Your complete reopening toolkit for when you head back to salon

From appointment bookings and waiting lists to virtual consultations and going cashless – Wella Professionals has developed an essential toolkit to help you prepare for when salons can reopen... Preparing for the reopening of your salon may feel like a daunting task. If you have no idea where to start to ensure your salon reopens smoothly and safely, the Wella Professionals toolkit is what you need. The online guides are designed to give you the answers to everything that might be worrying you ahead of the current reopen date proposed by the UK Government.

1 - Who to see first?

The big question will be who to see first once your salon reopens. The simple answer is that it is entirely up to you. Keep in mind that social distancing is likely to continue so this may restrict the numbers allowed into your salon and affect your revenue. This gives you the chance to try something different. Consider the following to help with prioritising your clients: 1. Who are your most loyal clients? 2. Who are your highest spenders? 3. Who are your most flexible and reliable clients? 4. Do you have clients who have prepaid (pledged a deposit or purchased a gift voucher)? 5. Do you have clients who want a group booking (such as a whole household)? 6. Do you have clients who already had appointments booked pre-lockdown? 7. Which services are most profitable for your business and will aid your cashflow and staff at the start of reopening? 8. If you are mobile, are there clients who are local to you to help save on travel?

2 - Conducting a virtual consultation?

Wella Professionals recommends Zoom for conducting virtual consultations. It is quick and easy to set up an account and you will have a clear screen to assess your clients’ hair. You can create invites and connect them with your digital calendar. Encourage clients to do the following ahead of the virtual consultation: • Provide images of how they would want their hair cut and colour to look. Pinterest (https://www. pinterest.co.uk/wellahair/) is a great platform to find images. • If a client has used home colour, advise them to bring the box to the virtual consultation. It will help you to understand what type of colour has been used. • Ask your client to position themselves by some natural light such as a big window for the consultation. This will help you to see a clearer image of their hair. If your client is under any kind of light bulb it could alter how you see their hair colour. Use the call to help your clients understand: • The services they will need to achieve their ideal colour result. • Any changes they will need to have from their normal service such as long regrowth application. • The fact the service may take longer and may cost more. • Why the service may need to be different if they have used home colour and you may need to correct their hair.

3 - Selling digital gift vouchers

Setting up a reservation-style voucher with your clients will provide a source of income for you during lockdown. Plus, it could help you to manage demand and prioritise your clients when your salon reopens. It ensures your clients will remain loyal to you and you could gain new clients by encouraging your existing ones to offer vouchers to loved ones as a present. Encourage participation by doing the following: • Promote on social media. • Suggest a gift voucher during your virtual consultation. • Use as either part-deposit or full payment (subject to full consultation).

4 - Going cashless

A likely consequence following COVID-19 will be the need for your salon to go cashless. This helps to maintain social distancing and reduces the risk of spreading the virus. Options for going cashless include: • Chip and pin POS machine. • Online platform provider. • Square or Strip payment specialists. This is a sponsored post by Wella Professionals