5 Client Retention Tactics for Slow Months

Whether it’s summer vacation or post-holiday hustle, most beauty and wellness businesses face slower months at least once a year. Maybe your regulars are off exploring Europe, stuck in back-to-school chaos, or simply taking a timeout from self-care. But just because they’re not in your chair doesn’t mean you have to fall off their radar. In fact, now is the time to lean into your client retention tactics.

Here’s how to maintain strong client relationships during the quiet times and set yourself up for a full calendar once things pick back up.

Your clients might be skipping their standing appointments, but they’re definitely not skipping Instagram. Use this downtime to build connection online.

Share “We Miss You!” reminders or reels that gently nudge return visits.
Post tutorials or travel-friendly tips (think: “how to stretch your color between appointments” or “travel skincare hacks”)
Use Instagram Stories or polls to ask where they’re vacationing and what beauty rituals they’re skipping and then offer a solution!

2. Send Emails with Intention, Not Just Discounts

Email marketing is your best friend during slow seasons, but it doesn’t have to scream “SALE.” The goal is to stay top of mind with clients and encourage them to book their next appointment promptly.

Try sending:

Seasonal check-ins (“Hey, how’s your skin handling this heatwave?”)
VIP sneak peeks of new services or fall product drops
Quick service reminders tied to their history (“Your skin called; it misses us”)

Not sure what to say? Vagaro AI will generate clever, on-brand messages for you. Either generate an email from scratch or simply enhance what you want to say with your preferred tone or style to get your message across. Just click, customize, and send!

3. Beef Up Your Blog (or Let AI Do It for You)

When clients go quiet, content should go loud. Adding fresh blog content to your site boosts SEO and gives clients a reason to keep engaging with your brand. Write posts that answer their seasonal needs like:

“How to Keep Your Tan from Fading on Vacation”
“Summer Skin Survival Guide”
“Why You Should Never Skip Your Hair Appointment”

No time to write? Use AI to help generate the professional blog posts in minutes. You can even schedule them to go live when you’re not online. That’s right, content keeps working while you recharge.

4. Create a ‘Come Back Soon’ Campaign

If you know certain clients disappear like clockwork around certain seasons, build a personalized comeback strategy. Consider ideas like:

Automated “We Miss You” texts after a certain number of weeks
Bounce-back offers or mini services to ease them back in
Birthday or seasonal celebration promos

You can automate many of these touchpoints directly within Vagaro. No manual chasing or personal reminders necessary.

5. Keep the Energy (and Your Calendar) Moving

Every interaction keeps you top of mind with clients and reinforces that your business stays active—even when their schedules aren't. Studies suggest it takes 5-7 exposures to a brand for a person to recognize it, so remember to show up when they least expect it.

Use the downtime to market your business by:

Offering referral bonuses to loyal clients who are still booking. Positive reinforcement!
Hosting a live Q&A on social to showcase your expertise
Updating your service menu or launch a waitlist for high-demand times

Let Slow Season Work for You

Client retention is about nurturing relationships, so they will remember you when they are ready to rebook an appointment. With a little strategy (and a lot of smart tools), you can stay connected, stay visible, and stay booked all year round.

And if you need a little help showing up consistently?

Let Vagaro help you create content, schedule blogs, and automate client touchpoints so you can take your own vacation without missing a beat.