5 Essential Tips for Running a Successful Salon

Running a successful salon requires more than just technical skills – it’s about creating a great experience for your customers and effectively managing your business. 

Here are five key tips to help you thrive in the salon industry!

Invest in trained staff

Your staff are the face of your salon. Hiring trained professionals not only ensures quality services but also boosts your confidence in what your salon offers. Clients appreciate expertise and professionalism, so investing in skilled staff members is crucial for building trusty and loyalty.

 

Utilise Strategic Marketing

 In order to attract new clients and retain existing ones, effective marketing is essential. Use various marketing strategies to promote your services, including special promotions and offers. Utilise social media, SMS and email campaigns to expand your reach and keep your salon top of mind.

 

Stay Organised with Salon Tracker

Managing bookings, appointments, and client information can be overwhelming without the right tools. Implement a salon management software like Salon Tracker to streamline operations. This software helps you to stay organised, manage schedules efficiently, and maintain client records seamlessly.

 

Define your USP

What sets your salon apart from the competition? Identify your USP – whether it’s a personalised service, unique ambiance, eco-friendly products, or exclusive treatments. Highlight this USP in your marketing efforts to attract clients who resonate with your salon’s unique offerings.

Create a Welcoming Atmosphere

The ambiance of your salon significantly impact the overall customer experience. Ensure your salon is clean, well-maintained, and has a welcoming atmosphere. Pay attention to details like lighting, music, and decor to create a relaxing and enjoyable environment for your clients.

Implementing these tips will not only enhance your salon's reputation but also contribute to the growth and success of your business. By focusing on professionalism, effective marketing, organisation, differentiation, and customer experience, you'll be well-positioned to thrive in the competitive salon industry.

Salon Tracker x

Salon Tracker’s Marketing Features

Sending out campaigns couldn’t be easier with our marketing suite on Salon Tracker! 

We have a variety of templates which you can use, as well as 20 marketing filters and even the option to create your own. It’s as simple as selecting the template, editing your message and clicking send!

 Now you might be thinking to yourself why would I need to do this?

Well… Marketing campaigns are a great way to boost your business. Sending out offers to customers is a great way to entice them to come into your salon and ultimately increase your profits!

 

A great example of this is our ‘Customers who haven’t visited in a while’ template. This campaign filters through customers who haven’t come to your salon for a while and invites them to come in for a treatment with a discount. 

An example of how the pre-filtered campaign would look is:

Hi <<Forename>

You are missed! All appointments booked before [ENTER DATE] will receive [ENTER DISCOUNT] discount.

<<CompanyName>> <<CompanyTel>> T&Cs Apply

We also have an option on Salon Tracker to schedule your campaigns to be sent out. This is great for if you are wanting a campaign sending out whilst you're away or if you want to plan ahead and be prepared!

For example if you were wanting to send out a bank holiday campaign you could use our summer sale campaign template and edit it to say:

Hi <<Forename>>

We are offering a free [ENTER VALUE] voucher with every booking made this week, which will be redeemable on bank holiday Monday!

<<CompanyName>> <<CompanyTel>> T&Cs Apply

It is also important to think about when is best to send out your marketing campaigns. Using our reports feature on Salon Tracker can help you with finding the best time to send out your campaigns.

For example, by using our Sales by Hour report you can see which times are quieter and use the marketing feature to increase your sales in these periods. Sending out a marketing campaign with an offer during quieter periods may give your customers the incentive to come in.

If you would like to know more about our marketing suite, or any of our features then just give us a call on 0113 350 8230 or drop us an email at info@salontracker.co.uk

One of our team would be happy to help with any questions you might have!

Salon Tracker x

Level up your business with online bookings

Want to make instant bookings, reduce no shows and make money outside of your salon hours? Well this blog will discuss how our online booking system can do all of that plus more!

Feature of the month-

Level up your business with online bookings

In the tanning industry, timing is everything. Making bookings and boosting revenue beyond regular salon hours is the brilliance of online bookings. With this feature, your tanning salon can continue to thrive and shine, catering to clients whenever they crave that golden glow that your shop can provide them.

