Is your salon ready for Valentine’s Day? Make the most of this season of love by increasing online gift card sales! By Jonathan Antin, Mindbody Client.
Valentine’s Day is impending… is your salon ready to reap the benefits of the love gift card boom?
Why sell gift cards online?
3 words: convenient, customisable and digital
There’s no easier way to promote your services during the holidays than by selling gift cards through your website. Consumers these days are shopping online – they want a fast and seamless option, and it doesn’t get faster or more seamless than visiting a salon’s website, buying a gift card for a selected service, and having it emailed instantaneously to a relative or loved one- all in a few clicks!
Holidays don’t last forever – how can gift cards help a salon in the long term?
Count on gift cards complimenting your client growth and retention efforts. The most powerful way to attract new clients to your salon continues to be through word of mouth, or personal referrals. Gift cards are essentially that – in a different form! When a consumer buys a gift card, they’re saying to their friend or family member, ‘hey, go get your hair done at this salon – I trust them.’ This new client will come in, and likely return to you as a repeat client, because trust was there from the start.
How can gift cards help with marketing efforts?
A big part of marketing your salon is brand exposure. A gift card in the hands of a consumer is a walking advertisement – great for your brand’s visibility. Some salons may choose to offer reloadable cards, which can be used again and again, encouraging repeat business along with building client loyalty. Rewarding frequent spenders, or valuable clients, with a gift card, can also work to place your brand in more hands.
How does one manage a gift card campaign?
Follow these 4 steps:
1. Determine your payment methods – have a process for selling and accepting online gift cards, that’s streamlined and integrated into your existing salon management software, is critical.
2. Promote your gift cards inside and out! To get the word out, incorporate signage and messaging inside your salon, on your website, and into client communications and newsletters.
3. Make the most out of your campaign! Cross-promote your gift cards with other services – i.e. “purchase a deep conditioning treatment and receive a free Valentine’s Day gift card,” incorporate gift cards into a special holiday/winter promotion, or reward high spending clients with a gift card as part of your loyalty program. Holiday campaigns are critical – most merchants that offer gift cards sell the most during holiday season, so now is the time to capitalize. Be creative!
4. Manage and monitor your gift card inventory. If this is your first experience with gift carding, prepare in advance to ensure that all goes smoothly. Use your salon management software to help you track sales, or, designate a staff member to oversee the campaign. ”
For more information visit https://www.mindbodyonline.com/