The holiday season is one of the busiest and most profitable times of the year for beauty pros. That's why, at SalonCentric, we believe that it’s never too early to start crafting an effective marketing strategy for your salon. One of our favorite holiday marketing ideas is the “12 Days of Holiday Sales” event—where you create a different festive theme each day and a special promotion to go along with it.
Read on to learn how you can utilize this in-salon promotional event to increase retail sales, engage customers, and give your salon space a merry boost of holiday spirit.
What Is a “12 Days of Holiday Sales” Event?
The “12 Days of Holiday Sales” event is a marketing strategy that’s inspired by the “12 Days of Christmas” theme. The idea is to generate holiday buzz at your salon by promoting a different incentive or sale every day leading up to Christmas. Offering a new incentive each day is not only exciting for your clients, but gives them a reason to check back in with you regularly. Keeping clients interested and engaged throughout the holiday season can have big rewards, helping to increase average ticket amounts during the holidays and promoting repeat business for new customers.
12 Holiday Salon Marketing Ideas To Try This December
There’s no right or wrong way to create a “12 Days of Holiday Sales” event—the best promotions for each day will depend on your clientele, marketing budget, and retail priorities. To help you get started, we’ve compiled some creative ideas below.
Day 1: Skincare Essentials
Kick off your “12 Days of Holiday Sales” event by offering a discount on skincare products or bundles, like the Dermalogica Protect + Renew Holiday Kit. Winter weather can be harsh on the skin, making this promotion perfect for clients looking to pamper themselves or give the gift of glowing, hydrated-looking skin.
Day 2: Holiday Blowouts
On the following day, encourage clients to book a holiday blowout or styling session at a discounted price. This promotion will resonate with clients who have an upcoming holiday party or simply want a confidence boost that leaves them feeling holiday-ready.
Day 3: Holiday Gift Card Bonus Incentive
Offer a gift card promotion where clients receive a bonus amount when they purchase a gift card over a certain value. This incentive not only drives holiday salon sales but also ensures future bookings in the quieter months ahead.
Day 4: Color Service Discount
Give your clients a special package or discount for color services. Many clients are looking to refresh their color before the holidays, making this a high-demand service that’s likely to fill up any leftover appointment slots.
Day 5: Stocking Stuffer Minis
Create a sale that’s focused on travel-sized retail products and holiday minis that are perfect for stocking stuffers. Make sure to display them prominently and encourage clients to grab a little something extra for their stockings while they’re in the salon.
Day 6: BOGO (Buy One Get One) Promotion
Give retail sales an extra boost with a buy-one-get-one offer on select retail products. Clients are often in the mood to shop for themselves (and others) while being pampered at the salon, making this promotion a great way to double up on holiday sales.
Day 7: Men’s Grooming
Show some love to your male clients with a special promotion on men’s grooming services or products. You can offer a discount of beard trimming, men’s haircuts, or men’s holiday gift sets, like this American Crew Classic Grooming Kit.
Day 8: Service Upgrades
Offer complimentary upgrades on select services—think deep conditioning treatments with a haircut or a 15-minute massage with a manicure. Small upgrades such as these can make your clients feel extra-appreciated.
Day 9: Referral Bonus Promotion
Encourage your clients to refer friends and family by offering a referral bonus or discount. You’ll want to promote this heavily on social media and through SMS, however, so that clients can prepare for the promotion ahead of time.
Day 10: Lash and Brow Special
Shine a spotlight on lash and brow services—like lash extensions, brow shaping, or tinting—with a special holiday sale. Lash and brow products, like Grande Cosmetics Lash & Brow Legends, also tend to become even more popular as clients prepare for holiday festivities.
Day 11: Last-Minute Gift Day
Promote last-minute gift ideas (like product bundles or additional gift cards) for clients scrambling to finish their holiday shopping in time. You can also offer complimentary gift wrapping to make it extra-easy and enticing for customers to take advantage of this promotion.
Day 12: Client Appreciation Day
End your “12 Days of Holiday Sales” event with a special show of gratitude for your loyal clients. You can offer a small token of appreciation, like a mini product or a discount on their next appointment, to keep them coming back in the new year.
And be sure to check out this marketing tips and assets-packed toolkit to power up your holiday retail and promotions strategy to make it your most successful holiday season yet.
Next Up: The SalonCentric Holiday Checklist: A Month-by-Month Guide