 

Harness the power of social media to enhance your tanning salon's success. By seamlessly integrating our customised booking link into your social media, you're creating a direct pathway for clients to schedule their next bronzing session as they scroll their favourite platforms. By linking your online booking it effortlessly connects your online following and customers to real-time bookings.

 

Life is fast-paced, and your clients are always on the move. Online bookings allow them to schedule their tanning sessions on the go anytime, anywhere. They can be the first to book their favourite bed before they get off work with a click of a button. Convenience at its golden best!

Avoid the fade-out caused by no-shows. Implement deposit payments to ensure commitment. A small deposit not only minimizes the chances of last-minute cancellations but also keeps your tanning beds occupied and profitable.

How does this work?

Once you're assigned to the Enterprise package we will create your custom online booking site using your salon theme colours, logo and all your salon services. Your customers can register in store or online and create their 4 digit pin to log in and book from their phone. 

So there it is! Embrace round-the-clock availability, leverage the power of social media, cater to your on-the-go clients, and bid farewell to no-shows which is all included in our Enterprise package (£90+VAT per month), call 0113 350 8230 to either upgrade or start today. 

Salon Tracker x

Happy Galentine's Day!

 

Happy Galentine's Day!

 

Why not make the most of Galentine's and Valentine's day by offering discounts and deals in your salon!

Here are some ideas for things you could do to increase your sales during this period:

 

Galentine's Spa Day

Offering special packages for groups of friends is a great way to promote your business and bring new customers to your salon. Packages could include facials, massages, manicures, pedicures or any other treatments that you offer! Offers like buy one get one free or group discounts are always great to get a group together. You could even plan a full spa day package for the group with all treatments included... Because Galentine's is all about treating yourself and feeling good whilst catching up with the gals right?

 

Valentine's deals

Offering special couples packages is also a great way to increase your business. Whether that be couples massages or getting your nails done together! A special treat for a loved one is always appreciated! It's a great way to relax and catch up with that special person in your life. It gives you the chance to enjoy each other's company whilst being pampered in the best way possible.

 

Gift Card Specials

Offering Galentine's gift cards can encourage your customers to buy gifts for their ‘gals’ to treat themselves. This will benefit your business as it can attract new customers to your salon through loyal customers referring their friends. Who can say no to a day out with their bestie, and what better way to do this than with a gift card!

 

Remember to promote your Galentine's Day and Valentine's specials through your salon's website, social media channels, email newsletters, and in-salon signage to attract clients and encourage them to celebrate friendship and self-care at your salon!

Here are some ideas of quick and easy SMS marketing campaigns you could do:

'Love is in the hair! Treat yourself this Valentine's Day with a salon pampering session. Because nothing says self-love like a fresh haircut or a relaxing spa treatment. Book now! '

'Get that sun-kissed glow just in time for Valentine's Day! Enjoy our special offer on tanning sessions and look radiant for your romantic date night. Book now and shine bright!'

'Pamper yourself or surprise your sweetheart with our exclusive Valentine's Day offer! Enjoy 20% off on all spa services, from massages to facials. Treat yourself to some love and relaxation! '

'Celebrate love, celebrate life, and celebrate your radiant self with our Valentine's Day tanning offer! Enjoy discounted rates on our premium tanning services and glow like never before. Book your session today! '

'Don't miss out on our Valentine's Day special offer! Enjoy a free manicure with every haircut or blowout. Because nothing says love like a fresh new look! '

We hope this blog helped you with ideas to help promote your business and increase your sales!

 

Salon Tracker x

Salon Tracker’s top tips for increased engagement on Instagram!

Salon Tracker’s Top Tips for Increased Engagement on Instagram!

Brand Awareness

Brand awareness is also about promoting your business and getting your name out there.

You can easily do this on Instagram by adding your logo as your profile picture and adding a tagline into your bio to help make clear to potential customers what your salon is all about!

