new salon, not much business - Page 2

lewdyju · 09-14-2007, 03:57 PM

We opened a month ago, we had a year and half delay nad yeah it sucks right now. What do you offer? I brought in a body wrap machine and it has been helping quite a bit during this slow season. It allows me to tap into a different demographic so right now I have been pushing that. I am gett ing regualr tanners and doing EFT's but most tanners are still locked into their other salon contracts. I will eventually get them because they come in and check me out and do occasional single sessions. I just have to hurry up and wait. Don't sell yourself short and give everything away, i am not playing price wars and they come anyway. May as well make a sale at full price if they are coming anyway. I do have some specials, but my prices are not going to fluctuate, I have my bills to consider. I would rather tan less people and make the same amount then offering rock bottom pricing and make the same amount using up more electricity and causing my overhead to be more.
We are passing out flyers and have been talking to everyone, we do small business mixers and are hosting one next month. Talk it up, sell it and let them know you are here to stay. Even if you're shaking in your boots.
We are making enough to cover bills, I am greatful for that.

engfant · 09-14-2007, 04:06 PM

If you don't have a FEATURE BED then you will never get out of the off season rut.

You NEED something that you can get BANK for on every visit. Selling cheap unlimiteds will not work.

missmojorising · 09-14-2007, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by engfant

Nevermind that ****. You need to be leaning your equipment inside and out. NOONE is making bank right now. Don't feel bad. Just lean your stuff so there's no issues when fools start coming in 10 ata time.

She can learn equipment mix while papering.

engfant · 09-14-2007, 04:54 PM

Ok marketing is good but WHAT'S THE PRODUCT?

Tanning or just being there IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH. You need to have a reason to go to your place.

Please tell me you DIDN'T fill a space with 4 base beds and expecting business.

sgoodin · 09-14-2007, 06:40 PM

Talk to all the business's in your area and leave business cards, brochures, flyers...whatever you got.
Plus, talk to hair salons, nails salons, gyms, etc. and try to do some cross promotions, you send them business - they send you business.
Leave your business card everywhere you go to get your name out there.
Put a sign out by the street that catches people's eye so they know you are their and open. If the city doesn't allow it then do it on the weekends as they don't patrol then and you can get away with it without getting fined.
Create a MySpace and then invest in a software that automatically sends out emails, comments and friends request for you. Someone on here told me about the software and it was well worth the money. MySpace has done well for us and its free.

eileen · 09-14-2007, 07:32 PM

tell us some more about your surrounding area and type of services your salon offers. missmojo is right about getting help here, I can also help you with ideas through private messages if you want.
sgoodin gave a lot of nice ideas.
engfant as usual gives a good swift kick of reality for most salon owners. however, some do make it to the bank ;)

mjabaay · 09-14-2007, 09:28 PM

We opened in mid May. Hung a giant sign that said FREE WEEK OF TANNING, huge draw. 3+ months later we have over 700 people in dbase. We give one week free tanning on L1 beds, and charge (2,4,6,8) for upgrades. We get at least $20.00 per client during free week in just tanning, then lotion packets, winkies, ect.

We also run an aggressive referal program. We give each customer 3 cards to start, with their cust # on back. If that card comes in on someones first visit, then they get free Tan any bed or $5.00 off lotion. We get a ton of those a week, 18 new customers last 2 days. Cards go in drawing at end of year for 3 months free tanning any bed.

It seems to be working. Hope it helps.

mgj

eileen · 09-15-2007, 01:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjabaay

We opened in mid May. Hung a giant sign that said FREE WEEK OF TANNING, huge draw. 3+ months later we have over 700 people in dbase. We give one week free tanning on L1 beds, and charge (2,4,6,8) for upgrades. We get at least $20.00 per client during free week in just tanning, then lotion packets, winkies, ect.

We also run an aggressive referal program. We give each customer 3 cards to start, with their cust # on back. If that card comes in on someones first visit, then they get free Tan any bed or $5.00 off lotion. We get a ton of those a week, 18 new customers last 2 days. Cards go in drawing at end of year for 3 months free tanning any bed.

It seems to be working. Hope it helps.

mgj

Curious, what is your highest priced bed?

scub · 09-15-2007, 09:19 AM

my space has kinda died. try facebook. its the new my space.

eileen · 09-15-2007, 01:47 PM

I think myspace is for high school and facebook is for college mostly.

