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Creative Help Needed!
I need all the ideas I can get! On September 18th, I have a booth at a chili cook off at an annual local event to gain some exposure for my salon. I had NO idea what I was getting myself into, but it's getting to be a pretty big deal. Where I am stumped is on salon-themed decor for my booth. Not only do I obviously want to draw attention to my booth, but there's also prizes for the best decorations.
It will be a pop-up tent and you have to put a tarp (or similar item) around 3 sides so it's closed off like a booth. I'll have a table in front with the chili pots on it to serve (10 gallons....oy vey....). I have a banner printed with my salon name/logo on it and we'll all be wearing tank tops with the logo. What can I do to spruce the booth up? I looked online and found an idea about getting colorful hair extensions, curling them, and I can hang them from the top of the tent, which sounds cute, but do I want to promote hair in food?? I'll have coupons/postcards out on the table, but I'd love to have a cute tablecloth with scissors or something. Maybe I'll head to the fabric store today.....and get my mom to sew it for me if I find something. 
Any thoughts on how I can get my booth to have a salon theme and look fun??
Re: Creative Help Needed!
How do you use chili to promote hair?! Spicy redheads! Have 10 fiery redheads in and around the booth handing out promotional materials for your salon. It will be so unusual to see 10 redheads together that you'll get lots of attention for your business.
Use your logo and company colors on everything. When you have promotional materials, make sure that they have an offer. People might like what they see, but will still need motivation to change salons. Most people don't respond unless there is a $ offer for a special time period. 30% seems like the minimum discount to get someone to act. I hate seeing 10% off of anything. In my mind, that just bumps off the tax. Offers like "Free cut with color" are common. If you can come up with something unique, you may get more business. You could do "Free red hair color"... because once they get that, they'll have to pay every 4-6 weeks to maintain it. hahaha, so evil
Newlyweds since 2007
I wouldn't do the extensions hung around the place, because even before you mentioned it, my very first thought was, "Eeew, hair in the chili!"
Great ideas!
Love the idea of using redheads - even if they didn't actually have red hair (wearing a wig, even an obvious one), it would get the point across and be fun.
I also second the idea of doing a worthwhile promotion. I've seen lots of "10% off" or "free cut with color" and neither have ever inspired me to change stylists (10% off isn't worth the inconvenience or uncertainty, and whenever I see "free cut" I roll my eyes because even though that's the part that takes more talent, it's also the cheaper part - which I understand is the point for the business, but doesn't do anything for me as a cynical consumer).
I'd go for at least a 25% discount, and/or the free red coloring (you can give them an option, doesn't have to be both combined). You can use chili language like "One smokin' hot hair cut for 25% off" or "Spice up your style with a free red coloring!" That kind of thing. (I know free coloring might be too hard financially - you could always make it 50% off or something.)
How about a single clip in red extension for each of you, to tie in with the spicy theme?
Oh, and love the scissors idea!
I definitely like the free husband/SO haircut idea - Ive been trying to get my husband to upgrade from Supercuts (or the equivalent) for years now. The free haircut might just get him to try something different....and then he'd be hooked!