The Hidden Costs of 'Free' Salon Software

You may think you’re onto a winner when you sign up to a free Salon Software subscription but have you actually thought about the hidden costs and implications that come with it? You may end up paying overall just in the online bookings you take when the money from them bookings should be rightfully yours, wouldn’t you agree?

Here at Salon Tracker we have kept the same pricing model since 2014 – that’s nearly a decade of affordable software that is tailored to each of your Salon needs. Furthermore, we have 3 set subscriptions with no hidden costs… FREE training, FREE support and unlimited FREE online bookings. What more could you want?

The beauty industry is a competitive place, and it's important for salon owners to stay ahead of the game. However, when it comes to salon software, many salon owners mistakenly believe that free software is the best option for their business. While free salon software may seem like a great idea, there are hidden costs associated with using it that can add up over time. First, free salon software often comes with limited features and functionality. This means that salons may not be able to do all of the tasks necessary for running their business. For example, if a salon uses a free software to manage their appointments, they may not be able to customise the system to fit their business's needs. At Salon Tracker, all our development of features is done in house and we really care about the needs of our clients so everything that is requested is always taken on board. We really rely on our clients feedback to improve the software in every update we do – something a free software has not got the capacity to give you.

Additionally, free salon software may not offer online booking or other features that are necessary for a successful salon. Did you know that according to a study carried out by Zippia in Nov 2022 67% of clients prefer online booking and 40% of bookings are made outside of salon hours? That statistic alone is too significant to ignore as online bookings become more of a necessity than a luxury in order for your Salon to stay competitive. Although free software providers may offer the online booking functionality, there is a high chance they charge per booking made instead and in some cases they charge a high amount per new customer that registers. One free software actually charges a 20% finder’s fee for every new client booking so if they book a £60 treatment, £12 of your hard earned money goes to the software provider.

Secondly, free salon software often comes with outdated technology. This can lead to significant security issues. This could make your software vulnerable to malware and other malicious attacks, which can place customer information at risk. Thus putting you at risk of a GDPR breach leaving you with a hefty fine.  Additionally, outdated software can also be unreliable and unable to keep up with the demands of a busy salon which can lose you customers due to frustration and therefore reduce your profit, not what you need for your up and coming Salon. Free salon software has also proven to lack customer support. This means that if a salon owner runs into any issues with their software, they may be unable to get the help they need in an instance. Without proper support, salons may be unable to troubleshoot problems or update their system as needed. Whereas here at Salon Tracker, we are always on the other end of the phone to assist you with any help you may need instead of waiting days sometimes weeks with free salon software providers.

Finally, free salon software may not be compatible with other software programs and systems. At Salon Tracker, we link with payment provider ‘Payment sense’ and all of our POS hardware meaning that everything is all in one place. Additionally, salons may have difficulty transferring data from one program to another, leading to data loss or other costly issues. While free salon software may seem like a great way to save money, the hidden costs associated with it can add up quickly. Before you decide to go with a free salon software provider, you should carefully consider the features and functionality of the software and ensure that it meets the needs of your Salon. At Salon Tracker, we offer a FREE 2 week Trial and a virtual demonstration of the software with one of our friendly sales team, just give us a call on 0113 350 8230 or enquire through the link below to get started today!

Salon Tracker FREE trial!

Salon Tracker x

How to Build your Salon's Profits in Quieter Seasons!

We know that January can feel quiet after the Christmas rush. This doesn't mean that you can't build your profits. We think this would be a great time to look over prices, strategies and marketing tools. But where do you even start? No need to worry we are here to help. 

These quiet periods are great time to grab the attention of new customers, create your Marketing plans for the year, get up to date on your reports or even have a bit of a Salon Makeover.

SMS Marketing Campaigns 

SMS marketing is a great way to engage with existing customers by sending text campaigns out such as for customers who haven't visited in a while. You could even include a January discount. On Salon Trackers marketing suite we have already made a template for you so that you don't have to worry about what to say.  Alternatively an SMS campaign can win over new customers, we think it would be a great idea to send a refer a friend campaign out. This way you can reward your loyal customers whilst obtaining new ones. 

Keep on top of your reports

Keeping an eye on your reports can sometimes take up a large amount of your day. It can be easy to put this task to the bottom of your to do list. This January period would the best time to look over your reports. Whilst you are having a few less bookings you can look over last years reports, takings and products to create any strategies or improvements for the upcoming year.  Why not take this opportunity to get on top of your admin and look at building your profit before the bookings come flooding in. With Salon Tracker you have access to over 25 reports including action log, day end receipt, no show bookings, retail sales and much more. We try to make running a Salon as easy as possible by the reports acting as your very own accountant. 

