Going through your
client chart files is an important part of keeping up with your
business. This is yet another reason it is so crucial to make charts on
each and every client. Because I don’t want to clog my files with
inactive clients, I will go through the files every 3-6 months. See Client Information Charts—Part I & Part II (links below).
I take out any client who hasn’t been in for 6 months and put their chart in a pile. I will send “I want you back!” discount post cards to each client who hasn’t
been in for the last 6 months (or longer). I write down the date I send
the PC and put these charts in a separate file. The chart of anyone who
comes in from the post card will be put back in the active files once
they have come in.
For
those who did not respond, I 3-hole punch their charts and put in a
notebook labeled “Inactive Clients.” If at some point in the future any
of these clients decide to return to my salon, I still have their chart
but the chart is not clogging my active files. I actually don’t ever toss a client file once it’s
made. Each chart has a lot of information on the client and it may come
in handy later down the road. At a future date I may send a long-lost
client another discount PC. But if they don’t respond to this 2nd attempt, I won’t contact them again.
For
those who did not respond, I 3-hole punch their charts and put in a
notebook labeled “Inactive Clients.” If at some point in the future any
of these clients decide to return to my salon, I still have their chart
but the chart is not clogging my active files. I actually don’t ever toss a client file once it’s
made. Each chart has a lot of information on the client and it may come
in handy later down the road. At a future date I may send a long-lost
client another discount PC. But if they don’t respond to this 2nd attempt, I won’t contact them again.
I didn’t put a place for an expiration date on the “I want you back!” postcards, but you certainly can. For clients who really aren’t frequenting my salon, I don’t put an expiration on their discounts thinking without pressure, perhaps they will someday return.
Every business has busy times and less busy times. Instead of getting nervous during a slow period, I do things—like going through my files—to stir up the energy and create more business.
I designed and purchased these postcards at vistaprint.com.
Also see:
Every business has busy times and less busy times. Instead of getting nervous during a slow period, I do things—like going through my files—to stir up the energy and create more business.
I designed and purchased these postcards at vistaprint.com.
Also see:
