How many of you have kids who are going back to school? Does your salon have a back-to-school display set up already? My salon always does a shampoo and conditioner liter sale for back to school. We have a tons of liters in the front of the salon and stacked throughout. This is really eye-catching with all of the large colorful Redken and Pureology bottles. We have signs posted everywhere; you can't miss this promotion during July and August.

We have to plan promotions before the season starts. My salon plans for six promotions a year. Each promotion runs for two months. We find it beneficial to have a retail promotion as well as a service promotion for the promotional period. I know that September is just around the corner, but it's time to start thinking about the busy holiday season that's ahead of us.

We need to think about what we're going to have in terms of holiday promotions and take the time to order the holiday product needed to support it. Did you know that right now your product distributors have started getting in their holiday merchandise? They all have received the catalog that contains what they have to offer for the holiday season. Some distributors are even offering discounts if you place your holiday order early.

They say the early bird gets the worm right? So, start thinking about what we want to do for the holidays. What do we want our promotions to be? What do we want them to look like?  What do we need to prepare for the promotion? Do we need signage? What do we need to support our display? If you have your signs made, now is a good time to order them before the holiday rush. If you design them and print them yourself, get on it before the busy season sneaks up on us.

Since the distributors are getting all of the holidays items or have them in stock already, now is the time to stock up. Get the best selection while it's available. You know with the holiday items, once they're gone, they're gone. If you really think that something is going to sell out fast in your salon, get it now! And plenty of it!

I like to take this time to not only plan my salon promotions, but also what I want to do for my clients for the holidays. I start making my client holiday card list now. I start writing their names on a list. I also start writing my holiday cards too. (Tip: Buy your holiday cards after the holidays for the following year. Benefit: You get tons of cards cheaply and you can start writing your cards early. You don't have to wait for the holidays for stores to put them out.) Why? Because, we all know when the holidays come we're so busy we can't even breathe!

I also like to give my clients a little something for the holidays. A lot of the holidays items are sold as stocking stuffers. Most manufacturers have small stocking-stuffer sized items available only during the holidays. I over the years have given my clients a tiny bottle of SolarOil by CND, the purse sized OPI Avojuice lotion or a holiday nail file. Get these items now because they go quickly. By purchasing now, I don't have the expense near the holidays, when I have to buy for my family, etc.

Thinking of, preparing for, and getting a handle before the busy holiday season before is upon us — one more way to help you stand out above the rest and become the BEST!

— Jill