Category: Blog

How To Build Your Salon’s Loyalty Program

There are many reasons for salon owners to build loyalty programs. It can help engage clients, grow revenue, and increase customer retention. But you can’t just randomly assign points and launch without a plan in place. For your salon loyalty program to actually work and help grow your business, invest the time to set it… Continue reading How To Build Your Salon’s Loyalty Program

Collecting Customer Information & Consent

We’re excited to announce the launch of Insight Salon & Spa Software’s newest feature: Client Intake Forms. These forms will enable you to capture vital customer details and to protect both your clients and your business. Information is Money How well do you truly know your clients? When booking an initial visit, you may be… Continue reading Collecting Customer Information & Consent

How to Increase Salon & Spa Retail Sales

Products are a great way to supplement your service revenue. In fact, they often boast a higher profit margin than those very services. As product sales are not restricted by the stylists’ time, they provide a window of opportunity to increase every customer’s transaction value. Imagine if each client spends an extra $5 per appointment.… Continue reading How to Increase Salon & Spa Retail Sales

30 Resolutions for Salon & Spa Owners

Don’t waste your time and energy. Resolve to grow personally, professionally, and as a business this year. Check out a few resolution ideas and adopt a few of the goals that will challenge you, yet are achievable. Whenever possible, customize the goals to be measurable so you will be able to look back and determine if you… Continue reading 30 Resolutions for Salon & Spa Owners

How to Prepare for the Holiday Season

It probably comes as no surprise that the winter holidays are the greatest spending season of the year. The National Retail Federation (NRF) totaled the 2016 winter holiday spending at over $658 billion, nearly ten times greater than the second-ranked Back to School season and almost thirty times more than the third-place Mother’s Day! Over the… Continue reading How to Prepare for the Holiday Season

Top Tips for Managing Salon & Spa Reviews

What’s your number one source of new clients? For many salons, spas, and barber shops, the majority of customers come as a result of others–through online reviews and word-of-mouth referrals. Your existing customers are not only the primary source; they are also the most cost-effective. Despite this, some salons and spas are still hesitant to ask for reviews. Sure, there… Continue reading Top Tips for Managing Salon & Spa Reviews

Increase Your Salon Team’s Productivity

As service-oriented businesses, the profitability of salons and spas is directly related to how much their employees can accomplish. Thus, it is essential to properly utilize your staff and to give them the opportunities and tools to be productive. Schedule Accordingly The key economic concept behind all businesses is supply and demand. When your supply (appointment slots) equals… Continue reading Increase Your Salon Team’s Productivity

7 Ways to Reduce Salon & Spa Costs

In order to establish and run a business, you will inevitably need to invest in numerous areas including your facility, staff, inventory, and marketing. While minimizing costs is always a good idea, it is even more important that your operating budget is being utilized effectively. 1. Be Strategic There should be a valid reason behind every decision… Continue reading 7 Ways to Reduce Salon & Spa Costs

5 Ways to Promote Your Salon Services

Sale! Free! Discount! When hearing “promotion,” those three words may have popped into your mind first. For some salons and spas, the thought of ever offering a discount is unimaginable. Meanwhile, some other businesses jump to offering discounts whenever their schedule is quieter than usual or when they need to increase their cash flow. However, there needs to… Continue reading 5 Ways to Promote Your Salon Services

4 Father’s Day Marketing Tips for Salons & Spas

The male grooming industry has been growing in recent years. Rather than going to a small neighborhood barbershop for a quick haircut and shave, more men are opting for upscale barbershop and salon experiences with manicures and facials. And it’s no different for spas as men now comprise 47% of all spa-goers*. Regardless of the services you… Continue reading 4 Father’s Day Marketing Tips for Salons & Spas

How Insight Gives Your Salon an Advantage

What is your competitive advantage over the other salons & spas in your community? To answer this, consider what attracts clients into your business for the very first time and what influences their decision to return. Is it your employees, services, location, and/or pricing? While there are countless variables that affect your success, take a look at… Continue reading How Insight Gives Your Salon an Advantage

How to Write a Job Description in 5 Simple Steps

Recruitment and retention are among the greatest challenges that any business faces, but especially so with salons and spas. Typically, there are countless opportunities available so it can be difficult to get the step up on hiring experienced stylists or the top students from a graduating class. Even once hired, some stylists may see your competitors and… Continue reading How to Write a Job Description in 5 Simple Steps

6 Work-Life Balance Tips for Salon Owners

Owning a salon and spa definitely requires sacrifice. Especially in the early stages, a lot of time needs to be invested – time that is taken away from family, friends, and other activities. However, there are a few things that you can do to prevent wasting energy, to spend less time worrying about the business, and to have more… Continue reading 6 Work-Life Balance Tips for Salon Owners

