My Glam Camping Essentials

Doesn’t the idea of sleeping under the stars sound enchanting? If you’re not the biggest fan of camping, I might have a suggestion for you…

With August being the prime time for holidays, here is a new blog to give you some of my essentials for having the perfect glamping trip! There are two main types of glamping, the first is bringing along a luxurious tent or campervan which you can make in to your home away from home. The second is there are a number of campsites available throughout Europe which offer various luxury accommodation, more campsites are upgrading their facilities and services to accommodate for the growing amount of happy campers.

So what makes Glamping more appealing than camping? Well first of all the accommodation, wouldn’t you rather spend your week in a spacious 16-ft canvas Tipi tent equipped with zip-able mesh windows, a heavy duty waterproof canvas and a zip-able ground sheet, like this one from Amazon.

Tent - https://amzn.to/2BxV3e0

What also makes it more appealing is the bigger the tent makes more room for a comfortable camping bed. Some of us have learnt the hard way that sleeping outdoors can be uncomfortable, I’d recommend investing in something slightly more pretentious than an off the ground camping bed. Although they would keep you dry if there is sudden torrential rain, I prefer an inflatable double mattress with inflatable pillows.

My next tip to making your trip entirely more comfortable is taking
various extra sleeping bags or even a duvet to build up the layers on your camping bed. Taking extra blankets and cushions to decorate the tent and your bed with will make you feel more at home as campsites can get extremely chilly during the night even in summer, you never know when you might need an extra blanket. It also makes sitting round a campfire at night cosy and more enjoyable.

Portable grill - https://bit.ly/2MFRczO

Another one of my essentials to a Glamping trip and what first time campers might forget about is a light! A typical torch is good enough but if you want to go the extra mile and feel more homely, a nice touch is string lights. A lot of garden stores sell solar powered fairy lights which saves you having to change the batteries after a few days and they look adorable!

If you’re planning on eating while you’re at the campsite I’d recommend investing in a portable grill and BBQ, they are becoming increasingly popular and more affordable. They’re extremely useful, easy to maintain and saves you spending your money in restaurants. Taking plastic dishware and cutlery are also easier to eat meals from and a lot easier to clean. To store your food many camping stores sell large cool boxes, finding one which will charge from your car is really useful or using a solar panel charger.

Shelves - https://bit.ly/2PrhfZU

There’s nothing worse than trying to enjoy your holiday while you’re practically living out of a suitcase! For general storage I’d recommend purchasing a collapsible wardrobe and shelves, there is a variety of sizes to suit your needs. They are really useful when it comes to keeping unworn clothes fresh throughout your trip.

Another tip is to take some comfy glamping chairs or even fold up deck chairs, you will feel the comfort after a long day and it means that you can sit outside and enjoy the last of the sunshine during the evening! Whilst you’re out and about, I’d recommend a waterproof picnic blanket to sit on so you can rest your legs even if the ground may be wet.

Lights - https://bit.ly/2BzCy8L

Here are some extra decorations you could add around your pitch to make it even more glamorous. Some outdoor mental lanterns, you can purchase these usually in bargain stores in the outdoor section, some bunting to hang around the trees and from your tent, I also really like the idea of a welcome matt at the front of the tent to take off any shoes or muddy boots.

Here are a few extra tips and tricks for whilst you’re camping;

⧫ Micro-Fibre quick dry towel, not only does it soak up water extremely quickly but it also dries quickly too.

⧫ Take some extra string or rope to act as a make-shift washing line, useful for drying your wet and sandy beach clothes

⧫ Take some extra hoodies and coats, even in summer the campsite might get chilly and its really useful if you need to get out of the tent during the night

We hope you have a lovely time camping and find this blog useful, just in time for Bank Holiday! 

Salon Tracker x

Have you discovered this product yet?!

So, I think you’ll all agree that it has been an outstanding Summer so far. Record breaking temperatures for weeks on end with very little rain in sight… however; sadly, we are coming to the end and soon the woolly scarves and hats will be coming out as we forget what the heat on our skins felt like.

No doubt, you will have caught a tan, whether that was done with safe use of a sunbed or just spending time outdoors - my guess is that you’ll want to keep that tan as long as possible.

Well this product is great for that and has many other benefits too!

Pro Tan Perfectly Pink Daily Moisturiser with Hemp Seed Extract 

Pro Tan Perfectly Pink Daily
Moisturiser with hemp seed extract

I first discovered this product at Professional Beauty London 2018 and since then have refused to use any other moisturiser, bought from the show at a bargain of just £6, I’d say it was my best find yet!

