If it feels like the holiday season is kicking off earlier each year, you’re not imagining it. According to a September 2024 survey by Bankrate, nearly half of all consumers (about 48%) are planning to start their holiday shopping before Halloween [1]. So, what does this mean for salon owners, managers, and stylists looking to make the most of the holiday season? This trend toward early shopping means that salons will also need to begin holiday preparations earlier in order to maximize their earnings.
With that in mind, we’ve created a month-by-month holiday planning checklist to help keep you and your team on track and ensure you have the most joyful holiday season yet. Happy planning!
Why Is Holiday Planning Important for Salons?
The holiday hustle and bustle can be chaotic, but it also offers the biggest revenue potential of the entire year, according to recent data. Research conducted by the salon software Phorest found that salon retail revenue in December was approximately 107% higher when compared to the rest of the year. They also found that salons sold 28% more retail products on average in December and saw a 450% jump in gift card sales [2].
Increased social activities drive demand for services and products over the holidays, which creates unparalleled opportunities to build a strong retail culture, attract new clients, and encourage existing clients to try new services or products. With clients looking to refresh their looks and shop for holiday gifts, it's essential to have a plan in place to maximize these opportunities. By organizing early, refreshing your services, and executing smart marketing strategies, you can ensure your business stands out during this festive time.
The SalonCentric Holiday Planning Calendar
This month-by-month guide will help you plan effectively, engage your clients, and boost your salon business to finish the year strong. Read on to learn which tasks you should complete each month and discover some of our favorite holiday salon marketing ideas.
September: Plan Ahead
With so much to do, the holidays can often feel overwhelming for beauty professionals and salon owners. Getting an early start in September can help alleviate some of the stress that often accompanies this time of year and help keep things running smoothly. Once September rolls around, it might be a good idea to start thinking about seasonal incentives, inventory, staffing, holiday kits, and marketing plans for the most wonderful time of the year.
Map out your holiday strategy, budget, and goals
September is an ideal time to begin laying out your holiday goals and working on a budget for merchandising and display items. Whether it's increasing retail sales by 20% or booking 90% of your appointments in advance, it’s essential to have clear, achievable targets that will help keep you and your team focused. Try to set realistic, data-driven goals that are aligned with your salon’s capacity and the demands of the season.
Optimize all of your software
Now is the time to ensure that all of your software is running smoothly. Take some time to check all of your scheduling platforms, marketing tools, and inventory management programs. You’ll also want to make sure that your POS (point of sale) system is equipped to deal with an uptick in sales and that your email and SMS marketing platforms are all integrated, intuitive to use, and up to date. Investing a few hours to optimize your software in September can help prevent major headaches later on when things get busy.
Refresh your service menu
Clients want to look their best for the holidays, so they may be more likely to try out new services around this time of year. Take a moment this month to review and refresh your salon offerings to help bring in additional revenue. You can consider adding holiday-themed services, for example, like nourishing treatments for dry winter hair, festive nail art, holiday party updos, or Christmas gift packages. Seasonal add-ons and bundles are also great ways to boost your average ticket value while providing clients with a festive experience they’ll love.
October: Set Yourself Up for Success
October is the perfect time to set the stage for a smooth, profitable holiday season. This month, you’ll want to focus on scheduling your marketing, connecting with your team, and finalizing holiday-themed promotions and sales.
Schedule a team huddle
With the holiday rush just on the horizon, it’s the perfect time to check in with your team. Regular meetings with your staff can help ensure that everyone feels supported and is aligned with your holiday goals. Go over retail priorities, announce incentives, share retail best practices, and review holiday schedules. You can also take the opportunity to answer any questions and introduce sales incentives for your staff—like stylist bingo, staff leaderboards, or a holiday kit competition to see who can sell the most gift sets.
