Back to School: Get your Smurf on this Summer

Searches that led people to my blog this week demonstrate that salon and spa owners are looking for some creative back-to-school ideas to bring customers in before the school year starts for cuts, color, makeup and more.

The Smurfs are back in a feature movie this summer and in reruns on the cartoon channels. You should take advantage of this opportunity to reach out to moms with pre-school and early elementary-aged kids for 2 reasons: One, their kids will love the Smurf movie, and two, they grew up loving the Smurfs, and they’ll love feeling like kids again themselves while they share this bit of nostalgia with the next generation this summer.

Here are some Smurfy-ideas to help you get your Smurf on:

Color, color, color—and it’s all blue. [Click here] to see Katy Perry dolled up as Smurfette (a member of the movie’s cast) who got caught Smurf-ing it up recently with icy-blue eyes and Smurf-art on her nails.

Hold a Smurf-themed open house with face painting, manicures, and Smurf-themed refreshments like cupcakes with blue icing, blue popsicles, blue gelatin shots (virgin for the kids or spiked at grown-up only events), blue punch, etc.

Host a group event for moms with young children for a pre-event makeover including nail art and kids hair cuts plus a trip to the movies. There are videos on YouTube demonstrating how to create Smurf-themed nail designs (I’m sure there are more, these are the first two I found):

  • [Click here] to see this one by madamluck
  • [Click here] to see this one by Inko86

Hold a kid-friendly hair-cutting event or set aside days devoted to kid’s cuts with staff dressed as Smurfs. Have one staffer dress in a full Smurf costume to visit with children at local day cares, restaurants, parks and other places children-with-parents congregate to hand out treats (and bounce-back offers).

Give away Smurf-themed or inexpensive blue pencils, notebooks or other school supplies as a give-with-purchase with back-to-school makeover hair cuts, product purchases or other appointments.

Give away movie tickets, Smurf videos or miniature Smurf dolls in drawings, contests or as a gift-with-purchase (such as a gift-with-purchase of back-to-school liters, product purchase at the time of service, or a 6-month haircut service series package).

Do you have more ideas on this theme? Be sure and share them below! It’s going to be a Smurfy year!

Do you want more marketing know-how specifically for the salon or spa? Check out Make Over Your Marketing: 12 Months of Marketing for Salon and Spa, available on amazon.com or 12monthsofmarketing.com.

Elizabeth Kraus – 12monthsofmarketing.com
365 Days of Marketing is available on amazon.com in book and digital formats.