Nail salon loyalty card: a reward that follows the infill rhythm

A nail salon loyalty card should follow how often a client comes in for an infill. If she comes every 3 to 4 weeks, give the reward on the sixth visit, which works out at once every 4 to 6 months. And instead of a whole free manicure, give her an extra that costs you a few euros.

Why the infill rhythm decides

A client with gel nails does not come when she feels like it, but when her nails have grown out. We use an interval of 3 to 4 weeks in this example as typical, your clients may differ. If you put the reward on the tenth visit, she would wait seven to nine months for it. That is too long for the card to motivate her.

Six visits take 18 to 24 weeks. The client sees a reward twice a year, and at every infill she can see it getting closer.

Working out the reward

Use the formula from How many stamps on a loyalty card: the reward cost divided by the number of visits multiplied by the average purchase.

Sample calculation: a gel infill costs €30, the reward comes on the sixth visit and costs you €4. The effective discount is 4 ÷ (6 × 30) = 2.2%. With a reward costing €3 it is 1.7%, with €5 about 2.8%. Your client, meanwhile, judges the value by your price list, not by your cost.

Three rewards that cost little

Nail art on two nails. It costs you a few minutes and a little polish, and for the client it is something she would not otherwise pay extra for.

A paraffin hand treatment. The material is cheap, the experience feels luxurious, and it works especially well in winter.

A longer hand massage with oil. Five extra minutes that a client remembers more than a discount.

You can fit all three into a normal appointment or with a few extra minutes, so you do not need a free slot in your diary.

Card setup in four lines

• Stamp for: every visit
• Reward on: the sixth visit
• Reward: nail art on two nails or a paraffin treatment, her choice
• Reward cost to you: €3 to €5

When a client misses an appointment

A client who skips an infill is not necessarily lost. Maybe she just had her nails fixed somewhere else that had a free slot. So once a week, look through your diary for clients who have not booked their next appointment since their last visit, and message them personally. Suggested wording: "Your nails are probably ready for an infill. I have a free slot on Thursday afternoon."

In Rewardly you can also set a lock screen message that goes out on its own if a client has not come back within 30 days of a visit. It is a safety net for the clients you forget about. You can compare which automations come with which plan on the pricing page.

If you use a booking system, Rewardly connects with Bookio and Amelia.

Christmas: vouchers for your clients' friends

In December your clients ask about presents for friends and mums. A manicure voucher is a simple gift and brings you a new face. What to sell and how to word it is covered in the article on massage and spa gift vouchers, and you will find the template route and the online option in Gift voucher template or selling online: which do you need?

A similar card for another service with a monthly rhythm is described in barbershop loyalty program. If you are leaning towards coupons instead, see loyalty coupons for salons.

A loyalty card for your salon in 2 minutes, try Rewardly for €0

No upfront payment, and clients add it to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet.