It's Back to School Season! Is Your Salon Ready?

It may be hard to believe, but many schools around the country are finally opening up shop once again for the new school year. After a long hiatus of the in-school experience, these kids can say goodbye to their virtual classrooms and actually see their friends in person. Before you know it, we'll be trading in our swimsuits for flannels, and you’ll soon find yourself surrounded by a sea of pumpkin spice lattes everywhere you turn.

Fall is basically upon us and the change of the season means one thing for salon owners—school is back in session and your bookings are about to soar through the roof. Luckily, with salon software, you can easily market to back-to-schoolers and make the booking process more convenient for you and your clients. Right now you have a giant opportunity to rake in (see what I did there?) a sizable amount of extra revenue.

Prepare your salon for the influx of students

When you recollect the first few weeks of school, what comes to mind? Connecting with friends you haven’t seen since the pandemic, meeting your new teachers, seeing who’s in your lunch, and most importantly... preparing for School Picture Day. Back to school means Picture Day is right around the corner and Picture Day means kids will be wanting to look their best. And for the few who could care less, you better believe their parents will be forcing them to do so. Starting to see where your salon fits in here?

When is Picture Day? Picture Day is a school holiday that sweeps across the nation. It could be scheduled for as early as late August or as late as mid-October.  

If you’re like many other local salons, you probably recognize the opportunity that major school events (like prom) have to offer. Well, Picture Day is no different! It’s a big deal for school kids and parents alike. These are the pictures parents share with everyone. These are the pictures that will go in the yearbook. You get one take, and you want to make sure you look your best.

Attracting a certain demographic

Their hair, their makeup, and their overall appearance are things that most students are concerned about when Picture Day arrives. That’s where local salon owners such as yourself can step up and make some extra profits this fall season. That’s why this fall you want to make sure your advertising and marketing efforts are geared toward attracting high school students and middle school students.

You might be thinking that attracting a horde of teenagers is a waste—because what sort of funds could they possibly have? However, before you write this group off as having no money to spend, you might want to think again. Whether it be through their allowance or their parent's credit cards, attracting this age group can definitely help you gain some extra revenue this fall if you can manage to turn your salon into your town’s Picture Day destination.

Equip your business with the power of AI

Even though back-to-school season is an exciting time for kids, it can be a stressful time for parents (especially if they are just now starting to go back to the office). With shopping for school supplies and fashionable clothes for the new school year, parents will also want to get their kids a fresh cut just in time for their first day of school. Make getting ahold of your business simple with Messenger[ai], Mindbody's AI receptionist, that automatically texts back and books appointments for anyone who calls when you're unavailable—24/7. That way, busy parents, or tech-savvy students, can book when it works best for them.

The bottom line: Back to school season is an exciting time for students and a lucrative time for your business. By using our tips outlined above, your salon will undoubtedly be prepared for the increase in bookings—and you'll help students arrive in style for the long-awaited in-school experience.