Hairdressing salon owner Sharon Gelling is a firm believer that people using online booking is the way forward.
She said: ‘We’ve had a mix of old and new customers make online bookings, and everything has gone right.’
The long established business called A Cut Above is in Main Road, Onchan and is one month into offering online bookings
Sharon said: ‘There are some regular customers who will probably always make their booking in person, but there are a lot of young people who want to book appointments online and we have to offer that service to get their custom.
‘We can offer another service to our customers. People are using it, which shows it works and there is a demand, and everyone has been happy.
‘A real advantage for us is that when the salon is closed we aren’t missing possible bookings.
‘They can find us online and make an appointment and an alert comes straight through to my mobile phone, so I can confirm the booking.
‘It doesn’t matter what time they want to make an appointment, we’re always open for bookings.’
The business has signed up to MiQuando.com’s online booking and calendar service, allowing customers to make appointments when it is convenient for them – not just when the salon is open.
Nigel Jones from MiQuando said: ‘We’re really pleased to welcome A Cut Above and delighted to see how well it is working.
‘This is a business which has built its reputation over more than two decades, and is to continue growing by introducing facilities today’s customers are increasingly demanding.
‘More and more people want the convenience and simplicity of booking online, allowing them to make a reservation or appointment at whatever time of the day or night suits them, not when it suits the business.
‘Simply put, if you can’t take a booking outside your opening hours, you are potentially missing out on business, and who can afford to do that?’