Another super useful way to increase your brand awareness is by adding a link or website of yours to your account. This will help potential customers find more information about your salon.

On our Enterprise package you have access to your very own customised online bookings link which is great for letting customers know what you offer in your salon!

Content

A key part of Instagram is, of course, the content you create and post. It’s important to post about things relevant to you!

Posting is such an easy and useful marketing strategy and even better… It’s completely free! Ensuring your posts are of high quality and eye catching will make your viewers stop to read them.

Things we recommend posting are offers you have on, posts of your work done on customers, and info about the retail products you sell.

Hashtags

It is also important to use hashtags in your posts as this is how you can widen your customer base. Using a variety of hashtags that fit your brand is great for this.

Some hashtags we recommend would be ones with your city in so that people based near you can find you. Using ones related to your treatments are also useful such as #hairgoals #tangoals #nailart #bronzedbeauty #manicuremonday #selfcaresunday #balayage #sunkissed #blowout.

 

Host Giveaways

Our final top tip to increase your engagement on Instagram is by doing a giveaway. A giveaway is such an easy way to increase your customer base as customers that already follow you will be tagging and sharing your business with their friends.

The giveaway prize can be as easy as offering a free treatment or free course. If you wanted to push the boat out you could even make a hamper of the retail products you sell. These prizes give customers the chance to try new treatments of yours and try out the products you sell, which may ultimately become their new favourite to buy in store!

Giveaways are a super fun way to increase your engagement on Instagram and will benefit your business in the long run.

We hope this blog gave you some useful tips and ideas on how you can boost your Instagram and get the word out about your business!

Salon Tracker x

Salon Tracker packages

 

Package Breakdown

Having difficulties with deciding on what package best suits you? Well, in this blog I will guide you through a complete breakdown of each package and how it can revolutionise your salon.

Standard - £30+VAT per month

·         Tracks Customer minutes, purchases and booking history

·         Complete point of sale features

·         One booking calendar

·         Standard business reports

Our standard package is our most simple package, at just £30pm (+VAT) you can track your customers minutes, purchase and booking history allowing you to kiss goodbye to crammed paper files and customer cards. The standard package also includes a booking calendar to view your bookings and a walk in view ensuring your next customer will be on a sunbed or with a beautician within just a few clicks. There are also standard business reports such as cashing up and action log giving you access to all the ins and outs of your salon for the day.

Professional - £60+VAT per month

·         All features of standard

·         Stock management

·         Marketing features (SMS + Email)

·         Advanced business reports and charts

·         Integrates with T-max and Sigma managers

·         Finger print reader and signature pad functions available

Including everything from the standard package, professional is a great choice for single site salons who want to maximize Salon Trackers capabilities while still keeping in a affordable price range. Giving you access to the Marketing features enabling you to push out your latest services and deals via email or SMS and save time by using our pre made templates for SMS messages. Utilise the advanced reports Salon Tracker has pre made for you, filter in the time and date and search for the report you’d like and have access to all the information a salon owner needs. Finally manage your stock with the stock information feature, allowing you to set a low stock warning, trade price and back stock levels, perfect for keeping away from the tedious stock counting all done by salon tracker.  

Enterprise - £90+VAT per month

·         Online booking

·         Site view app

·         Online Payments

·         Multi-Site support

·         Multiple calendars

·         Cloud storage

Enterprise, the perfect package for multi-site owners who can only be in one place at one time, Salon Trackers enterprise package equips you with site view and multi-site features allowing you to view your reports, customers, bookings and more from anytime anywhere for only £90pm +VAT. The siteview app can be downloaded to any smartphone while the multi-site add-on features enable you to view and change different sites on one system.  Get fully booked without lifting a finger with the online booking system matched with online payments using apple pay, Klarna, google pay and more! Get busy with multiple calendars supporting your services whether it be tanning, hair or nails we can add extra calendars to keep your schedule clear.

If you want to find more about Salon Trackers packages please just email info@salontracker.co.uk or call 0113 350 8230 to book in a free demonstration or 2 week free trial.

