How can new salon owner in new location within a shopping mall MARKET NEW clients..with no soliciting allowed?

[chanda]

We opened a New Salon in a traditional shopping MALL.There is a Mastercuts in mall but no other salons. We are priced slightly above MC but are a trendy/upscale atmosphere. How do we fill our chairs? What do we do during DEAD time? we have to have a stylist avail if walkin comes(80% walkins) what can stylist do BESIDES sit down and type on facebook? Mall rules do not allow open solicitation...any ideas of how to maximize slow time..which is MOST of the time Mon-Thurs?? Please help??

[deb s]

Of course you can advertise in newspapers. There is probably a local 'bag in a rag'. A little local newspapers that have ads and nothing else. The mall cannot prevent you from advertising outside of their property.

Go after the housewife who has the kids gone for the day, the hubby off to work.
Appeal to her. offer speciality coffees and teas in the salon. How about employ a few college guys to offer foot massage? (I've seen little asian women doing the massage..but, frankly; a good looking college guys would appeal to women...while the asian women appeal to men).

Basically, turn it into an 'experience'.

That would be a good advertising line... 'Sure, everywhere else you can get a hair cut...here you get an experience' Just be very sure the 'experience is always a great one'.

[Roger]

Make sure that your clients are getting a bounce back coupon. This is sometimes printed on receipts. Get as much client info that you can. Phone#, address(?), Email. Give them coupons to hand out to friends/coworkers that expire soon. Like 10 days. You must use the internet. A business website is a must. Then there is other things like being listed in Google Pages. This way when people search their phone for salons then yours will come up. Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Craigslist. They can be great leads. When giving discounts don't give too much. Only give out until business increases.You don't want to devalue your work. As for your staff they need to bring in clients. If they can't then find someone who will. Make them use their facebook friends, and friends of friends. Try to get special events to come in for hair. Weddings, school dances, modeling studios, picture days from local schools, or any other groups. Being an Owner is Never Ending Work. You can't just clock in clock out. Its not a job. Good Luck. Maybe one more thing is to give mall employee discounts? 20%?