What do you want from your salon? I need your help.

I am going to put my message in the next block for obvious reasons. :)

Most of you know I went back to doing hair in December. I work in a decent salon with a nice guy. He is busy but only works when wants to. After doing hair for many years in the same area of town, he has that luxury. As I am returning after taking many years off, I have to start at the bottom again. Ouch!

He has given me the freedom to decide my own hours, days, prices, etc. I am about to send out a big mailing and this is where I need your help. Most of my clients from before work day jobs so it may not be so easy to get some of them back to me because I can only work days right now. There are still a few that I run into that tell me they have not had a good haircut in 9 years. LOL One of them will be in to see me in a couple of weeks. She just got a bad haircut and is waiting for it to grow out. Argh!

So, here is my question. You open your mail one day and find a post card from a local salon. What would be most appealing to you? Would you like to see something flashy and colorful? Would just a quickly printed black and white coupon get you? Would you like a nice discount? Would you like bonuses for referals? Would you like a free product? Do you want info about the stylist? Please tell me what woudl appeal to you. It will help me decide what to put on my mailings and what to offer people.

I'd want Saturday hours! :) LOL .. seriously, working days , I don't get time to chase down a haircut during the week.

But if I were to open a postcard, it'd have a coupon on it. Doesn't need to be too flashy, just something easy to read, that gets the point across quickly. Don't go into gory details, just offer me the discount. :) No bonuses for referrals, and free products dont' usually get me in the door.

Coupons, coupons!
-Jennifer

I think a "such and such discount for the first haircut" type of coupon would get me....but only if I knew I wasn't going to a brand new stylist. You know how it is....you find someone who does a good job on your hair and you'll go to great length to make sure you go to that person and only that person. So to pull someone away from their regular stylist or make them give someone knew a chance when they aren't thrilled with their regular stylist needs incentive other than just monetary. I'd like a coupon that said something like

10% off your first haircut with Susie
experienced stylist for 15 years

or whatever.

But if someone gets the coupon and doesn't know you're new to the salon, they may wonder why especially YOU are getting the coupons..."is she a crappy stylist and can't get bookings otherwise?"

So I'd write a simple coupon like

I like late afternoon (after work hours) and Saturday appointments. Best of luck to you! :-)

Terri

How about giving a discount on slow days, like Mondays or Tuesdays?

Those coupon discount ideas are great. That would work for me.

Thank you very much for your honesty! These are really good recommendations.

I plan to add evening hours and Saturday hours down the road. I can't do it right now because I would have to pay a sitter for SIX kids and would go in the hole. Right now they are ALL slow days. LOL

We are considering a *back by popular demand* so people don't think I am fresh out of school and inexperienced. I am back at the last salon I worked in. I am also thinking of giving a 20% coupon for new clients.

How about something like:

Michele is back by popular demand!

Licensed since 1988, talented in design and cutting,
an expert in hair color, popular trends and corrective
color,she brings her experience back to Monte's.
By appointment only, schedule fills quickly.

New clients save 20% during the month of February.

Michele, that sounds great!!!! I know that "back by popular demand" will definitely prick up a few ears :-)

Good luck!

-Julie

Michelle,

I really like your ad. It says it all to me.

BTW, I really need a good haircut right now.lol

Donna

Thank You Julie!

I'll tell ya what Donna. You get yourself on a plane and get here and I will give you a 100% discount! :)

Michele, may I suggest a senior discount? Perhaps for slow days/times, but I know a lot of seniors get their hair done every week, and from my own experience, older people are loyal customers.

Chele, I'll start saving my pennies for the ticket. Ya just never know.

Donna

Terre_ took my suggestion. Seniors love a discount and many of them have their hair done very regularly. I have always liked a discount for giving a referral to someone but adding that might make your flyer too cluttered.

The best of luck to you on your journey back into the world of hair. If you are truly good they will come no matter what time of day you can see them.

Hugs,
Lani

Thank you for that suggestion too. I do know that older women especially are very loyal clients and most of them get their hair done weekly with perms every few months when they where their hair short (I have friends twice my age that make one heck of a living on shampoo/sets!). It brings me to a bit of an etiquette question though. Maybe since you made the suggestion, you can offer me a bit of an answer. I do not do roller sets. It just isn't my 'thing'. It isn't that I cannot do them but I feel it is a thing I don't enjoy or do a really awesome job on, like others that love them and have done them for years can do. I think I just am not into all that backcombing and such. Do you think I would be better off to leave it be and offer the discount personally to my older clients or put on the card that seniors are welcome and receive a discount but that shampoo/sets are not available? I can tell you with certainty that there is not one set of rollers in the salon. I can certainly do the do's with an iron but I also realize the hairdo does not hold as well.