How to Design Your Salon’s Loyalty Program

From engaging clients to growing profits, there are numerous reasons to offer a loyalty rewards program. But for the program to actually grow your business, invest some time to set it up strategically. If you randomly assign points to purchases with no plan in place, you could just be cutting into your existing revenue. Setting Goals… Continue reading How to Design Your Salon’s Loyalty Program

3 Questions Every Salon Owner Needs to Ask

Buying a chocolate bar at the convenience store near your home is probably a simple decision that requires little thought. Selecting software for your salon, on the other hand, requires some deeper thought and even research. A management software program can certainly save you time, money, and energy. However, that is only the case when… Continue reading 3 Questions Every Salon Owner Needs to Ask

Marketing & Technology Trends for the Salon Industry

The salon & spa industry is constantly growing. The United States Department of Labor predicts that the number of barbers, hairdressers, and cosmetologists will grow 10% by 2024. As competition continues to grow, it is vital to stay ahead, or at least keep up, with industry trends. Social Proof It should come as no surprise that people… Continue reading Marketing & Technology Trends for the Salon Industry

Why Your Salon Needs a Loyalty Program

It’s cheaper to retain a client than to attract a new one. In fact, some sources estimate that it can cost up to 10 times less! With that in mind, how can salons and spas improve their client retention rates? It should come as no surprise that customer service, satisfaction with the product (or result of service), and salon… Continue reading Why Your Salon Needs a Loyalty Program

4 Steps to Creating a Great Salon Culture

A salon’s culture has the potential to influence the business’s reputation, customer retention rates, hiring efforts, and employee turnover. While the concept of a company culture may seem abstract, it certainly can be felt and seen in the way that employees interact with management, coworkers, and customers. Do employees show up with a smile every day? Are they… Continue reading 4 Steps to Creating a Great Salon Culture

Salons & the Super Bowl: Building Your Brand

We recently mentioned that Valentine’s Day was the 4th highest spending event of the year. Just two spots behind, squeezing in between Easter and Father’s Day, is the Super Bowl. Sure, much of the spending may be on travel to the championship game, food for game day parties, and NFL merchandise. However, there certainly are opportunities for… Continue reading Salons & the Super Bowl: Building Your Brand

3 Tips for Choosing the Best Salon Software

Selecting the right salon and spa management software for your business is important. It can be the difference between earning profits and missing out on growth opportunities. When searching for the best salon software that fits your business, consider these 3 pieces of advice. 1. Consider Total Value While price is an important aspect of… Continue reading 3 Tips for Choosing the Best Salon Software

Valentine’s Day Marketing for Salons & Spas

Valentine’s Day is the 4th highest spending season of the year, according to the National Retail Federation, behind Christmas, Back to School, and Mother’s Day. With people willing to spend, how can your salon or spa capitalize on this season? Get Clients Thinking About Valentine’s Day Early While it’s still about a month away, the… Continue reading Valentine’s Day Marketing for Salons & Spas

The True Cost of Salon Management Software

With the cost of salon equipment, beauty supplies, and employee wages, funds are limited for salon owners. With costs constantly inflating and prices rarely being increased, many businesses are looking to save money and cut spending. To minimize spending, many businesses look for free salon software or stick with the traditional pen and paper appointment… Continue reading The True Cost of Salon Management Software

7 Tips for Retaining Clients after a Price Increase

Many salon owners wait as long as possible before raising prices because they worry about losing clients. While this is a legitimate concern, it should not prevent you from taking the necessary actions to make your business sustainable and successful. By following a few best practices, you can retain nearly all of your clients and even… Continue reading 7 Tips for Retaining Clients after a Price Increase

Why Salons Need Online Appointment Scheduling

Online appointment scheduling has been around for years. However, it is becoming increasingly important for salons and spas to remain competitive. Take a look at how online booking will align with your marketing, increase appointment bookings, and improve client spending. Web Traffic Having an online presence will help you attract new customers and engage existing ones. And by offering online… Continue reading Why Salons Need Online Appointment Scheduling

4 Christmas Specials to Increase January Sales

The busiest season for salons and spas typically consist of the weeks leading up to Christmas. The appointment calendar is fully booked, with more clients hoping for time slots to free up. With all this demand, there doesn’t seem to be any reason to offer clients a deal. However, promotions around the winter holidays can play an important… Continue reading 4 Christmas Specials to Increase January Sales

