Salon & Beauty Business Setup Guide

Set up Store Check-In for salons, spas, and beauty businesses with appointment check-ins and product upselling

Store Check-In for Salons & Beauty Businesses

Streamline your salon operations with effortless appointment check-ins, retail product upselling, and enhanced customer service.

Why Salons Love Store Check-In

The Challenge

  • Appointment Chaos - Clients arrive but staff doesn’t know who’s here
  • Retail Underperformance - Products sit on shelves while clients wait
  • Service Upselling - Missed opportunities to recommend additional services
  • Customer Preferences - Hard to track client product and service preferences

The Solution

Store Check-In transforms your waiting area into a sales opportunity while giving staff real-time visibility of arrived clients and their service history.

Real-World Scenario: Seamless Salon Experience

The Situation: Lisa arrives at Glamour Beauty Studio for her 2 PM color appointment, 10 minutes early.

Without Store Check-In:

  • Receptionist is with another client, doesn’t notice Lisa arrive
  • Lisa waits without staff knowing she’s here
  • Browsing products on shelves with no detailed information
  • Stylist starts 10 minutes late because they didn’t know Lisa had arrived

With Store Check-In:

  1. Appointment Check-In: Lisa scans QR code at entrance
  2. Staff Alert: Receptionist sees “Lisa - 2PM Color with Sarah, Arrived”
  3. Product Discovery: While waiting, Lisa explores kiosk showing hair care recommendations
  4. Personalized Suggestions: Kiosk shows “Recommended for Color-Treated Hair” based on her service history
  5. Add-On Service: Lisa books additional deep conditioning treatment through kiosk
  6. Product Purchase: Adds professional shampoo and conditioner to cart
  7. Stylist Preparation: Sarah sees Lisa’s arrival and new service addition, prepares accordingly

Result: On-time service start, increased retail sales, and enhanced customer experience.

Phase 1: Appointment Check-In System

QR Code Placement Strategy:

  • Main Entrance: “Check-in for Your Appointment”
  • Waiting Area: “Discover Professional Products”
  • Reception Desk: “Explore Our Services”
  • Individual Stations: “Book Your Next Appointment”

Client Tags Configuration:

Service Types:
- COLOR_CLIENT
- CUT_ONLY_CLIENT
- EXTENSIONS_CLIENT
- FACIAL_CLIENT
- MASSAGE_CLIENT

Preferences:
- PREFERS_NATURAL_PRODUCTS
- SENSITIVE_SKIN
- PREFERS_LUXURY_BRANDS
- FREQUENT_CLIENT (monthly+)
- SPECIAL_OCCASION_CLIENT

Phase 2: Service-Integrated Kiosk Setup

Recommended Tab Structure:

  1. ✨ For Your Service - Products related to today’s appointment
  2. 🏠 Professional Home Care - Take-home maintenance products
  3. ➕ Add-On Services - Additional treatments available today
  4. 📅 Future Bookings - Schedule follow-up appointments
  5. 🎁 Gift Cards & Sets - Perfect for retail impulse purchases

Dynamic Content Based on Service:

  • Color Clients: Color-safe shampoos, treatments, UV protection
  • Cut Clients: Styling products, brushes, heat protection
  • Facial Clients: Skincare routines, cleansers, moisturizers
  • Extensions: Specialized care products, gentle formulas

Phase 3: Staff Integration & Efficiency

POS Integration Benefits:

  • See which clients have checked in for appointments
  • View client service history and product preferences
  • Track add-on services requested through kiosk
  • Process combined service + retail transactions

Stylist Dashboard Features:

  • Real-time client arrival notifications
  • Pre-visit product recommendations based on service
  • Client preference notes and allergy information
  • Upsell opportunities identified by kiosk browsing

Implementation Timeline

Week 1: Basic Check-In Setup

  • Install Store Check-In app
  • Set up appointment check-in QR codes
  • Import client database with service history
  • Train reception staff on client arrival notifications