Feature of the month - Online payments

We know how busy you can be in your Salon, why not make things that little bit easier by having your customers purchase their services online beforehand. With our online payments feature you can have customers pay deposits prior to their appointment's or pay the full service amount to speed up the check in process. What's not to love?

How do online payments work?

On our Enterprise package you will have access to your very own personlised online page with the options of booking and shop. This means that your customers can select what they would like to book in for and see what days and times are available. You can then choose whether you want your customers to pay the service in full or just a deposit. If you prefer the use of walk ins at your salon you can still benefit from an online page as clients can still pay for services online and then come into the salon with that service stored on their account ready to use. Salon Tracker's online payment feature gives customers the options of entering bank details manually or they can use Apple pay, Google Pay and Klarna. Once a payment is completed online it automatically syncs with your Salon Tracker so that you don't miss a thing. 

 

Online Bookings-

On your very own customised booking page you can list all of your available services and times for your customers to look through and select. They can then pay for this booking whilst they are online using our different payment options. This payment feature is guaranteed to streamline your payment process leading to lower wait times and higher customer satisfaction. 

Deposits -

Are you wanting to reduce no shows? Online deposits are the way to go, you can set either a percentage amount or a flat rate, such as £10, for each service that you offer. When the customer comes in for their appointment they just have the remaining amount to pay, which Salon Tracker will work our for you. This deposit feature is proven to reduce your customers no shows and ensure your salon is always booming. 

 Shop - 

Online payments isn't just useful for bookings, you can also set up a shop feature where your customers can purchase a service in advance without making a booking. If you offer a walk in service at your salon this would be a perfect option. Having your clients purchase their service in advance will speed up your check in time so that you can focus solely on the customers experience. 

 

How would online payments benefit your Salon?

• Online payments can increase your customers experience as they can make a payment from the comfort of their own homes and provides 24/7 accessibility to your services so that they can fit in with their own schedules. 

 

• It reduces both staff and customers time as payments can be handled in advance meaning they can enjoy their experience and you can focus on providing an amazing service. 

 

• Using online payments means you can finally go cashless. The past few years has seen a shift from cash to contactless with increase in Apple pay, online shopping and Klarna. Now your Salon can do the same!

 

• Our online payment feature gives you the option to use Apple pay, Google Pay and Klarna. These flexible payment options gives your clients a wider variety of payments and can pay using a platform that suits them. 

 

How do I set up online payments?

Step 1 - Ensure that you are on Salon Tracker's Enterprise package

Step 2 - Create a Stripe account - https://dashboard.stripe.com/register

Step 3 - Call us on 0113 350 8230 and we can do the rest. 

Step 4 - Enjoy all the benefits of online payments!

 

If you would like to make full use of Salon Tracker's online payments feature or just want to find out a bit more information just give us a call on 0113 350 8230 or email us at info@salontracker.co.uk

Salon Tracker x

Goodbye 2023!

 

We can’t believe it’s already that time of year!

This year has been a big year for Salon Tracker with us expanding our Salon Tracker Family both internally with many new team members I’m sure you’ve had the opportunity to speak to and also a number of new customers who are now allowing us to help grow your business!

We want to take this opportunity to thank you all for your consistent support and loyal custom this year as we have been working hard on improving the basics of the software so in 2024 we can add some very in demand features!

We know this year has been difficult with the cost of living crisis that has affected many of our customers. This is why we have kept out subscription prices the same for over the last 10 years, even though we are continuously adding to and improving the system.

As we go into 2024, we know that this can be a difficult time of the year for salons where they may get a bit quieter, so if you’re thinking about getting set up with us keep your eyes peeled for some potential offers on our social media accounts.

With that being said, we are CLOSED for Christmas between the 22^nd of December and the 2^nd of January. If you need any support during this period please go to www.salontracker.co.uk/help where you can see help videos and support guides on how to fix frequent problems .

If you do require any urgent licensing assistance during this time, please telephone our support line on 0113 350 8232 and someone will get back to you where possible with your activation code.

