Retail Tips from Sam Villa Ambassador, Blake Reed Evans
It’s happening! The holidays, holiday hair, decorating the salon, parties, and yes—RETAIL! To maximize this crucial time of the year, Blake Reed Evans, Sam Villa Ambassador and owner of Shear Art Salon (Tampa, FL) @blakereedevans, has some holiday marketing tips to bring a little sparkle to the season—and your business.
Increasing Holiday Business Ideas
Décor:
Get festive but keep it neutral in terms of the type of celebration. Incorporate deep reds, forest greens, or midnight blues and silvers—these colors scream holiday without highlighting a specific religion/culture. Some companies even make limited edition holiday-colored tools like ruby red and rose gold that work beautifully for displays and décor.
Holiday Marketing Promotions:
Increase business during the holidays with promotions. Keep it simple and stick to one promotion at a time. If there are too many holiday marketing promos it becomes confusing for guests and staff. No need to reinvent the wheel - buy 2, get 1 free, buy more, save more, 20% off, holiday pre-packs, limited-edition items, etc.
Holiday Merchandising:
Make holiday packs the focal point of displays and keep a nesting table at the front door; it helps guests recognize that special items are for sale that make great gifts for clients to give, but they are also a great way for them to save money. Pro Tip: If there are leftover holiday packs in January, break them apart and sell the products individually.
Expressing Gratitude
Guests:
Create a loyalty program that inspires guests—for every dollar spent, appointment booked, or referral made, reward them with something.
Staff:
Celebrate the salon team at the end of the year for a job well done—have it catered at a cool spot, go to a local restaurant, or coordinate a unique experience. The more time a team spends together outside of the salon, the stronger they become!
Give Back:
Find ways to support those in need in the community—volunteer as a team, donate services, raise money, or collect items for a good cause. Make it a true season of GIVING!
Sam Villa is co-founder and chief creative officer of the Sam Villa Company (Allvus, LLC), a leading education and styling tool company for the professional hair industry. He is also Global Artistic Ambassador for Redken 5th Avenue, a L’Oreal brand. Villa is the 2021 NAHA Educator of the Year, 2020 International Hairdressing Awards ‘International Hair Influencer of the Year,’ the 2017 NAHA Lifetime Achievement Award Winner, Intercoiffure America/Canada Member, Behind the Chair Stylist Choice Award Winner for Favorite Platform Artist and Educator (2012, 2011, and 2007), and Favorite Overall Educator of the Year (2015). His inspiring education and innovative ergonomic styling tools can be experienced on www.samvilla.com. The Sam Villa brand brings free digital education to everyone including hot tips and techniques, as well as access to livestreamed educational events. The company also offers professional tools for consumers so they can achieve salon-quality results at home with minimum effort. Facebook: @SamVillaPros; Instagram: @SamVillaHair; YouTube: @SamVillaHair; Twitter: @SamVillaPro; Pinterest: @SamVillaHair;