rjwarner

I need to start a referral program and am wondering what other salons do, and what the results have been? Do you give away a free tan for a package sold (I assume to only NEW clients)...or something more? Any comments or advice is greatly appreciated!

theislandtan

We had cards made that are good for a free tan. On the front it says our salons name and "Good for one free tan. Compliments of" and then a place for the person handing them out to put their name. If someone sings up for one of our packages after being refered, we give the referrer a $5 credit on their account. They can use it on lotion or packages.

We started it about a week ago and have had about 8 cards come in and 6 sign for a package. One lady is responsible for 4 of them. Overall I am very happy with the results. I'd like it to pick up some, but for the short time we have had it going it's done well. We haven't pushed it as hard as we should so I think it can do much better.

angelcat04

So what happens if someone comes in, brings you the referral card, gets the free tan, then doesn't come back in to buy a package for a month or so? Do you still give referral credit? How do you keep track of who referred them a month ago? Does that make sense?

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theislandtan

They only get the credit if the person signs up for a package. If they use the free tan and don't sign up the referrer gets nothing. Right now we keep the cards brought back in the cash register. We write the name of the referee on the back of the card and if they signed for a package or not. We'd honor it if the person signed up a month afterwards, but they'd have to let us know about it so we could track it. It'd be on them at that point.

We've only had a few come back so this method is easiest for us. If we start to have a huge number come in we'll probably have to find a better way to manage it. It’s a manual process, but for now this works fine.

crzytanner

If someone sends someone else which is quite often I give the person who referred them a free visit. They come in droves usually.

aimeekat

We do $5 bonus bucks for each referral. Free tans don't reward EFT members and we wanted something that was one size fits all. If people know they have $5 credit in their account they are more inclined to spend more $.

We reward if the new client writes the referring person down on the sign up form. That way if there is ever someone that comes in and says "hey sally signed up and I sent her" we pull out that form and verify. Saves us the headache of arguing if the referral is valid or not.

Also, we only credit that referral if on the first visit that new client buys more than a single tan. Must be a package or an unlimited.

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sunsally

Our referral card offers what we give ANY new customer - 3 "Free" Tans.

The person that referred them gets a free upgrade credit - no matter what.

If the person that GOT referred doesn't buy something - that is OUR fault, not the person that referred them. They did THEIR job - they got them to our salon. If we couldn't sell them something, we are the ones that screwed up.

angelcat04

Makes perfect sense. Just never thought about it that way. Thanks!

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baytanningsalon

Isn't it funny how people see things differently? I like the input Sunsally. Made me sit back and think. Thanks!