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It’s August 25, and I just ordered a box of Pumpkin Spice Munchkins (from Dunkin’ Donuts) to share at work. WTH? Wait… and over there is the pumpkin spice Mochaccino frozen drink. (Because in Florida, it’s a heat index of 104.) WHAT IS HAPPENING?!

I bought it, and I’m going to continue my holiday drink purchases, because I feel so happy when I see these hints that the holidays are coming. It reminds me of warm fuzzy good feelings… and I want more of that.

 It’s been a hard year for so many. Some salons have just now reopened.  And with coronavirus concerns,  Zoom-everything, fear, bad juju all over tv, and you pushing to stay positive, here’s a bright light—the holidays!

Blink and it will be Halloween,  Happy Turkey Day, Ho-Ho-Ho, and Happy New Year, then (hopefully),  a Superbowl. It’s going that fast because EVERYONE wants this year to be over.

With people pushing for the holidays to arrive so they have something to look forward to,  shopping will also start earlier. Early holiday shopping is already happening in my salon and stores. I had two people yesterday buy my silk pillowcases for holiday presents.

Yes, I predict an extra early start to holiday shopping  because…

  1. Rumors that troubles at the post office may cause mail and shipping slowing might create mail panic. Fewer people may wait until last minute to shop and ship—they’ll start now.  
  2. Shopping  makes us feel good. We feel happy to buy, and happy to give. We crave good feelings now more than ever. It also makes people feel more “back to normal.”
  3. I predict consumer shopping early online and in person will blow out all records of previous years, in order to get ready for anything unexpected.
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.So listen up, salons ( sirens blaring!):  You may miss this boat if you put your holiday out in November or even October.  Your clients are going to be shopping digitally so get to the front of their mind for a place to buy a gift, hair retail, box set, holiday bundle etc., ASAP.

As fast as you can, start reminding them of all you have to offer with email, social media posts,  while you  fill your salon with warm fuzzy good feelings that remind them of something normal and happy.

This will also help with staff morale, create client smiles, and hopefully meet or have increased sales from year before.

4 Action Items to Get Ready NOW

1. Get with your Summit coach, manager, owner, sales reps  to figure out-- with your current guest count-- how much you will need to stock in holiday deals on your budget.

2. Then order them!  ( I just saw Redken’s awesome gift sets this year with 30% savings.)

3. Get your decorations and retail merchandising stuff in order and ready to go. In my salon I go elf crazy! It’s always a big hit, but there’s also snowmen, candy canes, silver bells and balls, or whatever gets attention. You might hang bulbs, tinsel, do a tree, have candles, hang lights, etc.  Whatever it is that works, DO MORE OF THAT AND SOONER.

4. Continue to offer local drop off or curbside pick-up for your gift cards and products until December 24th in case someone isn’t feeling well or in quarantine.

 Bring attention to all of that! Your clients want to help you and support you. They should know that when they buy a gift card, retail bundle, holiday hair kit, from you that it’s helping you while it also helps them with their to do list and saving money.

Hopefully this helps set you and your salon up for better success this year. Cheers to a  strong finish!    

 --Lori Fudens

 @Lorifudens_Redkenartist

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Originally posted on Modern Salon