The holiday season is quickly approaching.
And while the holiday season may look different this year, it still gives your spa or salon plenty of opportunities to add more clients to your roster and boost your revenue.
With still so much going on in the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you and your staff will need to have a solid plan of action in place and plenty of time to prepare.
Here’s exactly what you’ll need to do in order to get ready for the holiday hustle while keeping your employees and clientele satisfied and safe.
November
The colder temperatures may see an increase in coronavirus cases. This is why it is still so essential to implement a low-touch journey in your spa or salon during the holiday pre-rush.
This includes having your clients book their appointments online, schedule virtual beauty consultations, making it seamless for your staff to sell salon and spa products on the spot with no visits to the front desk, and virtual check-ins to optimize your salon or spa’s capacity.
During the first weeks of November, you should also take a careful inventory of your retail products and decide if you should buy seasonal inventory, gift cards, and gift bags.
Sit down with your staff and set goals for the revenues you’d like to make during the holiday season. When gauging success, be as specific as possible. Ask questions like:
· How many new clients do you want to visit your business this holiday season?
· How many clients can your salon or spa safely accommodate at one time?
· How much money do you want to earn from gift cards or seasonal retail items?
You will also want to carefully determine promotional specifics. Do you want to bundle products? Offer a promo for Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, or Cyber Monday? Do you want to offer a “treat yourself” or “new you” special for holiday pampering? Decide when each promotion will launch and expire.
Some clients want to start beautifying themselves weeks before the holiday rush. You should consider updating your list of services to cater to these clients. For example, consider including express services to your menu. This will ensure proper sanitization measures between each client.
December
Start setting the holiday mood in your spa or salon by putting up fairy lights, snowflakes, velvet accents, or other holiday-themed décor that will truly resonate with your customers, regardless of their religious affiliations.
In early December, schedule a virtual conference with your entire team to thoroughly go over the holiday schedule, explain the specifics of the holiday promotions, and address any concerns that they might have.
Start promoting your different holiday specials right away. You can create an email marketing campaign that lets your clients know about your special holiday promotions and services, post your promos to all of your social media accounts, and create a holiday banner advertisement for your website.
Be sure to stay organized! With droves of new customers coming through your doors, it can be tough for your staff to keep things covered and act quickly. Ensure that each employee’s schedule is as organized as possible. During the holiday rush, there is no room for error and you can’t have double bookings or lapses in coverage. Be sure to routinely check in with all of your staff members to guarantee everyone is on the same page. If an employee has to take off, make sure they let you know as soon as possible.
Throughout December, check in with every employee before they hit the floor to make sure they’re cool, calm, and collected. The holidays are a joyous time, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t be stressful. You want to ensure every client is receiving top-notch service, and that means having a quick chat with each staff member to see if they’re ready to deliver a memorable customer experience.
Final Thoughts
Despite the significant changes the world will experience this holiday season due to COVID-19, your salon or spa can still benefit from the holiday rush. By having a solid plan in place, creating holiday promos ahead of time, and regularly checking in with your staff, your business can vastly increase its revenue as 2020 comes to a close.
