How to Set Up Student Services and Attract Trial Guests
I am a hair salon with an academy and I want my students to have the opportunity to practice on the floor. How can I setup services for them and attract guests for trials.
Business Problem
I am a hair salon with an academy and I want my students to have the opportunity to practice on the floor. How can I set up services for them and attract guests for trials?
Business Conditions
For the proposed solution to work effectively, the following conditions should exist:
The business has a front desk/reception team to manage bookings.
The salon uses Zenoti and has service categories and price tiers configured.
The business has an active Webstore and/or Customer Mobile App (CMA).
The academy has students available for practice during pre-defined time slots.
The business has Email/SMS marketing credits enabled.
Zenoti Solutions
Enhance Your Master/Appointment Management
Create a New Service Category – "Student Services"
Add revised price (lower price) versions of regular services performed by academy students.
Set clear descriptions explaining that services are performed by supervised trainees to attract price sensitive guests.
Create Packages for Student Services
For Example: "Student Stylist Trial Pack – 3 Blowouts for $X".
Helps drive multiple repeat visits leading to more trial opportunities
Allow guests to book group trial appointments (friends/family).
Get Discovered and Capture Attention with Marketing
Price‑sensitive guests.
Guests who haven’t visited recently.
Announce Student Service Days, Trial Pricing, Grand Academy Launch, etc.
Include the category deep link so they can directly book on Webstore.
Launch "Academy Trial Week – 40% off Student Services".
Offer first‑time visitor student service discount.
Push posts highlighting student work and trial offers.
Showcase transformations done by trainees.
Reward guests who bring friends for student service trials.
Improve Online Presence
Highlight Student Services on the Webstore
Add an announcement banner like: "Try Services by Our Trained Academy Students at Special Prices!".
Special Webstore Category
Create a clearly visible Student Services category.
Enable Rebooking Online and instore
Encourage trial guests to rebook easily.
Employee (Student) Management
Create Student Profiles as Employees in Zenoti
Assign them as "Trainee" role.
Associate only the student service menu to them.
Create academy-specific schedules.
Restrict booking options to these times.
Retain, Reward, and Manage Guests
Loyalty Program for Student Services
Award additional loyalty points for trial services by creating a center level loyalty point promotion.
Create a “Student Service Consent Form” for guests acknowledging trainee services.
Track, Measure, and Scale with Reports and Dashboards
(Mandatory as required)
Bookings & Revenue Tracking
Use Sales accrual report filtered by Student Services.
Campaign Effectiveness
Monitor SMS/Email opens, clicks, and conversions.
New Guest vs Returning Trends
Understand if student services are helping grow the funnel.
Analytics Express
Quick insights on performance trends.
Appointment Report to track service bookings against guest
Contingency Plan (If things don't go as expected)
If there are insufficient bookings for student services:
Re‑evaluate pricing and increase discount attractiveness.
Increase marketing frequency and improve messaging.
Extend student service timing to more popular time slots.
If front desk faces difficulty assigning student bookings:
Provide additional training on student-specific service menus.
Simplify schedules and availability rules.
Mitigation Plan (If things go wrong)
High No‑Shows for Student Services
Introduce mandatory deposits.
Send automated reminders.
Guest Dissatisfaction
Add supervisor checks during service.
Offer compensation: small vouchers or discounts.
Students Overwhelmed/Underutilized
Adjust schedule volume.
Rotate student assignments.