 

Salon Makeover 

You might even be thinking of giving your salon a bit of TLC. Are you wanting to mix up the colour scheme, get new equipment or even do a complete Salon rebrand. Now is the perfect time, you can get all the hard work done now so that when summer comes around you will have customers lining up to get booked in. 

We think you should take these quiet periods as a blessing in disguise. This is the time to get all the tasks done that you haven't had time to get to and to put plans in place now that will improve your profit in the future. We hope that these January tips have helped to keep you busy and will build your profits in the upcoming months. If this January you are looking to switch from paper cards or from a different software provider now is the time. If you would like to get booked in for a demonstration and two week free trial with one of our specialist sales team then give us a call on 0113 350 8230 or email at info@salontracker.co.uk. Or if you are already one of our amazing customers drop us a message on Instagram, @salontrackersoftware, to let us know how your Salon is getting on in the new year. 

Hello 2023!

Welcome back, and welcome to 2023! Happy New year everyone 😊

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas break.

These last couple of weeks we have reflected on 2022, our first year for our industry to be fully open since 2019. What a year it’s been being able to support and help you all to boost your salon businesses this year! We know that the last quarter of the year hasn’t been without its struggles, with the current economic climate and rise in energy costs, however please be reassured that our prices will be staying the same and we will do everything that we can to help you throughout the next few months.

Dates for your diary this year with Salon Tracker! We are exhibiting at the Professional Beauty London show across the 5th and 6th of March at London Excel. We have lots of new features we hope to bring to you across at the event, keep posted here on our blog for release dates. And some exciting news, our company is expanding!! We are gaining another large office space in Wakefield so keep posted on our news page for a time lapse of the new office shortly!!

Last year, you might have noticed we also redesigned our whole website, introducing a brand new help videos section, to guide our customers through the software and assist with training. Should you wish to take a look at this page, head to: https://www.salontracker.co.uk/help

And, for anyone reading this who is currently new to us and are in the process of thinking about a trial, we currently offer a FREE fortnight try of our system, with no obligation, to allow you to see how Salon Tracker works for you operationally before you sign up to a package. To enquire about getting a free trial, please head to our website at www.salontracker.co.uk/freetrial.aspx to submit your details and interest, and a member of our sales team will be in contact as soon as possible to arrange a demonstration. All of our demos are also carried out via remote assistance so this means that, providing you have a Windows PC or laptop, you can have a look at the software from anywhere you are, any time! If you would however prefer to speak to a member of our team beforehand, we’re just a phone call away on 0113 350 8230, where we are always on hand to help you with any enquiries and questions you many have.

So now all that’s left to say is, 2023, let’s go! We’ve got a great feeling about this year and with our help, we hope to continue to ensure your salons are successful.

Best wishes!

Salon Tracker x

Merry Christmas from The Salon Tracker Team x

 

It’s that time of the year again! And what a year this one has been.

It’s been great to expand our Salon Tracker family this year and we’re so glad that you have all remained or joined us as customers, allowing us to help you with your businesses. We’ve also seen two new additions in our team, who have been a great help and I’m sure many of you have had the chance to speak to them by now.

We want to take this opportunity to thank you all for your consistent support and patience throughout the year. This year we introduced online payments which has been a huge development for our system. We have also been planning for next year and have some new exciting features which we are hoping to release in 2023.

And now, Christmas is only a few days away, we also want to thank all of you who entered our Xmas giveaway competition by leaving us some really wonderful reviews. They have been so lovely to read, our team have really enjoyed getting your feedback and it’s been great to have some Xmas fun & give away some fabulous prizes! We have revealed the winners over on our Instagram story, if you missed these please visit our highlights to see if you have been a lucky prize-winner! We will however also be in contact with you for you to be able to claim your prize.

We know that the rising energy prices and after effects of COVID have been difficult for many but we will always try and support our existing customers as much as possible in these times. Our subscription prices have remained the same for the last 10 years and as we go into 2023, they will continue to stay at this price. Also, we often have offers available for new customers signing up so keep your eyes peeled on our social media for those.

Christmas opening hours: We will be open until 5pm on 23^rd December, and then our offices will be closed throughout the Christmas period until Tuesday 3rd January.

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 as soon as possible with your activation code.

On behalf of everyone here at Salon Tracker, we’d like to wish you a very Merry Christmas, and a happy & healthy New Year, see you in 2023!

