How Black Lotus Barbers used Fresha to take their business online

Black Lotus Barbers is an inclusive, friendly barbershop located in the heart of Stirling, Scotland. Owner Amy Wright made the switch from pen and paper to our online booking platform two years ago and hasn’t looked back since. Read on to find out how she uses Fresha to streamline everything, from managing appointments and payments to displaying customer reviews.

As a female barbershop owner, Amy is often asked why she mainly cuts  men’s hair. “I much prefer it, I prefer the challenge, there's a lot less room for mistakes as we've got to be more precise,” she says. 

She also appreciates the “easygoing, relaxed atmosphere” of barbershops – which is exactly how it feels entering her venue in Stirling, where Amy and her team provide top-quality cuts, great music and cold beers to create an enjoyable experience for her clients. Her dog Loki is a customer favourite, too.

Amy says: “All my clients are very comfortable in my seat, and they all know who I am and what I'm about.”

From pen and paper chaos to stress-free online bookings

When Black Lotus Barbers opened in 2019, Amy used a paper diary and clients phoned in to book at the appointment-only shop. She remembers being bombarded by scheduling admin and phone calls, having to work on her days off just to keep up; but it all changed when she started using Fresha’s digital calendar and online booking system. 

“I found out about Fresha about two years ago. It's been amazing since then... it eliminates all the messages, the phone calls… it’s so much easier for us to organise our lives.”

It’s not only the team who likes online bookings. “Customers find Fresha easy to use, they find it on all of our social media or our website so they can book their cut anytime.” Amy also says it helps people who lack the confidence to call up or walk in for the first time, as they've always got the option to book online.

No-show? No more

Now that she runs a team of self-employed barbers, Amy also uses Fresha’s cancellation policies to make sure they don’t lose out if a client doesn’t turn up or cancels last-minute. When booking online, her clients secure their booking with a card and agree they can be charged 50% of their appointment value if they cancel on the day, or 100% if they don’t show up. 

She says: “Fresha cuts the number of no-shows because when they make the appointment, they know what they're signing up to. People don't want to lose money.”

Another reason for their low no-show numbers is the automated text reminders Black Lotus sends to their clients. Amy says it’s one of her favourite Fresha features: “ Every client loves the text reminder. They say all the time: I wouldn't be here if I didn't get that text.”

It pays to say thank you

Another automated message they send is the Thank you text, which prompts happy clients to leave reviews and tips. Amy likens this service to Uber, as you can tip through the Fresha app after the client has had their service and had time to reflect on the experience.

With nearly 900 five-star reviews on Fresha, peppered with praise like “flawless” “awesome” and “on point”, Amy and the team can effortlessly attract new clients. “Reviews are a nice little boost for us,’ she says. ‘It's nice to see what people have to say, and hear feedback as well.”

Three years of easy payments and solid growth

Black Lotus Barbers uses Fresha’s integrated payment system and terminal to take payments  at the click of a button, and view all their sales reports in one place. “My accountant is really grateful for the reports!” says Amy. “And each barber can check their income for the week, so that's really helpful."

Black Lotus Barbers have come a long way in a short time, creating a sense of community with their clients that have become friends too. They’ve launched a range of grooming products and apparel, including t-shirts, beanies and sweatshirts – and even dog bandanas – all available to buy in-store. The barbershop recently celebrated its third birthday with a live DJ and free drinks. “It was just another day at work really, just a little bit louder!” Amy joked.

“Fresha has helped a lot to help my business grow… it’s definitely taken us to the next level.”

Head to fresha.com/for-business to find out how our all-in-one software can do the same for your business.