Performance Reviews for Salon Employees

Having regular one-on-one, career-focused conversations with employees is critical to your salon or spa’s success. If they are performing at their full potential, clients will be satisfied with the service they receive and rebooking rates will increase. On the other hand, your business may be missing out on revenue or failing to retain clients if they are… Continue reading Performance Reviews for Salon Employees

4 Salon Gift Card Promotions to Boost Sales

Gift cards provide amazing opportunities to build brand awareness, encourage client loyalty, and win back customers. Take a look at a few ways to utilize them in growing your salon and spa business. Build Brand Awareness Method: Offer an incentive for gift card purchases Primary target: Potential clients and their significant others Communication: Targeted Facebook advertising, cross promotions Often, the greatest challenge for… Continue reading 4 Salon Gift Card Promotions to Boost Sales

How to Make a Lasting Impression

Whether it’s a branded advertisement, a quick glance at your salon design, or a comment from a friend, first impressions have a significant influence on a person’s behavior. However, recent interactions can be just as important, if not more. The recency effect explains that when people are asked to recall a series, they tend to… Continue reading How to Make a Lasting Impression

Is Your Salon a Target of Credit Card Fraud?

Credit card fraud may be an afterthought for many businesses including salons and spas. However with the recent EMV liability shift, it should be a real concern as they will lose revenue and clients’ trust. EMV Technology EMV transactions are unique in that payments are processed using microchips which are embedded into credit cards and… Continue reading Is Your Salon a Target of Credit Card Fraud?

Tips for Building Your Salon Brand

Branding is all about how you present yourself to the world: clients, employees, suppliers, and anyone who might influence potential customers. Through your salon’s brand and marketing, you can guide people’s perceptions of your business and influence their decision to visit your salon. Messaging As you develop or evolve your brand, the first step is to determine your… Continue reading Tips for Building Your Salon Brand

The Top 3 Reasons for Insight Software

Technology has the power to change the way salons and spas operate. But not all technology is equal. Differences can be found in the features, adaptability, and user experience. So, what gives Insight an advantage over other salon management software? 1. The Features You Need Using Google Calendar to track appointments? Storing customer details in Microsoft Excel? Sending… Continue reading The Top 3 Reasons for Insight Software

6 Tips to Rebook More Salon Clients

Whether you are serving a longtime client or a first-time visitor, it’s vital to rebook them as early as possible to encourage retention. It will keep your appointment schedule full without having to chase down customers, and it will also increase your clients’ frequency of visit. By bringing them in every 4 weeks instead of every 5 weeks (for example),… Continue reading 6 Tips to Rebook More Salon Clients

What is EMV and how does it affect your business?

In the United States, fraudulent transaction liability has recently shifted to the retailer if credit card payments are not processed on a point of sale (POS) terminal which supports EMV (also referred to as chip-and-pin cards). This means that the credit card companies will no longer pay retailers for the fraudulent transactions. Similar liability shifts… Continue reading What is EMV and how does it affect your business?

Manage Salon & Spa Inventory Efficiently

Inventory is an integral part of your salon or spa’s profitability. Retail sales, when done properly, have the potential to multiply a salon’s revenue. Equally important, if not more, are your professional spa or salon supplies as these items affect your ability to provide quality services. Beyond employee salaries or wages, inventory is typically the… Continue reading Manage Salon & Spa Inventory Efficiently

9 Stress Reducing Tips for Business Owners

Do you wish running a business was relaxing like a walk on the beach? Unfortunately, it is often stressful with bills to pay, a family (and even employees) counting on you, and the need to succeed (or fear of failure). While it’s beneficial to have some pressure to push you and challenge you, too much stress is unhealthy for you,… Continue reading 9 Stress Reducing Tips for Business Owners

4 Essential Reports for Salon & Spa Success

For many salon and spa owners, the business aspect seems dull and creates more questions than answers. With countless tasks to juggle like employee scheduling, payroll, marketing, purchasing, and accounting (often all this in addition to handling a full appointment book), little time is left to statistically analyze the business and to strategically plan for growth. As such,… Continue reading 4 Essential Reports for Salon & Spa Success

Building Your Salon’s Male Clientele

Men are becoming increasingly concerned about their appearance. In fact, a recent study by Chapman University found that appearance is a greater predictor of life satisfaction for men than women. This trend is further evidenced as Google reported that, in 2015, there were 6% more searches relating to men’s hair than to women’s hair. The global male grooming industry is… Continue reading Building Your Salon’s Male Clientele

