The lead-up to Christmas and the New Year is undoubtedly a hectic time as salon businesses across the country become a hive of activity, with clients wanting to look their very best during the festive party season.
As a salon owner, there is no better time to latch on to this tremendous retail opportunity to boost your takings as both new and existing clients start pouring into your salon for their pre-Christmas party treatments and services.
It is essential to start now by planning your Christmas retail strategy. 🎄🎁
Prepare in advance by stocking up on the most popular Christmas gift sets to ensure that you don’t miss out on this profit-boosting opportunity.
Our top tips on merchandising your Christmas retail stock…
1. Create a designated Christmas retail area
Creating a designated Christmas area in your salon business can help you attract more customers during the party season and create a festive atmosphere for your clients.
Here are some steps to help you get started…
Plan the Design
Determine where in your salon you want to create the Christmas area. It could be a corner, a waiting area, or a separate room, depending on the space available.
Decorate the Space
Invest in Christmas decorations such as ornaments, wreaths, tinsel, lights, and a Christmas tree.
Theme and Colour Scheme
Choose a specific Christmas theme or colour scheme that aligns with your brand. Common themes include traditional, modern, rustic, or even a specific colour combination like red and gold.
Festive Lighting
Use warm, soft lighting to create a cosy and inviting atmosphere.
Festive Music
Play Christmas music softly in the background to set the mood. Ensure the volume is pleasant and not disruptive to clients.
Seasonal Scents
Use scented candles, diffusers, or air fresheners that evoke the scents of the Christmas season, such as cinnamon, pine, or gingerbread.
Collaborations
Partner with local businesses or artisans to set up a small Christmas market or pop-up shop within your salon. This can create a sense of community and increase foot traffic.
Social Media and Marketing
Promote your Christmas area and special offers on your social media platforms, website, and email newsletters. Share photos and videos of the festive space to attract potential clients.
Christmas-Themed Retail Products:
Display and promote Christmas-themed retail products, such as hair and beauty gift sets or festive nail polish colours.
You may also enjoy The best Christmas gifting products for your salon.
2. Stock up now!
Stocking up on Christmas gift packs for your salon business before December is a smart move to prepare for the festive season.
Plan Ahead
Start planning and ordering your Christmas gift packs well in advance, ideally several months before December. This will give you enough time to research, source, and receive the products.
Assess Demand
Review your sales data from previous holiday seasons to gauge the demand for specific gift packs and products. This information can help you make more informed purchasing decisions.
Make sure you have enough stock to last you the season. Gift packs tend to sell out quite quickly from suppliers, and you don’t want to end up with a sparse-looking retail area by December and miss out on those last-minute sales.
Diversify Your Offerings
Offer a variety of gift packs to cater to different budgets and preferences. Create options for skincare, haircare, nail care, or makeup to attract a wider range of customers.
Collaborate with Brands
Partner with brands or suppliers to create exclusive gift packs for your salon. These collaborations can set your salon apart from competitors and offer unique products to your clients.
Monitor Sales
Keep a close eye on the sales of your Christmas gift packs throughout the season. Adjust your stock inventory if certain packs are selling out quickly and reorder as needed.
3. Create an eye-catching Christmas window display
We recommend displaying your gift packs in your window to capture any passing trade. Make your presentation look appealing and festive, and you’ll be surprised how many walk-ins you can get, with people popping in to pick up last-minute hair or beauty presents.
Consider the layout of your window space. Determine the focal points, the flow of the display, and the placement of key elements. Make sure that your display is visually balanced and not cluttered. And don’t forget to use window lettering and signage to convey your Christmas promotions clearly; the messaging should be concise and readable.
4. Host an in-salon Christmas event
The key to a successful in-salon Christmas event is creating a warm and inviting atmosphere that fosters a sense of community and holiday cheer. By offering unique experiences and promoting your event effectively, you can build stronger relationships with your clients and boost your salon’s visibility during the festive season.
Choose a date and time for your Christmas event that works well for your clients and staff. Consider evenings or weekends to accommodate more people. Another good idea is to organise a raffle with Christmas-themed prizes. You could also include samples of products or promotional materials in the gift bags.
If your budget permits, put on some drinks & nibbles and encourage clients to bring along friends. You can take this opportunity to sell gift vouchers for treatments and services and show off your Christmas product range.
Promote your event through various channels, such as:
- Social media: Create event pages and posts to generate buzz.
- Email newsletters: Send out invitations and reminders to your client list.
- In-salon posters and flyers: Display information about the event in your salon.
- Collaborate with local businesses or influencers to help spread the word.
Never held an event before?
Check out our guide: How to hold a client event in your salon.
5. Get your pricing right
Remember to stock gifts at different price levels when putting together products to retail as a set or selling ready-made Christmas gift packs. As a guide, £5-£15 is a reasonable price range for stocking filler presents, £20-£30 for larger gift sets, and £50 and above is a reasonable price for more extravagant sets.
Understand Your Costs
Calculate the total cost of creating each gift pack, including the cost of products, packaging, decorations, and any additional expenses like labour or marketing. Ensure you have a clear understanding of your cost structure.
Determine Your Profit Margin
Decide on the profit margin you want to achieve with each gift pack. Consider industry standards, the perceived value of your products, and the level of competition in your market. A common rule of thumb is a 50-70% profit margin on products, but this can vary.
Bundle Value
Calculate the combined value of the products in your gift pack if customers were to purchase them separately. This can be used to emphasise the cost savings and value that customers receive when buying the gift pack.
Tiered Pricing
Offer gift packs at different price points to cater to various customer budgets. Include options for both affordable and premium gift packs.
Discounts and Promotions
Decide if you want to offer any discounts or promotions, such as early bird specials or buy-one-get-one deals. These can incentivise customers to make a purchase.
Finding the right pricing for Christmas gift packs in your salon business may require some trial and error, but with careful consideration of costs, competition, and customer demand, you can strike a balance that appeals to your target audience while also maximising your profitability.
Related: Christmas promotional ideas for your salon
Looking for the perfect gift packs to delight your clients?
We stock a fabulous range of Christmas salon gift sets for you to add to your retail area.
With something for all budgets, why not try boosting your retail revenue with some of these bestselling gift packs and products from Salons Direct?
Shop Christmas sets at Salons Direct.
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