Moving to a new salon is exciting but stressful. If you want business to take off from the moment you land in your new salon, you need to start preparing months in advance. The steps for relocating to a new salon are quite simple, but you’d be surprised how many people get it wrong or leave it too late. If you want to take your clients with you when you head to a new salon, you need to think about the following before you make the move.
Table of Contents
Your current salon might have restrictions about what you can and cannot do when you move to a new location. You may have signed a non-compete contract, which means you aren’t allowed to take your clients with you when you move. At the very least, you might be forbidden from advertising your new salon while working in your current salon. If this is the case, you’ll need to direct your clients to social media or your mailing list to find out about your new venture.
Once the word is out that you’re moving to a new salon, it’s time to update your social media channels. It goes without saying that you should never bad mouth your old salon when talking about your move. Even if you’re leaving under less than ideal circumstances, keep your interactions positive. The salon world is small and people talk, so don’t assume that your negative feedback won’t make it back to the salon owners.
Business cards make it easy to share your contact information with clients. So when you’re getting ready for the move, order yourself some new business cards to help spread the word. Make sure you include your social media links so people know where to find you. If you include a QR code, you could send individuals directly to your booking form from their phone. You can generate QR codes for your business cards using a site like Kaywa or Shopify.
When you’ve got clients in the chair, strike up a conversation about your move so they’re aware. Some of your clients might stay put with the current salon out of loyalty or convenience, but many will want to follow the person who understands their hair. Make sure you sell the benefits of the new salon and highlight any perks that you can offer there that aren’t available in your current spot.
The simplest way to make sure you’re fully booked when you move to your new site is to offer a promotional rate for your first week. You could also plan a promotion with your new salon to encourage new customers to book with you. Blending the old with the new is one of the best ways to make the most of your impending move. You are then offering something to your current customers as a reward for their loyalty, and also providing the perfect introduction to regular customers from your new salon.
If you don’t already have a mailing list, it’s time to start one. A mailing list is one of the best ways to reach your customers without having to worry about a social media algorithm getting in the way. Building a mailing list is one of the most effective ways to ensure you can speak directly to your customers when you need to. Send an email around one month ahead of your move prompting your new salon booking offer, and then add details of your new salon to your automated booking reminders.
