Are you ready for tomorrow’s Small Business Saturday?

Tracy Ewen, managing director for IGF Invoice Finance, reveals how salon owners can prepare for the busy season ahead…

Tomorrow marks the third annual Small Business Saturday, an event designed to champion small businesses throughout the UK and encourage customers to shop small – and local – in the run-up to Christmas. The team behind the event not only hope for a positive experience on the day itself, but also expect to see a positive impact for independent salons and beauty therapists well into the New Year.

With the festive season offering several opportunities for attending parties and events, many local customers will be looking for a reliable, trustworthy salon throughout December and into the New Year. A key objective for salon owners is to gain regular repeat appointments, as well as referrals from satisfied customers. As Small Business Saturday encourages footfall from the local community, smaller salons and independent beauty therapists therefore have a perfect opportunity to attract and retain new customers into 2016.

However, for businesses in the hair and beauty industry to thrive during this busy period, it’s crucial that both stock and staff levels are increased. Word of mouth is essential for attracting new customers, so it’s vital to ensure that adequate supplies are ordered early in December and then maintained well into January.

Having access to flexible finance solutions at this time of the year is crucial to achieving this goal. Relying on a credit card or costly bank overdraft might see a business through for the short-term, but will ultimately worsen problems with cashflow.

It’s important to seek advice from financial experts into the practical and reliable options available, in order to avoid pitfalls like these. Many professional finance providers offer free advice and allow business owners to consider a wide range of options. Making use of this free resource will ultimately save time and money in the run up to Christmas, which is when salon owners need it the most.

Small Business Saturday is likely to encourage customers from the local community into smaller salons throughout the area, so it’s imperative to make sure that both you and your business are prepared for the busy season ahead.