What to expect from Salon Tracker at Salon International?

Less than a fortnight to go until one of the biggest salon trade shows of the year, and for Salon Tracker this is the first time that we’ve ever exhibited at this show, so what can you expect from us at our debut exhibition?!

First off, we’ve got a brand-new stand! For those of you that have visited us at a few events before, you may remember our previous stand that we have used for the past few shows since 2015. However, we thought that stand had served us really well for the last 4 years, but it was time for a change and what not a better time than to showcase this at our first time at Salon International - new show for us, new brand-spanking stand! We have also changed our branding over the last 12 months (which some of our main followers may have noticed our new geo-metric theme) and so we wanted something new to reflect that. We can’t wait to show you, and you can find us at stand #T174.

Also, for any of you that were lucky enough to receive a VIP invite from us, you should be aware that we are hosting a Champagne Reception at 1pm on the Saturday 5th October for all that attend, check your inbox or keep posted over the coming days to make sure you are up to date with all the information on that.


We’ve also got some brand-new features for you, and also a new layout on the system making it easier for you to view Salon Tracker on your screen. You can now hide all the menu options and the waiting list (should you not require this) to fully maximise use of your screen.


Our newest features to be soon introduced include:

-Pay Online for bookings beforehand (great for securing appointments of a high value or if you wish to take a deposit)


-Split Bookings Online (meaning you can now account for development time on all colour treatments booked online)


-Unavailable Staff Swap (if staff are unexpectedly off work due to illness or unforeseen circumstances, you can now smart move appointments in a couple of clicks to a new technician of your choice, without having to rebook each appointment manually)


-Extended Waiting List on Timer Calendar View (we are aware that we are approaching Autumn & Winter now, and especially around the Xmas season, we know that your tanning salon beds & spray-tan booths are in high demand and therefore our new improved waiting list now offers an exact wait time for each sunbed, including an overall time to ensure anyone waiting has an accurate idea of how long until their appointment)


Our software packages now also update automatically, meaning the system will notify you when there is a new version to be downloaded, so you are no longer having to book slots with us for manual software updates! We have also recently updated to a newer model of Dell PC, meaning that your touchscreen is now 23” making the software really easy to operate and easily viewable for the employees using it. Therefore, there are lots of changes in store this time round just in time for the show and we’re really excited to show you guys in a couple of weeks’ time.


As well as these exciting new features, we are also holding some fabulous offers exclusive to anyone who visits us on stand! We are offering:


- 30% off your first 3 months of software (any package)

- 20% off all hardware bundles

- Up to 30% off all stand-alone hardware purchases


A great opportunity to make some fantastic savings with us for your salon just in time for Christmas!

Finally, there are a couple of team members exhibiting also for their first time in London with us, and therefore this will be a great opportunity for you to meet some of the sales team face to face! I know we’re all really looking forward to meeting with you guys and seeing how we can help to boost your salon business in the future.


If you’re still yet to register and download tickets for the show, just visit this link below to get yours – sign up literally takes a matter of minutes and then you know you’re sorted for the whole weekend! (please follow link below):


https://www2.theticketfactory.com/salon/online/?SessionSecurity::referrer=WWW&SessionSecurity::referrer=WWW


Any questions for us prior to the show? No worries, please email info@salontracker.co.uk, DM us on Insta @salontrackersoftware or simply give us a call on 0113 350 8230 and one of us will be happy to help with any queries you may have.


If not, we look forward to seeing you in a fortnights time! To remind you again, we’re stand #T174. See you there!


Salon Tracker x

Our Latest Features

As we approach Salon International, our developers have been working extra hard to make sure that we have plenty of new features ready to show you all! These are some of the main features we’ve been readily working on, but you will also notice there have been a lot of smaller tweaks and updates being made to the software recently.

Split Bookings Online

For any Hair Salons we can understand the need for the system to automatically put in a development time. This again is something we have been working on, and will be ready to demo on our stand T174 at Salon International. The feature is something we have already developed within the actual Salon Tracker software, and it is going to be a great addition online for any salons that have treatments needing a development time. Currently, the feature works by adding a wait time to the end of the treatment. For example, you might add in a balayage treatment that needs a 60 minutes development time, you can enter this in the management section. Then when you add the second part of the treatment, such as the cut and finish, it will automatically put the 60-minute development time between the two different services. This feature will work exactly the same online, meaning that other customers will still be able to book in with the same technician during the development time.

Unavailable Staff

You never know if/when a member of your team is going to get sick or is going need a day off work, and sometimes this can leave you having to call your customers and explain that you need to rearrange their appointment or move it to be with a different employ. There are three different options you can chose from when making a staff member unavailable:

1. Don’t move the appointments and manually rearrange them

2. Smart move appointments, meaning that the software will move the appointment to any available calendar slot matching the booking time.

