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Who we help · Barbers

Barber no-shows: fill the chair, not the gap.

A booking that doesn't turn up is a slot you can't sell twice. A few simple automations, a reminder, a clear message and a waiting list, mean fewer empty chairs and less chasing.

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Why barber no-shows hurt more

You keep the slot free. You turn a walk-in away. They don't show.

Barbers get hit harder than most. On one big booking platform, barbershops had an average no-show rate of 21.16%, about 1 in 5 bookings. Hair salons were at 3.16%. (Fresha, over 3 million appointments, May to August 2024.)

How to reduce no-shows, on their own

  1. They book in your booking app, or a slot goes into Google Calendar.
  2. Straight away, a confirmation goes out with the time, the address, and your no-show rule in one plain line.
  3. The day before, a reminder goes out, with an easy way to cancel or move it.
  4. They cancel? The slot goes to the first person on your waiting list, so the gap gets filled, not lost.
  5. They don't show? It's noted against their name. A second no-show, and they get a polite message that next time needs a deposit.

The tools: your booking app or Google Calendar, Make to join them up, and one list of clients in Airtable.

Appointment reminder text and no-show fee message

The reminder, the day before:

Hi [name], see you tomorrow at [time] at [shop]. Can't make it? Reply or tap here to move it: [link]. Thanks, [shop]

The no-show rule, when they book:

Thanks for booking with [shop]. If you can't make it, let us know by [time] the day before, so someone else can have the slot. Missed appointments may be charged [amount].

After a second no-show:

Hi [name], we missed you today. To keep slots fair for everyone, the next booking needs a [amount] deposit. Book here when you're ready: [link]

Short, friendly, and nobody's told off.

What an empty chair costs

If 1 in 5 bookings doesn't show, you're cutting for four and keeping the fifth slot empty.

Work out what that costs you in a month with the automation ROI calculator.

Three steps

  1. Tell us how you take bookings now.
  2. We build the reminders and the waiting list, and test them.
  3. You fill more chairs, with less chasing.

Oloye has been building marketing systems for over 3 years.

FAQ

Questions about barber no-shows

My booking system for barbers already sends reminders. Do I need this?

Maybe not all of it. Switch the app's reminders on first and check the wording. Where automation helps is the rest: the waiting list, keeping track of repeat no-shows, and the follow-up messages.

Should I charge a no-show fee?

That's your call. Whatever you decide, say it clearly when they book, so nobody's surprised. The messages above give you the words.

What should an appointment reminder text say?

The time, the place, and an easy way to cancel or move it. Keep it to two lines. The easier it is to cancel, the more likely they'll tell you, and the slot can go to someone else.

When should the reminder go out?

The day before works for most shops, because there's still time to fill the slot. Some send a second one a couple of hours before.

How much does it cost?

It depends on the workflow. On the free call we look at it together, and you know the price before anything starts.

Who else we help

How many empty chairs did you have last week?

A free call, and we'll find the first fix worth setting up.

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