Growing from strength to strength!

Jackie Brown, HandsOn » Worchester

“Salon Tracker has transformed the management of our salon. It’s great to see your days/weeks appointments on screen; you can see where you have gaps and where potential crossovers may occur. It makes you work more efficiently. 

The weekly/monthly reports have been great for pushing to beat previous week’s sales figures. It’s so easy to use and you know exactly how you stand. My accountant is going to love this report system for next year’s accounting, it’s so much easier. It’s great for monitoring stock levels too. 

The SMS is brilliant for confirmation of appointments; men tend to be a bit forgetful and really appreciate a text to remind them. It encourages clients to phone and re-book if they can’t make the time as there is now no excuse! Clients love the texts and comment that they are very professional. The ease with which you can send a selected group of clients a personalised letter/SMS is great. It’s a shame I didn’t have this system 6 months ago when I moved premises and did all my letters individually, it took forever!”

Spring Marketing Ideas!

There are many benefits of seasonal marketing, such as increased awareness, improvement in profit and a sense of urgency. A seasonal promotion is brilliant as it highlights the fact that the treatment or price is only temporary and will not be available for another year which heightens your clients enthusiasm to buy now. Your treatment list is the main attribute of your business, it provides you with the opportunity to sell yourself and be creative and different. This is the place where you can increase profit and usually, spend per client. So if you have decided to partake in seasonal marketing then put a spring into your step and be creative with your treatment list in the run up to summer with these fruity tips!

- Make sure you have a plan for all year round- you need to know the exact dates when promotions will start and end. It is also important to note the collision of promo ideas with each public holiday in the annual calendar. Consider ongoing discounts and treatments and include them in your campaign rather than just for fun, it gives more reason to publicise your promotions.

- Get adventurous- Egg-cellent exfoliating facial, spring stone massage, full fruity massage, luscious lashes for spring! Don’t be afraid to have some fun, get creative and give your treatments quirkier names around different times of the year. Don’t just consider main holidays, be unique and give people reason to talk about your salon!

- Make sure you use your SMS marketing tool- Salon Tracker Management Software provides an advanced marketing suite enabling you to communicate with your customers whenever you desire to do so. Let them know what you are doing, distribute offers and highlight why you are doing certain offers. Be informative, fun and creative. The warmer you are towards them the warmer they will be towards you.

- Listen to your customers- Creating a seasonal marketing plan is a great idea but sometimes difficult because you may find treatments not being popular with the majority of people but 20-50 may love it! Always record your campaigns and prices and if customers request something let them have it as it was if it isn’t going out of your way. This is your business and the truth is you will make more money catering to what people want. This keeps clients loyal as they can see you are going out of your way for them!

- Put a spring into your step! Many people focus on their body, rejuvenation and detoxing around this time of year in preparation for summer! Focus your treatment on the lighter factors rather than winter treatments. Strip back to neutral and highlight all the nourishing sun kissed treatments to bring out the natural beauty and the good it will do for your body. 

- Nail colour of the week promotions- Flick through a couple of magazines and see what all the latest nail colours are. Maybe try 20% off when people get pastel lemon or pastel pink coloured shellac on their nails. Anything spring coloured and push promote it!

- Holiday packages- Some may say March is a bit early but a lot of people start holidaying from this time onward so why not try an all-inclusive package that your customer might need at a set price. Come into the salon for 5 hours and get everything done ready for holiday. They will feel like it’s a great deal as it is all combined into one. Cater for your customer!

Salon management system launched by Leeds entrepreneur...

Phil Cave, the beauty entrepreneur behind Salon Tracker, has launched a new salon management solution called Salon Tracker to help salon owners, spas, nail bars and other beauty professionals to manage their businesses more efficiently and grow sales.

Mr Cave andhis team at Salon Tracker have created a range of software solutions aimed at the beauty sector to help salon owners improve how they engage with their customers and manage their cash flow and profits.

Mr Cave, an expert software developer who has worked in the beauty sector for a number of years, has worked with a wide range of salon owners to create a new salon management system which is fully integrated with social media allowing salons to take bookings through their Facebook page.

Mr Cave said: “We have taken a lot of time to listen to salon owners to understand how we can enable them to run their businesses more efficiently and most importantly, get the most out the marketing features such as mobile text messaging we have created to help them communicate with their customers.

“Since we have launched Salon Tracker the feedback has been very encouraging with many users telling us that they have already seen improvements in their bottom line, cash flow management and better client retention.”

Salon Tracker is available in three formats – Standard, Professional and Enterprise – and allows users to manage every facet of their beauty business.

Using a PC, tablet or mobile phone users can access their business online 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year to ensure it is run efficiently and profitably.

Fully integrated with Facebook and with a dynamic SMS messaging service, Salon Tracker allows users to manage and prioritise appointments; capture customer information and build an interactive database – which can even tell users how clients like their coffee  and market special offers to customers direct from the system with mobile text messages.

