The end of the year presents Nigerian salons and spas with countless opportunities to maximise bookings and sales. November brings Black Friday (check out these Black Friday marketing ideas) and December ushers in the Christmas holiday. 

December is one of the busiest times of the year for beauty businesses in Nigeria. The holiday season brings a surge in bookings as customers gear up for family get-togethers, end-of-year work parties, Christmas celebrations, and gift shopping. 

Even if you don’t celebrate Christmas, many of your customers do. This makes it a crucial time to attract new clients, retain loyal ones, and boost revenue in your salon or spa. 

So, how do you prepare your salon or spa for the December rush so that when the time comes, you can effectively manage your packed schedule and rising customer expectations?

This article outlines seven actionable tips to ensure your business not only survives the holiday rush but thrives. There’s also a quick quiz at the end to help you determine how ready you are.

7 tips to help you prepare your salon for the December rush

Here are seven practical tips to help prepare your salon and spa for the Christmas rush:

Tip 1. Decorate to make your salon festive

The ambience of your salon or spa should reflect the Christmas holiday spirit to give customers an extra-special experience. Offer your clients a memorable experience they will want to share with loved ones. 

• Clean up. Deep-clean your establishment in November to prepare your salon for the December rush. 
• Use simple, elegant decorations. You don’t have to go all out with the decorations. A Christmas tree, small ornaments, or balloons can set the festive mood without exceeding your budget.
• Play holiday music. Trust us, you want to add some popular Christmas songs to your holiday playlist to enhance the festive atmosphere.
• Create an Instagram-worthy space: At the Beauty Connect Africa 2024, Oríkì Group Founder and CEO Joyce Awosika shared that her spas attracted more customers after creating an “Instagrammable” spot. A well-decorated selfie corner encourages clients to take photos, boosting your brand’s visibility when shared on social media or with friends.

Tip 2. Analyse last year’s December data

If your business is over a year old, do this. 

Review last year’s sales data to predict demand for this year. Analyse peak days, appointment patterns, and product sales. These insights can help you:

1. Forecast staffing needs accurately. If you noticed a surge in walk-ins last year, consider hiring seasonal staff this year. Use Splice to streamline staff scheduling. 

2. Plan your inventory carefully. If specific products or services saw increased demand last year, stock up accordingly to meet customer needs.
3. Adjust operational hours (where necessary). Consider adjusting operational hours to accommodate higher demand. For example, if your usual hours are 9 to 5, extending them to 7 to 6 could help you serve more clients.

Effective planning reduces stress and positions your salon to make the most of this busy season. The Reporting in the Splice beauty management software will help you with these insights. 

Tip 3. Plan seasonal promotions and marketing

With more customers coming through your doors, capitalise on this time to ramp up your marketing efforts. The goal is to attract as many new customers as possible while retaining repeat customers. 

Here are a few ideas you can try: 

• Offer packages. Holiday packages make for easy selling, as clients are already in the mood to splurge on self-care and gifts. A small discount can make them even more appealing to new and repeat clients.
• Introduce gift vouchers (gift cards): Gift cards are perfect for customers who want to treat loved ones to your services. 
• Run Christmas promotions: Time-sensitive promos, like early-bird discounts, encourage clients to book ahead. An example could be something like a 10% off for appointments before December 20 to spread out demand. 
• Leverage multiple marketing channels. Use social media, email, and your website to promote offers, gift cards, and holiday packages. 

Tip 4. Use technology to stay organised

Use Splice salon management software to streamline your business, freeing up your team to focus on delivering an exceptional client experience.

• Simplify the booking process. Booking appointments online through Splice makes it easier for clients to schedule appointments at their convenience, reducing phone inquiries. The 2024 Beyond Beauty report revealed that most beauty customers prefer to book online, with more than 80% finding it convenient. 

• Automate appointment reminders: Splice sends customers automated SMS and email reminders to reduce no-shows and last-minute cancellations. Clients appreciate the reminder. In a 2024 survey of Nigerian beauty customers, 8 to 9 out of 10 told Splice that appointment reminders would improve their experiences with salons and spas. 

• Optimise payment: Offer fast, cashless payment options like POS, mobile banking, and online transfers to reduce wait times and improve customer satisfaction. Pre-payment options can also help. According to the 2024 Beyond Beauty report, 62.6% of Nigerian beauty customers prefer to pay at the time of booking. 

Tip 5. Take care of your team

It’s easy to focus entirely on customers and forget the people who make everything possible — your team. Without them, there’s no salon or spa. 

Here’s how you can take of them to take care of your business this December: 

Reward them. Show appreciation for their hard work with small gestures like a staff appreciation lunch, a happy hour after busy days, or bonuses. These efforts go a long way in boosting morale.

Prepare your salon staff for the December rush. Equip your team with strategies to handle the extra pressure that comes with a busy season. Encourage them to communicate openly, work as a team, and support each other when the schedule gets packed.

Provide training. Hold a quick refresher on customer service and upselling skills so that every client feels valued. Encourage your team not to let the Christmas rush reduce the service quality. 

You can use Splice to streamline staff scheduling and make things easier for your team. 

Tip 6. Make the most of customer feedback

Customer feedback during the holiday offers valuable insights into what’s working and areas that need improvements. Use it to improve your services during and after the Christmas rush. 

How to maximise customer feedback:

Request feedback after every visit. Ask in person or send a follow-up message asking satisfied customers for feedback on their experiences. This will help you improve your services in real-time. 

Boost your online reputation: Encourage happy customers to leave reviews on Google Business Profile (GBP) or social media. Positive reviews attract new clients. 

Incentivise feedback: Most customers will give feedback if asked. However, rewarding clients who take the time to provide honest feedback with a small discount can encourage more clients to share their honest opinions.

Tip 7. Prepare for the post-holiday period

Don’t let the momentum die after the holidays. Have a plan to keep customers coming back in January. 

Capitalise on the influx of clients in December to secure bookings in January. Offer clients a small discount for scheduling their next appointment during their holiday visit to maintain business flow into the new year

Conclusion 

Preparing your salon or spa for the Christmas rush doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By planning ahead, training your team, and creating a welcoming atmosphere, you can boost revenue while delivering an unforgettable holiday experience for your customers.

However, not everything will go as planned. So it’s crucial to prepare for the unexpected. Develop contingency plans to handle challenges like staff absences, equipment breakdowns, or supply shortages. A solid backup plan ensures you can respond quickly and keep things running smoothly.

With these strategies and a reliable scheduling tool like Splice, you’re ready to make this Christmas season a memorable success for both your clients and your business.

Are you ready to handle the December rush? Take this quick quiz to find out.