The key to a thriving business is having happy customers and staff, alike. The efficient handling of foot traffic within your salon is a major contributor to achieving satisfaction with both!
If you utilize a salon operation software program, you probably have some sort of electronic wait list feature available, allowing your salon guests to “wait in line” for their preferred equipment type should it be occupied by another guest. Many salon patrons tan as a form of relaxation; others are purely interested in looking great and achieving that golden glow. Both types of tanners likely have busy lifestyles – if they’re pressed for time, they might not be willing to wait. Introducing the ability to book appointments for specific equipment sessions gives them another option, while minimizing the potential for loss of business.
A considerable cost to your salon is employing dependable staff who strive to provide the same superior customer service that you deliver, yourself. Having ample staff in place during busier times of day, or days of the week, is extremely important so that you don’t have team members feeling overwhelmed. Likewise, it is crucial to ensure that you are not overstaffed during slower times, as this can be an unnecessary operating expense. Implementing an electronic appointment book within your salon allows you the ability to easily view future tanning appointments, which is a major benefit when creating an employee schedule.
In addition to offering tanning in your salon, do you also have ancillary services such as custom spray-tans, waxing or massage on your menu? Including services that are supplemental to tanning will surely give your salon a competitive edge over others in the area. As these types of services are conducted by skilled technicians, an electronic appointment book is essential for a number of reasons. Most importantly, guests who use these types of services typically have a preferred technician, and will appreciate the opportunity to book an appointment for a service with a specific individual. You can also entice repeat business by encouraging your guests to book their next appointment during their current visit!
A robust appointment book will allow you to gather important info that is helpful when your guests arrive at the salon to check in. For example, the ability to easily view if someone is an existing or new customer is beneficial in that you can quickly determine whether you will need to provide a salon tour or additional consultation. Perhaps you have a customer who requested an extra towel in their room when they scheduled their appointment? The ability to log notes relating to an appointment, as well as view the client’s appointment history, allows you to better customize their service.
An electronic appointment book also provides metrics that can include useful insight on your salon traffic such as how many scheduled appointments were actually attended versus how many were “no shows.” Do you have particular customers who are always late for appointments? Is there an abundance of appointments booked for a single equipment type in comparison to others, or is there a technician who is especially popular amongst your customers? This type of historical data can tell you a lot about your business.
Never thought that your ever-evolving tanning salon could benefit from the use of an appointment book? It might just be time to add one to your toolbox!
Implementing an electronic appointment book can give you insight into your guests and your business.
