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8 Business Tips Salons Should Think About This Holiday Season

09.13.2022

Start Planning Now - Don't Wait Until December!

Creating a holiday business timeline can help you save from pulling out all your hair. To help, we've put together eight tops for effective holiday planning, But first, let's look at some data*.

Here's why holiday planning matters:
· OCTOBER: On average, October 17 is when Americans start thinking about their holiday hair and beauty appointments, aka the hectic "holiday rush."
· NOVEMBER: Generally, by the first week of November, salon appointment have already doubled the average number of bookings. The national average goes from 6.96 to 13.8 weekly bookings made fro the Christmas season. *
· THANKSGIVING: Once the end of November hits, that number has tripled. 
· DECEMBER: By December 22, weekly bookings drop dramatically as salon books have filled up for the festive season, from Christmas right through the New Year.

So, what can you do to be ready?
Make A List (And Check It Twice)

This may seem like a no-brainer, but making a list of everything you need to do (and when you need to do it) will help to keep you organized and on track during the hectic holiday season. 

From stocking up on supplies to promoting your services and booking appointments, there are many moving parts - so make sure you have a plan in place to avoid any stressful last-minute scrambling. 

Schedule Text & Social Media

You've created your holiday timeline; now what? Your next steps should be to start promoting your opening bookings and ensure you have the right traffic coming into your business. Fire up those Instagram stories promoting your holiday services, specials, bundles, and availability. Lastly, ensure you send those friendly text reminders to encourage them to book early!

Stock Up Your Backbar Before It's Too Late

You're going to want to make sure you have all your products on hand and in stock before the craziness begins. 

This is especially important if you offer services like hair extensions, which can often be in high demand during the holidays. No wants to be turned away because you're out of their favorite color or length. Take inventory of what you have now and what you need to order to be fully prepared for the holiday season. 

Educate Your Team Now - They Will Thank You Later!

Your team is going to be extremely busy during the holidays, so take some time now (while you can) to educate them on any new holiday services, promotions, or products that you'll be offering. This will help ensure that they are fully prepared and knowledgeable when the time comes - creating the best overall experience for both you and your clients. 

Think Outside The Box - Offer Something Unique!

The holidays are all about giving, so why not give your clients something unique that they can't get anywhere else? 

This could be anything from a complementary gift wrap service to a festive holiday cocktail or mocktail in the salon. Getting creative with your offerings will help you stand out from the competition and leave a lasting impression on your clients. 

A trendy option is to set up a photo booth or picture wall where your client can get a quick photoshoot in for the gram. Also, a great way to be tagged in post for more clients to find you!

Don't Forget About Your Retail Sales!

The holidays can create an additional month's worth of revenue, and retail is the key to that success. your clients are shopping for gifts, and your space shouldn't be overlooked as a gifting destination. Offering holiday gift sets or bundles is another great way to drive sales. Don't forget to share your offerings via social media!

Boost your retail sales by promoting your products both in-store and online. If you don't have an online retail store, now is the time to get one set up! Click here to create your FREE online store! Great for when you don't have inventory during the busy holiday season, tell them to purchase online, and it will be shipped right to their door.

Make Holiday Fun For Your Team

Drinking 3 cups of coffee a day during the holiday season as a hairdresser is sometimes what is needed. But, if you can make this time of year for your team, you might see an uptick in reviews and tips!

Here are some ways to get team morale up during this time of year:
· Schedule an promote special days where you staff dresses in their holiday attire.
· Cross-promote with other local businesses to drive traffic into your space.
· Have a dedicated festive space to highlight special holiday promotions.
· Ask your stylist to choose products they really love. Then make a table, matching each stylist with their chosen product. You then challenge them to sell as much of that product as possible; however sold the most wins.
· Bingo or Passport - Assign numbers to retail products, holiday sets, and services. Stylists have to make progress and post all the numbers on their own personal bingo board or passport to win.
· Pass the Present - A present with a prize inside gets passed around to each person who makes a sale, and they get to rip off a layer of paper. Whoever gets the final layer keeps the gift.
· Raffle - Give tickets for achievements and positive acts, like sales and good reviews. More raffle tickets will result in a higher percentage chance of winning the draw.
· Roll the Dice - Create 12 squares on a board with numbers from 1 to 12. Whenever someone makes a sale, they put their name in a square. When the board is complete, you roll the dice and see who won.
· Holiday Gift Box - Whoever makes the first-holiday promotional sale of the day take the box. The next stylist that beats that sale then takes the box. At the end of the day, the stylist who made the largest retail sale to one client will win the Holiday Box!

The holiday season is one of the busiest times of year for salons, so it's essential to be prepared! By following these tips, you'll be sure to make it through the holidays with your sanity intact. Happy Holidays!

*Click here to see more analytics about the holiday season.


By: Brayton Walls
Digital Marketing and Communications Specialist