Business
The New Year Slowdown – Boosting Client Traffic in the Winter
Jan
With the holidays and 2025 behind us it’s time to start looking forward to the changes that 2026 will bring. New trends, new troubles, new looks, but also hopefully new business. January and February might see an uptick in extension business, but it tends to mark an overall slowdown in client visits and new business. These changes make sense as people close their wallets and purses following higher holiday spending, but that can mean more stress for salon owners and stylists. What can be done to help make these slow periods less strenuous and more productive? Or otherwise, what can you do to improve your business long-term? Let’s explore a few options.
EXPLORE NEW DEMOGRAPHICS AND TRENDS
While it might be more comfortable to stick with what and who you know, sometimes seeking to entice a new demographic can bring in new or more steady business. Dig into your customer data to see if there are any shifting trends in what your clients are asking for and consider exploring more local social media to see if there is something you might be missing. This isn’t to say that you should change your business focus entirely, but exploring other demographics can lead to developing new service ideas which may draw more people into your chairs.
This tactic can also lead to the discovery of new trends that you might be missing out on. While exploring new demographics and social media it’s a good idea to see what services people are showing off the most, and if you are missing out it might be a good opportunity to shift gears and hop onto the hype train.
REWARD CLIENT LOYALTY
Reward programs are a no-brainer when properly employed. Offering incentives for clients to return can lead to steady traffic into your salon. If you aren’t already doing so, consider a system that offers discounts on particular services after a certain number of visits or product freebies when spending over a certain threshold. This can also be a great way to promote new products that your clients might be overlooking that they might consider putting into their normal rotation.
PURSUE EDUCATION
Learning new skills to add to your arsenal is always a great idea. As a stylist your business only stands to grow with what you know. If you are currently lacking in any certifications, consider looking into those. Check out new trends and research how they are done. Contact a colleague and learn a new skill or technique from them or share your own. There are always new things to learn and many ways to learn them, and new knowledge or skills only stands to help improve your business.
Overcoming the slowdown at the start of the year isn’t always easy, but by re-evaluating your business plans and your own skills you can potentially draw clients in in the short term and only stand to benefit overall in the long term.
