Is it Too Early for Jingle Bells?

Yes, we know there is nothing more annoying than hearing Christmas songs playing in shops in mid-November – unless you’re Elf – but if you’re running a salon business you do need to start getting festive.

We’re not suggesting you covering every free surface with tinsel, but now is the time to get those gift sets on display. You need to make sure they are visible so that clients are aware you offer a gift solution that they may be truly grateful for in a few weeks’ time. Bear in mind, many clients visiting your salons in the next week or two may not be back until after Christmas, so you need to show them what you offer now. They may be super-organised and purchase something right away or remember you on December 23rd when they are panicking.

So, when do you start cranking out the Christmas hits? Maybe you shouldn’t. What do you think your clients want? They may come to you to escape the festive madness and be ready to scream the next time they hear Slade screeching “It’s Christmas!” Remember the salon is the client’s space too and you need to consider their tastes before you play music to entertain yourself or the team. Maybe you could opt for something more classic to play in the background, or at least try and be a bit creative and play less obvious tracks.

Offering clients a festive tipple as the day approaches is always a nice idea, but check with your local council about licencing laws, if you don’t already have one. Many councils require you to hold a licence even when you’re giving drinks away. And if you have a party for clients, make sure the team know what’s expected in terms of their behaviour. You don’t want anyone getting drunk and spoiling years of relationship building with inappropriate comments or behaviour.

Oh dear, now we sound like The Grinch. Obviously, you want your team to feel motivated over the festive period, especially as they are likely to be working harder than most of their non-hairdresser friends right up until Christmas Eve. Many salons opt to have a party in the new year when the rush is over. This gives the team a chance to celebrate together when things are more relaxed, and they will have something to look forward to. You could include some awards as part of the celebrations, recognising those team members who have gone the extra mile over the previous two months.