What about former clients that will return to you - would you offer them a 20% discount too (hope so...)

I think you need to be honest about the roller stuff. Honesty always pays!!!

Just a simple black and white would do it for me. I'd be there in a flash...are you giving doos at the RU??? I have an awful cut right now - sticks out straight and can't do a thing with it!!!! Think I need to highlight it - abusing my hair always makes it more manageable! LOL

I don't know about others, but my Mom doesn't require a roller set, her stylist does it with an iron, but she does demand backcombing. (Yuck!) But I was kind of under the impression that she was very out of date, since she cannot find someone who does that style. Aren't there ways to do seniors (new styles?) without rollers and backcombing? I'd advertise the senior discount, and be honest when they call for an appt. Perhaps something like, "Isn't it time you updated out of the 60s?" although perhaps a bit better phrasing? Lol.

I may have a bit of a warped viewpoint, since my mom would go for almost anything short of shaving her head if she thought she was getting a senior discount out of it!

My salon used to give a free perm with 10 punches on a card they used to give you every time you got a new one. The place has been sold so no more. But it was an incentive. I feel a senior discount would be a necessity, and on the wash and sets, just tell them you prefer not using rollers. When my stylist uses the blowdryer, she will use a bit more hairspray, but it holds up as well as the rollers, in my case. Evening hours are a plus as Saturdays almost a must.
Discounts are always an incentive. Once you get your clientele, you will be able to sort things out as to how much time you have to devote.

Can you open at 5:30 am for me? Lol? You ad looks great. Good luck to you.
Janice

This message was edited Feb 2, 2005 10:44 PM

You could give referral cards to your clients to pass out. After five new customers bring the cards in your client gets a free haircut. As an incentive the bearer of the card could have 10% off their first visit, excluding products.

The fanciest salon here ($20 for a wash/cut/blowdry) gives you a free one after 10 visits. I like that.

I also like my stylest to remember how I like my hair cut if I don't agree to a "new do", and also the salon calls the day before to remind me of the appointment.

Senior discounts ARE great! Most of the stores in Hilo give Seniors discounts on Tuesdays if they don't normally give them. Everyone shops on Tuesdays!! Grey Panthers on the lose!.

Good luck to you. I like the suggestions. I have followed my stylist to her new place, getting a coupon was quite nice. She also sends on out for the winter holidays.

Michele, there ae some great suggestions. how about a discount if a customer brings in a friend. you know like a buy one get one free, or a companion discount of 50% for companion.....
lunchtime specials, working gals can pop in for lunch for a "do"
good luck, I am looking forward to hearing about your success!

One more suggestion.....here some of the salons send out postcards to their clients to wish them a happy birthday. The birthday postcard arrives about a week before the birthday and offers a 10% discount if they get a cut/color/manicure on or before their birthday. Client gets a discount AND gets a push in the backside to get in to the salon and not put it off! ;-)

-Julie

Hi, I like all of the suggestions, but I have very thick and long hair so I have been to several salons and found that some cosmetologist hate doing my hair and I always seem to get charged x-tra b'cause of the length and thickness and b'cause my hair is so curly. I have finally found someone who I adore that cuts my hair and the name of the salon really caught my eye. "Scissorhands". She offered a 20% discount for 1st timers haircut/ blowdry. And also a discount for color. And loved my hair even though I'm sure it is a pain to style. I really like a good discount on color and style even if the haircut is full price. I also liked the fact that she treated me as though we had known each other for years. And remembered me the next time I came in. And because of that I will go there from now on.

Good Luck and I'm sure you'll do a Super Job!!! I also like the idea of 10 haircuts, or whatever someone usually pays to have done, then they get their normal treatment free!!!

Thanks, Traci

Chele....we have just the shop for you...the salon I have been going to for 4 years just up and closed....first my favorite hairdresser came down with an allergy to the perm solution and had to leave...then I started using the owner...then it seems he decided to retire and left it in the hands of a guy he had fired previously...so his next hairdresser that had been with him a long time left...taking some clients with her. A friend had an appointment with the new manager for color and cut...she arrived to find the door locked and no one notified her of the closure!! I think it opened back up yesterday but lots of us had found new salons to patronize. I love my new hairdresser and we plan to go to a Gourd Festival together this Saturday. LOL

One thing I didn't like about the owner doing my hair....he couldn't multitask....he talked to someone in the shop, or on the phone a lot while doing my hair...took 3 hours one time for a perm....as he usually stood with the comb in his hand while chatting.

I wish you lots of luck in your new endeavor...and your clients will love you!! Jo

$35 for a mans haircut ouch! Here is SE Michigan mens haircuts run $12-15. That inculeds washing it and cutting and blowing it dry.

Paul

LOL Paul. I guess it depends where you live and what people will pay. Where I work, that would be a lot for a man's hair cut. I don't charge quite that much but I also have to be careful not to offend anyone. The shop next door is a barber shop that has been there forever! I don't want Mr. C. coming after me!

Traci, I am afraid that thick curly hair can really scare people! I don't think it is any harder to do, but it will always take longer. A good stylist should be able to assess your hair and tell you what they could do to make it more manageable for you. And if you are happy with it, they SHOULD be able to do what you want. Doing very thin, straight hair is also a challenge. If you don't know what you are doing, every scissor mark will show.

After reading Aloha's post, I think I might like to style in Hawaii! It sort of reminds me of the Caribbean attitude and I think I'd be happy there too. :)

Jo, you buy that salon and find me a nice lot to live on, near an HP office and we will be right there. I know how it would break Craig's heart to live in Arizona. LOL

You all have been great with suggestions and ideas. I can see where I can use all of them. I have cards ready to mail out to all of my old clients with a 20% off coupon for new or returning clients. That way current residents can use them if the other client has moved. I'll get their birthdays out of them when they come in and add it to their addy which is programmed into my computer and can remind me a week ahead of time. I'll make Fridays 'bring a friend free/half price' or something similar if they bring me a new client. As things get going, I'll also add in incentives to keep them coming back and also for bringing in new clients. The owner is also doing a mailing for me. I just have to give him a card today that tells him what I want on it. I guess in my down time, I will figure out where I can find a couple of stylists. Whew.

Thurs and Fri I can just go do my boring job at Target. They actually pay me to hang clothes. LOL

OK, here's what my stylist of almost 10 years sent our recently.

Buy one get one free for new clients only. Meaning, I go there and get a haircut - I bring someone with me and they get a free haircut. You could change it around to suit your specific situation of course.

I was really going to use this (she has manicures, massages, etc too) but just didn't have the time although it's actually a coupon I wanted to use. Most get thrown in the trash I'm afraid.

Hope that helps!

Nicole

Hi, Badseed! Haven't talked to you in a little while :) don't know if you've made your decision yet about what the mailer should look like or include, but i have one word for you: demographics. What area is your salon in? Consider the average income there...higher incomes generally like to feel fancy-schmancy and don't really care if there's a coupon....i emphasize "generally" LOL. An area like that may be more interested in a scalp massage thrown in or words like "top of the line products" & "pamper yourself" bla, bla, bla. A more middle to working class clientel would likely go big for pampering+savings....head massage AND coupons :) LOL! You can tell I'm a sucker for a good head massage!!! LOL :) Just a thought....or throw in a free kids cut w/ an adult cut, perhaps. That'd get me there!!! :) Best wishes to you!!!

Hugs :)

Michele, going back to work is exciting, good for you! You have lots of excellent suggestions here, here is my input.

Michele is back by popular demand, bringing her experience back to Monty's!
Licensed since 1988
Creative with design, cutting and popular trends (I like the word creative, it says a lot)
Expert Colorist
Excepting new customers (Is there a better word than customers?)
By appointment only

I love the idea of senior discounts, they need it and will use it.

Personally, I don't think that offering a discount to others is a good idea. A $20.00 haircut is a $20.00 haircut, that's that. I think that incentives are great, maybe a free gift for referrals?

I think black and white postcards are great. Keep it simple, clean, elegant and creative looking with a simple motif.

Word of mouth is your best means of advertising. I love my stylist and in the past three months have referred 4 people to her and they all went! She makes you feel like a guest in her home when you are there. She's very warm and calming and gives good cuts. When I go to her, I never tell her what to do, I let her decide. She's aware of my personality and she picks styles that are cute and fit me. I never know when I am going to come home with a new hairdo, it's fun. The best part is when she's all done she gives you a Q-tip with a funky color of lip gloss to put on your lips. It's usually bright red or hot pink, something that I would never pick for myself, but it's fun and makes me feel good.

Good luck to you, I know that you will do great!

How about a little black & white picture of you looking back over your shoulder (with a little of your back included in the crop):

Michele's back by popular demand!

I like the idea of the one free service with 10 punches. As a client, that would give me incentive to stick with one stylist, and to keep making appointments! :)

HEY Kimberley...I like that idea...or how about the picture of "the girls"...with a notation "these are what make me keep doing a great job" LOL I loved the pictures you sent me...the GIRLS just get more beautiful everyday!! Jo

Best wishes getting back in there, Michele :)

Sign in the window: Badseed welcomes walk-ins. And do it. Some have the sign up and when people come in they brush them off like a bad penny.

That might get you some customers and then give them the old discount card thing for the next time, or a free cut after 10. Senior discounts always help.

Really more suggestions than you needed huh??

Jeanette