Grow Your Business with Text Messages

With so many marketing channels like websites, business directories, social media, email, newspapers, radio and direct mail, the last thing you want to do is to add more work. However, marketing via text messages is a proven method to increase client satisfaction and engagement while requiring minimal time and effort. Why Send Text Messages? There are… Continue reading Grow Your Business with Text Messages

Optimizing Your Appointment Schedule

For many salons and spas, the appointment book is taken for granted and little thought is given to its influence on the business’s revenue and profitability. In order to optimize the calendar and to ultimately maximize profit, think about appointment scheduling as a puzzle and work to fill every slot! Minimize Gaps While it does not actually… Continue reading Optimizing Your Appointment Schedule

Recruiting and Retaining a Loyal Salon Team

Salons and spas typically experience high employee turnover. Stylists and service providers may be looking to advance their careers or they may just not fit in with a business. While staff changes are inevitable, you can improve retention by following some recruitment best practices. Employment Brand Recruitment does not only happen when you need to… Continue reading Recruiting and Retaining a Loyal Salon Team

6 Steps for Launching a Membership Program

Now that you know a membership program is beneficial to your business, how do you get it off the ground? 1. Know your clients. As with any other initiative, your decisions should be focused on your customers. Take a look at the service/purchase history of your top clients and understand their tendencies. Don’t hesitate to… Continue reading 6 Steps for Launching a Membership Program

3 Benefits of Management Software

Are you still using a pen-and-paper appointment book at your business? Insight Salon & Spa Software will help you achieve greater efficiency, increased profitability, and a sense of security. Best of all, Insight is customizable to work the way you want and is easy to use! Efficiency Manage your business with Insight! Save time with… Continue reading 3 Benefits of Management Software

7 Considerations Before Selling Memberships

Membership programs in salons and spas are growing in popularity. They can increase client loyalty and bring in a reliable revenue stream, however not all businesses will benefit from them. Find out if you should join this trend or if it is not a fit for your salon. Benefits of a Membership Program More Appointment BookingsClients… Continue reading 7 Considerations Before Selling Memberships

6 Steps to Becoming a Better Leader

The success of your salon or spa is the direct outcome of your service providers. Their skills and, more importantly, their attitude contribute to your business’s ability to retain clients and the amount of positive client reviews and referrals you receive. The way your staff treats customers and responds to challenges is influenced by the salon… Continue reading 6 Steps to Becoming a Better Leader

Creative Marketing Ideas for Salons & Spas

Implement some out-of-the-box strategies to raise brand awareness, attract new clients, and excite existing customers. Just remember your brand and target market and ensure everything you do aligns with them. Welcome to the Neighborhood Say hi to new and existing neighbors! Drop off a brochure or coupon at nearby houses. Contact real estate agents or… Continue reading Creative Marketing Ideas for Salons & Spas

9 Marketing Ideas for Valentine’s Day

Fill your appointment book and increase sales this Valentine’s Day! Take advantage of this time of year to attract new customers and to encourage existing clients to rebook! Repurpose Remaining Christmas Stock If you have leftover stocking stuffers from Christmas, try to clear it up sooner rather than later! Convince clients to purchase them as… Continue reading 9 Marketing Ideas for Valentine’s Day

New Year’s Resolutions: Staff Management

Your greatest assets are your employees. They have the ability to make the greatest difference in your salon or spa, both in a positive manner and in a negative fashion. If you build them up, it will grow your business and also motivate them to continue working for you! Scheduling Having a routine schedule prevents… Continue reading New Year’s Resolutions: Staff Management

New Year’s Resolutions: Salon & Spa Growth

A healthy salon or spa should always be growing. This growth can occur in two ways: attracting new clients and increasing client spending. Check out a few tips to make sure your business grows in 2016! Client Experience The first step in growing your business is to provide an unforgettable client experience. Send a confirmation or… Continue reading New Year’s Resolutions: Salon & Spa Growth

New Year’s Resolutions: Business Efficiency

Running a salon or spa is no small feat, regardless if you are a chair renter or if you are the owner of a multi-location business. From appointment scheduling to reviewing sales reports, there are countless tasks to complete. However, steps can be taken to reduce the workload and stress. Take advantage of some strategies… Continue reading New Year’s Resolutions: Business Efficiency

The Secret to Successful Retailing

Selling retail products can be the toughest and most disliked part of working in a salon or spa. Some employees push products into clients’ faces, simply trying to reach a quota or to earn commission. Meanwhile, other staff members don’t even offer items because they are worried about being rejected or about scaring away customers. Attitude The… Continue reading The Secret to Successful Retailing

7 Ideas to Appreciate Your Employees

Employees and coworkers are often like a second family. After all, these are the people you probably spend the most time with, sometimes more than your actual family! With Thanksgiving just a couple weeks away and the Christmas season around the corner, remember to show your gratitude to your employees and reward their hard work!… Continue reading 7 Ideas to Appreciate Your Employees

Is Your Salon or Spa Protected?

