How Salons can use Father’s Day to their advantage

Father’s Day is fast approaching and here at Salon Tracker we have thought of a few last minute ideas that salons can use to promote retail products and increase treatment sales.

Typically, according to Mintel, the percentage of women salon users is 72% whilst for males it is 52% and this figure includes all salon types including spa and tanning. Therefore generally for hair and beauty salons, it tends to be predominantly a female client base.

However, it is the ladies that will be buying the presents for their Dads, Grandads and other halves!  So great opportunity for you to highlight treatment packages and your best male cosmetics to your female clients whilst they’re having their treatments.

With male grooming on the increase, you could advertise product hampers, a discounted treatment or even a gift voucher (if you’re a salon that has them).   For those unorganised panic buyers who really don’t know what to get Dad, what better way than to be able to purchase it whilst having their weekly manicure or blow-dry!

Think of the best ways you can market, for example, use Father’s day graphics in front of the products that you have on offer, have hanging cards displayed around the Salon promoting the father’s day treatment packages or, if you’re a Salon that already uses salon software, filter out an SMS or email campaign to your customers for immediate advertising.  The email can be generic, as obviously the majority of your male as well as female clients will still have a father around, but not everyone.  So just keep it simple and to the point.  Something like ‘Father’s Day Deals’ then go on to explain your salons offers.

For new to the scene dads, whose wife’s and girlfriends will be buying on behalf of their little bambinos, why not offer a joint treatment package?  A great gift for the couple to spend together!

Hope this helps you to achieve a few extra sales this Father Day!

P.S

…for you salon owners who are a little bit ‘last minute Annie’ with your presents, here are Salon Tracker’s five ‘play-safe’ gifts for Dad that you just can’t go wrong with!


1. The Dad and Son/Daughter photo frame

Some silly childhood photos are always good!







2. Shaving Set

Something Dad’s always need! Nivea and Ted Baker do a range of packages & usually have offers on!

3. Good old pair of wacky socks 

Next, M&S, House of Fraser & BHS always have novelty Dad socks!









4. Aftershave

 

You can’t go wrong with a good Hugo Boss cologne! 

The Fragrance shop and The Perfume Shop always have 

discounts this time of year!









5. Chocolate selection 

A good Thorntons classic box or Hotel 

chocolat selection is a fail safe every time!

Salon Tracker x 

How Salon Software can provide a solution to everyday problems in your Salon

Do you ever struggle to manage the time in your salon and find you are constantly staying late to get things done?  Are you fed up of having to trawl through hundreds of client record cards each time a customer comes to pay, not to mention those disclaimers that magically disappear and you have to re-do them!

Next question, have you ever thought about getting Salon Software?

Our program, Salon Tracker, is a salon software system that supports in the management of your salon.  Everything you could possibly need (aside from the creativity of your technicians to carry out salon treatments) will be on our software system!  The appointment book will be no more, not to mention you can scrap customer record cards and the mounds of paperwork to go with them!  Our software features an advanced calendar, where all bookings will appear on the system and at the click of a button you can see your whole appointment list for the rest of the day on one screen.  The calendar splits this up into itineraries for each of your technicians, so you can clearly see who an appointment is with and at what time, for all staff members!  Customer records will also all be stored on the system via an online client card.  You will simply be able to enter the clients name into the search box and it will bring up their online file.  This will store information of their personal details, past treatments, upcoming appointments, past retail product purchases and skin tests.  There is a tick box on the file that highlights whether or not a client has had a skin test with you and if so, the file will be saved on the system, in which a client can sign via our signature pad that links up to the software programme.

Similarly, if you are a tanning salon, disclaimers to ensure clients are over 18 can too be saved on the system!  Salon Tracker also links up with Tmax timers, so that your sunbeds can run from the software, hassle free.  No more tokens or timer cards!   The system will track how many minutes a client has purchased and used, so you don’t have to worry.   Miscellaneous minutes will be no more, as the software will track every minute accurately and will produce an end of day report for you, so you can identify exactly when a sunbed was used and by whom.

There are many KPI reports that the software will produce, including your daily takings for end of day cashing up, weekly profits, bestselling treatments and so on.  All making your salon life much easier, and with our Site view feature, you can even access these reports from a mobile device when on the move, or at home!  Salon Tracker will keep an eye on your salon even in your absence, so there is no need for concerns when you’re on a holiday or a day-off.

Salon Tracker has a colour coded stock management feature, keeping track of all your stock levels each time a purchase is made, and the system also notifies you when a certain product is running low.  You’ll save on unnecessary ordering and the space for storing excess overstock, as levels will be managed efficiently to prevent this.

