COLUMBIA, S.C., Aug. 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- PhotoFinish Salon (www.photofinishsalon.com) has created a new app for hair stylists. With smartphone technology increasingly helping small businesses build relationships and strengthen customer loyalty, the new app for hair stylists and salon owners is emerging as the hottest item in the shop since the blow dryer.
The new app, called "PhotoFinish Salon Mobile" and developed by Columbia, SC hair salon owner J. Thomas Leaptrott, already has more than 3,000 users worldwide and may lead the way for new set of apps that could transform the entire $50 billion a year hair and beauty industry.
The unique mobile hair stylist app, which is available on iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch and Android, enables hairdressers and salon owners to gather and store everything from photographs, color formulations and personal client notes, to demographic information, services rendered and products used and purchased for each client. In its new version, the app is the only one of its kind to offer a proprietary back-up system and client communications tool designed specifically for the salon business. The feature, called "Client Connect," enables the user to synchronize with any Android or Apple device, send text and email reminders automatically to clients while backing up data every few minutes on the fly with no chance of data loss.
"The salon business is ideally suited for a smartphone app," says Leaptrott, a former educator and platform artist for L'Oreal and Brocato. "When you think about how much we customize what we do for each individual client, we now have a tremendous opportunity to use this technology to store everything we need to know about each client and archive our entire body of work, which is great for the client and great for the stylist. You literally can run your business in the palm of your hand," he says.
In addition, Leaptrott points out that the app is perfect for any stylist and at any level – including either rental or commission.
"We have all made moves from one salon to another and have feared we would not have access to our client records after we leave," he said, noting that about 50 percent of stylists nationwide are commission and about 50 percent are booth rental. "PhotoFinish Salon Mobile App allows stylists to manage their clients while maintaining independence and providing flexibility and security for proprietary information."
Features of the PhotoFinish Salon app include an innovative photo archive capability that builds a visual history of every client for an unlimited amount of time. With multiple photo windows per appointment, several photos can be stored along with products and processing information as well as notes such as natural level of hair, desired level and percentage of gray, hair texture, hair type, face shape, eye color, skin tone and other variables.
"When a client says, 'I really liked that cut with the fringe around the face and subtle highlights that you did for me a coupe of years ago,' the stylist can touch the client's file and scroll through the photo archive until they identify the hairstyle, cutting formula, products used along with any cutting notes that were saved from that appointment," Leaptrott says. "Clients love this attention to detail and, of course, they can't wait to tell their friends about it. It gives the stylist a real advantage in the marketplace."
Apparently, stylists who have downloaded the app agree. "The PhotoFinish Salon app is lots of fun to use and my clients are impressed with the attention to detail I now provide them with," said one stylist using PhotoFinish Salon. "This is the best app for hair on the market!"
In addition to capturing client profiles, PhotoFinish Salon Mobile App can manage calendars for booking future appointments and retrieve client contact information based on parameters such as sex, age and birthday. The app maintains email and home contacts so special promotions can be targeted to certain customer markets.
"If a stylist wants to target clients with a flat iron sale, the program can sort out the young women in the 14-30 year old range. Or, if the stylist wants to promote round brushes, they can target the 31-60 year old range and invite them to the salon after hours for a round brush party with refreshments, featuring the salon staff teaching them the tricks of round brushing," he says. "In fact, you can promote your salon in any way imaginable using this Mobile App to create real loyalty among your clients."
Another attractive feature of PhotoFinish Salon Mobile App is its affordability for any stylist. The app is available for a single purchase price of $19.99 in the iTunes store or Google Marketplace under the name "PhotoFinish Salon Mobile." The "Client Connect" feature is priced separately and can be purchased for $2.99 on a month-to-month basis or $30.99 annually.
SOURCE PhotoFinish Salon
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