Slammed Summer or Sluggish Summer

Salon business ebbs and flows throughout the year and while the changes in intensity can differ from one salon to the next, what is always true is that everyone can make themselves ready for a summer rush or work to create one if their business usually slows down. Every season brings new trends and events that have people wanting to reinvent or renew themselves, so taking advantage of this is key to thriving.
What should you do if your salon is swamped during the summer season? Here are three tips to help spare your sanity should your salon be slammed with clients.

1. Stock Accordingly

As demand for services increases, you’ll want to be sure to have an adequate supply of what you need to make your client’s hair look its very best. Having ample stock allows you to sell products throughout the season without as much worry about running out. However, order reasonably and plan ahead, keeping track of what sells and what doesn’t so as not to order too much and have a huge surplus.

2. Team Involvement

Making sure that your support staff is all on the same page is essential to keeping operations running smoothly, especially when things get hectic. Dividing up smaller duties such as ordering products for replenishment, keeping track of client reservations, and the like, can help keep things rolling along without any one person becoming too stressed out.

3. Take Breaks

It’s easy to get caught up in the moment, especially when you have back-to-back clients, but taking a breather is essential for beating back lethargy and to making sure that you are giving your clients the full attention that they deserve. Don’t run yourself ragged trying to handle everything and everyone without taking care of yourself; if you don’t take care of you, how will you take care of your clients?

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Of course, not every salon experiences busy seasons in the same way. Where one might be slammed for summer another might see a summer sluggishness. This doesn’t mean that your business is toast; it gives you opportunities to drum up new business and for you to entice your recurring clients back in for more frequent visits.

What should you do if you are struggling to bring clients in out of the summer heat? Here are three tips for those who might need to give their business a little boost.

1. Running a Seasonal Campaign

Seasonal campaigns are a wonderful way to attract people to your salon at various times of the year. For the summer months consider offering special deals to brides or their companions; offer discounts on products that offer heat protection; or even attend or put together a small seasonal event to attract people to your establishment. Sometimes the cost of such promotions can be worth the boost in business.

2. Boost Social Media Footprint

Social media marketing can be incredibly effective for spreading the word and bringing people into your establishment. Showing off your salon, obtaining permission from your clients to share before and after pictures or videos, and highlighting special deals and campaigns can get people to take notice. Don’t hesitate to jump on the hottest social media platforms or to put together email blasts to keep your business thriving if it’s a slower period.

3. Offering Deals to Returning Clients

Client retention is vital to the success of any business and that’s especially true of a salon. Having new clients sit in your chair is wonderful and is ultimately the goal, but if they only visit once then you may be left fighting for more and more people to take notice and pay you a visit. Offering special deals to returning clients can entice them to keep coming back and encourage them to spread the word to their friends or co-workers which could help boost your business.