How to Survive your Salon's Quiet Months

February 10, 2023 SBS Hair 0 Comments

A new year can offer many opportunities, but it can also be the hardest month for most salons. After the expenditure over Christmas and the rush of clients, you may find the appointment book looking a little dry. Whilst most salon prepares for this if it is an annual occurrence, it could be the first time for many due to these difficult times.

As a leader in eco salon supplies, we understand the difficulties many salons face in the first few weeks of the year. So, to help you out, we have put together a few tips to keep you busy, even if the salon isn't.

Go Back to the Roots

As with most industries, the basics are essential to keep on top of. Whilst your quiet period may not feel very inspiring to practice the skills you learnt in those first few years, it is an excellent opportunity to perfect and refine some of the simplest cuts. It can also help promote some inspiration for new looks and styles for the upcoming seasons. You may even be able to cut down on the time it takes to create those more complicated hairstyles by practising basic cuts, allowing you to cut down on the time it takes with each client. Assess where you may have struggled with last year's demands from clients and work on practising those skills with any spare time you may have.

Reach Out to Old Clients

Just because the phone is not ringing off the hook doesn't mean that your old clients don't need your services. One of the main reasons people may not book themselves in for a cut or colour touch-up is that January is usually a very quiet month for most. Having no social events to attend, many may simply not bother with a trip to the hairdresser. However, with a quick phone call, you may be able to fill one more appointment that would otherwise be empty. Also, sometimes clients just need a reminder that they haven't been to the salon for a while, so you may remind them of what they need with a quick call. After all, everyone loves a good pampering session and achieving a new look for the start of the year.

Make Some Changes

Starting a new year offers a great chance to make some improvements and changes to your services. Whether you need to look at your price list to ensure it still overs value for money whilst allowing you to earn enough to live on, many changes could be made to improve your client's experience. Another great opportunity is to consider the products you are using. Although you may have been using them for some time and they have never let you down, are they sustainable for the environment? Do your products offer good value for money? Making sustainable swaps for your salon can differentiate you from your competitors. We have a range of vegan hair care products and cruelty-free hair products to help you make more environmentally friendly choices. Make the change in your quieter months and see the difference for your clients.

Plan For the Rest of the Year

Christmas is always a busy and hectic time of the year. January offers the space to recalibrate and plan for the upcoming year. Does your salon need a spruce-up? Do you need to recruit more hair stylists? Use the quiet times to address any issues that cropped up within the hectic last few weeks of the previous year to make it better this year. Get the calendar out, sit down with your staff and see what the year offers. Are there any showcases coming up you wish to take your staff to? Are there any events which may require more help in the salon? Going through the calendar month by month can help you plan a more efficient year than the last, including where you may need to begin recruiting stages and much more. Make this year the best yet with organisation and planning. Alternatively, if your salon looks a little dated or drab, you could spend the time making the necessary renovations and touch-ups or just have a good old-fashioned sort out of all your storage and equipment.

Special Offers for a Limited Time

If your salon can't afford the quiet downtime that the start of the year tends to offer, which, let's be honest, many businesses can't afford due to the cost-of-living crisis, then why not offer something special? If you are looking to address the products you are using to make a change, why not run a special offer on all the current products you have until they run out? For example, you could offer discounts on services with old products coming towards the end of their use-by dates. Alternatively, start a referral scheme. You may see several new and returning customers by providing your clients discounts on referrals, helping defeat those tumbleweed days. You could also consider putting offers on your range of hair care gifts you may stock in your salon to encourage people to nip in for a bargain and grab a treatment whilst they are there. Whatever offers you decide to put on, ensure they provide more good than bad. You don’t want to be losing money instead of making it.

Make the Change with Salon Business Solutions

Whether you are looking at changing the range of products you supply or use in your salon or looking for new equipment to get those New Year dos looking incredible, Salon Business Solutions can help. We stock various products to ensure that you maintain an environmentally friendly salon experience whilst offering clients the very best. So order your products today online and however you use the quiet months, make this year better than ever!