Salon Tracker x

Christmas Marketing Tips

It's that time of year again and we know how busy you must be in the festive season. Have you been so busy getting ready for Christmas that you haven't had time to think about your Christmas marketing techniques? No need to stress, we have you covered. We have come up with some great marketing tips and tricks for your Salon this Christmas. 

Christmas competition

Do you want to increase your social media interactions this Christmas? We have a great idea for you, how’s about running a Christmas giveaway. This idea is always fun and easy to do. You could give away prizes such as 20 free minutes on a sunbed for the festive season or a cut and blow dry ready for the annual work party. All you need to do is create a social media post with your chosen prize and get your customers to comment or share on their stories to enter the competition. This Christmas trick is a great way to engage with your customers over Instagram or Facebook whilst still promoting your Salon at Christmas.

Christmas opening hours

We know that Christmas is a busy time of year, and you will be up to your ears in bookings. If your Salon has decided to have extended Christmas opening hours, make sure people know about it. A great way to make people aware of your extended hours is to do a social media post displaying your new Christmas hours. This will ensure that all of your customers are aware of your extended Christmas hours and will help to boost your bookings.  

    Window Display

    A great way to engage your customers and increase the sales of retails products is to create your very own festive window display. A window display is the perfect way to grab your customers attention and create a desire to buy your products for themselves or as presents for others. At Salon Tracker we think the best way to create an engaging Christmas window display is to have a theme. For example, Winter Wonderland or Santa’s workshop. Having a theme will make sure that your display is not overcrowded and keeps your products at the focus of attention.

    Gift vouchers

    Another marketing tip for this Christmas is to use Christmas gift vouchers. If you are wanting to have an offer on this Christmas how’s about using a gift voucher. Creating a gift voucher with festive images on is a great way to entice customers into your salon and make use of your offers. You can post on your social media accounts to make everyone aware of your gift vouchers and get them lining up to book in with you. 

    Christmas countdown loyalty card

    We have a great marketing trick to increase your bookings in the lead up to Christmas. This year how's about creating a loyalty card for the Christmas countdown. This will urge customers to come into your salon repeatedly to claim their free festive reward. We think it would be a great idea to do a 12 days of Christmas loyalty card. For example, the customer would use a sunbed 12 times and get their last session free. This Christmas trick would help to bring up your bookings and will give your customer a Christmas reward for their loyalty. 

    We hope that these Marketing tips will help you in the lead up to this Christmas season. We would love to see your Christmas decorations and displays, just dm us a picture @salontrackersoftware. Here at Salon Tracker, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. 

   Salon Tracker X

Meet the Team!

 

It has been over two years since our last ‘Meet the Team’ blog and a lot has changed since then. Whilst some people who you were introduced to in that blog have moved on to other parts of the company, with Joe who was previously a member of our support team becoming one of the main developers working on improving the software, we also have some new faces in the team. We thought that because of all these changes we would give you an update on the team I’m sure many of you have spoken to about the software.

 

Nicki

Hi, I’m Nicki, and I’m Head of Operations at Salon Tracker and have worked at the company for almost 8 years! I started out here in 2015 as a Sales and Marketing assistant, before becoming Sales & Marketing manager in 2016 and recently I moved into Operations. I have seen the product rebrand from our legacy software Studio Tracker to Salon Tracker and watched the business grow extensively throughout my time here. My current role includes formulating strategy, overseeing company marketing, sales, accounts and analytical evaluations. I really enjoy working as part of the team here, it’s a very friendly company to work for!

Naomi

My name is Naomi, and I am a Senior Support Executive here at Salon Tracker. I started working here over 5 years ago now and I have had the opportunity to speak to many of you over the phone in that time. My day-to-day role consists of speaking to our lovely customers and helping out with any technical issues they may have, both with the software and also any hardware they may use within the
salon. I also work closely with the development team and have weekly meetings with them to discuss how we can i
mprove the software further. I am also starting to learn C# coding language so hopefully in the future I will be able to contribute to adding in new features that our customers have requested into the software.

Christie

Hi I’m Christie. I’ve been here for just over 5 years now and have taken on the role of ‘Senior Sales Executive’ following my CMDA degree at Sheffield Hallam University. During my time here, I have worked in different roles such as support and as a result of this I now know the software like the back of my hand which allows me to excel in my Sales role as best as possible. I work closely with the newest member sales and marketing team, Elyse, and have been guiding her in her day-to-day duties. I am also Elyse’s university mentor, and it is really nice to be her point of contact whilst she goes through her journey at Sheffield Hallam.