This find comes in a handy bottle making application quick and hassle free. It has a pump lid, squirting out just the right amount meaning there is no waste. The one I purchase is a 650ml bottle however it comes in 3 different sizes making it convenient for everyone. These include a small 59ml bottle – ideal for short-breaks or a tester, the 650ml bottle – ideal for home and a gallon top-up bottle which can work out cheaper if you love this product as much as I do!

Although hemp extract has many benefits for us, it doesn’t have the pleasantest of smells alone… yet this formula smells amazing and I receive many compliments from friends and family once I have applied it. On-top of this, it isn’t sticky at all and leaves no residue, giving your skin a silky soft long-lasting feel without all the hassle.

The only con of this Moisturiser is that on the 650ml bottle, the pump function is great for easy use at home however you cannot lock the lid and stop the liquid coming out if you wanted to take it away with you. It would be handy if it came with 2 different lids – a pump and a screw one so it is portable. Alternatively, purchase the small 59ml bottle which can be refilled or buy an empty bottle to put the lotion in.

Not only is it an amazing product, it is sold at an amazing price! From different suppliers, it ranges at around £8-15 for the 650ml bottle and lucky for you, I’ve included a link where you can buy it from at just £8.39 (including VAT) from Beauty Express. On top of that, they’re currently offering 20% off your first order with the code NEW18! Head to - https://www.beautyexpress.co.uk/tanning/tanning-accelerators/pro-tan-perfectly-pink-daily-moisture-650ml/135597.html

Or… you could come visit us at the Professional Beauty North show 2018 on 21st-22nd of October in Manchester Central and grab one of these ‘must-haves’ whilst you’re there. Bonus fact – we will also be holding great offers at the show so don’t miss out - Click the link below to register for exclusive free entry!

https://registration.n200.com/survey/3pud1tsgfmxw1?actioncode=NTWO000118SAF

I hope you find this lotion as life-changing as I do, and I hope to see you all at the show - just over two months to go! 

Salon Tracker x 

Top 10 Tips To Enhance Your Salon's Social Strategy!

Social media should be your number 1 marketing and communication platform for the salon; as according to Statista, "over 2.62 billion people are users of social media world-wide, with around 2169 million people having an active Facebook account alone." It is therefore imperative that your business has a social media profile, as if not you could be missing out on a HUGE market! However, it doesn’t just take you having a business profile to ensure that your networks are seen. You then have to use your social media tools wisely, in order for you to ensure maximum engagement and post reach to the online market. So, here are our top 10 tips to make sure your social strategy improves your business and brand awareness.

No 1: Always have a current profile photo, cover photo and bio

Your profile photo and cover photo are the first things that people see so it’s important that these are updated throughout the year. Initially so that it is clear to your customers which brand you are, however also so that these are refreshed in relation to certain time frames throughout the year. Therefore, at Christmas or around Valentine’s day for example, you may wish to theme your photos in line with this.

No 2: Keep your profile up to date and consistently post 

It’s so important that when people go on your social media profile they can see that you are active consistently and that your profile information is current. This can even be down to your contact information being correct if you have recently moved, or got a new website address. However, it’s also important that your content is relatable to existing happenings and on-goings, to keep things interesting and also for extra engagement.

No.3: Don’t just post for the sake of it, have a clear strategy and message 

This can be everyone’s biggest mistake, not really knowing what to post so just putting something up anyway. There’s nothing worse than someone being able to tell that your social media is ‘forced’. However, we all know what it’s like when you have those days where you need some inspiration as for what to post and you get a bit lost with your social strategy. Our best advice for this would be to have regular meetings with your employees regarding your social message, maybe every fortnight? Just so you are all on the same page with the messages that you are wanting to relay to your followers and the content that you wish to create. This way you won’t end up off-track.

No 4: Post at optimum times 

A very important indicator in how well your post is received can be to do with the time that you schedule the post for. Apparently, for Instagram, according to the Huffington Post, "the best time to post is 2am and 5pm, with the best day to post being Wednesday!" So, depending which social media networks work best for you, it is probably a good idea for you to do a little bit of research in to the optimum posting times for your chosen social channel in the geographic location in which you are based, to ensure that you get maximum exposure.


No 5: Shake up your content

Another common slip-up, posting too much of the same thing. Going back to where we mentioned having regular social media reviews and creating a strategy, this way you’ll have constant checks in place that makes sure you’re not posting the same types of content too many times. Also, mix up your posts by sharing different types of material, for example images, videos, live streams, quotes etc.


No 6: Use common and popular #hashtags

The next tool to maximum exposure after optimum posting times is by using key hashtag’s, in order to ensure that your post reaches a wider audience. The message of your post will depend on which hashtags are good to use. If you do a search on sites such as oberlo.co.uk or makeuseof.com, these all share good insights in to popular hashtags. If you go on Instagram and Twitter themselves, their home pages also show you the main hashtags that are trending at that time, for you to get-involved and also jump on the bandwagon with those!


