ONLINE bookings firm Appointedd has launched a new product to help hairdressers, barbers and beauticians to fill their appointment books ahead of reopening.
The Edinburgh-based company said its new Open In Style solution means all bookings will comply with coronavirus protocols and appointments can be easily rescheduled if re-opening dates alter.
It could also significantly reduce the number of no-shows, it is claimed.
Appointedd said that since First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced that lockdown restrictions are easing and beauticians and hairdressers may reopen in April, “salon phones have been ringing off the hook with customers desperate to get themselves post lockdown-ready”.
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The company said: “But, as we now know only too well, with Covid-19 nothing is certain and opening dates and restrictions can change. Appointedd’s appointment solution ensures all booking, rebooking and any resultant rescheduling is carried out quickly and seamlessly and all bookings meet Covid regulations.”
All booking changes trigger an automated communication via email or SMS in addition to sending customers reminders for appointments "proven to reduce no-shows by up to 67 per cent".
Appointedd said benefits include full control of working hours and availability, built in buffer time to provide space between appointments with time to sanitise and clean, online payment integrations to secure bookings and quick and easy cancel button.
It also has a full analytics suite.
Leah Hutcheon, founder and chief executive of Appointedd, said: “Lockdown restrictions have forced hairdressers, barbers and beauticians to close for months last year, and again since November. We believe it's vital that when they do reopen they maximise the number of clients they can see safely. We work with many salons, big and small, and we know just how much time booking and rescheduling appointments manually wastes for them which is why we have created this solution for them now.”
The solution uses the same booking tools as currently used by Charlotte Tilbury and Space NK.
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