Blog

2017 was a big year. The unicorn hair fad swept through salons. Salt Bae graced us with his presence. Prince Harry took himself off the market. It was a roller coaster ride of a year, really. But one thing that shone through for us was the number of game-changing tech tools that had us shouting, “Thank you, 2017!” We’ve wrangled up the best of the best that will help your salon, spa or barber business work smarter, not harder. Plann Plann is an awesome tool if you’re short on time and want a gorgeous Insta feed. It features super easy drag ‘n’ drop functionality and lets you plan out your Instagram posts and Stories to make sure your new content is going to gel with your existing content. After all, you want that picture-perfect profile will help you draw in potential clients! In 2017, Plann stepped up their game by adding some awesome analytics and performance features. It lets you know the best time to post, which colour palettes work for you, your highest performing hashtags, and overall performance metrics. Mmm, so much juicy data. Instagram Stories Insta Stories ephemeral…

As 2017 draws to a close, we wanted to shine a light on a few familiar faces here at Shortcuts. Grab a cuppa, settle in, and get to know our Shorties’ ride or die 2017 moments, and what they have their sights set on in 2018.

The holidays are coming. First comes Halloween, then Hanukkah, Christmas and, before you know it, we will all be counting down as the ball drops into the New Year. But let’s talk about everyone’s favorite day mixed in amongst the festive season: Black Friday.

We all feel the allure of the freebie. It’s almost irresistible. Giveaways not only drive sales for your salon, spa or barber business, they are also dynamite for building your database and increasing engagement with your brand. But what to give?

It’s time we up the ante on recycling because, yes, National Recycling Week starts on Monday 13th November. Many salon, spa and barber businesses in the industry are getting their grip on waste, cutting down on plastics, chemicals, and all things messy.

After the big move towards social media, influencer marketing is the new wave of digital marketing that’s having a BIG impact for big and small brands alike. So what is influencer marketing? Influencer marketing is the new word-of-mouth advertising.

Giving isn’t just about warm fuzzies and full hearts, it’s also a great way to band your team and clients together to grow your salon, spa or barber business. So what can you do to get some good juju for your business – aside from your everyday magic?

We like to be the bringers of good news here at Shortcuts. We’ve heard whispers that you’re keen for a simple way to collect signed waiver forms from clients, and have it sync straight to their online client history record. We’re here to tell you that there is a way!

You may want to sit down for this. The average salon loses between 10% - 25% of its client base every year. Ouch! That means, in two to three years time you could find yourself without 50% of your clientele. To combat this, the need to attract and retain new clients is greater than ever.

It seems like just yesterday we were raising our glasses to 2017. But the time has rolled around again to prepare for the festive season. Nervous? Don’t be – we’ve got your backs with this holiday season survival guide.

Tired of the paper roll running out when you’re half way through printing a client’s receipt? Sick of fumbling around in front of impatient clients while the queue at your front desk grows? We have the answer. Introducing email receipts.

Seamless and business in the same sentence? If you’re a business owner, that probably sounds like sweet music. To many, it’s an elusive goal to successfully operate a seamless, functional business that boosts productivity and profit, while dialling down stress. But is it actually do-able?

If you’re a smooth operator you know how to juggle competing priorities like a pro, without causing a hitch in how your business operates. If you feel like your business needs a primp and polish to help you get to smooth operation station, keep on reading.

Have you ever heard that if you’re a creative and visual person then you use the right side of your brain? Or if you love to plan and like to analyse situations then you tend towards the left side of your brain? The truth is, there’s a good chance that you’re a bit of both.

You already know your guests can't resist a good pampering, but sometimes they also want to share the love and luxury with their friends and family. With the Mobile Guest App, your guests can now book an appointment on behalf of someone else.

It’s a cut-throat industry out there as gents around the world rediscover the allure of barber shops. Barber shops have become something of a man haven, if you will. So how can you revamp your humble shop to provide a relaxing atmosphere for your male guests?

How can you stand out from the crowd when your target audience is jumping between Snapchat and Instagram? It’s a head scratcher. Building a profile on multiple channels can chew up valuable time and can be unnecessarily expensive. So what can you do?

Is digital marketing critical to your salon success? Yes, yes and yes! You only need look around at everyone clinging to their smartphone as though it's a lifeline to know that technology is a must for your business. So how can you wow my clients using the latest tech?