3. Move the appointments to a specific technician of your choice

This makes it much easier if you’ve got tonnes of appointments, just to quickly and efficiently move them over into another technicians column.

Waiting list on timer view

Tanning Salons can often be very busy, especially during the summer months when everyone is trying to top up on their tan before they go on holiday. Our new waiting list feature works perfect tanning salons and helps to ensure that salons are kept organised with waiting customers. We do currently have a waiting list feature in place, which some of you may use already, however in order to make it easier to use and view we have introduced a newer version. You will now be able to have an individual waiting list for each bed, so not only is it easier to add people to the waiting list, it also includes an overall waiting time for the bed for anyone who is wanting to go on the bed once its free, so they know exactly how long they’ll be waiting.

We are exhibiting at Stand T174 this year at Salon International, so feel free to drop by and we can show you all of these great new features in person. You will also receive an exclusive offer by visiting our stand, so make sure you don’t miss out on that either! We look forward to seeing you there.

Salon Tracker x

How to cope from the salon going from busy to quiet in the working months

What to do during the quiet periods within the salon

Growing your business is still achievable during the months in which are quieter for the salon and there are many ways which this can be carried out in. During these months staff members are still able to achieve goals set by both the employer and themselves.

So, after a very busy summer, it is now September! This means that all students are returning to education again and many are back to work.This is the perfect opportunity for your business to begin thriving once again as you are able to discuss with the team what offers you can put in place to grab the attention of your customers. Quiet times within the salon create new opportunities for both staff members and clients as this is when incredible deals will be created to draw customers back in before they go to work and education.

How can you stay productive during the quiet periods? The answer is checklists you are then able to complete the list and carry out jobs that are effective for the daily running of the business. Staff members are able to put their expertise into practice to better benefit the salon this can include doing things such as completing checklists. Using the correct checklist can improve the outcome of your salon and improve staff morale. Having a reoccurring checklist ensures that all staff members provide a high standard of care and attention to each customer. These lists enable staff members to have reduced stress levels as they know what they must do and the date in which it must be completed by. An example of this can include a new staff member beginning to answer the phone and speak with current or new clients this can cause them to become anxious which means that they are more at risk of making errors. Having a list will remove this risk and allow the staff member to remain calm and collected whilst speaking to clients.

Whilst the salon is quiet employees and the employer are able to focus on the most essential part of running a successful business which is marketing. Marketing involves the name of the company, its logo, the prices of each service available, the way each staff member presents themselves this includes there clothing worn within the work environment and the way the phone is answered when speaking to clients or potential clients. Clients judge the salon on all of these different aspects as they have an impression in their mind from the things that they have seen and heard. Clients will notice the small things that are done so therefore showing that everything is a marketing technique for the business. A busy salon is the main reason why standards begin to slip this is when a business becomes vulnerable to incidents and bad reviews from clients as they believe that they have no time to pay all their attention to one client.

If you like it or not your clients will always judge you as they will always have an opinion, your staff members and salon because everything you do is marketing.

Even when the salon is quiet it is important that routines do not adjust as consistency is key to a successful business. Why is it important to be consistent? Because a business being consistent in its ways means that clients are able to predict reactions, this will therefore build a trusting relationship between the clients and staff members within the business. If the business is trustworthy then the client will recommend the business to people, they know this will build a larger client network for the company.

Clients should not be able to notice a difference when being attended to by a different member of staff therefore during quieter times at the salon it is important that each staff member receives the same training that is suitable for their role. The employer may provide one to one session to ensure that all members of staff carry out tasks in the same manner so that customers are satisfied with the service.

During quieter times the employer is able to focus on the interior design and layout of their salon so that they are able to make the most of the space that they have. If there is excess space then the salon may be able to introduce new services such as waxing this will reach out to a wider range of clients. If the salon is well kept then clients will feeler safer within the environment for example if the facilities are clean then clients are more likely to return however if they aren’t then they may be put off from returning.

I hope that this blog has given you an overview on how to maintain a business within the quiet months and what can be done to better benefit your business, clients and staff members. During September you can set up an offer such as 10% off all services until the end of September to keep customers enthralled in your salon and the services you offer. I hope that we have helped to set you up for the rest of September and remember if you wish to trial our software head to   https://www.salontracker.co.uk/FreeTrial.aspx and fill in your details. A member of our team will be in touch with you as soon as possible!

Salon Tracker. X

My First Year!

I can’t believe its been a year already! I’m sure many of you have seen me at trade shows or spoken to me on the phone but if not… I’m Leah. I am a part of the Sales and Marketing Team here at Salon Tracker and also a degree apprentice student!