The system also delivers fast and efficient Point of Sale with simple business sales reports; cash flow and profit and loss accounts management; staff commission and stock management; and remote access from anywhere in the world – even when the salon owner is on holiday.

Flavio Refrigeri, who runs Clinica Fiore in London’s Covent Garden, said: “Salon Tracker has benefitted the salon greatly and the system is very easy to use.  Salon Tracker’s reporting feature has helped improve the performance of our clinic by 80 per cent making the software well worth the initial investment. The software has also helped with security in the salon and the free customer support I have received since purchasing the software has been excellent.”

Louise Tillotson who owns Dreams Wellbeing Salon in Bradford, said: “Salon Tracker has made day-to-day salon tasks a lot simpler and we are a lot more productive because of it.  It is simple and effective and customers love the fact that everything is stored on the system and they don't need to bring in appointment cards or receipts. 

“We regularly use the SMS marketing to inform customers of our offers.  This has resulted in customers revisiting us when offers are running or when we have product ranges on special offer.  We also wish high spenders a happy birthday and offer them something free if they visit us that week. “

Salon Tracker LAUNCHES online booking set to change the future of salon software!

What people are frequently taught is how we have entered the ‘Technical Takeover’ and are now in an era where it is almost an insult, to dismiss technology. 

So is technology really the key element to ensuring success in your salon? In a word, YES.

Salon owners are in an extremely competitive market. With more salons opening day by day in the hair, beauty and tanning industry, the ability to consistently stand out is proving difficult in a time where the requirement is absolutely imperative.

So how can you be the competitor to beat?

The answer is to ease the sale with online booking rather than waiting for it.

Take your website or Facebook for instance: Clients are there to get information: more specifically, prices and treatments. The formulated error by not using technology and advertising properly, is asking the client to reach out when they are ready. By providing the client with information but no enticement to act, there becomes a standstill on the booking process. This sales technique deprioritises their custom, potentially losing the sale mid flow.

Salon Tracker not only aims to increase the awareness of your salon through our advanced marketing suite but it then proceeds to follow the process through with the engaging online booking facility. Online booking is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. With seamless Facebook and/ or website integration, we can help keep your business flowing to improve profit and increase revenue all day, every day!

Our online booking differs from the competition since the aim is to improve the performance of your business. The system will attract new clients and improve customer relations as it gives unrivalled access to your salon at your client’s convenience. Online booking can also fill quiet periods and reduce admin providing room for more customer engagement because all appointments and transactions are instantly updated in your software!

Salon Tracker offers a FREE demo and trial for every customer so contact now and try before you buy!

Rain? Snow? Warm up with these AMAZING 'Winter Warmer Treatments'...

It’s estimated up to 4x more expensive to attract new customers than to maintain existing ones so here’s some last minute marketing tips for you this 2014! We thought we would encourage and offer ideas to salons for their ‘winter warmer and rescue remedy treatments’ and ways of promoting them for this next month. Hopefully this will encourage customers flooding through the doors rather than rain!

•  Hands and nails are difficult to maintain in winter and so tend to be ignored in the process with a quick lick of paint covering the damage. However, we don’t notice the stress put on our hands and nails in the cold. A ‘healthy hands’ treatment integrating a hand massage with a deep moisturise and manicure is a great way to mend cracked and weak nails.

• Feet are another area to be neglected in winter months, they aren't seen as much since we tend to wear 8 pairs of socks and wellie boots to protect us from the puddles! Nevertheless, moisture is really important for the feet or they have a tendency to dry out. To prevent this, try offering a ‘tootsie treatment’ integrating hot stones into a foot massage to get the circulation running again. Fix them up with a nice little pedicure for added extras!

• Winter is a great time to convert clients from shaving to waxing as it is better for hair regrowth and also customer loyalty. It is an ongoing treatment which still remains popular throughout winter so try some new offers and promote them to all clients.

•  A deep facial cleanse will rid skin of dry impurities and bring out the brightness in your skin for that perfect winter radiance glow.

•  Hair tends to be scraped and further damaged in winter months too, so it is the perfect time to offer hair rescue remedies for locks that have been exposed and need some life back in to them. Maybe include some colouring offers in your salon too, winter is great for experimenting with darker colours so influence the daring side of your clients with a new do.

•  Tanning treatments are not just for summer, spray or bed remain popular through the winter because it allows clients to keep a form of glow through the winter months.

•  Finally, offer hot chocolate, marshmallows and whipped cream complimentary of your winter treatments so people feel that added comfort!

Salon Tracker’s advanced marketing features will allow you to not only categorise people who might be more susceptible to your treatments but will send them a reminder email or SMS to encourage footfall to the salon all under your dictation.

See the results before you buy! Get your FREE trial of SalonTracker today and receive 50 FREE SMS’s! Call 0113 350 8230 for more information!

