The salon challenge: the time between visits
A hair salon or barbershop client comes back every three to six weeks. In that time they walk past other salons, see offers on social media and may forget to book. Loyalty here isn’t so much about big rewards as about being there right when it’s time to come back.
Haircut card: few stamps
Since visits are spaced out, the card should be short: 5 to 6 stamps. «On the sixth cut, the next one is free» or «on the fifth, a free treatment». With 10 stamps a client would take almost a year to reach the reward, and by then they’ll have forgotten.
Remind them it’s time to come back
It’s the idea that works best in this industry. If you know your client gets a haircut every four weeks, a message in week five («shall we fit you in this week?») stops them going elsewhere purely for convenience. With a digital card you can send that message to anyone who’s been away for a while, and it lands on their lock screen with no cost per message.
Passes for treatments
For colour, highlights, hair treatments or shaves, a multi-session pass paid upfront ensures the client keeps coming back to you until it’s used up. The client sees on their phone how many sessions they have left and you get paid upfront.
Reward product sales too
Shampoo, wax, beard oils. If you use points instead of stamps, every euro counts, including products. It’s a way to encourage those purchases without direct discounts.
Birthdays with something special
A wash with treatment or a discount on the next service during their birthday week. It’s a cheap gesture that’s appreciated and often brings the next visit forward.
Reviews: your best shop window
People looking for a new salon check Google reviews and photos. Ask for the review at the end, when the client is looking in the mirror and happy with the result. Ask everyone: Google doesn’t allow asking only satisfied clients.
Bring a friend
In hairdressing, word of mouth is almost everything. An extra stamp for the one who brings someone, and another for the newcomer, turns that recommendation into an appointment.
Where to start
A 6-cut card, a QR poster on the mirror or at the till and the automatic message for anyone who’s been away a while. The full recipe is on the loyalty cards for hair salons and barbershops page.
Frequently asked questions
How many stamps for a hair salon?
Between 5 and 6, because visits are several weeks apart. That way the reward comes within a few months.
Can I sell session passes?
Yes. The pass is stored on the client’s phone and a session is deducted each time they come.