Both Flagstaff Great Clips locations are taking their tradition of convenience to a whole new level by launching the industry’s first-ever Online Check-In in Great Clips salons in your city. It puts unprecedented control over the hair care experience in the hands of millions of consumers – at just the touch of a button. This revolutionary technology is available at Great Clips salons in Flagstaff.
Whether you’re a swamped professional trying to squeeze in a haircut on the drive home, a college student looking to get a quick trim before a big date, or a busy mom trying to get haircuts for you and the kids, Online Check-In means you no longer have to guess at how long your visit to Great Clips will take.
Great Clips’ Online Check-In feature is powered by ICS Net Check In a patent-pending, internet-based technology platform developed by Innovative Computer Software. Online Check-in allows customers to remotely log in from a computer or smart phone and view the estimated wait time at surrounding salons. Consumers can click the “check in” icon to add their name to the list at the Great Clips salon of their choice, and by the time they arrive they are likely next or almost next in line – saving precious time they might have spent waiting in the lobby for their haircut.
“Not surprisingly, our research shows customers don’t want to wait,” says Rhoda Olsen, Great Clips CEO. “We’ve always been focused on keeping wait times low, but with Online Check-In we can make our customer’s wait even shorter; our test markets show about 80 percent of folks who check in remotely wait less than five minutes on average once arriving at the salon.”
Olsen is proud to point out that Great Clips is a leader for use of technology in the cosmetology industry, “We are the first in the hair care space to introduce this game changing technology. It shows we respect the busy lives of our customers, and want to make the haircut experience as easy as possible.”
“As business people our heads are in the sand if we don’t recognize that customers use mobile devices for services. Online Check-In gives Great Clips’ franchisees the competitive advantage because customers will choose a salon that gives them a time commitment,” says Peter Kaiser, CEO of Innovative Computer Software (ICS) and creator of Great Clips’ Online Check-In. “It will also help franchisees monitor their salons, so they can shift staff and adjust schedules to better meet customer demand.”
High Tech Haircut –
The digital “do”
- Pick a salon and get on the list – Online Check-In allows customers to use a computer or mobile device to see wait times at Great Clips salons. Through the online map in Great Clips’ salon locator, customers can also choose a salon and add their name to the list before heading over. Whether they check in remotely or at the salon, customers are taken in the order they were added to the list.
- Who has it? – More than 1,400 Great Clips salons across the U.S. and Canada have the technology. It will be available system wide by mid-summer; at all 3,000 salons in 149 markets.
From Mousse To The Mouse
Salons Attracting “Customer 4.0” by trimming wait times
Great Clips franchisee Dave Hands is blown away by the Online Check-In system he’s using at all six of his salons. From a business perspective, it helps him:
- Schedule breaks for stylists.
- Even out traffic flow on slow days; if customers see no wait when they log in, they’ll come in on a slow day vs. on a busier weekend day.
- Reduce drive bys; folks who drive by and see people in the lobby and don’t come in even though those people are just waiting for someone and not getting their hair cut.
Plus he’s attracting young professionals to get a haircut during lunch time.
“We’re seeing an influx of tech savvy professionals in their twenties who have an hour for lunch and want to fit in a haircut and a meal,” says Hands. “They check in from their desktops, pop in for a haircut and are thrilled they can get in and out so quickly. We’re breeding customer loyalty at a young age. These folks won’t salon shop because our competitors don’t offer convenience anything like this.”
You Say You Want A Retail Revolution
“It’s like taking down the doors to our salon. This is a revolution in the hair care industry.” says Olsen. “Just like downloading songs made it easier for consumers to get music, just like online retailers made it more convenient to shop, Great Clips’ Online Check-In allows customers to get in and out and without a long wait in a salon lobby.”
Great Clips, Inc. was established in 1982 in Minneapolis. Today, Great Clips has nearly 3,000 salons throughout the United States and Canada, making it the world’s largest salon brand. Great Clips salons employ nearly 25,000 stylists who receive ongoing training to learn advanced skills and the latest trends. Make Great Clips your choice for value-priced, high-quality hair care for men, women and children. No appointments needed, and salons are open nights and weekends. For more information about Great Clips, Inc. or to find a location near you, visit www.greatclips.com.
About Innovative Computer Software(ICS)
Innovative Computer Software (ICS), an international leader in business management software. The company develops software that is easy to use, reliable and powerful. ICS couples superior software with top-notch support to provide a winning combination for its customers. Since 1985, companies throughout the world have selected ICS software as the best solution for their businesses. This includes Disney, Super America, Great Clips and Mrs. Fields Famous Brands to name a few. For more information go to www.icsusa.com.
