Pink Ribbon Promotions

Oct is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  The beauty industry is a strong supporter of this cause. The dog days of summer are the perfect time to start thinking pink! Take advantage of the slower time to plot out your promotions for the rest of the year. Here are three easy P’s to create your perfect pink ribbon promotions!

Plan
Decide if you want to align your promotions to a charity such as the Susan Komen Foundation.  A popular idea is to promote a donation drive. Offer awareness band bracelets for every donation received. You can print off pink ribbons and for each client that donates, have them sign your name to the ribbon. Hang these ribbons around the salon and watch the chain grow! Another idea is to present a potion of sales to the designated charity. You could also host a VIP after hours party complete with goodie bags with free services or discounts for all who donate.  Calendar when you will start the promotion and when it will end.  Create a goal for donations and an advertising plan to get the word out and keep the support coming.

Prep

Coordinate additional support with your partners. Get staff involved in the planning process and implementation. Work with your suppliers, network partners, and neighboring businesses to ask for their participation in co-sponsored promotions or events.  Order any supplies you need such as the awareness bands, signage, or postcards.  Have a marked up calendar of who is doing what when and send it to everyone involved. This sets clear expectations and keeps everyone on the same page.

Promote

Get the word out about your promotion early and often.  Broadcast you event via social media, emails, signage, a postcard mailer, your website, staff and clients.  Keep up the momentum by announcing weekly updates of your goal target and the biggest contributors. Keeping a high level of excitement and awareness will drive engagement.  Finally communicate the success and thank everyone who has supported your effort. Handwritten thank you notes, shout outs on your digital media, and in-salon signage are excellent ways to show appreciation for those who supported your cause. Don't forget to send some local PR following the event to local news outlets. Share the good deeds. 

Have other successful promotion ideas, please share below. Think pink and support a great cause while growing your business!