I started around about a year ago after getting my A level results. This tends to be one of our busiest times of the year so I was thrown straight into the deep end which meant I had to try and pick up everything as quick as possible. When I first started answering calls, I had to double check almost everything with my manager Nicki and the other members of the team Christie and Naomi but as my first month drew to a close, I found I was able to tackle a lot more independently.

My main jobs roles are: using social media to attract customers, answering the phones, completing demo and trial and writing blogs (just like this one).  Though these are my main roles, I also do things such as hiring and attending trade shows. This year I have attended Professional Beauty Trade shows in both London and Manchester. I will also be attending Salon International next month, come visit us on stand T174.

 ( get your tickets here https://www2.theticketfactory.com/salon/online/?SessionSecurity::referrer=WWW&SessionSecurity::referrer=WWW)

I enjoy attending these trade shows and talking to both new potential customers and also existing customers that I had previously only spoke to on the phone.

Just after I had got to grips with the job, I started my degree apprenticeship at Sheffield Hallam University. I am currently completing a Chartered Management Degree. Whilst this is the equivalent of a normal degree, instead of being there full time, I attend lectures for four days every two months and between these blocks I complete different assignments for grades which go towards my end degree. At first, taking in all the information for a full module in just 4 days then having to complete a full assignment on it was difficult to fit it in with my work, but as my first year comes to a close, I am finding it a little easier every time. Though sometimes balancing work life and studying can be a little stressful but I know It will be worth it in the end when it comes to graduation in 2021.

Overall, I have learnt a lot in the past year and I’m enjoying all the work I do here at Salon Tracker. Though I have already learnt so much I am constantly expanding my knowledge further and I look forward to continuing this for years to come. There is a lot of exciting things in the future for Salon Tracker and I look forward to getting the chance to speak to more of you!

Leah x

Freshers week marketing!

Yes you read it right! Freshers week is just around the corner and the cities are going to

be full of new students... And you know what moving to a new city means... they'll need a new salon to go to on a regular which is where you come in!

You might of had the busiest Summer ever with people preparing for their Summer getaways and bank holidays or you may have had a quieter summer due to all these wild heatwaves we've been having. Either way, some new clients are just what you need and here's how you can try your best to get them...

• Remembering students are on a budget.

As you may well know, Students try their best to limit their spending as much as possible, especially on Salon luxuries. To entice them, offer permanent student discount with a competitive deal such as 20% off all treatments. To persuade them at the beginning, why not offer 50% off first treatments and a welcome night with Prosecco -  because we all know students love a free drink!

• If the students are on a budget, you can be too!

Your marketing doesn’t have to break the budget. Students aren't interested in flashy marketing and social media adverts, as after all, most of these students may never have heard of your salon and so won’t be a follower of your social networking platforms just yet. To attract this particular market, a simple, good-sized appealing banner in your salon window, decals up and around the University and even leaflet flyer-ing at Freshers’ fair would be enough to bring them into the Salon.

• Freshers Fayre!

 I think businesses can often underestimate how effective attending the freshers fayre will be for their business. The fayres are full of new and excited students looking for the best offers they can get. If you perhaps had a stand there, displaying your student discount offers and welcome evening, they'd be keen to come check it out. Your stand doesn't need to be expensive either. Simply a foldable table, table cloth and flyers and posters would make the cut but if you wanted to go all out, why not hand out a few freebies? Every student loves a freebie! 

• Loyalty cards

It's all well and good attracting the students to your Salon for the first few weeks, but how about keeping them as a customer? Once your competition get a sniff of the offers you're doing, there's no doubt they'll do the same which will only result in the students going from Salon to Salon trying to find the best offer. If you introduce a loyalty card where for example after 5 stamps they get a treatment free, it will encourage them to come back again and again for the duration they are at university for and it will also get them chatting to their friends about your amazing salon, perfect! 

I hope this has helped you get prepared for Freshers week, if you have any other questions just let us know via our Instagram page 'SalonTrackerSoftware' -  https://www.instagram.com/salontrackersoftware/ and we'll be happy to help out!

Salon Tracker x 

Feature of the Month – User Permissions

This month’s feature of the month is user levels and permissions! This is a feature available with both our professional and enterprise packages.  This helps with salon security and also means you as a salon owner can control what you want your staff to be able to see and also stop them seeing certain things you don’t want them to have access to!

User Accounts

On our professional package and up, you have the option to create all your staff members user accounts. This will help you see who’s logged in at any time and also allow you to view on reports how much each individual staff member is taking and what products they are up selling. You can also assign your staff different user levels, for example managers may have access to more of the Salon Tracker than other staff members.