On behalf of everyone here at Salon Tracker, we would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a happy and health new year and we can’t wait to continue working with you all in 2024!

Salon Tracker x

Effortless Stock Management with Salon Tracker

With our stock levels section on Salon Tracker, keeping track of your retail products has never been easier! 

This blog will give you a step by step guide on how you can track your stock on Salon Tracker, as well as add in extra features such as notifying when stock is running low and adding commission on products.

In the products section of Salon Tracker you can add your retail products that you sell within your salon. 

This section is completely customisable with options to add beauty and salon products as well as tanning products, and any snacks you may sell too!

To add a category simply select Retail Products then the plus (+) button.

Then you can add in the category you’re wanting to by typing into the description box (e.g. typing beauty) and clicking OK

Then to add a product you can select ‘Add’ and similarly name it (in the description box) and add in your retail price and trade price

Note: adding the trade price is optional, but it may be useful to you if you want to calculate your profit per product.

If you wish to keep track of the amount of stock you have of your products you can customise this in the stock info tab. 

To do this simply tick the ‘Monitor Stock Levels?’ tab and add in your stock level (i.e. the amount of retail products you have in your salon) and if you wish to do so you can also add in a low stock warning level so you know if you are running low on stock and need to get more.

Finally if you wish to add commission on your products you can do this by selecting the commission tab, ticking the override commission box and typing in what percentage commission you wish to add to the product.

Once you have added all of your products in you will be able to see your stock levels, as well as which products are running low which are highlighted in red. This shows as a list on the right hand side of the products tab.

This can then be further edited once you have more products in.

I hope that this blog gave you more insight into one of our many great services on Salon Tracker. Please note that this feature is available on our Professional and Enterprise packages.

If you’re interested in getting booked in for a look at these services in a FREE demonstration of our system or FREE two-week trial, please don’t hesitate to contact us by calling 0113 350 8230 or emailing us on info@salontracker.co.uk .

If you’re an existing customer and are wanting more information about upgrading your Salon Tracker package to our Professional or Enterprise packages, again please don’t hesitate to contact us by calling 0113 350 8230 or emailing us on info@salontracker.co.uk.

Salon Tracker x

How to make the most out of Black Friday!

Everybody loves a good deal, and with the countdown to Christmas beginning soon, treating your clients is the best way to keep them coming back for more.

This blog will give you a rundown on how you can benefit from Black Friday deals in your salon!

One great way to get your customers to buy more of your courses, treatments and retail products is by adding discounts. A deal always appeals to customers and will ultimately increase your sales and keep your customers happy.

Another great way to benefit from Black Friday is by offering discounted gift vouchers in store. This is a great Christmas gift for your customers to purchase, and of course expand your customer base.

You could also offer free minutes on a course you sell which will attract your customers to purchase them, in return bringing more bookings to your salon.

A great way to promote your deals is by using social media and our advanced marketing suite on Salon Tracker. Letting your customers know about your offers will bring in more business.

And we of course practice what we preach and had to do some deals of our own! 

Read below to find out what our amazing Black Friday deals and discounts are:

 

Sign up now and get 50% off your first month

Purchase our SMS bundles and get 15% off now!

And last but not least... Purchase our hardware for up to 15% off 

Our deals are available until 1st December 2023 so don't miss out!

 
If you're not already a customer of ours then what better time to join us than now with these amazing deals on offer! Just give us a call on 0113 350 8230 or drop us an email at info@salontracker.co.uk.

That's all for now!

Salon Tracker x 

How Salon Tracker's online features can help your Salon!

On Salon Tracker’s Enterprise package, we have a range of online features that can help you build profits, win customers and grow your business. In this blog we will discuss the features we can offer you.

Online booking:

Salon Tracker's online bookings page allows your customers to log in using an email and pin to view and create their booking anytime, anywhere, any place. Research shows that over 36% of our customers' online bookings were made out of their salon's opening hours. By having customers log in using their email and pin, connects their online booking account to their customer card within Salon Tracker. This keeps all of their booking history, no matter if they were made in store or online, in one place. We can EVEN customise your online booking page with your salon logo and colour scheme to match your salon aesthetic.