No 7: Paid advertising? 

As the saying goes, you pay for what you get! In which there are a lot of paid advertising methods that you can use on social media in order for your brand to be seen by a wider audience. Since Facebook and Instagram collaborated, you can now create adverts through Facebook’s ad-manager and these same ads will then be optimised for your Instagram feed, so that they are also shared on their main feed. You can pick your daily budget, meaning you can literally try out Facebook ads for as low as $5 per day. You can then also target specific age ranges and demographics, making the ad as relevant as possible to your business and the audience in which you are looking to target.


No 8: Seek reviews

Like many of us do check-ups on review sites before we book a holiday, hotel or even perhaps a restaurant; many people do a similar search on businesses before they actually use their services. And with Facebook now being the new social google, you want as much positive exposure on your social networks as possible, to promote the possibility of new clients when they are doing their mini check-up on you. So, it is important to try and collect as many reviews from clients as possible, in which you can use social media in which to do so. Why not create a competition to get the review process going? So, for every client that gives you a review they are then automatically entered in to a competition with the chance to win a prize (of your choice)?


No 9: Promote these testimonials (image on twitter to catch people’s eye) 

Once you’ve got some positive feedback, you then have some great social media content! As long as you have your clients’ permission to share their reviews (in which if they’ve posted this on a public facing site you will have); you can then share your success stories with your followers! Word of mouth and real-life experiences are the best types of advertising and so use this to maximise your exposure further.


No.10: Finally, be personal.

Last but not least, personal social media posts are the most relatable with your fan-base. And by this we don’t mean share your life story, however give your brand a personality! Think of it this way, your team are creating your social media content. Therefore, there is a professional person behind each of your posts and so if your content comes across in a certain way; as if your clients are speaking to that person face-to-face, then you are more likely to receive some engagement. This is simply because your brand seems more approachable and because your followers can further relate to these types of posts.


We hope we’ve helped you to continue your social media growth and hope you have fun using a few of our tips! If you feel you need a little bit more help, our marketing team is always on hand to answer all of your questions; simply contact them on 0113 350 8230.


Salon Tracker x

How to look your best at a festival on a tight budget

It is finally peak festival Season - what you’ve all been waiting for since approximately… the end of last festival season! As you’re all aware of the remarkable summer we’ve had so far, I’m sure you’re even more aware of the damage it has done to the majority of the UK’s bank accounts. Football at the pub 4 times a week, holidays, takeaways - because it’s just far too hot to cook in this weather. Am I right? But unfortunately, the footballs off, we’re coming to the end of a sun-filled summer and it’s time to start focusing on our future festivals. Only now, you’re on a strict budget.

Don’t worry, I’ve got you sorted as I’ve hunted some of the best festival-look bargains there is on the internet, and you’re going to love them.

Boohoo £18

First things first, after the longest and sunniest summer in a while, you should probably expect the worst of the weather and prepare. A waterproof mac would be an essential, and it doesn’t need to dull your sparkle either - this one will bring sparkle to your look. This Glitter Trim Clear Mac from boohoo comes in two different glitter colours (silver and pink) and not only protects you from the rain but is see-through so your funky festival outfit isn’t hidden away. For just £18, it’s Perfect! Click http://www.boohoo.com/glitter-trim-clearmac/DZZ28208.html?color=364 to shop.  

Boohoo £35

This dazzling two-piece also from boohoo is a knockout! At only £35, what isn’t to love? It falls perfectly with the festival trend of 2018 – sequins, glitter and all things shimmer. Best of all you won’t need much to accompany the outfit otherwise you’ll over-crowd it. Maybe a simple choker and some black trainers will do the job. Click http://www.boohoo.com/paris-hilton-multi-sequin-bralet-short-co-ord/DZZ58701.html to shop. You’ll find boohoo is very discount friendly, students, random 20%-30% off everything sales – so keep any eye out! 

Missguided £28

These eye-catching yet simple shorts from misguided bring out the “less is more” effect. Paired with a plain tee or halter-neck top, it is the perfect find for your festival. At only £28, it would be rude not too. Click https://www.missguided.co.uk/tall-rose-gold-sequin-shorts-10101334 to shop. Misguided also welcome discounts, currently offering 20% student discount and free UK next day delivery, bargain!

I saw it first £30

This is one we are absolutely loving! These extremely sassy fringed trousers from I saw it first are definitely in. With the level of detail, they look to be an expensive pair of trousers, but priced at just £30, they are a real bargain. Paired with the matching boob-tube crop top is idyllic but mix and matching wouldn’t go a miss either. To shop, click https://www.isawitfirst.com/collections/festival-shop/products/lace-fringe-trousers-white-jl23554#. I saw it first know how to give the discount, currently offering 50% off everything, making these trousers just £15. Grab them whilst you can!

