These cards were printed while I
was having a few other pieces made at my printer. You can certainly use
vistaprint.com
or another inexpensive printer, but having my logo, which is my brand,
on all printed pieces given to a client is very important to me.
Branding is huge when it comes to establishing yourself as a
professional.
If you’ve read Business Cards—a must have (see link below), you have seen the back of my card is occupied with my book covers and celebrity quotes. Otherwise I would do what many people do and put a next appointment card as the back of my business card. Because I can’t do that, I had these separate cards made for next appointments.
These particular cards came out at a time when I thought I’d change my brand (a big mistake—but lesson learned) as you can see by the “integrative skincare” vs. my usual, simple and original “skin care.” This may seem minor to you, but for me it was veering from my norm, and very soon after I had some printed material with the “Integrative Skincare” I returned to my original format: “Carolyn Ash Skin Care.” (On a side note, I don’t like skincare spelled as one word. Why I chose to do that for my brand—?) See upcoming post Creating a company logo for more information on the importance of branding.
If you’ve read Business Cards—a must have (see link below), you have seen the back of my card is occupied with my book covers and celebrity quotes. Otherwise I would do what many people do and put a next appointment card as the back of my business card. Because I can’t do that, I had these separate cards made for next appointments.
These particular cards came out at a time when I thought I’d change my brand (a big mistake—but lesson learned) as you can see by the “integrative skincare” vs. my usual, simple and original “skin care.” This may seem minor to you, but for me it was veering from my norm, and very soon after I had some printed material with the “Integrative Skincare” I returned to my original format: “Carolyn Ash Skin Care.” (On a side note, I don’t like skincare spelled as one word. Why I chose to do that for my brand—?) See upcoming post Creating a company logo for more information on the importance of branding.
Having a printed next appointment card insures that your client has the information she needs to remember her next appointment. The card has your phone number on it, like a business card, so if a change needs to be made it is easy to find your office number. And it also displays your brand—again—which is exactly what you want. You want to have the visual of your business name shown over and over in everything you have printed. I had these cards (above) printed in plain black and white. I didn’t want any confusion (for me or my client) between the simple appointment card and my business card, which is in color.
The following card was my first effort when I opened my Chicagoland salon. I had them printed at the same time I had many other materials printed in my brand company color green. Looking back (as you’ll read below) my cancellation policy isn’t as detailed as it could/should be.
Although I always have a cancellation list, sometimes I can’t get in touch with anyone or no one can come during that cancelled appointment time. I also have, at different times in my career, taken down a credit card number for a first time client.
Having (and enforcing) a cancellation policy really brings it home how serious I am about people showing up for their appointments. And I have had to charge credit cards—only on rare occasion—due to a first time client not showing up or a regular client who might chronically cancel at the last minute.
I am running a business. This is not a hobby or something I do haphazardly. I want my clients to take the same care and consideration as I do when they book appointments with me. I don’t call them at the last minute to cancel their appointment, and I don’t appreciate it when they do this to me. So if that does happen, I have the verbal announcement made that if they don’t give me notice, I will charge them. As with many things in life, there are always exceptions. I am human, after all!
For more information, see:
