tanu01

I have to ask........ Why do you think you always have to be running a special ?
Are you a newbee ? Have not built a clientel ? Do you not treat your current current customers well ? And just who are you going to sell these specials to ?

In every type of biz there is there is a time to tighten the apron.

I have not per say ran any specials other than my normal per time of year for over 20 years. I'm going to start when the time is right, not because I think I need to, but because somone ticked me off.

You see, you can run a special now, but the only people buying are your current customers. Specials for your current customers are best done in house.

Treat your customers like gold. B.s. with them (only if they want to). Toss them a free packet of lotion now and then. When they renew a current package slip them a few up-grades free.

You can spend $1000 adevertizing your new and greatest special, But word of mouth from a realy happy client is worth 100 x what you just spent or MIGHT MAKE.

The salon down the street might run 10 tans for $10...... Do you really want to be that salon?

If you do, Say good bye to your solid clientle.

Thers a time for specials and there is a time to take care of your own house.

When it is time, later this month or early Nov, And DONT run an ad that says restrictions apply.

When ever I do run an ad, I always say:
NO RESTRICTIONS APPLYS TO CURRENT,NEW, and Past customers.

SunseraWarman

That's YOUR opinion, other people have other opinions and run their businesses very differently and are very successful. There is not just one path to success.

suncitypembroke

I second that...

tanu01

Your right............ Its my opinion. Come Nov. 1st - 26 years of doing this. You have been around how long ?

Show me or explain to me just 1 special you have run July thru mid October where you did more than just trade money, just run up your electric bill and actually retained new customers for a year or more.

tanu01

You have been around while....... but I will pose the same question to you, You might have one, and that would be a help to all of us.

Steve Underhill

If you are doing the same thing you have been doing for 20 years what you are doing is likely benefiting you less today than it was 20 years ago. Specials this time of year is designed to get your data base back in the salon earlier than if you do nothing and wait for things to happen. Advertising your data base is not expensive at all using social media and email. If you actually tried some things that are very effective today I think you would change your thinking. Be open minded enough to try some things that are new to you just to see what happens. Even if you don't, telling people that they should do things the way you have been doing things for 20 years sort of makes you sound like you are completely detached from todays consumer. Step out of your comfort zone. For the rest of you, there are times to run specials but reaching out to your customers using todays media should be done year round. The message changes different times of year.

__________________
Stephen Underhill
Consultant
steve@smuconsulting.com

tanu01

There where 13 salons in this town when I decided to open, Now there are 3 with me being the largest. The other 2 are cutting hours, I'm extending them.

There have been a great many changes over thelast 26 years, Half of them Steve you most likly never even knew happen. I am not saying not to do specials all together, but rather this is the time of year to work your data base.

Do not do discounts ! Add value to what your all ready selling,in other words take care of the customers that are paying your bills.
Social media is great, it cost you nothing if done right.

To write a check to radio or news print this time of year is just wrong.
Again just my opinion.

SunseraWarman

I do not do any radio or newspaper advertising. Social media can be free, but to be really effective its best to take advantage of the sponsored advertising (which is EXTREMELY cheap). We advertise all year round and do very limited "specials" in our busiest time which is from November - March. We ran a very simple special last month which was a BOGO 50% off all packages and we were up last month by 34%.

Black Sun

What an assinine reply...my opinion

SunseraWarman

A little arrogant are we?