6 Tips for Pre-Booking Your Salon for the Holiday Season

As autumn sets in, it is time to begin strategizing for the most bustling period in the beauty industry: the holiday season. With clients eager to sparkle and shine for holiday gatherings, your salon will be busier than ever. However, smart pre-booking strategies can keep your holiday schedule organized and stress-free! 

Here are six tips to efficiently pre-book the holiday season: 

1. Leverage the Power of 24/7 Online Booking 

If you have yet to move to online booking, now is the time! Simplify your booking process with SolaGenius’s 24/7 online booking tool – the ultimate ally in salon management. This software not only makes it easier for your clients to schedule appointments well in advance, but also helps you manage your calendar effectively.  

Clients can make appointments 24/7 including outside of business hours, which proves critical for salons; according to recent studies, more than 50% of salon clients prefer to book outside of working hours – so why not make this available to them?  

In addition, online booking drastically reduces the time that you spend managing calls, texts and emails – which is another great way to recover time during the holiday season. Plus, SolaGenius’s built-in client reminders decrease no-shows, which is especially important during times of limited holiday availability.  

2. Announce a Holiday Early Bird Booking Promotion 

Launching early bird promotions with your holiday specials can be a great incentive for clients to schedule their holiday appointments in advance. An early bird promotion might look like offering a discount or bonus service for appointments booked before a certain date.  

Choose a timeframe to run the early bird promotion, and pick a deadline for the deal, such as before November, before Thanksgiving, or before December 1. You can apply a discount to all early-bird bookers, or you can create holiday special packages that include discounts for early booking.  

3. Create Holiday Specials 

Get creative with your holiday specials! Tailor them to your unique services and clientele, creating packages that will make them feel festive and beautiful this holiday season. The holiday packages can still be on your menu after the early-bird promotion is over.  

Here are some examples for different types of beauty professionals to get your creativity flowing: 

• Hair Stylist: Offer a "Holiday Hair Bundle" which includes a cut, color, and a free holiday blow out, when booked before November. This ensures your clients' hair stays fresh for all their holiday events and gives them an incentive to book early. 
• Nail Technician: Introduce a "Festive Fingers Package," where clients receive a manicure and pedicure with their choice of holiday-themed nail art. Consider offering a 10% discount for appointments booked prior to November. 
• Makeup Artist: Promote a "Holiday Glamour Special" that includes a full makeup application with complimentary holiday-themed eyelash extensions or a glitter accent, if booked before Thanksgiving. 
• Colorist: Advertise a "Winter Wonderland Special", combining a color touch-up with a deep conditioning treatment for healthy, shiny holiday hair. Add a bonus free gloss treatment for appointments booked before the end of November. 
• Esthetician: Design a "Holiday Glow Package" combining a deep cleansing facial with a bonus free mini-microdermabrasion treatment, when clients book their appointment at least one month in advance. 
• Brow/Lash Specialist: Create a "Merry and Bright Eyes Special" offering a combined brow shaping and lamination, with a free lash tint for those booking in October and November for December appointments. 
• When crafting your holiday specials, it's essential to tailor your offers to your services, clientele, and availability. Make sure that you are not over-extending yourself or offering deals that could impact your profit margins. Remember, the goal is to incentivize bookings without compromising profitability. Provide incentives that spark interest in pre-booking without sacrificing your value.  

4. Announce Your Holiday Specials  

A well-timed announcement can encourage your clients to book their holiday appointments well in advance. Make sure to promote your early bird specials and holiday packages on all your communication platforms - social media, email, SMS list, in-salon signage, in-person announcements, and any other way that you connect with your clients.  

Festive graphics will go a long way in letting clients know that early booking is a priority at your salon this holiday season. We like making designs on Canva.com for eye catching graphics that you can make yourself in under 30 minutes. Their easy and beautiful holiday templates will make you feel like a graphic design whiz. Create a design detailing your holiday special or early bird promo, and use the resizing tool on Canva to replicate and resize your design into a Facebook post, Instagram post, a vertical story, a printable poster, an email graphic, anything you’d like — instantly!  

Although the holidays feel far away, October is actually a great time to encourage holiday pre-booking, so that you know what to expect for the holiday rush. Set yourself a calendar for posting, emailing, texting, etc., and understand that most people need several reminders before getting proactive — so reach out to them multiple times.   

5. Block Off Your Own Time 

Remember, amidst the holiday hustle bustle, it's important to take time out for yourself too. Use SolaGenius’s online booking platform to block off your vacation or personal time on your calendar. This ensures that you can celebrate the season with your loved ones, recharge and come back refreshed in the new year.  

If you choose to continue working throughout this busy time without a vacation, you could instead schedule yourself some serious time off in the new year. That way, as you grind through the holiday rush, you have something to look forward to in January, hopefully with your own spa appointment or relaxing getaway on the horizon.  

The holidays can be laced with stress and burnout. Whatever way you choose to do it, make sure to take time out for yourself either during or after the frenzy.  

6. Set a Booking Deadline 

One of the most effective strategies for managing your holiday bookings is setting a firm deadline. Consider closing your books around Thanksgiving, by announcing to clients that all holiday appointments need to be booked prior to a certain date in order to receive services before the New Year.  

A deadline will increase pre-booking, as clients will understand that early booking is essential to receiving services at all during the holidays. This strategy cuts down on last-minute bookings and holds a strong boundary with clients so that you can enjoy your holiday season with books filled and minimum chaos.  

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The holidays are a great time to fill up your calendar well in advance for your own sanity. Remember, the key to a prosperous and manageable holiday season lies in proper planning and effective communication.  

Don't wait—start planning your holiday pre-booking strategy today. By implementing these tips, you can make the most of the holiday rush and enjoy a festive season. 

Remember, the Sola Fam is here to support you every step of the way!