If online booking is something you already have or are interested in, Salon Tracker also links up to your Facebook page and website so clients can book treatments on the web. The great thing is, the online bookings are linked up with your salon calendar on the system, so double bookings won’t be made and your online bookings won’t need to be managed separately as they previously may have done before!

So, if you haven’t made the technical switch-over yet then Salon Tracker software could be the system that helps you!  Enquire on our website www.salontracker.co.uk for more information. We also offer a demo and FREE 2 week trial for you to sample our software before making any bold decisions.   So get in touch!



Salon Tracker x

Twenty-one signs you’ve found your soul mate, aka BESTIE!

In light of Nation Best Friends Day, here at Salon Tracker we have done a bit of research into the top signs of how you know someone is your best friend!


1. Unflattering pictures are no more since you have your own walking mirror who is totally honest and wants you to look your best at all times of course!


2. Your childhood memories together get funnier each time you speak and share stories.


3. You have your own language, faces and words that nobody else understands. If you know, you know.


4. You always have each other’s backs and if you need cover- you know the exact person to go to.


5. You share the same guilty pleasures of reality TV and celeb on goings!


6. Snap chats to each other are always inevitably the most unflattering things ever. Standard!


7. Your 2 hour chats each day never get boring and you still always have so much to chat about!


8. You mutually like all each other’s social media posts, to show your support for one another!


9. Each other’s wardrobes might as well be your own, and you know every item of clothing that the other has.


10. A full conversation and emotional state can be fully understood over text via emoji’s.


11. Embarrassment in front of one another is a foreign language.


12. You turn to them for advice first, requiring their signal of approval before going ahead and acting upon ideas.


13. Your romantic histories are each memorised for one another by date, occasion, villain, hero, an act of courage…the list goes on.


14. The hilarious inside jokes that you share…things that others wouldn’t find even remotely funny!


15. You have the same enemies.


16. You know where everything is in each other’s kitchens, bedrooms and feel very comfortable helping yourself to whatever you might need.

17. No topic is an off limits topic, you are comfortable discussing all genres, no matter how vulgar or crude.

18. The moments where one of you can say ‘I told you so’ to the other and you can both laugh about it are the best times.

19. You have ‘your’ songs and no matter where you are when they come on, you have to stop and dance.

20. It is perfectly ok to call each other at ridiculous o’clock regarding the biggest drama’s, that just couldn’t wait until the morning.


21. You trust each other 100% and can always rely on one another no matter what!

Salon Tracker x

Salon Tracker Software's Park Life Beauty Essentials!

As the famous event in Heaton Park approaches, here at Salon Tracker software we have come up with the top 12 best products to add to your festival survival kit!






1. Sun Lotion

The main one. Whilst raving the day away in the sunshine will be perfect for that summer glow, don’t forget that you must protect your skin from UVA damage, as shelter is often limited at these events. Why not pick up a Piz Buin all-day, so you can apply it on a morning and be care-free the rest of the day.

2. Hand Sanitizer

We all know that wash facilities are limited and overcrowded when it comes to festivals, so investing in the perfect portable anti-bac liquid is always a shout. Try Carex or Merci for a range of flavours!



3. Dry Shampoo

Being at the centre of crowds and if we’re lucky enough to have a sizzling summer weekend, your hair might just need a helping hand with a quick cleanse and a volume re-boost. Salon Tracker faves’ are Batiste and Aussie, and they even come in travel size!



4. Lip Balm

Chapped lips…not what you want when you’re when posing for your selfies but with the amount of time spent outdoors means that festival go-ers are prone to it! Try the E.O.S range for rejuvenating lip care!




5. Hand Cream

Just as with lips, hands also get extremely chapped when extensive time is spent outdoors, especially when mixed with the overuse of hand sanitizers! Try Nivea ‘age defying’ hand cream, Boots and Superdrug even do it as a ‘holiday-mini’...perfect for your pocket!

6. Heat Protection Spray

All day outside in the sun can dry your hair out massively, especially if you have colour treated locks! Try the Lee Stafford miracle heat defence spray, made with Moroccan Argan oil it is perfect for keeping your hair hydrated.

7. Instant waterproof tan

As much as there is limited shelter from the sun, this also applies to rain…and judging by the indecisive UK climates, you’ve got to be prepared for a shower! Try St Tropez waterproof instant tan, seems to be the best for a no-streak glow when it comes into contact with water.



8. Moisturiser

Hydration is key at a festival, try the Dove beauty body moisturiser in mini from Boots & Superdrug, perfect for your handbag to apply when your skin feels a bit flaky!








9. Waterproof liner

‘May the wings of your eye-liner be even’…this may not be the case if it’s melting off in the warm sunshine or after a good giggle! For the perfect waterproof liner, try the Smash Box limitless liquid pen.



