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Online bookings boom

[Tue 21/12/2010 10:42:24]

In the last six months approximately 20 per cent of Shortcuts Software’s Australian customers (500 hair and beauty salons and spas) processed more than 30,000 bookings, generating just on $2 million in revenue (based on an average spend of approximately $65per booking).

In November, Shortcuts globally processed more than $1,000,000 in bookings in a single month. So the proof is in the pudding – Australian salons and spas need to be online or they will lose business to Internet-savvy operators.

The Shortcuts Software online booking data has been drawn from the company’s customers who use the BookME or mybooker online booking solutions. These solutions also underpin the recently launched mylocalsalon.com.au.

Since the sample only covers 500 of Shortcuts’ 4,000+ Australian customers, the total number and dollar value of the online bookings generated by their entire customer portfolio will be significantly higher.

Responding to the rapidly increasing demand for online booking in the Australian hair and beauty industry as evidenced by Shortcuts’ BookME customer booking data, the leading Australian salon software company launched in September 2010 mylocalsalon.com.au – a virtual marketplace that allows customers to search and make live, real time bookings with Australian hair and beauty spas and salons anywhere, anytime.

Global CEO of Shortcuts Software and mylocalsalon.com.au Rebecca Randle said the online booking data was proof that Australians were embracing online booking in the hair and beauty sector.

“The fact that 500 salons generated a massive 30,000 online bookings in only six months demonstrates the real hunger consumers have for this service,” said Ms Randle. “But this experience is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the potential of the take up of online booking in the hair and beauty sector. At Shortcuts we know that some of our BookME customers already secure nearly half of their bookings outside of business hours.

“The reality is if salons and spas are not online they are not adapting to their clients’ busy lifestyles. Their competitors who have online booking and are using Facebook, are meeting their clients’ needs and as a result, are providing the best possible service 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” she said.

mylocalsalon.com.au launched in September 2010 with several hundred Australian hair and beauty salons and spas.  For further information please visit www.mylocalsalon.com.au or www.shortcuts.com.au.