Marketing Strategies - Salon Marketing Tools at a Bridal Show
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Brides dream of their wedding day, imagining how radiant and overjoyed they will appear in front of their friends and families. A successful bridal show for salons markets this image to brides and their families, giving them a chance to show off their talents and attract a new clientele.
Pre-Show Marketing
Prior to the trade show, send out emails to current clients. Even if they are not getting married, they may have a friend who is or they may be attending a wedding. This can provide affordable word-of-mouth advertising that gets the target market in front of your booth. Execute a marketing plan by creating
social media posts about your presence at the bridal show to attract new clients. You can offer a special freebie or discount if potential clients come to your booth and show a secret code or copy of the post. Ask the press representatives that are manning the show to arrange an introduction with the reporters before the show and then ask for an interview the day of the show.
Makeovers and Consultations
Stand out from the crowd of other trade show vendors by having a demonstration going on in your booth. Have models on hand and show how you can take convert regular hairstyle to a wedding do. Offer a traditional look, such as a chignon, or a more modern take, such as loose tresses. You might be able to offer brief on-the-spot makeovers or consultations to trade show attendees.
Networking Opportunities
While bridal shows put you in contact with brides and their families, they can also connect you with other vendors. Have another staffer man the booth so that you can visit with other vendors to make contacts and seek out cross-promotional opportunities. For example, discuss your business with a nail salon. Offer to post fliers in your shop for their business if they hand out free samples of your shampoos and conditioners in theirs. Speak with the bridal show leader to determine if a runway can be made part of the show. This option gives formal wear companies a chance to show off their clothes, you to show off hairstyles and makeup artists to show off their own talents.
Engage the Audience
Brides are basically bigger versions of their former child-self who are hoping to make their lifelong wedding dreams come true and grooms are often dragged into these events. Take advantage of the child-like attention deficit of the audience by engaging them in interactive ways. For example, set up tablets in which individuals can try out different hairstyles using a generic picture or a picture of their own that they upload.
Portfoilios and Personalization
Add a vivid book to your booth that brides can look through to see your work. Include before and after pictures. As brides stop by, show them how you worked with a client with a similar hair length and style to highlight your skills specific to their needs.
Giveaways
Handing out small goodies can provide you with a chance to provide your name, address and phone number to a target market. However, each freebie should serve a purpose. For example, handing out stress balls or pinwheels may not make sense, while small brushes and shampoo samples do. Offer a bigger prize, such as a free consultation or styling session, as part of a contest that requires attendees to provide you with their name, email address, phone number and wedding date. Follow up with brides even if they do not win. Track how many leads you get and the success of follow-up to determine how effective your strategy is to determine if you need to make changes before the next show.
Tags:
Marketing, Marketing Strategies
Pre-Show Marketing
Prior to the trade show, send out emails to current clients. Even if they are not getting married, they may have a friend who is or they may be attending a wedding. This can provide affordable word-of-mouth advertising that gets the target market in front of your booth. Execute a marketing plan by creating
social media posts about your presence at the bridal show to attract new clients. You can offer a special freebie or discount if potential clients come to your booth and show a secret code or copy of the post. Ask the press representatives that are manning the show to arrange an introduction with the reporters before the show and then ask for an interview the day of the show.
Makeovers and Consultations
Stand out from the crowd of other trade show vendors by having a demonstration going on in your booth. Have models on hand and show how you can take convert regular hairstyle to a wedding do. Offer a traditional look, such as a chignon, or a more modern take, such as loose tresses. You might be able to offer brief on-the-spot makeovers or consultations to trade show attendees.
Networking Opportunities
While bridal shows put you in contact with brides and their families, they can also connect you with other vendors. Have another staffer man the booth so that you can visit with other vendors to make contacts and seek out cross-promotional opportunities. For example, discuss your business with a nail salon. Offer to post fliers in your shop for their business if they hand out free samples of your shampoos and conditioners in theirs. Speak with the bridal show leader to determine if a runway can be made part of the show. This option gives formal wear companies a chance to show off their clothes, you to show off hairstyles and makeup artists to show off their own talents.
Engage the Audience
Brides are basically bigger versions of their former child-self who are hoping to make their lifelong wedding dreams come true and grooms are often dragged into these events. Take advantage of the child-like attention deficit of the audience by engaging them in interactive ways. For example, set up tablets in which individuals can try out different hairstyles using a generic picture or a picture of their own that they upload.
Portfoilios and Personalization
Add a vivid book to your booth that brides can look through to see your work. Include before and after pictures. As brides stop by, show them how you worked with a client with a similar hair length and style to highlight your skills specific to their needs.
Giveaways
Handing out small goodies can provide you with a chance to provide your name, address and phone number to a target market. However, each freebie should serve a purpose. For example, handing out stress balls or pinwheels may not make sense, while small brushes and shampoo samples do. Offer a bigger prize, such as a free consultation or styling session, as part of a contest that requires attendees to provide you with their name, email address, phone number and wedding date. Follow up with brides even if they do not win. Track how many leads you get and the success of follow-up to determine how effective your strategy is to determine if you need to make changes before the next show.