Online Payments:

One of Salon Tracker’s newest and highly used online features is online payments. This gives your salon the opportunity to take deposits or full payment amounts through your online page. Taking deposits for online bookings reduces the likelihood of customer no shows as they have already partially paid. Also, by giving customers the ability to purchase services such as tanning courses and eyebrow waxes, your salon could be making a profit whilst you enjoy a good night's sleep.

Siteview:

Siteview, which is also known as homeview, gives you the ability to keep up with the activities of your salon from anywhere in the world whether you’re in sunny Jamaica or at home with the kids.

The dashboard feature gives you the ability to quickly keep up with what’s going on at your salon by showing you things such as overall takings and the amount of customers who have visited that day.

Siteview also gives you the opportunity to view all of your customer details, calendars and all of your business reports that you get on Salon Tracker.

This is available as a weblink or downloadable app.

Online data sync:

Salon Tracker's Enterprise package also gives you online backups. This means that all of  your Salon Tracker data is stored safely in the cloud, meaning that if anything were to happen to your salon PC we can just download your information to another one.

If you would like any more information on any our Salon Tracker features, do not hesitate to get in contact on either 0113 350 8230 or info@salontracker.co.uk.

Salon Tracker X

Halloween marketing tips.

 

Halloween Marketing Tips, will it be a trick or treat?

Run competitions/ giveaways

Spread the word about your business and increase your social media presence. Do giveaways for a free tanning course or any service your salon offers and to enter the giveaway ask people to follow your account and share the post or tag friends to enter the giveaway. This is a great way to get your salons name out there and have organic growth from people in the area. 

Seasonal offers

Get your salon involved in the festive seasons, and boost your business by offering seasonal courses and deals. Halloween is just round the corner, which is a great excuse to promote Halloween exclusive deals for your salon, be creative and give current and new customers a Halloween themed deal!

A few ideas for Halloween Tanning + Beauty deals:

- Scary Good Deals

- Pumpkin Spice tan

- Trick or Treat Yourself Package

- Glamour under the Moonlight

           Social Media Brand Identity

Having an online presence on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook is a massive aspect of your salons potential to grow and become a recognisable, popular and a trusted salon in a competitive industry. How do you do this? Well, here are a few steps you can take to increase your salons brand identity:

       Colour scheme- Ensure your salon is themed with no more than 3 colours, you can use your theme with every post you make, salon decorations and your salon logo. This will also make your account feed look visually smooth and neat, remember, nobody likes a messy Instagram feed!

          Consistency- A post a day keeps the competitors away! Posting everyday or even a short story is a great way to increase your social media engagement with potential and current customers, and also improves the personal relationship between you and your customers in and outside the salon. Show off customers results, reviews and what your salon really has to offer!

          Hashtags- Using hashtags can be very advantageous to your business on social media, especially for smaller businesses. Using hashtags that relate to your post and business will increase its reach and will appear on other users feeds who follow the same or related hashtags. You can also start using your own hashtag specifically related to your salon, which you can use every time you post. You can also encourage customers to use it when they share their results online too! This is a great way to grow your online presence organically and grow a community that you can be proud of. #trickortracker

 

      Salon Tracker Marketing suite

Last but not least, The Salon Tracker marketing suite which comes with our Professional and Enterprise packages, is designed to help your salon grow. From mail chimp integration, customer text templates, review templates for texts/emails and much more there isn’t much that our marketing suite can't do for your marketing needs this Halloween. With it all in one place, there’s less time wasting on separate platforms trying to market to your customers and more time spent on delivering the best service to your customers.

If you are wanting to treat your customers this Halloween then follow the simple steps in this blog or head to the Salon Tracker marketing suite.

 

If you are not already a customer then what are you waiting for, just call us on 0113 350 8230 or email us info@salontracker.co.uk.

Salon Tracker x