Everyone likes receiving something for free, which is why these days any company worth its salt gives something away to their loyal customers as a thank you for their custom. As a salon owner it is important that you also adopt such practices, however at the same time you don’t want it to have too great an impact on your overall profits. So here, Nova Insurance suggests four things you can give to your customers for free without breaking the bank:

Refreshments

It is unusual to find a salon that doesn’t offer their customers tea, coffee and water, however you can go that bit further to make your customers feel more special. For example, you could offer a range of teas including green tea, jasmine tea or decaf tea for those that have an aversion to caffeine. If your budget allows it and you could cover it on your salon insurance, you could also invest in a coffee machine which will enable you to offer your customers lattes, espressos, cappuccinos and more. Don’t forget that even the most impressive cup of tea or coffee won’t be appreciated if it isn’t served in a good quality cup and saucer, and these days you can pick up a great deal on these items from cash and carries. Even putting a few slices of fruit or vegetables in your water jugs can make them look more impressive and it will only cost you a couple of pounds!

Loyalty Schemes

These days nearly every business offers some sort of loyalty scheme to their customers in order to encourage them to return, which is why you should do the same. For example, you can offer your customers small cards which they can receive stamps on each time they visit, and then after they receive a certain amount of stamps (say, ten) they will receive a free hair cut or money off their next treatment. The key to ensuring that loyalty schemes succeed is to budget how much one free haircut will affect your business if you have already been paid for ten. You should also make sure that any loyalty scheme you set up has very clear terms and conditions: most salons state that free haircuts can only be claimed on certain days of the week or can only be used with certain stylists.

Discount Prices

In general, salons and barbers offer special discounts for children and OAPs due to the fact that it generally costs less to cut their hair and it is a sign that you can cater to everyone no matter what their age. If you are in an area where there is a large amount of children or elderly people then it may be an idea to offer them discount prices, that way you can encourage more business. If you live in an area where there is a considerable amount of students you can also offer them discounts, however these may only be applicable on the days that you are less busy. Children, OAPs and students are more likely to come to your salon during quiet times as they have flexible schedules, which means you will be able to make a decent income between weekends.

Your Advice

If there is one thing that you can always give away for free to your customers that won’t cost you a penny it’s your advice. People visit salons due to the fact that you can do something that they cannot – provide a high quality haircut or beauty treatment. Therefore you should always make sure you take the time to advise your customers on various treatments and products that would suit them. For example, if you have a customer that wants to change their hair colour but isn’t sure which way to go you can give them various options and explain the benefits of each one. Taking the time to talk to your customers and impart some of your knowledge goes a long way and will help secure your reputation as an expert.

Giving away something for free doesn’t always have to cost the earth; in fact, if done well it can even make you more money in the long-run! As long as you keep an eye on your budget you should be able to give your customers an enjoyable experience at your salon and encourage them to come again.

Photo by Naama ym / CC BY-SA 2.0