Creating the right atmosphere at your salon or spa means paying attention to all of the senses - the smell, sound, look, feel, and yes, even taste (you can never go wrong with some chilled cucumber water). Once you have the perfect sofa in your waiting room, the perfect candle burning on the reception desk, and perfect soundtrack playing softly in the background, it’s time to make sure that zen feeling is following your guests through their entire experience. This means creating a checkout process that is as relaxing as the rest of your business.
The last thing you want is for your guests to leave your salon in frustration from a bad checkout experience instead of remembering how pampered and relaxed they felt - and telling all of their friends! Here are a few fool-proof ways to make sure your checkout process leaves your clients smiling.
Have the Right Equipment for Your Needs
Every business is unique, so making sure you have the right equipment for your needs is the essential first step to creating a seamless payment flow at your salon. Finding the right provider for your business can be confusing, so make sure you’re speaking with providers who are dedicated to helping you find the perfect solution. The right hardware and software can make all of the difference when it comes to crafting the perfect payment flow for your needs. For example, if your customers find it a bother to pay with a physical card and prefer NFC/contactless options, be sure to consider that when selecting a provider.
Have a Well-Trained Staff
There are a number of ways customers can pay for services, so it’s important to train your staff on all of the possibilities. Knowing how to use chip readers, for instance, can help eliminate missteps like removing a card too early from the machine. Review each step of the checkout process with members of your staff and thoroughly train any new member coming on board. You should also document each step for future reference, with notes on each payment type accepted and what to do if something goes wrong. A well-trained staff can make the overall checkout process quick, easy, and convenient!
Limit the Number of Steps
When a checkout process has too many steps, it can be frustrating or confusing for both the customer and staff. Asking customers too many questions on top of payment, such as their email address and phone number, or if they’d like to donate to a particular cause, can be a headache. If a customer wants to finish checking out quickly, limiting the number of extra steps or questions in the checkout process can make for a more convenient customer experience. And best of all, their great experience can lead to more customers!
Accept the Payment Types Your Customers Want to Give
Technology has enabled customers to pay beyond using cash or a check. Some customers are even using their phones instead of cash for the checkout process. Allowing customers to choose how they pay - whether by cash, credit, debit, or using their phones - is not only convenient, but creates a better overall customer experience. If many of your customers prefer to pay using a particular credit card or by using their phone, make sure your staff is trained on accepting those forms of payment and that you have the right equipment to process the payment.
Creating a seamless checkout process can make for a picture-perfect customer experience. Too many steps and too few accepted payment types can lead to headaches and frustration for both customers and staff. By offering a simple and convenient checkout process, you can give your customers a great experience, all the way through the end of their visit. Make sure you have the right equipment for your salon or spa’s checkout process, train your staff on the process, limit the number of steps, and make sure you accept the payment types your customers prefer. You’ll be well on your way to creating a relaxing customer experience, from start to finish!
Want to learn more about the way payment processing should be? Check out our partner FattMerchant, whose amazing technology is taking the industry by storm! And don't forget to back here for more tips and tricks on making your business grow.
