November is here – unofficially the month of the moustache. At Treatwell, we wanted to help you get your barbershop or hairdresser involved in ‘No-Shave November’ – the charity campaign that promotes cancer awareness and raises funds support cancer prevention, research, and education. All of this is achieved by participants embarking on a month-long journey, during which they forgo shaving and grooming – raising awareness and opening up the conversation surrounding cancer.
So, if you’re a barber, and you want to join the cause, look no further. We’ve got a few ideas that’ll help you on the way – let’s get started.
What is ‘No-Shave November’ and how can your barbershop or salon contribute?
So, what exactly is ‘No-Shave November’? No-Shave November is an organisation and campaign that promotes education about cancer prevention. It encourages people to stop shaving during the month of November with the aim of creating conversation and raising cancer awareness, as well as raising funds for the fight against cancer.
The No-Shave November Foundation was founded in 2009 in the United States, and today the term is used all over the world by people who decide to put down their razors during the month of November. The aim of the movement is to raise awareness of hair, which many cancer patients lose when they are treated for cancer. For example, participants can donate the money they usually spend on hair removal every month to support cancer research and help save lives. Of course, if your company’s dress code is very strict, the organisation assures that beard trimming and grooming are totally acceptable.
Join in the No-Shave November campaign with these ideas:
As a salon or barbershop owner, there are a few things you can do to contribute to the cause. We’ve gathered 6 ideas that you might want to try to get involved.
1. Encourage your staff and customers to take part
Set a good example and opt to take part in the movement yourself. This will be the best way to motivate your team to do so in solidarity – which is the best way to spread the message, get people talking, and let your clients know that you’re participating in No-Shave November.
2. Create an offer or promo to show solidarity with the cause
A great way to show solidarity with the cause of No-Shave November is to organise a promotion or offer for those clients taking part. How about a free shave or beard trim for all your clients who’ve forgone the razor for the month? Or a discount for those who want to participate but have to keep it tame and trimmed because of their jobs?
First, analyse the off-peak hours of your salon or barbers, so that you can offer the service at specific times. Then, promote the offer on your social media accounts or website. This way, you’ll be able to fill the emptier slots in your days, whilst helping a good cause. Win-win!
Treatwell Pro provides all the tools you need to do this – with in-depth analytics to discover when you’re less busy, as well as completely customisable smart promotions and offers. Speak to one of our experts to find out more.
Motivate your customers to participate in ‘No-Shave November’
Let your customers know that you and your venue are actively participating in the campaign. Tell them why No-Shave November is so important to you and what values you want to promote in your salon or barbershop, and encourage them to get involved too.
Another nice idea to create a sense of collaboration – at the end of the month, you can create a space in your shop entirely devoted to your campaign, where you can showcase some memories from the month with photos of your team and clients. Take before-and-after photos of your clients and create your own #hashtag so they can share the progression of (or the reasons for) their moustaches and beards.
Important: to share photos of your clients on your social channels, it’s vital that you have their written consent. Our advice? Prepare a form and have them fill it out for each photo to play it safe.
4. Add some on-theme decorations to your salon or barbershop
To make it as clear as possible that you’re taking part (and to get people talking and raise awareness of No-Shave November) – you can decorate your salon or barbers with all things beard or moustache-related. Add some stickers or streamers, or window decorations – it’s really up to you, so you can get creative with it. You could also pop a sign somewhere in your shop with a catchy message about the cause.
Our top tip: Find a photo of the beard or moustache that you like best, and which best matches the aesthetic of your salon or barbershop. There are plenty of free image libraries online in which you can find these. Use an image editing tool, such as Canva, to design your creations by adding a message to your image. Then, simply upload them to your website, post them on social media, or print them for use as decorations in your venue.
5. Host an event at the end of the month
Why not throw a dedicated party or event to celebrate the fact that your salon or barbershop (and your clients) have completed the challenge of No-Shave November? It’ll be a great way to round up the month, raise even more awareness about the issue, and possibly raise more funds for the cause.
It could be worth reaching out to other businesses in the area to collaborate too. For example, speak to a local bakery to see if they can make moustache-shaped cookies, or tell the manager of a local shop that you’re participating in No-Shave November. Who knows, they might even be willing to offer your clients some free products in exchange for exposure in the salon (which could be great to add to goodie bags, for example).
Raise money for charity
Whether online or directly at the salon, raising money is the ultimate way to contribute to No-Shave November. By supporting No-Shave November, you’re letting your clients know that you’re a business that cares, and that has strong values.
If you don’t feel comfortable asking your clients to donate, you could always donate a fixed amount per service. For example, you can share the following message with your clients after every booking:
“Throughout the month of November, [your salon name] is participating in No-Shave November. We’ll be donating [X amount] to the No-Shave November organisation for every treatment you book with us, to help support the fight against and research into cancer. Thank you for your booking!
Need help with your campaigns? Trust Treatwell PRO
Treatwell Pro has all the tools you need to create engaging and effective marketing campaigns for your salon or barbershop. What’s more, our software allows you to build a solid customer base, and easily connect with them via email and SMS. Ready to create promotions, loyalty programmes and a whole range of relevant campaigns for your salon?