09-14-2007, 03:57 PM	#11 (permalink)
lewdyju I love Derf!! Join Date: Jul 5 2006 Location: Elk Grove, CA Posts: 1,222 Rep Power: 5	Re: new salon, not much business We opened a month ago, we had a year and half delay nad yeah it sucks right now. What do you offer? I brought in a body wrap machine and it has been helping quite a bit during this slow season. It allows me to tap into a different demographic so right now I have been pushing that. I am gett ing regualr tanners and doing EFT's but most tanners are still locked into their other salon contracts. I will eventually get them because they come in and check me out and do occasional single sessions. I just have to hurry up and wait. Don't sell yourself short and give everything away, i am not playing price wars and they come anyway. May as well make a sale at full price if they are coming anyway. I do have some specials, but my prices are not going to fluctuate, I have my bills to consider. I would rather tan less people and make the same amount then offering rock bottom pricing and make the same amount using up more electricity and causing my overhead to be more. We are passing out flyers and have been talking to everyone, we do small business mixers and are hosting one next month. Talk it up, sell it and let them know you are here to stay. Even if you're shaking in your boots. We are making enough to cover bills, I am greatful for that. __________________ www.hotgloss.com www.myspace.com/endlesssuntanningsalon

09-14-2007, 04:06 PM	#12 (permalink)
engfant FREE ENGFANTUCATION Join Date: May 20 2003 Posts: 8,498 Rep Power: 12	Re: new salon, not much business If you don't have a FEATURE BED then you will never get out of the off season rut. You NEED something that you can get BANK for on every visit. Selling cheap unlimiteds will not work. __________________ Nothing is more dangerous than stupid. The #1 cause of death is natural causes...but where's the ribbon? http://mercola.fileburst.com/Flash/A...wsubscribe.swf

09-14-2007, 04:54 PM	#14 (permalink)
engfant FREE ENGFANTUCATION Join Date: May 20 2003 Posts: 8,498 Rep Power: 12	Re: new salon, not much business Ok marketing is good but WHAT'S THE PRODUCT? Tanning or just being there IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH. You need to have a reason to go to your place. Please tell me you DIDN'T fill a space with 4 base beds and expecting business. __________________ Nothing is more dangerous than stupid. The #1 cause of death is natural causes...but where's the ribbon? http://mercola.fileburst.com/Flash/A...wsubscribe.swf

09-14-2007, 06:40 PM	#15 (permalink)
sgoodin Join Date: Feb 11 2005 Location: AZ Posts: 179 Rep Power: 4	Re: new salon, not much business Talk to all the business's in your area and leave business cards, brochures, flyers...whatever you got. Plus, talk to hair salons, nails salons, gyms, etc. and try to do some cross promotions, you send them business - they send you business. Leave your business card everywhere you go to get your name out there. Put a sign out by the street that catches people's eye so they know you are their and open. If the city doesn't allow it then do it on the weekends as they don't patrol then and you can get away with it without getting fined. Create a MySpace and then invest in a software that automatically sends out emails, comments and friends request for you. Someone on here told me about the software and it was well worth the money. MySpace has done well for us and its free.

09-14-2007, 07:32 PM	#16 (permalink)
eileen kiss me I'm Derf Join Date: Feb 10 2005 Posts: 6,614 Rep Power: 17	Re: new salon, not much business tell us some more about your surrounding area and type of services your salon offers. missmojo is right about getting help here, I can also help you with ideas through private messages if you want. sgoodin gave a lot of nice ideas. engfant as usual gives a good swift kick of reality for most salon owners. however, some do make it to the bank ;)

09-14-2007, 09:28 PM	#17 (permalink)
mjabaay Join Date: Feb 8 2007 Location: parts unknown Posts: 152 Rep Power: 2	Re: new salon, not much business We opened in mid May. Hung a giant sign that said FREE WEEK OF TANNING, huge draw. 3+ months later we have over 700 people in dbase. We give one week free tanning on L1 beds, and charge (2,4,6,8) for upgrades. We get at least $20.00 per client during free week in just tanning, then lotion packets, winkies, ect. We also run an aggressive referal program. We give each customer 3 cards to start, with their cust # on back. If that card comes in on someones first visit, then they get free Tan any bed or $5.00 off lotion. We get a ton of those a week, 18 new customers last 2 days. Cards go in drawing at end of year for 3 months free tanning any bed. It seems to be working. Hope it helps. mgj

09-15-2007, 09:19 AM	#19 (permalink)
scub I love Derf!! Join Date: Dec 10 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Age: 47 Posts: 895 Rep Power: 9	Re: new salon, not much business my space has kinda died. try facebook. its the new my space. __________________ Tanning the World, 1 butt cheek at a time

09-15-2007, 01:47 PM	#20 (permalink)
eileen kiss me I'm Derf Join Date: Feb 10 2005 Posts: 6,614 Rep Power: 17	Re: new salon, not much business I think myspace is for high school and facebook is for college mostly.

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