|
Top
Tips on how to sell more products
Welcome
to Salon Top Tips. Here we have some top tips
that are business focused and offer advice on
what salons can do to improve their bottom lines.
So sit back and read on...
 Accept Card Payments Affordably
How Can Independent Stylists & Small Salons Accept Card Payments Affordably? Getting paid has been a longstanding bugbear for many hairdressers & beauticians - especially when for independent freelancersing and visiting customers’ homes. Clients don’t always have cash on them, cheques are used less-and-less used and due to be phased out in a few years, and how many times has a client promised to make a bank transfer and forgotten unless repeatedly reminded by follow-up calls & and emails? Having the ability to accept cards would be the natural solution for most most small salons or independent stylists -- but traditional card machines are just too bulky and cumbersome to carry about, as well as being expensive, with costly long-term contracts and high fixed fees.
UKHairdressers.com is pleased to announce that is has found a solution - that it and has agreed an exclusive discount for all readers for a new mobile, low-cost hip and pin machine from Payleven.
The intelligent technology works through a small, pocket-sized Chip & PIN reader which connects via Bluetooth to an App on either your Apple or Android Smartphone / Tablet. This converts your Phone or Tabletsmartphone./ tablet into a fully mobile debit & and credit card Chip & PIN solution, with the same stringent security standards as a traditional card terminal, but at a fraction of the cost.
It is truly mobile and will let you take payments anywhere with a mobile data connection (3G/ EDGE or Wi-Fi).
Unlike traditional card machines, Payleven is 100% pay-as-you-go with no contractual obligations or minimum monthly fees/turnover requirements. Payleven simply charges a flat 2.75% fee on all transactions. Signing up is easy -- it simply takes 5 minutes to complete an online form, with no paperwork and no merchant account is required.
By using your smartphone/tablet, Payleven’s technology also offers greater functionality. It is truly mobile and will let you take payments anywhere with a mobile data connection (3G or EDGE), easily download your transactions off the web to do your accounts, and quickly send email receipts to the customer. The chip and pin device’s battery life lasts for up to 10 days and is easily recharged on the go with the Micro USB charger. It also provides full end-to-end data encryption with EMV Level 2 and PCI 3.1 compliance, the very latest in card payment security standards.
Payleven has already been causing a lot of excitement among both stylists and small businesses generally. It is exclusively stocked in Apple Stores across the UK, as well as being the recommended payment solution of both the British Association of Beauticians (BABTAC) and the FHBF (Freelance Hair and Beauty Federation).
Stylists already using Payleven all praise the benefits of the solution. For example Kathryn, owner of mobile beauty franchise Flutter eyes, says:
“Payleven is really easy to use, I simply access the App, key in the amount and pass the device to my client. Payleven is great because it gives my clients the opportunity to pay on card, and it’ is so simple and easy to use, and the device is small and portable and looks so professional”
All salons now need to be able to take card payments, as last year for the first time debit card spending was greater than cash spending in the economy, showing that consumers increasingly expect to be able to pay by card. Furthermore a survey of businesses that have started accepting card payments, shows that on average they manage to increase sales by up to 15%. Accepting cards also helps small businesses manage their cash flow. On average small businesses spends an average of 10hrs a month chasing payments and visiting the bank to cash in checkques and deposit cash, and 5% of services which are not paid for on the spot never get paid. Combining the lost time and unpaid bills, not being able to accept cards can cost the average salon or stylist up to several thousands of pounds each year in lost earnings.
To get your Payleven device, simply purchase it from your nearest Apple Store or order online at www.payleven.co.uk
Exclusive Introductory UK Hairdressers Offer SAVE £20 RRP £89+ VAT, UK Hairdressers Promo £69+VAT Sign up using promo Code UKHAIR
OFFER VALID FOR 2 WEEKS ONLY (Closes 12th June 2013)
5/29/2013 |
 Unleashing Salon Potential
“Unleashing Salon Potential”
So, why do Clients change their salon, and what do they look for when choosing a new one?
Facts:-
28% of Clients are thinking of changing their salon
80% of Clients say they want to change as their current salon (stylist) never suggests anything new
72% of Clients are salon recommended by a friend
Clearly from these statistics we need to address how we look after our Clients
1. We need to reduce the number of Clients leaving us
2. How we can ensure retaining new ones
Keeping Clients…
Within hairdressing, we need to make sure we are up-to-date with the latest fashion trends, and have the in-house expertise to create new looks - remember clients expect that anyway!
In my opinion, the answer lies with good communication and staff attitude.
Let me explain…It is a commonality within most salons that the stylist who is the most talented hairdresser, isn’t always the busiest. The busiest stylist tends to be a good hairdresser who has the right attitude and communication skills.
Customer service:
I visit hundreds of salons annually, observing staff interacting with Clients; watching how they conduct consultations, and in my opinion nearly all of them could do better!
For example, a first time client visits a salon, and is seated for styling consultation. The stylist introduces themselves and will usually say something like “So, what are we doing today”? or “how do you normally have your hair”?
We have already said that 80% of Clients change their salon because nothing new is ever suggested / discussed, and clearly here we are doing just that by not suggesting anything new.
My advice would be, following introductions say something like…
so, “Do you have any ideas? or are you open to suggestions”?
This allows the Client the opportunity to discuss their ideas, or show you a picture. However, you will find most Clients will say something like “I’m not sure, so what would you do? This is then your opening to be creative and not just to talk haircut - but colour, style, support, treatments and any other services you think may be Client beneficial.
Existing Clients: At each visit, you should always conduct a consultation, saying things like...
“How’s your hair been? or Do you fancy a change”?
If you don’t, there is a good chance that you will at some stage lose them as a Client. You should never take a Client for granted as it could be costly, not just the Client spend but potentially other clientele such as family/friends who regularly visit your salon.
Most salons from my experience do not have a dedicated customer service system in place, and therefore are not retaining as many Clients as they could. Therefore using a proven system will certainly increase Client spend, retain Clients and make our jobs more exciting and profitable.
The Reverend Kevina (Salon Developement Training)
Kevin Hamm
Salon Development Training
www.sdtraining.co.uk
email: kevinhamm00@gmail.co.uk
Tel: 07533 004956
5/24/2013 |
 Encouraging more regular visits
Ideas to ensure you are encouraging more regular visits
• Ensure all staff are consistent with current rebooking system
• Social media (this is a completely free and most effective way of engaging with your customers and building relationships consistently)
• daily brand recognition
• excellent reviews
• Client inspiration and ideas from sharing work on other clients
• Off the cuff Special offers (never have your staff sitting around, give added value to already loyal clients, ie. come in for a blow dry and we will do your nails)
• Recommendations from happy customers - nothing will ever beat Word of Mouth advertising
• Consultations - these should play a key role in how you liase with your clients, if you share a hair plan with the client then you are more likely to work to an advised schedule and you will find this a huge advantage when retailing products
• Treatments - use treatments and special offers on blow drys as a method to encourage your clients into the salon more regularly, maybe you could offer loyal clients 2 free treatments in between their colour visit. You would still charge for a blow-dry.5/9/2013 |
|
