7 Holiday Season Marketing Ideas for Salons — With a Twist

Offering your salon clients some must-snag offers around the holidays can make the end of the year a booming time for business.

To help end your year with a revenue boost, we made a list of salon marketing ideas and creative promotion ideas you can try this holiday season, which are especially relevant for any hair salon or beauty business looking to attract new clients and grow.

Pick any of these options that excite you and that you think will most appeal to your clients!

Pre-Holiday Preparation

The holiday rush can feel overwhelming, but it's a revenue whirlwind for salon owners who are ready to embrace the magic. A little thoughtful preparation can position you ahead of the oncoming wave.

Thoughtful planning with heart-centered marketing can help a salon not just survive the competition, but genuinely connect with its community in meaningful ways.

Here is a quick holiday prep checklist.

Holiday Decor, Holiday Vibe

Think of transforming your salon space as setting the stage for joy; those festive touches don't just brighten the room, they lift everyone's spirits and create an atmosphere your clients will remember.

Get Team Buy In

Your team is your greatest asset, so take time to walk them through those special holiday services together – when everyone feels confident and prepared, that energy translates into unforgettable client experiences.

Inventory Prep

Don't forget to stock up on those retail gems that make hearts flutter, especially travel-size treasures and curated gift sets that practically sell themselves.

Marketing Alignment

Mapping out your salon marketing ideas efforts ahead of time means you can focus on what matters most when things get busy. Plan those email campaigns, craft your social posts, and design those irresistible promotions while you still have breathing room.

By investing some energy upfront, you'll glide through the holiday season with confidence, keep your clients absolutely delighted, and watch your business thrive during this wonderful, busy time of year.

With that, let’s dive into the list of holiday marketing ideas for your salon.

1. Gift Card Promos

A thoughtfully crafted gift card promotion feels less like a sales push and more like you're helping your clients solve their holiday gifting dilemmas. If you're already that trusted go-to person who makes people feel their best, why not extend that care to their gift-giving stress?

Gift cards truly are the ultimate holiday problem-solver for anyone who wants to give the gift of feeling fabulous. When you time your promotion just right, you'll find clients naturally thinking of you for their loved ones, and yes, even treating themselves.

There are so many creative ways to deploy gift card deals. A few simple and profitable structures include:

-Gift card BOGO specials: Buy-one, get-one free gift cards

-Discounted gift cards: Pay $30 for a $50 gift card)

-Tiered “Cheer” Bonuses:  Buy a $100 gift card, get a $20 bonus card

-Double the Joy: Buy a $75 gift card, get a second $25 card to gift (or keep for yourself)

-Holiday Treat Add-Ons: Buy a $100 gift card, get a complimentary holiday-themed add-on (e.g., a mini spa service, a festive candle, or a branded water bottle)

-Mystery Bonus Cards: Buy a $100 gift card and receive a mystery bonus card worth $10–$50

-Early Bird Bonuses: Purchase gift cards before a certain date and receive an additional $25 bonus card with every $100 spent

-Festive Freebies: Buy a $150 gift card, get a free seasonal retail item (e.g., sugar scrub, scented candle, or branded yoga mat).

As with everything you sell, be sure to clearly advertise gift cards and gift certificates on your online store and promote them on your digital channels. When you share these gems through your email newsletters, social posts, and those eye-catching displays right there in your salon.

2. Cyber Monday Sales

If you’re used to throwing a salon open house, you can also test out an online sale since many clients are looking to purchase online as well. Cyber Monday is a great opportunity to boost salon retail sales by offering exclusive deals on your retail product selection.

Before diving in, remember these 4 basic Cyber Monday musts:

Set Clear Goals

Decide what you want Cyber Monday to achieve (more bookings, retail sales, etc.) and set measurable targets so you know what success looks like

Build Simple, Irresistible Offers

Create deals that are easy to understand, time-limited to drive urgency, and redeemable both online and in person. 

Make Online Booking Effortless

Test your booking links and gift card checkout on both desktop and mobile (mobile optimization is huge here).

Promote Early & Everywhere

Start teasing your Cyber Monday deals a week in advance. Use:

-Email: Early Access or VIP Preview announcements

-Social Media: Countdown posts and story reminders

-Text Messages: Short morning-of reminders

-Paid Ads: Retarget website visitors or followers

Look into affiliate marketing with your retail lines to see if this something they offer. This allows you to work directly with the brand, so the client can purchase online with a link specifically created for you to earn commission. 

3. Curbside Holiday Sale

Curbside sales are a warm, creative way to welcome new faces while giving your loyal customers exactly what they're looking for during the bustling holiday season. When you offer those special discounts and make it so effortless they don't even need to step out of their car, you're creating something truly special.

Run a curbside holiday sale for one weekend as an alternative to the more traditional salon or business open house, creating a festive spirit with your curbside holiday sale.

Spread the word through your social media and send an email out encouraging clients to pre-purchase their favorite retail items at a promotional price. Clients can then simply drive by and pick them up curbside during those two designated days.

You're not just creating a festive shopping experience; you're showing that you understand how precious time is during the holidays, and that thoughtfulness will set you apart in ways that matter.

4. Retail Package Deals

The holidays are the best time to buy retail package deals that can include popular salon retail products and offer them to your clients. (And exactly why Sephora sells holiday gift packages at this time of year.)

But what items should you focus on selling and packaging this holiday season? Well, an important first step is to uncover which products fly off the shelves the most. Your salon's software will do the heavy lifting here, the folllowing four tools, in particular: 

Your POS System

Use your salon's point-of-sale (POS) system to track individual product sales in real time. Your POS system should also track retail patterns over extended periods (weekly, monthly, etc.) and help you determine which products need frequent reordering. 

Your Salon's Reports

Reporting tools built into your software can generate more detailed retail sales analytics. Use these reports to: 

-Track each retail product's earnings

-Rank products by total sales volume 

-Compare sales across time periods 

-Identify top-selling product categories 

Salon Inventory

Track your salon’s inventory regularly. Compare starting and ending inventory, and note which products need frequent restocking. Track product turnover rates, and monitor stock depletion rates.

Client Purchase Histories

Analyzing individual purchase histories may seem like a trip into the weeds, but you can learn things from clients that you can’t from the tools mentioned above. For example, a client’s purchase history can allow you to track product recommendations that convert and note which services lead to the purchase of specific products.

5. Gifts under $20

This is an extension of the above, and of your salon's broader, year-round retail strategy. Choose some of your favorite grab-and-go items that are less than $20 and share why you love them on your social platforms.

Another angle on this: Offer holiday travel size goods as an early November marketing push to catch people who will be flying or road tripping home.

6. Holiday Product Gift Guide

Pick the top five favorite items your business carries, and create a little mini-gift guide.

You can even make some quick videos on why you love them so much. If you oversee multiple stylists or providers, you could also do a round-up of the products each of you love and why.

7. Holiday Hair and Makeup Tips

Nothing is better than a quick tutorial video.

This will allow your clients to see the product in action, and you can link to the products in the email or in your Instagram bio so they can snag everything they’ve just seen.

Set up a holiday selfie station in your salon to engage prospective clients and potential clients on social media. Encourage them to share their selfies using your branded hashtag to boost your online visibility.

Bonus: Client Gifts

Have you been thinking of ways to give back to your guests? There are many ways you can do this.

Purchase sample size bottles of your favorite products and maybe add in a healthy sweet treat from a neighborhood bakery.

Or create a cute little package and add a card if you would like. By partnering with another local store, you help each other build your businesses.

Finally, create a cute (brand-consistent) card that offers a complimentary service or add-on, e.g. a deep conditioning treatment during the month of January. After all, who doesn’t want a complimentary, hydrating mask treatment at such a cold, dry time of year?

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