Week 2: Product Configuration

  • Organize retail products by service categories
  • Create personalized product collections
  • Set up service-based product recommendations
  • Configure add-on service offerings

Week 3: Staff Training & Integration

  • Train stylists on POS integration features
  • Set up client preference tracking
  • Configure automated product suggestions
  • Test complete client journey from check-in to checkout

Week 4: Advanced Features & Launch

  • Implement future appointment booking
  • Set up gift card and promotion campaigns
  • Launch client education program
  • Monitor metrics and optimize configurations

Success Metrics for Salons

Operational Efficiency

  • Check-In Rate: Target 80% of appointment clients checking in
  • Service Punctuality: 15% improvement in on-time service starts
  • Staff Productivity: Reduced time managing client arrivals

Revenue Growth

  • Retail Attachment Rate: 35-50% increase in product sales per client
  • Add-On Services: 20% increase in same-day service additions
  • Average Transaction Value: 25-40% increase through upselling

Client Experience

  • Wait Time Awareness: Clients know staff are aware of their arrival
  • Product Education: Better understanding of professional products
  • Service Satisfaction: Improved experience through personalized attention

Common Salon Use Cases

Color Appointment Enhancement

Client Journey:

  1. Check-in upon arrival for color appointment
  2. Browse color-safe home care products while processing
  3. Add deep conditioning treatment to today’s service
  4. Purchase professional color maintenance kit
  5. Book 6-week touch-up appointment before leaving

Product Education for Retail

Before: Products on shelves with basic descriptions After: Interactive product discovery with professional recommendations, tutorials, and ingredient information

Service Upselling Automation

Before: Stylists manually suggest add-on services during appointment After: Clients discover and request services independently, stylists focus on service delivery

Client Retention Programming

Before: Manual follow-up calls for rebooking After: Automated appointment reminders and easy self-service rebooking

Advanced Salon Features

Personalized Product Recommendations

AI-Driven Suggestions:

  • Based on previous service history
  • Seasonal hair/skin care needs
  • Professional vs. drugstore product education
  • Bundle recommendations for complete routines

Service Menu Integration

Dynamic Service Offerings:

  • Show available add-on services for today
  • Display current promotions and seasonal treatments
  • Enable instant booking for additional services
  • Provide detailed service descriptions and benefits

Loyalty Program Integration

Points and Rewards:

  • Track client visit frequency
  • Reward consistent bookings
  • Offer birthday and anniversary specials
  • Create VIP tiers for frequent clients

Beauty Business-Specific Configuration

Product Variant Management

  • Size Options: Travel, regular, professional sizes
  • Formulations: Color-treated, damaged, fine hair, etc.
  • Brand Tiers: Professional, luxury, budget-friendly
  • Sets and Bundles: Complete care routines

Service Add-On Integration

  • Treatment Options: Deep conditioning, scalp treatments, styling
  • Time-Based Offerings: Quick services available today
  • Seasonal Specials: Holiday treatments, summer/winter care
  • Package Deals: Multiple service discounts

Allergy and Sensitivity Management

  • Client Profiles: Track allergies and sensitivities
  • Product Filtering: Hide incompatible products automatically
  • Alternative Suggestions: Recommend hypoallergenic options
  • Safety Notifications: Alert staff to client restrictions

Integration with Salon Software

  • Schedulicity: Client data and appointment sync
  • Vagaro: Service history and preferences
  • Fresha: Real-time appointment status
  • Salon Iris: Comprehensive client profiles

Booking System Integration

  • Import client appointment data
  • Sync service history for personalized recommendations
  • Update appointment status when clients check in
  • Enable future booking through kiosk interface

Getting Started

Ready to enhance your salon operations?

  1. Install Store Check-In - Add to your Shopify store
  2. Import Client Data - Sync your existing client database
  3. Configure Services - Set up service-based recommendations

Salon-specific questions? Email us at support@storecheckin.com - we work with many beauty businesses and understand your unique needs.