Salon owners love online booking because it cuts down on no shows, increases revenue, and eliminates phone tag. Clients love it because it makes the salon seem more professional and it accommodates their busy lifestyles. "And don’t worry, with MindBody you decide what appointments can be booked online. You can even use overlapping and double-booking features to maximize your efficiency," says Meg McCall, director of marketing for MindBody Salon Management Software.
What is it about a professional manicure that gets a client hooked? NAILS asked some satisfied salon clients to recount their first experience getting their nails done. Turns out, the reason they return often has as much to do with the tech as with the service itself.
A good way to up your income without actually raising prices is to have a list of a la carte options in your service arsenal, says Kelley Killop-Marble of Opalized Designs Studio Salon in Shelby Township, Mich. “I’m not talking about having a bare-bones menu and nickel and diming folks ... that is just plain aggravating,” she says. What she is talking about is differentiating yourself by giving true personal services.
Veteran nail techs have seen significant changes in the nail industry, and they may fear the best years are over. However, growth is still possible when you stretch yourself and your business to meet the demands of the new customer. It’s never too late to reinvent yourself.
Even just the service names sound enticing — coconut milk pedicure, eucalyptus manicure, cosmopolitan mani-pedi — but how do you come up with these ideas? Brainstorming experts and salon owners share how to turn even a small idea into a big nail service that will liven up your menu.
Milady’s Softskills: Interpersonal Skills for the Beauty Industry is the must-have employee orientation tool! Learn how to improve communication and customer service skills. Running time is approx. 180 mins. www.milady.cengage.com
By Bryan Durocher, Durocher Enterprises I just opened my mail last night and was pleasantly surprised to see my Marriott’s Gold Elite card enclosed in the envelope. In 2009 I had not stayed the required 50
