So many salons, spas and barbers deliver a guest experience equal to those of luxury, boutique hotels with beautiful reception areas and an attentive concierge on hand to service their every need. But can you imagine your business surpassing that service by liberating guests from the long wait that can still impact hotels (and salons) at check out? What once was unthinkable isn’t anymore.
Increasingly, forward-thinking businesses determined to overtake standards set by hospitality are introducing upfront payments to guarantee their clients a rapid and smooth close to their visit. Yet speed of departure is just one of four reasons why you need to be upfront with your clients.
1. Building trust and loyalty
Asking your guests to pay in advance gives a new level of transparency, with your guests knowing exactly what they’re going to spend. They’ll be able to see if a new therapist is more expensive than their regular one, or if prices have gone up before they get out their credit card. This means no more surprises at the front desk, and helps build trust and respect.
2. Planning ahead of time
Paying upfront for hotels or flights allows travelers to get some of the costs of their trip out of the way ahead of time, enabling them to plan their budget effectively. This is something your guests will also adore in their favorite salon! They will know how much they’ve already spent on their appointment, allowing them to add-on an express manicure or upgrade to a better moisturizer when they want. When a client is freed from the worry of how much their visit is going to cost, it makes it easier for your team to upsell the right products that will prolong the benefits of their visit, and in turn encourage loyalty.
3. Saving your energy
Stop giving away your coveted time slots to clients who are too flakey to put down a deposit when they book, and who are statistically more likely to cancel – leaving you to twiddle your thumbs. This is a two-way street! You love your clients enough to give them your time, talent, creativity and affection. Why shouldn’t they do the same for you? The clients who care enough to value your talents are the ones who won’t mind paying upfront to reserve your time, and the upfront financial commitment means you’ll reduce those dreaded no-shows.
4. Delivering 5-star service
Luxury means no waiting around, and the best part about upfront payments is the guest knows as soon as the cape is removed or the lights in the spa room are turned off that they can simply gather their things and leave without queuing up to pay, especially as they’ve already booked their next appointment with their stylist or employee.
Upfront payments are coming soon, so stay tuned!
