The summer’s end can still be a challenging time for tanning salon operators, with many of their customers still out of town or spending more time outdoors enjoying the weather while it lasts. However, early August presents a unique opportunity to boost business with the kickoff of a back-to-school extravaganza!
By strategically promoting this event through social media, you can attract new customers and keep your salon active as the new school year approaches. Here are just a couple of ideas for creating a successful back-to-school (BTS) promotion.
Student Discounts
We all know that being a student can be expensive these days, which is why offering an exclusive discount to student tanners can bring more of them to your salon. If you simply ask them to present a valid school ID, you can offer an additional discount off services or products, or even an exclusive membership strictly for students – both offers will attract more students wanting to keep their summer glow going!
Sale on Sunless
Special BTS events pop up leaving many students short on time to get bronzed. Offering discounts on sunless sessions on specific days will bring those tanners to your salon to get quick results. This is a great way for tanners to try out your sunless equipment and achieve a natural, streak-free glow without UV exposure – especially in states where teen restrictions are in place. This will also spread awareness of your services and be an incentive for those who have never tried sunless tanning.
As summer fades and the new school year approaches, it’s the perfect time to keep that summer glow alive!
Tailored Giveaways
Hosting a giveaway is always an exciting way to drive sales and grow your social media presence. By creating an enticing reel or a post with Canva, you will generate interest and attract more customers. Everyone loves a giveaway! You can tailor this one toward back-to-school with your favorite products – package them all in a cute bag or backpack to promote the BTS concept, and then create a special deal on all of the tanning essentials they will need to maintain their summer color. Throughout the month of August, you could do small weekly giveaways of a couple different items – perhaps a new product or specific service you want to promote. If you are trying to draw attention to your red-light therapy unit, you could offer a free week of sessions with a product designed specifically to enhance red-light results (we suggest the DC Collagenetics line).
Before & After Pictures
Posting before-and-after photos of your salon patrons – whether it results from using your tanning or spa services, or from using a specific product you are trying to promote – always helps to boost your social media awareness. These posts are a fun way to show followers how effective your services are, whether it’s with a specific upgrade bed, your red-light system, the list of potential social content goes on and on! This is one of the most appealing sales strategies out there and will surely drive more sales, as it shows that your services or products give the desired results.
Cross-Promotions
The BTS season creates opportunities to engage with other small businesses in your community and is another way to spread brand awareness. You can cross-promote and offer a similar bundle of products that are attractive to students. For example, reach out to the owner of a local hair salon and invite them to exchange promotional discount cards to place at your front desks, or even create a back-to-school giveaway bundle that includes their favorite hair products and your favorite tanning products.
As summer fades and the new school year approaches, it’s the perfect time to keep that summer glow alive. By creating a well-thought-out back-to-school promo and effectively executing it through your social media platforms, you can turn the slow summer and early fall into a bustling time for your salon. Engaging content, attractive promotions and strategic partnerships can attract new customers and keep your regulars coming back.
Seize this opportunity to showcase your salon and services, while bringing in new customers. Embrace the BTS moment!