User Permissions

As well as the staff member group and the manager group, you can also personalise what permissions you would like to give staff members. For example, if you have one set staff member that does the cashing up every night, you are able to make it so only they (as well as yourself) have access to this report. This helps ensure that you have full control over your business and can also keep an eye on what all your staff members

If you’re interested in setting this feature up or if you would like to get any training on how to use this please don’t hesitate to give us a call.

We are exhibiting at Salon International on the 5^th- 7^th of October at Excel London, follow this link to get your tickets now:

https://www2.theticketfactory.com/salon/online/?SessionSecurity::referrer=WWW&SessionSecurity::referrer=WWW

We hope to see you there!

Salon Tracker x

Get your Salon Back-2-School ready!

So, after a record-breaking sizzling Summer, hotter than most Mediterranean holiday destinations! It’s almost September (countdown to Xmas soon to be in full-swing) and so once you have the August Bank Hol out of the way, it means it’s that time again, ‘Back to School’.

How can you utilise this time at the salon to increase footfall for before the kids go back? First off, you need to start your marketing now, as lots of parents like to sort their back-to-school shopping out early on, and so you want to make sure you’re ahead of your competition when reminding your followers to get their child in for a back to school haircut!

So how do you catch the attention of this opportunity market?
You’ve got 2 types of generation within this segment. You have parents of children at say Primary school up to their mid-teens, and then you also have the college & uni students too. You ideally need to attract each group separately, as the message will be slightly different for each of those customer types.

For those parents of younger children, they are looking for a back-to-school deal where they can come and get their kids new dos sorted, and most likely on a bit of a budget if there are new uniforms, school shoes and lunch bags to buy too. But, while price may not be necessarily a big deal for everyone, we can’t deny that most people love a bit of a bargain (we know we’re all guilty of checking the 241 apps and voucher code deals for mid-week teas). But who says the offer needs to be mega cheap? Think of alternative ways that you can come up with an attractive offer that will catch the eye of back-to-school parents.

How about a family treatment deal? So, say for those parents who have multiple children, why not do a family booking for ‘Mums and Minis’ or ‘Dad’s & Daughters’ or ‘Dad’s and their Lads’ (few little silly ideas – but you get the drift). It could be something as simple as;

‘Get £3 each child’s cut and 10% off your next treatment, if you book your Daughter/Son’s back-2-school trim throughout August!’

‘Youngest child goes ½ price if you make a group Back-2-School booking for your kids, plus receive a mini treat for yourself too if you book in for an appointment before 31st August!’

You get the idea, but they are just a couple of things to get you started – where you could publish these ideas either through an SMS marketing campaign, post on your social media pages or even traditionally advertise using decals in your shop window! You could even post flyers through the doors of local estates to get your brand name out there.

Students, they similarly are looking for a discount! However, this time the initial cost of their treatment is going to be much higher due to the age difference. Where a child under 16 isn’t likely going to be having highlights, college and uni students will definitely be on this bandwagon so you can most likely afford to run some student discount events throughout the ‘back-2-college/back-2-uni’ season!

For any teen/young adult that has a valid NUS card, you could offer say 10% off all treatments, or even categorise this to be only off treatments over say £50? Just to make this a more profitable campaign for yourselves. If your salon is within a location where you have a college or Uni close by, then it could even be an idea to keep this campaign running indefinitely, as once you have the attraction of a new student client, hopefully you can retain them by including some form of student/college loyalty incentive. A little something to think about.

Then you have your retail products that you can use to generate ‘Back-2-uni’ pamper nights, to also upsell your salon products during this time (especially if you’re going to be offering a few discounted packages throughout August, this then helps you to still remain profitable). Or with events such as these, you could even tie it in with when student loans come in and do it as a ‘freshers’ night’? As this is when the students will have most disposable income and will be looking for the best freshers-week deals.

For the younger kids, you could perhaps do a family event night, where there’s complimentary refreshments; like cupcakes etc, just to bring an element of fun to the salon and to keep the children entertained while they’re waiting for their trim. Or, if you’re a beauty salon, how about running a ‘pamper party’ for children in their early teens – where you could give mini manicures and facials? Call it ‘Schools-out’ or something like that?! A few mini marketing ideas for you to bear in mind anyway! But have a think what will best suit your salon, dependent on the services you offer and also age-range suitability.

So, hopefully this has given you a little something to think about in Prep for September! Where for anyone who makes an appointment with you throughout August for ‘back-2-uni/back-2 School’, you could then run a mini discount incentive for anyone who then makes a re-booking with you for later in the year. As after all, once Back to School is over, it’s the countdown to Christmas so you want to get as many bookings in as you can early on so people don’t miss out on their Xmas treatments! Hope we’ve helped to set you up for September and remember if you want to trial our software just head to https://www.salontracker.co.uk/FreeTrial.aspx and fill your details out – then a member of our team will get in touch!

Salon Tracker x