A burglar breaks into the salon and steals the laptop. An electrical surge fries the business’s computer. A fire breaks out and everything in the spa is destroyed. An email link was clicked accidentally, a virus was downloaded, and all your data has been corrupted. Do you have a plan in case any of these… Continue reading Is Your Salon or Spa Protected?

Retailing and Inventory Management with Insight

Selling and managing products is an afterthought for some salons and spas, however it can sometimes be more profitable than the services. Simplify the retail process by using Insight Salon & Spa Software. Product Information Through Insight’s Products module, easily manage any product information and even upload a picture of it. Edit prices and costs,… Continue reading Retailing and Inventory Management with Insight

Managing Employee Vacation Requests

Employee vacation requests can provide a challenging situation for salon or spa managers. From an employer-employee perspective, there are several factors to consider like staff morale, retention, and equality. Add in client appointments that have already been booked, and it can get complicated. Tips for Managing Vacation Requests 1. Set a vacation policy and ensure… Continue reading Managing Employee Vacation Requests

Changing Themes with Insight Software

Want to add some excitement to your desktop? Did you know that you can change the theme of Insight Salon & Spa Software? Select your favorite color or pick a design that is relevant to the time of year. Themes include Halloween, Valentine’s Day, spring, winter, and more. Watch the below video to learn how to change… Continue reading Changing Themes with Insight Software

Client Loyalty: Series of Services

When booking a standing appointment or completing a sale, encourage clients to purchase a series of services. Reward them for committing to your salon or spa. As an example, you can give clients a free massage when they purchase six sessions. As a benefit to you, it provides guaranteed revenue for your business. Find out how… Continue reading Client Loyalty: Series of Services

5 Ways to Increase Gift Card Sales

Gift card sales have been rising over the last several years as consumers appreciate the convenience and want to give recipients the flexibility to choose their gift. Last winter, 80% of consumers expressed their intention to purchase at least one gift card and 25% planned to buy 5 or more. But how do you entice… Continue reading 5 Ways to Increase Gift Card Sales

Switching to Insight Software Made Easy

With Insight Salon & Spa Software, we are dedicated to providing you with an effective business management system. From getting set up to booking appointments and processing transactions, Insight makes it easy. Set Up After completing the paperwork (takes less than 5 minutes), you will be provided with a username and password to log in… Continue reading Switching to Insight Software Made Easy

Cross Promoting Your Salon or Spa

Looking to grow your client base? A great and inexpensive method is to partner with another business. What are the Benefits? Cross promotions will raise awareness of your business in a positive manner. Every business has built a trusting relationship with their loyal customers. When they refer those customers to your salon or spa, they… Continue reading Cross Promoting Your Salon or Spa

Save Time & Make Money with Insight

Money doesn’t grow on trees. You need to invest time and money in order for your salon to thrive. But be wise with how you spend your limited time. Focus more on improving the client experience, and reduce the effort required to manage the business. Maximize your efficiency today! Take a glimpse at a few… Continue reading Save Time & Make Money with Insight

Back to School: New Year, New Routine

Summer is just about over. Kids will be going back to school soon and adults are getting ready for business to pick up again in the fall. Change is just around the corner, and new routines will need to be established. Create standing appointments to help your clients build their routine. Standing appointments occur when you reserve a… Continue reading Back to School: New Year, New Routine

Top 3 Advantages of Insight on the Cloud

There are different options when it comes to spa and salon management software, but what sets Insight’s cloud version above the rest? Insight provides the speed, reliability, and flexibility you need to run your business efficiently and effectively. Speed Any software that is web-based (written in Java or HTML like regular web pages) suffers from… Continue reading Top 3 Advantages of Insight on the Cloud

Cloud or Installed – It’s Your Choice

Insight Salon & Spa Software offers you a choice between installing the software on your computer or accessing Insight from the cloud (computing that uses the internet as a central resource in order to allow you to access your information from any web-enabled device* at any time and in any place). It doesn’t matter which… Continue reading Cloud or Installed – It’s Your Choice

5 Marketing Tips for Your Salon or Spa

Grow your salon or spa business by building customer loyalty and increasing your client base. Measure Client Satisfaction Confirm that your current clients are delighted with your services, products, and prices. There is no point to draw in new customers if their needs won’t be met. A disappointed customer may add revenue once, but a… Continue reading 5 Marketing Tips for Your Salon or Spa