Stock up on holiday retail and merchandising display items
Holiday kits go on sale at SalonCentric in October, making it the ultimate moment to stock up on the products you’ll need for holiday services and retail. There are so many amazing gift sets to choose from, but some of our favorites include the Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Holiday Kit, Pureology Hydrate Holiday Kit, WOW! That's What I Call Repair - Instacure Build-A-Bond Holiday Kit, Biolage Professional Smooth Proof Holiday Kit, and the L'Oréal Professionnel Metal Detox Holiday Kit.
Finalize your in-store sales and holiday salon promotions
Once you’ve invested in your retail products, it’s time to lock in your holiday sales and promotions. This is a great opportunity to get creative and think of new ideas that will impress your clients and keep them coming back for more. If you need some inspiration, head to this article on how to level-up your holiday sales and promotions.
Schedule your holiday marketing emails and social posts
Don't wait until November to think about marketing. You can make your life a bit easier before the holiday rush by creating a content calendar for your emails and social media posts, and using an online tool to schedule them now. Popular themes for marketing emails include holiday salon promotions, gift ideas, and appointment availability updates. Getting this task out of the way now will allow you to focus on what matters most during the holidays—excellent service, gorgeous hair, and happy clients.
November: Hit the Ground Running
November is when things really start to pick up at most salons. Luckily, with your October planning out of the way, you can dive into this month fully prepared and ready to create a festive and welcoming environment for your clients.
Promote one-day-only promotions with SMS marketing
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are happening this month and there are several marketing tools that can help you maximize these major holidays. Try leaning into the immediacy of SMS text messaging over Thanksgiving weekend to drive urgency and promote a few time-sensitive, one-day-only sales. You can send out an SMS promoting flash sales on select retail items, for example, but remember to keep your messaging clear, concise, and exciting.
Deck the halls with festive displays and holiday signage
First impressions matter, and nothing gets clients into the holiday spirit like a beautifully decorated salon. Once Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday are over, it’s time to turn your salon into a full-on Winter Wonderland. Put out your holiday signage, merchandising displays, and festive touches like twinkling lights, a stylish holiday tree, and snowflakes. Playing some festive tunes can also help get clients in the holiday mood. Consider your salon’s aesthetic when decorating and try to keep your decor on-trend, light-hearted, and inviting.
Take advantage of SalonCentric Winter Blow Out deals
After the Black Friday rush passes, you may find yourself in need of additional retail inventory. The SalonCentric Winter Blow Out sale is the ultimate opportunity to save big in November, so that you pass these holiday savings down to your clients come December.
December: Kick Off Your “12 Days of Holiday Sales”
December is the moment to pull out all the stops! A “12 Days of Holiday Sales” event is an exciting and effective way to keep clients engaged throughout the month, boosting retail sales and appointment bookings as you count down to the holidays. Each day, try promoting a different offer, giving clients a reason to check back in with you regularly. To learn more, head to our list of ideas for a successful “12 Days of Holiday Sales” event.
January: Reflect, Reset, and Rejoice
As the holiday season wraps up, take a moment to reflect on your successes and identify future areas for improvement. Celebrate your wins with your team and acknowledge all of their hard work. If you offered holiday sales incentives to your team, make sure to announce the winners and give out any prizes, such as gift baskets or bonus payments.
Once the holiday rush has calmed down, give yourself and your team a well-deserved break to reset and recharge before jumping into the new year. With the right planning and execution, your salon business can not only survive but thrive during the busy holiday season.
Next Up: Holiday Retail Tips for Success With Daniel Mason-Jones
- Kelton, K. (2024, September 5). Survey: 1 in 3 holiday shoppers are shortening their wish lists to spend less this year. Bankrate. https://www.bankrate.com/credit-cards/news/early-holiday-shopping/#nearly-half-of-holiday-shoppers-will-begin-before-halloween.
- Research Proves December is Biggest Sales Month for Salons. (2019, December 12). Salon Today. https://www.salontoday.com/620028/research-proves-december-is-biggest-sales-month-for-salons.