Misspap £20

These funky trousers from misspap are just one of the pairs we love from there. They sell around 10 different pairs each with the same style with a different pattern. They’re more than suited to festivals, giving you that hip-chick look and they’re only priced at £20, currently with 25% off making them just £15! You may as well treat yourself to a few pairs... Click https://www.misspap.co.uk/isabel-mustard-snake-print-flared-trousers/ to shop. Another online shop which welcomes discounts, currently offering 99p next day delivery!

Pretty little thing £35

This pastel blue fringed playsuit from pretty little thing is giving us all the feels; it comes in 5 different colours and is priced at just £35! The open tie back accompanies the suit perfectly making it an amazing outfit for festivals. To shop click https://www.prettylittlething.com/powder-blue-tassel-  playsuit.html and have a peak at the sale too!

So that’s it for our top 6 festival purchases, although I could go on and on… I hope you’ve found the bargain you were looking for. We look forward to hearing all about your festival shenanigans, we hope you have an amazing time!

Salon Tracker x

5 Things You Didn't Know About Salon Tracker

We had too much choice for our feature of the month for this month so we have decided to mash 5 of the most unknown, amazing features that Salon Tracker has to offer.

Drag calendar to add break

Most of you with Salon Tracker will know that within each of your staff members in the management section you can add breaks and holidays. But if you’re wanting to quickly add a break for one of your staff members all you need to do is drag across the time that you want to put a break in. With the method you can only add in a one-time break, so if one of your staff members has a doctor’s appointment or has rung in sick then you can quickly and easily add a break in.

Reviews

Every salon owner wants glistening 5-star reviews about their salon, and I’m guessing that’s the same with you. Most reviews now are found on the likes of Facebook and Google, meaning that any potential customers will be able to see straight away what other people think of your salon. With Salon Tracker there is a great feature that many of our customers don’t actually know about, and that is sending out a review SMS to your customers a certain number of days after their appointment. Reviews management can be found in the marketing section of the software, and then under the reviews tab. The SMS is completely custom and you will be able to include a link to where you want your customers to write a review for your salon. For example, you could have something like this:

Hi <<Forename>>,

Thank you for visiting! If you have any spare time please would you fill out a review on our Facebook page: https://bit.ly/2utFf5Y

The software will automatically put the customers name in if you include the <<Forename>> code, as it will be able to pull this from your data. This just makes it a bit more personal to the customer, as you can see in the example image it is directed towards Fiona. The customer will then just be able to click straight from the link to where you want them to leave a review

 You may need to shorten down the link to your website, as it could mean that you SMS will send out as two messages if it is too long, you can do this on https://bitly.com/.

Course Sharing

I know that many tanning salons allow customers to share their courses with other customers, and this is a feature that we have implemented into Salon Tracker. In order to turn this feature on you will need to go into the admin section of the system, and then into settings, here you will be able to turn on the feature. Now when a customer buys a course you will be able share it with another customer that you have in your client list. So, for example, if one of them comes into the salon and uses minutes they will be deducted from both the clients who are sharing the course.

Buying a retail product when a customer already has purchased sunbed minutes

This is a feature that many of our customers don’t know about, and I often find myself showing customers about this as it is so useful and makes the process much quicker, which is great for when you’ve got those long queues going out of your door! If a customer has already bought sunbed minutes, however when they’ve come into your shop they have decided that they also want to buy a bottle or sachet from your retail products, all you need to do it put them on the bed as normal but before you deduct how many minutes they want to use click on the buy button on the left side. By buying a retail product this way instead of through the buy product method, it will take you straight back to putting the customer on the sunbed, instead of you buying the product and then having to go to the bookings screen and out them on the sunbed.

Staff Rota

This is a relatively new feature of ours, but its one that quite a few of our customers are already using. In a lot of salons, the staff are working different hours each week, and with the rota it allows you to plan ahead and make sure that the hours your staff are working for are entered ahead of that week so you can start inputting any bookings. This is also a great thing if you have our online enterprise package as this will ensure that customers aren’t booking during times that a staff member isn’t working, which saves you the hassle of contacting them to rearrange the appointment! You can have as many upcoming weeks as you want. To get this feature turned on you will need to call our support number which is 0113 350 8232, it should only take around 5 minutes!

This might seem like a lot of information at once if you weren’t aware of these features, so if you have any questions about these features or need any training regarding them don’t hesitate to contact us on 0113 350 8230 or email us on info@salontracker.co.uk. 

Salon Tracker x