Life happens and sometimes people will need to reschedule or cancel their appointments. You shouldn’t have a firm policy in place that discourages this; instead, you’ll want to be open to discussing the options and providing people with convenient choices. You can choose to charge a cancelation fee for last-minute cancelations or prevent people from making future appointments if they cancel too much, but make sure that you allow people plenty of time to reschedule or cancel.
Have an emergency policy in place, too, because sometimes there are things out of people’s control and that shouldn’t be held against them.
People like deals and specials. They also like getting gift certificates for the people that they love. Salon and spa services are great gifts but they’re not always “affordable” for everyone. That’s why it can also help to offer specials and give people different incentive options. You can link to your specials page or to the section where they can buy gift cards or gift certificates, too. Mostly, though, you’ll want to explain all of the aspects of gifting and discounts that your business offers, including VIP programs and memberships that could come with special perks and savings.
Spas and salons are supposed to be relaxing places. Not to mention that if you’re having any kind of hair or body treatment, being on the phone is going to hinder the process. You might think that banning cell phones is an inconvenience to your clients, but it’s a way to increase the relaxation and stress-free nature of your business. You don’t have to ban cell phones or advise people to leave them off, but if you do, make sure that you explain it here and list the rules for using phones in your business.
There’s nothing more bothersome than trying to enjoy waiting for a perm to set or getting a nice massage only to hear phones ringing and message notifications buzzing left and right—it’s not creating the calm most salons and spas ultimately seek. It’s less about yes or no, though, and more about having a policy that’s clear and readily available to your audience.
This question is more for spas and wellness facilities that book reservations for various high-end spa services. There is a case for deposits, in some situations, but you’ll have to decide whether that’s important for your business or not. If you do require deposits, explain how the process works. Even if you just hold a credit card on file to reserve the time or the booking, that’s something you need to explain to people here.
Mind you, unless you’re a high-end salon that has a lot of cancelation issues, you might not want to charge deposits because it can discourage people from booking a service. It’s not always the case, but it may be something that affects your bookings.
This is a good question for several reasons. People want to know, most often for spas, what they should wear to ensure they are prepared and comfortable for the service that they are about to receive. Some people may ask this question of salons in the case of needing a button-down shirt instead of something that pulls over the head, but generally, most spas and salons will say “come as you are”. Still, you’ll want to let people know either way.