Finalists Profiled: Best in Social Media

This year's Best in Social Media category finalists are; Beauty by Laura, Ebony Boutique and Headstart. The winner will be announced at awards on Friday April 4th at the Headfort Arms Hotel in Kells. 

Beauty by Laura - Navan

Beauty by Laura was the first salon in Meath to offer many of the latest treatments and the business ensures that it’s also one step ahead when it comes to social media.

Check-in, like, share and comment are all regular concepts of owner Laura McClorey who updates her Facebook page regularly and uses it to provide her 1,800 fans with beauty tips, information and offers.

The comprehensive page is also filled with photographs of staff and the facility in order to make her social media friends feel part of the whole experience. According to Laura: “We receive a lot of bookings and new clients from Facebook and it is a great tool for marketing.”

Twitter is another favourite of Beauty by Laura who has linked a number of social media platforms to provide a new loyalty system for customers. Laura explains: “A new loyalty system called Phlok is linked to Twitter and Facebook. By scanning an app on their smartphone, every time they make purchases they get points and their Facebook shows they ‘checked-in’ at Beauty by Laura.”

Social media makes sure that the salon isn’t Navan’s best kept secret anymore and the web means that more people can learn of their treatments, which include Lycon advanced waxing, threading hair removal, lash extensions, semi permanent make-up and gel and acrylic nails.

Ebony Boutique - Trim

Ebony Boutique may be based in Trim but it has become accessible throughout the world due to its presence on a variety of social media platforms. The Haggard Street store has become a friend in a number of ways to fashion-lovers who can see the latest in styles by top designers with a flick of a switch.

Among the top brands carried at Ebony are Joseph Ribkoff, French Connection, Inwear, Marella, Robell, Jack Murphy and Taifun. This season’s musts by Daisy May or Olimara can also be accessorised by Pat Whyte or Absolute Jewellery – all from the comfort of your own home.

Ebony has tapped in expertly to Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest to give a virtual shopping experience to their social media followers. The shop’s fans appreciate the effort in letting them know what’s on offer. One Facebook friend gave a glowing report of the salon saying: “Fantastic stock and great staff – helpful, knowledgeable and, best of all, honest.”

Ebony has also embraced Phlok – the social platform that helps consumers’ access good deals in shops and restaurants. Its goal is to connect local firms with local people and get users to shop locally.

The salon doesn’t use its pages solely to advertise its products and sales – but it also offers advice as in one recent post which states: “When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping.”

Headstart - Trim

Social media has spread the word about Headstart in Trim which can count RTE’s ‘Fair City’ actress Celia Murphy as one of their customers. Co-owners Suzanne Weir and Annmarie Kelly took over the busy salon in 2009 and have since then sustained its excellent reputation as well as developed it online.

Team Headstart regularly attend educational courses and shows to constantly upskill and offer the best in hair-styling to their customers.

The Kerastase specialist uses an array of marketing strategies in the salon, on Facebook, local newspaper advertising, text alerts and flyer drops. They also enlist the skills of a top marketing guru to make sure they stay ahead in the game.

Through feedback on the social media platforms, Headstart Salon realised that customers wanted to escape from everyday stresses and treat themselves but were deprived from doing so because of the recession. According to Suzanne and Annmarie: “In today’s economy, it is essential to be cost-effective in every aspect of business in order to survive and grow. We have not imposed any price increases on our customers in the last three years but have maintained a very high level of service all the while.”