These days, customers expect to receive an ‘experience’ when they visit a salon, that way they feel like they are getting value for money, as well as time out of their day to day lives to pamper themselves. With the recession leading to most people having less disposable income you can understand why when someone decides to splash out on a trip to the salon they want it to be something special, and here we look at four ways you can provide this:

Create Luxurious Surroundings

If you want your customers to relax and feel pampered then you will need to spend some time contemplating the interior design of your salon. Little things such as mood lighting, relaxing music or even modern art can make your customers feel like they are in a five-star spa, and if you search online or in charity shops you can often find some amazing bargains!

For those with a larger budget you should think about investing in some top of the line equipment, such as massage chairs which your clients can relax in while having their hair washed. You could also buy official uniforms for your staff so that they all match and look professional, leading to your customers feeling more relaxed in their care. Don’t forget to also invest in the latest hair styling equipment on a regular basis including shampoos, conditioners, hair straighteners and hair dryers – your customers will be able to tell the difference!

Apply for an Alcohol Licence

Unfortunately, a number of hair salons across the UK have been contacted recently by their local councils over the fact that they are serving their customers alcohol without a licence. Most don’t realise that even if they aren’t charging their customers for the drinks it is still illegal under the Licensing Act 2003, which means they could face a fine of up to twenty thousand pounds or even up to six months in jail.

In order to legally serve alcohol in your salon you will need to fulfil certain criteria, such as having CCTV installed as well as security measures in place. Even if you are approved to serve alcohol in your salon it is likely there will be regulations you must adhere to, such as not serving more than a certain amount of drinks to each customer. Make sure you know what your licence allows before serving your customers; otherwise you could find yourself at the mercy of an undercover policeman!

Offer Beauty Treatments

In order to expand their businesses and generate extra income, a number of salon owners and hairdressers choose to become qualified in certain beauty treatments. Some of the most popular treatments that are now offered in hair salons are manicures and pedicures, as they are unobtrusive and can be completed in just under half an hour.

If you or a member of your staff is thinking of becoming qualified to perform beauty treatments in your salon, you will need to make sure you call your salon insurance provider and ask them to amend your policy to include beauty insurance. This will protect your business from any issues that could occur during the course of a treatment, as well as any damages to equipment required to complete each treatment.

Offer Loyalty Schemes

One way to ensure your customers feel like they are getting value for money (and be more likely to come back in the future) is to offer them a loyalty scheme. These schemes can be extremely simple, such as offering each customer five pounds off their next treatment after they receive ten stamps, or you can be a bit more complicated and offer certain services for free depending on the number of stamps or points they have.

When it comes to offering loyalty schemes to your customers you need to be extremely careful that you don’t give away more than you can truly afford, otherwise you’ll end up making a loss. It is also important that you create terms and conditions surrounding your loyalty scheme so that it cannot be abused and you don’t end up getting into arguments with your clients. The last thing you want is for people to claim you are trying to rip them off!