Jill, we have tried some of these methods for our client events. We have had them register at a different table instead of the front desk and this really helped us to make sure the guests purchasing products or making appointments were able to do that in a relatively quick manner. In our salon we have two front desk computers and two other computers located on the hair side and spa side respectively. We also used these to book appointments which further helped to make the front desk flow more smoothly.

At these events we have a local photographer come in to take pictures of the event. This has been really fun for us as we have been able to use the photos to make videos of the event to post on facebook as well as for the photographer to post on her blog. The only thing we have not been using to its full advantage is the before and after shots. I'm not sure why that had not occurred to us to do but it didn't. That is something we will most definitely be doing for our next function.

We regularly use Facebook to let our guests know what events are on happening in our salon. We also have facebook exclusive drawings. Those usually consist of being the first to comment or the first to answer a hair, nail or skin question correctly. It has also been a great tool to let our followers have the first crack at last-minute appointment openings. If we have a cancellation or just an empty spot on our books, we go on the salon’s page and post it. It doesn't always result in that time being booked but it has more often than not and the few times it has not the guest has booked an appointment anyway since she was on the phone already. So it has been a win-win.

We have not yet begun to use an e-mail blast or text club. Since we just updated our software we had not been able to fully utilize those options. Now however we are making sure we have that information for our guests and will begin using it soon. I look forward to seeing how these functions can help us not only with client events but to grow our business in general.

— Sandy