You may also recognise Stanley in the photo from our Instagram account, he is often featured on there so be sure to give us a follow for more Stanley updates. (@salontrackersoftware)

 Leah

My name is Leah and I’m a Senior Accounts Executive here at Salon Tracker. I have worked here for just over 4 years now and in this time, I have worked in Sales, Marketing and support. My day-to-day job role now is to manage customer accounts which means I speak to a lot of existing customers and answer any questions they have and offer them support for the software. I have also just graduated from Sheffield Hallam with a degree in Professional Practice in management which I studied for alongside working at Salon Tracker meaning I have learnt many transferable skills which I use at work. 

Ellis

My name is Ellis and I’m a Senior Accounts Executive here at Salon Tracker. I have worked here for just over a year now and in this time, I have worked in Sales, Marketing and Support. My day-to-day jobs include managing current customers' accounts and dealing with any support that they may need. Alongside this, I have also been doing some work re-designing our website, transferring some skills that I gained during my time at university prior to starting at Salon Tracker.

Mia

My name is Mia, I am currently working with the support team which I have been in for 6 months. My role is to solve any technical issues that a customer may have. I am also in my first year of my Business Management degree apprenticeship at Sheffield Hallam University, which I am enjoying as I have the opportunity to learn more about the business, and how it works also how I can grow within it. I am really loving my time at Salon Tracker and working in within a team who support each other in every way they can.

Elyse

My name is Elyse, I am the newest member of the Salon Tracker team, I have been here for nearly 3 months. I am currently learning the ropes in the Support and Sales teams to see which role suits me best. I have taken on the project of running our social media campaigns to ensure that we are always engaging with our customers. I am in my first year of my Business Management degree apprenticeship with Salon tracker. This helps me to learn different business strategies and apply them directly to my work.

As well as all of us customer facing members of the Salon Tracker Team, there is also a group of developers who are constantly working on improving and updating the system. 

If you would like to get booked in with one of us to have a look at the software or would like any more information at all, please don’t hesitate to give us a call on 0113 350 8230.

Salon Tracker x 

How to do Black Friday in the most Cost-Effective Way!

 

Black Friday is fast approaching so normally around this time of year we would be giving our best advice on how you could take full advantage of this event. However, we know that this year because of some external factors such as the cost-of-living crisis, some salons may be struggling to decide whether or not they can afford to do something this year. This is why we decided that in this weeks’ blog we are going to give you some ideas on how you can do Black Friday in the most cost-effective way.

 

Tombola

One thing that you could do in the salon is a tombola. You could charge whatever is reasonable for the prizes that you are giving out. You could include both retail products and either full services or discounted services as prizes. One great thing about doing something like this is that it gives you a way to get rid of some of the stock of the retail products that you have in your salon. By offering services or discounted prices on services, this also gives the customers who win them the opportunity to try new things that they may not have tried before. If they enjoy the service, they may then continue to get booked in for this service which would be beneficial for the salon in the future.

 

Refer a Friend

Another way you can continue to reward your customers is to offer a ‘refer a friend’ deal. This would benefit both you and your customers. It’s great for customers because by just bringing a friend in they could gain a reward such as a free small retail product, a free sunbed session or money off their booking. This would also be great for the salon as by your customers referring a friend, you’re in turn getting a new, hopefully loyal customer.

 

Utilise our Offer!

Running from the 8^th of November to the 8^th of December we have our very own black Friday offer on our software, hardware and SMS packages.

If you’re currently thinking about making the move over to a software management system from a paper based one or are thinking about swapping providers, if you sign up with us before the 8^th of December, we are offering 50% off your first month’s payment on all of our feature packages.

We are also offering up to 15% off all of our hardware. Whether this be because you’re wanting to start fresh with all new hardware, including PC’s, POS hardware, fingerprint readers and signature pads or if you’re just wanting to upgrade some of the equipment you already have, drop us an email detailing what you require, and we can send you over a personal quote.

Finally, the last offer we have on for new and existing customers alike is 15% off all SMS text bundles. These SMS credits can be used for a number of things including: Booking reminders, marketing texts, online booking PIN reset texts and finally our newest feature, payment texts. This means that if a customer is getting booked in in the salon or over the phone and a deposit is required, you can send them an SMS text with Stripe payment link for them to pay their deposit.

If you would like to take advantage of any of these deals or would like any more advice on what you could offer in your salon call us on 0113 350 8230 or email us on info@salontracker.co.uk

 

Salon Tracker x