock check.

Barcode Scanner

One way to make you customers’ buying process that little bit smoother and quicker is to use a barcode scanner for your retail products. If you have a lot of different retail products which you sell, scrolling through them all to find the right one can take time. Using the integrated barcode scanner means that you can just grab the product that the customer wants to purchase, scan the barcode and it will go straight into the purchase box. You can also associate barcodes to customers and staff members to make finding them in the system a much quicker process.

Fingerprint Reader

For an extra layer of security in your salon, the fingerprint reader is great. You can associate your customers fingerprints to their customer card so when they come into the salon, they can put their finger on the reader and it will bring up their customer card. This means that there is no chance of you or your staff accidentally putting minutes or bookings through on the wrong customer. You can also use the fingerprint reader for your staff to log into the system and clock in for their shift!

Signature Pad

Another form of integrate able hardware which is available on our professional package and above is the signature pad. This allows you to add your salon disclaimer to the system and when you have a new customer sign up, they can sign this disclaimer on the signature pad and then a copy of the disclaimed along with the customers electronic signature will be stored on their client card.

 

If you would like anymore information on any of the hardware well sell or would like a quote at all please don’t hesitate to contact us on 0113 350 8230 or email us on info@salontracker.co.uk

 

Salon Tracker x