A cut above the rest: How salons get customers with competitive pricing

A happy customer stays loyal. So it’s important salons maintain their competitive edge by keeping customers satisfied with their services, and by creating a comfortable relaxing atmosphere that keeps them coming back for more.

Not to be a wet blanket, but that is easier said than done. Good service requires good staff, and your business is going to need one to man the frontdesk, doubling up as a cashier and a receptionist. The same staff would probably lend a hand around the salon when needed, and assist throughout the customer journey.

Insufficient workforce and budget constraints can lead to salons increasing prices, which may turn customers away. If you’re lucky, your salon may become a hive of activity, which is good for business, but may not provide the best ambience for customers looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the real world.

So, how can you, a salon owner, keep your prices affordable for customers, while managing your reservations and maintaining a Zen-like space for all? Here are three answers that might help you:

Beat inflation by rewarding customers

Unfortunately, the reality is your salon, like many other businesses, will be inevitably affected by the increase in prices of goods and services. Apart from rising water and electricity costs, the shipping crisis probably means that many products will cost more to import and take longer to reach your salon.

While it may not be possible to sustain the same prices as before, you can consider giving incentives to keep current customers loyal and attract new ones.

For instance, you can consider using a loyalty program where customers can redeem a free product or service if they spend beyond a certain amount, or book a specific amount of services with your salon within an allocated time frame.

That way, even if the costs of your services or products increase, customers will feel that it’s worth their while to continue visiting the salon. For example, check out how Qashier’s Thai merchant Nail & Me keeps track of its nail packages using the Qashier POS solution. 

Keep your services different

Premium or quick service, whichever way you position yourself, it’s advisable to be upfront and transparent with your prices. You would probably feel a little annoyed at being upsold while you’re vulnerable and at the receiving end of a scissors. So your customers would hate being in a similar scenario. Offer your services and pricing upfront, transparently, and let them pay seamlessly with Qashier’s smart POS solution.

For instance, take Qashier client, DOOSH, which offers several all-in-one pampering services. The Major ‘DOOSH Pampers Me’ package is a relaxing haircut, wash, blow-dryer, and styling with a scalp treatment to top it off. The customer might be looking for a haircut, but it’s too hard to resist when presented with a lump sum pricing for different services.

Unique services will keep customers coming back. Think about the type of customers that your salon is trying to attract. If they’re looking for a fuss-free haircut, operational efficiency is what they want. So you need to prioritise a short waiting time, a quick way to pay, and an efficient haircut service.

If a premium service is what your clientele is in the market for, then the stylist, type of extra-value services, and settings will attract them.

As a business owner, you need to read your customers’ minds and know what your customers are looking for, even before they know that they want it, then package those services together and you’ll provide an offer no customer can refuse.

If you are using a smart POS solution like the QashierX1 or QashierXL, it doesn’t take any effort to key in the details of different packages to show customers, as well as present a QR code for contactless payment.

Furthermore, at the end of the customer experience, a quick survey represented by four emoticons reflected on the customer facing touchscreen will give you insight if they enjoyed their experience.

Use a room management system to track your availability

A room management system helps your business quickly check the availability of rooms or seats and make a reservation for a customer all from a Qashier terminal. With this tool, you stay on top of schedules, and maintain a consistent flow of revenue with no downtime by not wasting any empty slot.

This helps to keep prices competitive as you can discern which days and times have lower traffic, and which are high turnover days. Based on the data, you can focus your salon operations for higher traffic days, and save costs by scaling down operations on days which see less business.

With that in mind, it’s also important not to leave your customers disappointed when they cannot book a service or purchase a product due to poor inventory management on your part. Qashier smart POS solutions help you avoid such a situation.

Automate inventory management tasks with a room management system – providing insights into the optimal inventory levels for your business. In addition, it will help you audit your inventory levels as and when you like.

The sales report will also provide insight into the bestselling products and services and the staff who are making the most sales. Such data is crucial as you prioritise certain items over others, while scheduling your high performing staff on your busiest days. Meanwhile the commission system motivates your employees, encouraging them to make more sales.

Why use Qashier’s smart POS solution?

To keep your salon a cut above the rest, you need to keep updated on what’s new in the beauty industry. You also need to offer excellent service constantly. This will be an uphill challenge without a smart POS solution to keep it together.

Qashier offers multiple digital solutions, including QR code payments, employee management, customer relationship management (loyalty programs), inventory management, data analytics, and cashless payments, all in one terminal.

Qashier promises a seamless setup within 10 minutes, without any need for technical expertise. It boasts a user-friendly interface that is simple for anyone to learn and use. If you require assistance, you’ll find 7-days-a-week responsive technical support from our friendly Qashier team.

Speak to us to see if Qashier’s Smart POS can meet your business needs. Schedule a meeting with us here, call us at (+65) 3165 0155, WhatsApp (+65) 8882 8912, or email [email protected]/sg.