Award winning hairdressing group, HOB Salons, has installed Purple WiFi throughout 18 of its premises in order to capitalise on the benefits of social networking.
Purple WiFi will enable all clients of HOB Salons to surf the net free of charge while in their local salon by simply using their social networking profile to login. By using platforms like Facebook and Twitter to log in to the WiFi service, they will have access to a safe, secure and fast internet solution while having their hair styled.
HOB Salons, which has been in business across the UK for more than 30 years and has, three times, been named British Hairdresser of the Year, will utilise the unique social WiFi analytics provided by Purple WiFi to better understand its client base. Management will be able to look at online visitor demographics through a dedicated portal and promote news and special offers to clients, their friends and followers through a customised welcome page.
Purple WiFi was initially trialled in the company’s Bushey salon and generated a great response hence the decision to roll it out across another 17 salons.
Purple WiFi meets all legal requirements while delivering rich analytical information about the client base, including how often they come to the salon, their age range and other useful user stats. Visitors login to the WiFi using their unique Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn profiles which allows HOB Salons to effectively segment their clients and actively market each salon with targeted promotions. As customers mention where they are on their social media updates, additional Facebook users and Twitter followers will become aware of the salon and potentially become clients themselves.
HOB Salons Director, Paul Simbler, commented on the decision to install Purple WiFi across the majority of the company’s salons: “Our clients expect free WiFi access and we wanted a solution that was easy to install and secure for people to use. Purple WiFi means that we can gain a good understanding of the types of people who come into our salons, so we can engage customers with relevant information. The router set up was incredibly easy and straightforward – it really is plug and play.”
Gavin Wheeldon, CEO at Purple WiFi, adds: “Businesses sharing an internet connection with their clients are providing a valuable service but they often don’t gain anything in return. They also risk ending up with a slower and less secure internet connection for their own operational business needs. Purple WiFi provides a safe private channel so that business traffic is kept separate from customer traffic, therefore there is no risk of commercially sensitive information being accessible to anyone using the free WiFi. It really is win win.”