Question

Topic: Advertising/PR

Help Establish A New Client Base For Hair Stylist!

Posted by Anonymous on 5/31/2008 at 12:30 PM ET 100 Points
I am a hair stylist and I am just starting out on my own and I need to build a clientel. The salon I am currently at has ZERO walk in clients! Word-of-mouth is usually the best for bringing in business in this field, but how do I get my first clients???!!!
One bonus is I am located in a town with a hugh university...but its summer so the students are mostly gone!
Please help!!!
Any marketing or advertising suggestions are greatly appreciated!
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RESPONSES

  • Posted on 5/31/2008 at 12:33 PM Author
    **A huge university....oops!
  • Posted by CarolBlaha on 5/31/2008 at 12:44 PM Member
    Introduce yourself to the manicurist and facial persons-- tell them your new and would appreciate referrals, and will reciprocate.

    Summer is also the time of weddings-- get a booth at a bridal fair-- or share with another vendor and fusion market. They are extremely well attended.

    Fusion market with a Mary Kay rep-- at a recent bridal fair the rep was giving away a basket of her stuff, and several coupons from other non competing vendors.

    Who else do you know that you can fusion market with?
  • Posted on 5/31/2008 at 2:57 PM Author
    Honestly no one really. I rent a booth in a salon and its like my own business within a business. I need to get appointments but dont know how. Also bridal is a hard field because it usually takes more than one stylist to pull off a wedding...not to mention i dont do up-dos haha
  • Posted on 5/31/2008 at 3:14 PM Author
    What sugesstions do you have for verbal networking... such as handing out business cards... I love to talk to people, where is a good place? I was told one to add a card along with a tip at a restaurant for a free haircut?? cheesy or good idea? Sorry, Im obviously very new to the business stuff. I am just about to start college however and major in entrepreneurship and venture management.
  • Posted by CarolBlaha on 5/31/2008 at 4:42 PM Accepted
    Putting a card with your restaurant tip is good guerrilla marketing. I was in the grocery store and a woman who designs jewelry came by and handed me hers. I thought it was great!

    I did an analogy in a talk I had to give recently about this. I'll try and summarize. We are so bombarded with information, we always have our "shields up". Yet making those connections is so easy. You're in the grocery store, chatting with the person next to you about the slow line, the Enquirer's next bizarre headline. You're laughing. You might even go home and tell your partner about the funny conversation. And you missed a marketing moment. People buy from people they like. And if you are shopping at the same store-- you probably are meeting someone in your geographic location. You two had a very likeable conversation. Too many clients leave those opportunities untapped-- opting to go home, create a mail piece, buy a list, buy printing and stamps, and "hope" it gets opened.

    Another analogy I also use is-- I ask the group how many people met their partner via direct mail? I have yet to see a hand raise. I then challenge them-- I bet they their mate --probably the most important and long lasting relationships-- via either a cold call or a referral.

    Go to the library and check out any book on Guerrilla Marketing -- and the book "Get Clients Now". Both will give you hundreds of low or no cost marketing ideas. What I like about Get Clients Now, is it will show you how to create a 30 day plan. Stick to it, and you will be fine! Trust me on this!
  • Posted on 5/31/2008 at 5:58 PM Author
    Thank you so much!!! That was so helpful. I will accept your answer but I am going to leave it open a little longer to see what other responses!!
  • Posted on 5/31/2008 at 11:10 PM Accepted
    Try handing out business cards with a discount for new clients...
  • Posted by sarah on 6/3/2008 at 12:13 PM Member
    What about partnering with the university; maybe the welcome new student baskets would be open to a "Coupon" from you or a referral of some sort.

    Also, if it is a high end salon; getting some professors to become clients will reap you big rewards; possibley the best thing you can do is to talk to the admin asst. in each department; send them a targeted campaign; full highlights for the cost of partial or something like that.

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