Great Inventory ideas from a MIKAL client

From Kenneth and Mary Beth - 2 locations MIKAL Salon Software clients since 1986 Great Inventory and marketing ideas! Well, the downturn" hit us about 3 years ago. Inventory just piled up, and our retail sales fell through the floor! Just want to share some forces that are helping us remain successful. I have made inventory a calling with the extra time available to clerical staff. Clients, with support testimony from staff, told me they don't like asking for prices on products (which change constantly). After talking with manufacturers for six months about shelf talkers, we went "rogue" and created our own for a better price. We purchased plastic shelf talkers on the net ( $15 per hundred, I believe). We purchased a good label maker (could even be borrowed, or bought used). I assigned the new front desk person to set up the shelves and create the labels. (She is a former makeup artist for Saks and a manager of art galleries in California-ouch!) It has been the best idea I have had in a while! Clients love shopping without asking for prices b/c they are embarrassed. Clerical staff see immediately which products are low. Housekeepers and other support staff return products to the proper space reducing waste and lost sales. That little difference has made us more efficient and allows me to order in minutes every three to four working days. Don't need to tell you why that's good. You cannot imagine how happy I am to spend less than an hour maintaining shelves of eight product lines (and I have eliminated items that do not sell as I can special order and have them in days). Use the MIKAL Inventory ranking report each month and eliminate the last page (lowest ranked) items each month. Glen at MIKAL says you can also see these items as a screen under your MIKAL Management Check! I justified the expense of the label maker further by labelling/organizing closets and professional areas. This simple change has made us more efficient, neater, and less wasteful. On the sales end, we created a lovely promotion which rewards clients over multiple visits. We configured a bookmark (or frequent buyer retail card) which has a special promotion over four sequential visits. To get the bookmark checked or card punched you have to come in every 6 weeks for 4 visits in a row. I will let you know the results of the Discount Reason Code at end of year, but I think it has been one of the most successful promotions we have ever run. It is quite humerous: at St. Charles we have some clients from the wealthiest families in New Orleans striving to schedule appointments in such a way as to use the discount! They have been very vocal thanking Kenneth for rewarding loyal clients. For the first time in my work history, we have clients fighting for a $5 referral discount. Bill (their MIKAL consultant) showed us how to execute the Client Analysis Report(?) daily so we can update emails for birthdays and referral rewards. This is the phrase that has worked for us: " M__ we're not sending you your birthday special as we don't have your _______ (email/b-day) on file. I will correct that right now for you. Just put that info right here on your ticket." Anyway, am hoping to see you for your next Camp MIKAL. It is well-timed for a night at the Cincinnati Reds baseball game or maybe a Bengals pre-season game! Mary Beth Thank you for sharing MB and Kenneth! Learn more about MIKAL and the great control and marketing features at www.mikal.com or call 800-448-5420

3 Trees

3 Trees Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, ‘Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty.’ Then the second tree said, ‘Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take Kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull.’ Finally the third tree said, ‘I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest Tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me.’ After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, ‘ This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter’, and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest. At the second tree the woodsman said, ‘This looks like a strong tree. I should be able to sell it to the shipyard.’ The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship. When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the woodsmen said, 'I don't need anything special from my tree, I'll take this one’, and he cut it down. When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for. The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end. The third tree was cut into large pieces, and left alone in the dark. The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams. Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time. Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and He stood and said 'Peace' and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat. Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it. The moral of this story is that when things don't seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, God will give you great gifts. Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined. We don't always know what God's plans are for us. We just know that His Ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best.