10. Waterproof mascara

In link with your eyeliner, you need a faultless waterproof mascara to go with it, especially if you’re like me and a hay fever sufferer, the outdoors isn’t on your side when you want it to be. Try the Clinique waterproof high impact range to escape the dreaded panda eyes.

11. Finishing powder 

Nothing like a shiny forehead at a festival, especially in all your snaps where you’ve got the sparkling ‘too much heat’ face! For something light to lower that dewy look, try the Mac prep-prime transparent finishing powder…fabulous with or without make-up!



12. After Sun

To rejuvenate your skin after its exposure to the outdoors, a good after sun is essential. Try the Piz-Buin ‘tan-prolong’ range, perfect for holding out your glow!








Salon Tracker x

My First Month!

Hi there!

Some of our social media followers or current clients might have noticed a new member joining the Salon Tracker team, but in case you haven’t... Hello! I’m Nicki and I’m sure you’ll be hearing a lot more from me in the up and coming months.

I joined the Salon Tracker team mid-April and have loved every minute since I arrived. Why did I want to work for Salon Tracker?  I have a passion for media, communication and of course, all things tanning, hair and beauty so a role within the sales and marketing team here was perfect for me!

In my first couple of weeks, I just got used to the role and my day to day responsibilities, of course.  This was a great time for me to engage in our company history, current clients, and locality in the market.  Starting a new job is so exciting but can be pretty daunting at the same time due to being ‘the-newbie’.  That being said, my manager, Rachel has been great at ensuring I settle in to the company well and get up to speed with the day-to-day routines of the business.

My role changes on a daily basis, which is what makes it so exciting. The days here are hustle and bustle, we are all very busy with networking, speaking to clients and negotiating sales.  As a people person, I love an environment like this and I am really enjoying getting to know new people and building relationships with you all.  Typically when you work for such a busy company weekly meetings are an absolute must. Here at Salon Tracker, Monday mornings are for exactly that and it’s definitely something I would recommend to any fellow business to get your week off to a successful and robust start.   It’s a great time to look at last week’s progress and envision the upcoming weeks plans and execution.  Being in a heavily technical focused environment is something I was once apprehensive about because I love a good pen and paper list, but I have definitely noticed it is much more time efficient for all involved!  And surprisingly, I’ve become accustomed to it very quickly!

May was a great starter month for me because I really was thrown into the deep end of things with the initial stage planning for PROFESSIONAL BEAUTY NORTH!  We are so excited to be attending this year.  It will be my first exhibition show and the first for Salon Tracker so I, along with everyone else, cannot wait (Make sure you come and visit us!).  Another huge area of concentration has been our ‘May= Tanning Month’ campaign. Tanning is such an important part of our industry with regards to all of the surrounding laws & regulations.  It is quite a big sector within our company too so the campaign push stems from this (so if you’ve noticed an increased amount of bronzed skin and sandy beaches on our page- this is why!) Anyway, I best get back to work - I hope you have enjoyed my first month blog and indeed May Tanning Month.  June is time for all things hair, nails and beauty and we also have a few tips for father’s day, best friend’s day and festival favourites with Park Life and Wireless coming up - so keep checking our news feed!

Speak to you soon!

Nicki@salontracker x

Sun Safety: How to clamp down on excessive tanners!

You may remember back at the beginning of May we wrote a couple of posts on the dangers of sun bed use when salons are not complying with laws, and how Salon Tracker software can increase the safety of your salon business.   To close our tanning month, we would like to just re-visit tanning safety and the legal procedures, after doing some research into individuals that are known as ‘Tan’orexics.’

Over the past decade, the awareness of skin cancer and its link to the over-exposure of UV rays from tanning beds has increased significantly.   Many salons are now subject to being on the receiving end of unannounced trading standards visits.  Research from the Daily Mail, Huffington post and Mirror have all suggested that there are certain individuals within the UK whom are obsessed with tanning.  The self-diagnosed tan obsessors are subsequently finding and visiting salons that are essentially ‘dodging the system’ in order to receive ample sunbed treatments in one day.  Granted, those salons will receive greater profits than others if they allow procedures like this, however you could face up to £20,000 in fines if you fail any tanning regulation laws.  This can happen in a split second and profits will be slashed.

According to a research article by the Mirror, one sunbed user told the newspaper that she was “Never asked to fill out a pre-tanning health questionnaire in her 8 years of tanning.” (2013)   In order to ensure that you are being as careful as possible when tanning your clients, you should always fill out a pre-health check and skin observation before allowing clients to book treatments.

A feature that Salon Tracker software does have implemented is a ‘tick box’ on the database for each client card, which prompts for a legal document to be signed before a client’s details are submitted on to the system.

This particular lady would visit tanning salons 6 times per day, in various different locations to achieve a daily 60 minute tan, when the UK recommended amount is for no longer than 15 minutes per day.

Another tan-a-holic, researched through a study by the daily mail, would go to up to SIX different tanning salons in any one day followed by 2 or 3 daily liquid tan applications.   She was naturally very fair, with auburn hair and a pale skin tone.   It is clients such as these that salons need to be very aware of, as later in life the individual suffered severe pain from skin dehydration, due to excessive exposure to UVA rays. (2014)   Salon owners should prohibit anybody with signs such as these from using the sun bed at all.

Therefore it is in your salon technicians’ interest to keep an eye out for these individuals. If you suspect that a fair-skinned client is overusing the sunbed, offer them some advice on how to use a sunbed regarding their skin type. Sometimes if they hear this from a professional it can subsequently alter their perception of tanning.

Medical research from the skin cancer organisation shows that “over-using sunbeds can increase a person’s risk of skin cancer by up to 75 per cent, it is also advised by the Health and Safety Executive that people with fair skin and moles should not use sunbeds.” (2014)

Salon technicians are in a position now to be able to assess clients’ skin types and to give them recommendations on the lengths of the courses that they should be undergoing dependent on the tone of their skin and their family history.

Salon Tracker software also has an online client card that prompts technicians to set some notes regarding the clients skin tone prior to tanning, eliminating the chance of excessive tanners being allowed to tan as regular and also to ensure that clients are using sunbeds safely. 

Technicians are also equally able to spot early signs of melanoma, should their clients be unfortunate enough to have an experience of this.  Many tanning salons have already trained their employees on the early warning signs, however a good checklist to observe the way to tell the difference between a normal mole and a melanoma is to use the ABCDE checklist:


A stands for asymmetrical: Melanomas have two very different halves and are an irregular shape.

B stands for border: Unlike a normal mole, melanomas have a notched or ragged border.

C stands for colours: Melanomas will be a mix of two or more colours.

D stands for diameter: Unlike most moles, melanomas are larger than 6mm (1/4 inch) in diameter.

E stands for enlargement or evolution: A mole that changes characteristics and size over time is more likely to be a melanoma. (NHS 2015)


If you do require any further information regarding ‘safe-tanning’ or would like to know how our Salon Software can improve the safety of your business, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch, we are always happy to help!


Salon Tracker x

Looking for new ideas to deck your tanning salon out with this summer?

Are you bored of your current salon interior and want a bit of inspiration to spruce things up a bit?  Is there a certain atmosphere that you want to create and need a few indicators to point you in the right direction?  Here at Salon Tracker software, we've done a bit of research and come up with a few ideas to give you that bit of enthusiasm to go get creative with your salon!



1. Theme and Colour 

It is really important that décor in a salon is cohesive and is connected in some way throughout, as when a client visits for a treatment it is up to you to provide them with an experience.   A client’s first impression is very reliant on the aesthetics of your salon, as well as the personalities of your technicians.  As the salon owner it is up to you to decide the mood that you want to create for your clients to feel.  For example, if you want a client to feel relaxed when they come for a treatment, you should adopt a neutral colour palette for your walls teamed with calming

photography, such as beach scenes or landscape views.   On the other hand you may be a tanning salon that wants a client to feel ‘pumped’ for say an event or in a party-mode.  Therefore in this instance you should switch your salon colours to warm tones with ‘loud’ photography, I.e. pictures of neon lights, animal prints and so on. 

2. Displays

At every tanning salon, you will have your retail products; for instance tan boosters, ex-foliates, moisturisers, the works!  However sometimes rather than you having to push the sales of those first hand, the way in which you display them can do half of your job for you. Presentation is key, a client is much more likely to notice a product if it is shown on an interesting mantel piece or a cleverly designed shelving system.  This enhances the value of a product in many cases.  At Salon Tracker we are loving the vintage frame shelves for product displays.  You can get them in any colour to match the theme 

of your salon, against any wall back ground! 

3. Wall Art

This is a lovely way to highlight meaningful quotes to clients or to display room signs within your salon.  Calligraphy writing is our favourite at the moment and sometimes a few nice words on the wall can evidently make a

client’s day and improve their salon experience.  It only needs to be something subtle, for example ‘you look beautiful’ above mirrors in the salon or something similar.

4. Word Art

If you don’t want to start painting and putting stickers all over your walls but still want to add a little something to your salon, framed word art is another way of doing this. You can get frames with glass words in, or similarly design the canvas’s yourself!  Just of a few words that will give your clients that little ‘pick-me-up.’  This is one of our favourites!





Salon Tracker x