Beautician? Hairdresser? Why you ARE the new CUPID!

From tanning and waxing to dyeing and crying, beauticians and hairdressers have seen it all! With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, the beauty industry are preparing for one of the biggest business booms of the year.

Whether you are female, male, single or taken; the 21^st century has made it okay to want to look good and of course, show off the results! Women are (obviously) obliged to partake in the odd pamper, but DailyMail (2012) studies suggest that men really are putting the man back into a MANicure with beauty salons in the UK ‘reporting a 66 per cent rise in the number of male clients’.

Those of you in and amongst the beauty industry are creating the aura for customers to feel beautiful with your treatments, whether that be a haircut, massage or a full body wax. A trip to the beauty, tanning or hair salon can sort you out and put you in good prep for any day let alone, Valentine’s Day!

That being said…here at Salon Tracker we’ve gathered the facts, scorned the heart break and unravelled the greatest gifts of 2014 for you to advertise in your salon,  treat your own beau or to just treat yourself!

Happy Valentine’s Day xxx

•  Offer ‘special’ promotions for the day. The majority of salon go-ers are women so it is important to highlight love packages that couples can enjoy together to ensure speciality is felt by both parties.

• Make your salon the ultimate love nest! Typically, Valentine’s Day is all about love, so for the sake of one week out of the year….roll out the red carpet, blow up the balloons, dazzle with glittery lights and douse with tasteful champagne and yummy chocolates to show when you do things you do them well. This will help sell the packages and create an aura of comfort and romance for both women and men (…we all know they secretly love gush too!!)

• Promote to the male audience via social activities. A lot of men will be actively searching for treatments around this time for their partner due to it being a typically pleasing gift. The problem is there are so many salons and therefore so many choices, so, where to choose? Promoting through gyms, local football clubs, restaurants are all great places to leave contact cards and offers as these are places men will feel at ease to call and book, they will wait for a reach out so make sure your salon is doing exactly that!

• Social Media is also a great way to not only promote offers but to market to those who might not have known about your salon. Competitions are a great example so why not think about conducting a competition on your Facebook or Twitter page on the condition that they have to like and share your page. Get clients to direct message you pictures and stories explaining why their significant other deserves a Valentine’s makeover. The stories can be funny, special or romantic but the best one wins and gets published on your site.

•  SMS marketing with Salon Tracker. If you aren’t already with us, why not? Salon Tracker has some brilliant features such as advanced marketing techniques with the ability to send texts or emails to those in between certain age groups or even highlighting your most loyal customers or likely to come in at a weekend or weekday, use it to your best ability and target those customers who you think might want lavishing this Valentine’s Day. This can be through different techniques and doesn’t have to just be promoting couples packages! Remember not to single (excuse the pun) people out.

• Join Forces with the local florist… because we all know women love flowers!

• Single and sexy! Of course Valentine’s Day is generally appealing to those with partners or dating, however, why not attempt to target the singles. Some people use Valentine’s as an excuse to go out and celebrate their singlehood or to try and meet a partner why not offer some daring and luscious makeovers or TLC at the salon. Design something for those who aren’t romantically involved. Maybe run a “Sexy and Single” or “Single and Fabulous” night, where the ladies can enjoy a pamper evening of facials, champagne, manicures etc. Emphasise the fun aspect of the day rather than the romantic side. Who says Valentine’s Day is for couples only?

• Competition time! With every customer in the door in the week running up to V-Day, it might be an idea to put them into a competition to win a meal courtesy of your salon or a treatment package tailored to their needs with added goodies or chocolates. This is also a great way to establish rapport with clients and ensure loyalty. If you run the competition on Social Media it might make people come in for a ‘convenient eyebrow wax’ or ‘touch up of the hair cut (from last week). After all, every customer is eligible.

Whatever you get up to, working or celebrating…remember all you need is L.O.V.E

Recreating Salons and Making Life easier!

Darren Lloyd,Sizzling Sarah’s » North Yorkshire

“Salon Tracker has helped me overcome the main day to day concerns of running a salon such as customers exceeding their recommended tanning minutes, customers sharing their tanning courses and the management of the salon whilst I’m away. 

The system logs everything: whose accessed the till, how many clients we've served, how much money we've taken and what stock needs replacing. If I'm away for the day I can look at the system and know in minutes what needs to be done. The secure-shell system [which prevents staff from accessing the computer for non-work purposes] has also helped as it means I know staff cannot browse the Internet when they’re working. We use the finger print reader to identify clients, this has eliminated the opportunity for clients to share tanning courses or exceed their recommended number of minutes. It has also taken pressure of our receptionist, as clients can just swipe in when they arrive. 

Having the peace of mind whilst I’m away from the salon is priceless. Also, the elimination of shared tanning courses has improved my profit margins. The reduction in paperwork has taken the pressure off me, meaning I can spend more time getting more important things done”.