Getting rid of the After Holiday Blues

It's time to answer our first inquiry from a fellow cosmetologist.  This question came for Donna who owns a salon in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. Donna asks the following:

"As a hairdresser, my staff and I are so busy around the holidays!  We are completely booked up through New Years and loving it! However, and this has happened every year since I opened my salon in 2008, January becomes so slow.  We literally go from 60-0 overnight and it can really hurt my employees. Especially after the holidays when they have credit card bills to pay from their seasons spending! So I was wondering if you had some tips on how to avoid the after holiday lull and keep appointments on the books in January and February?" ~Donna, Pittsburgh PA

This is a GREAT question that Wendy and Oscar get asked quite often.  It is befitting because the holidays are upon us so let's get down to business. Here is something Wendy and Oscar used to do after the holidays when they owned the Oscar Bond Salon. 

• You want to get together either a post card mailing or an email blast list of all your clients. A good salon will already have this handy and easily access able. So if you don't have one of these already, get on that! If you do, for the holidays, stick to the method that has worked best for you. Oscar and Wendy found that even in the age of email they still liked to do regular US Postal Mailings. People enjoy getting mail these days and after the holidays they will appreciate ANYTHING that isn't their credit card bill!
• You want to create your postcard using your logo, color scheme and message that has already been branded for your salon.  Outsourcing jobs like this to professional printers is always recommended and will give you a better return on your investment.
• On your postcard you will want to give your clients a discount, thanking them for all the support they gave your salon in the previous year.  It should read like follows: "Thank you for your continued patronage in 2011.  To say thanks, bring this card in between January 1st and February 28th 2012 and get 20% off any service. " 
• With the post card you are "killing two birds with one stone". Not only are you thanking all your clients, but you are also saving them money after the holidays.  This is a win/win for everyone involved. Your employees will have appointments, your salon will make some much needed cash after the holiday season and your clients will be pleased with the discount!

We want to thank Donna for her question and invite everyone to share their thoughts and/or something they do after the holiday to avoid the lull.  Also, below is an example of a post card Oscar and Wendy sent out from the Oscar Bond Salon in 2008. If you like what you see, feel free to contact Karen at Bedwick and Jones Printers ; (570) 829-1951 or kfritzges@bedwickandjones.com.  They would be happy to assist you with your holiday post cards as well as printing needs! Tell them Oscar and Wendy sent you!

ho hohoho ho ho

ho ho ho ho ho ho

ho hohoho ho ho    (Front)

ho hohoho ho ho

You don't need a red suit to be Santa

The Oscar Bond Salon is going to be Santa for the next two

months by giving our clients a special discount on their first

appointment in 2008. To thank you for your patronage this past

year, you will receive 15% off all services for that day. Consider

pampering yourself with one of our spa packages, or indulge in

a customized day of relaxation and beauty. Remember, the

more you treat yourself, the more you save.

[This gift can be redeemed 1/1/08 until 2/29/08. The discount is a one-time-only offer

and is not transferable. Offer excludes hair extensions and thermal relaxers.]
Happy Holidays!42 w o o s t e r s t r e e t s o h o • n e w y o r k 1 0 0 1 3 p h o n e : 2 1 2 3 3 4 - 3 7 7 7 • w w w. o s c a r
b o n d s a l o n . c o m

The Oscar Bond Staff