MIKALs EMBA hits the bar scene

EMBA hits the bar scene Okay I received some e-mails and calls about EMBA after Jimmy the salon owner's Walmart story. So here is another EMBA story: (if your missed the Walmart story it is below the Bar Blitz story) One of our MIKAL salon owners (who asked to not be named) said going to Walmart on Friday night is lame. Her staff started using EMBA the smart phone booking app a few months ago and some of the girls noticed when they were out after work at clubs people would comment on their hair or learn they were a stylist and say "hey give me your card and I'll call you next week for a haircut" but they NEVER called! So when the stylist got EMBA she started booking the prospects right at the bar. This idea got around the salon and some of the girls would go out together and have a few drinks, dance, and book some appointments with new clients (you can enter a new client in EMBA) The owner liked the idea and she decided to package it. She says now her staff does a "Bar Blitz Night" every month. They all go out together and take their smart phones, EMBA, and some new client Gift Certificates. They hit 3 or 4 places and the owner pays for a beverage (yes she is the designated driver) and the girls mingle, have fun and hand out the Gift Certificates and book appointments right on the spot with EMBA! She says when the girls hit the bar as a group they get noticed and start networking. I asked if there are any no shows since the bookings might be forgotten overnight.... She said it was a concern but no problem because EMBA confirms with an e-mail or text the day before the appointment. What a deal - new clients - a girls night out - fun - and business building! So after that story Walmart does sound a little lame... But here is the Walmart story - you decide.. One of our salons told me their staff is going crazy with EMBA the MIKAL Employee Mobile Booking App scheduling clients all over town! Jimmy our salon owner called me and said "I've got to tell you about EMBA and my staff" Here is Jimmy's story: The first weekend the salon started using EMBA one of the stylists came in on Monday and said she had booked 6 of her clients at Walmart Friday night while she was shopping after work. She said her clients came up to her like they always do to say hi and then said I've got to call the salon and get in for a haircut. The stylist said don't bother calling I can book you right now on my smart phone. The clients loved it. Standing in the Walmart pet food section the clients were booked! That week the other stylists noticed she was busy and her clients were coming in talking about EMBA at Walmart. The next Friday when the salon was closing Jimmy saw 4 of his stylists getting ready to leave and it looked like they were going out somewhere. He asked them where the were going to grab a bite or a drink and they told him they were going to Walmart and get some bookings! The stylists said the entire town goes to Walmart on Friday nights and shops and hangs out and that is where they were heading with their smart phones and EMBA. Jimmy told me he loves it. But he is kind of sad too. He said "remember when the staff would all close on Friday and would go out and party? Now they go to Walmart! What happened to us? True story - I swear it! Fred MIKAL CEO and EMBA lover

MIKALs EMBA goes to Walmart

One of our salons told me their staff is going crazy with EMBA the MIKAL Employee Mobile Booking App scheduling clients all over town! Jimmy our salon owner called me and said "I've got to tell you about EMBA and my staff" Here is Jimmy's story: The first weekend the salon started using EMBA one of the stylists came in on Monday and said she had booked 6 of her clients at Wal-Mart Friday night while she was shopping after work. She said her clients came up to her like they always do to say hi and then said I've got to call the salon and get in for a haircut. The stylist said don't bother calling I can book you right now on my smart phone. The clients loved it. Standing in the Wal-Mart pet food section the clients were booked! That week the other stylists noticed she was busy and her clients were coming in talking about EMBA at Wal-Mart. The next Friday when the salon was closing Jimmy saw 4 of his stylists getting ready to leave and it looked like they were going out somewhere. He asked them where the were going to grab a bite or a drink and they told him they were going to Wal-Mart and get some bookings! The stylists said the entire town goes to Wal-Mart on Friday nights and shops and hangs out and that is where they were heading with their smart phones and EMBA. Jimmy told me he loves it. But he is kind of sad too. He said "remember when the staff would all close on Friday and would go out and party? Now they go to Wal-Mart! What happened to us? True story - I swear it! Fred MIKAL CEO and EMBA lover

EMBA is a huge success with salons and spa

MIKAL salons are experiencing a big increase in Rebooks and Prebooks using EMBA the employee mobile booking app! Salons report that after installing EMBA the stylists and nail techs log onto EMBA on their smart phones while with their client at the end of the service and rebook the client right then! The clients love it because it speeds up the check out at the desk and their service providers make sure they get their best appointments! The staff loves doing the booking on EMBA because they know the client is locked in for their next service and the proper booking was done. Plus they look cool doing it and are in control! Amy, one of our MIKAL Salon Owners says her massage therapists and estheticians book their clients for the next 4 or 5 visits right in the treatment room to make sure the client is scheduled for a series of appointments. The clients love getting the extra attention and buy into a program of visits. Then Amy says the BIG payoff is the receptionist signs the client up for a 4 or 5 visit series so the client saves money and the salon gets the full series payment up front. Paid for and Booked! WOW Get the EMBA option, app, set up, and training for FREE this month just for buying 24 months of service up front. Call MIKAL for details at 513-528-5100 and EMBA!

MIKAL gives EMBA to the salons and spas

EMBA - Employee Mobile Appointment Book Imagine being able to book client appointments from anywhere. On your smart/Iphone. With anyone. At any time. The Employee Mobile Appointment Book gives you the freedom, power, and flexibility to do this! When you see a client out and about and they say “I really need to call in and book an appointment” you can now say: “Let me book it right now for you!” All you have to do is log onto the MIKAL Mobile Appointment Booking app on your smart/Iphone. Select the day, time, service, and your client is booked. What if you meet a new potential client? You can enter their basic information, find an appointment and book them. Fast, easy, and done! Pick a date. MIKAL knows your schedule. Pick a time. MIKAL shows best start times. You will only book perfect appointments! Pick the service. Your services. Your prices. Your times. Pick a present client or enter a new client. PLUS: Get your schedule real time. Check clients in at the salon. See who is waiting for you. You are in control! Call MIKAL today and get EMBA going! 513-528-5100 or sales@mikal.com See EMBA on our web site under On-Line Booking at www.mikal.com