First of all, EFT confirms prompt payment of your customer’s monthly
tanning bill and gives you early notification of insufficient fund issues.
With the right software running your salon, you can be notified immediately
whether or not a client has the funds available to pay their bill, and
if they do not you may charge an additional fee to their account. You
can set the amount of the NSF (Non-Sufficient Funds) charge you feel necessary
for your salon.
Electronic Funds Transfer builds your business and improves cash flow.
An EFT agreement with your clients ensures that you will receive money
from them every month, even during your slow season! EFT can actually
increase your customer retention, as well. In the tanning salon industry,
you charge clients on a month-to-month basis for ongoing tanning services.
The EFT feature allows you to automatically deduct the fee from your customer’s
checking, debit card or credit card account. This increases the retention
of those tanners who might otherwise let the service lapse. So, it keeps
your customers as your customers!
If your company is set up to use EFT, you can save hundreds, maybe even
thousands of dollars, as well as reduce your operating costs. You will
save your employees endless hours of time by not having them do the monthly
paper work. You will also save man-hours because there are no collection
calls to be made, since the transactions are done electronically and automatically.
You know right then and there, with a click of a mouse, if the bill is
collected. If the client’s account is declined (NSF), your software program
should provide the ability to create a warning message on the tanner’s
profile screen. So, the next time she comes in, every employee will be
informed by the pop-up message, and they can tender payment at that time.
Without the benefit of software to remind you, an employee may not be
aware of the fees owed and not collect payment. Besides administrative
costs, just think of the amount of money you will save on paper and other
supplies alone!
Another necessity in running a successful salon is improving business
relationships. Believe it or not, EFT can do just that – build relationships
with your customers. Since EFT confirms the retention of your customers
every month, it gives you as the business owner a chance to get to know
all of them and build valuable relationships with them. Client retention
provides the opportunity for continued sales and up-selling. Everyone
likes to be known by name and feel as if their business is cherished.
Offering EFT at your salon will allow you to track your repeat customers,
and reward your faithful customers in appreciation of their business.
Every salon management software should come equipped with reports to monitor
your EFT history and growth; using these reports will help you track where
and when you are gaining new customers, or losing existing customers.
As you are saving money and growing your business through EFT programs,
your customers will benefit, as well. They will no longer have to worry
about making sure their payment has been received through the mail or
in person because it has been automatically processed. They can go on
vacation, or continue their daily routine with the confidence that their
tanning membership fee has been taken care of.
Electronic Fund Transfer is free to your customers, and they will value
this added service. The assurance of monthly revenue and income …priceless!
Amy Nelson is Director of Marketing for software maker, Interactive Designs, Inc. (SalonTouch/SunTouch). New to the team, Amy has over five years of experience in the spa and salon industries. Her duties include initiating new business, conducting in-house and client trainings, handling distributor relations, and maintaining customer satisfaction. She can be reached at 877.SUNTOUCH.
