As a dance studio owner or gymnastics club manager, you’re always looking for ways to enhance your business, build team spirit, and boost revenue. One often-overlooked opportunity is custom hair accessories, such as team scrunchies, bows, and headbands. These small but powerful items can be more than just stylish additions to your students’ uniforms—they can serve as versatile tools for increasing income, improving student retention, and promoting your studio’s brand.
Here are three practical ways you can use custom hair accessories to benefit your business:
1. Sell Them as Stand-Alone Products or Bundles
Selling custom hair accessories is a straightforward way to add an additional revenue stream to your studio or club. These items appeal to parents and students alike because they’re functional, fashionable, and a great way to show team spirit.
Sell as Stand-Alone Products
Custom scrunchies, bows, and headbands are everyday essentials for dancers and gymnasts. By selling them directly to your students and their families, you’re meeting a need while also reinforcing your studio’s brand.
- Why they sell well: Hair accessories are relatively inexpensive and easy to justify as a purchase. Plus, custom designs with your logo or team colors make them feel exclusive and special.
- How to market them: Display the accessories prominently in your studio’s reception area or pro shop. Showcase them on social media with photos of students wearing them during practice or performances.
- Price point: Keep prices accessible—think $12 to $20 per item—so they’re affordable while still providing a good profit margin.
Bundle Them with Other Products
Take sales a step further by bundling custom hair accessories with other products or services. Bundles offer added value to your customers while boosting your overall sales.
- Examples of bundles:
- Practical tip: Use these bundles as a way to upsell other merchandise or services. For example, when a student registers for a class, offer them the opportunity to purchase a bundle at a discounted rate.
2. Use Them for Incentives
Incentives are a powerful way to encourage early registration, increased participation, and higher ticket sales for your events. Custom hair accessories make excellent rewards because they’re low-cost for you but highly appealing to students and families.
Early Registration Incentives
One of the challenges for many studio or club owners is encouraging families to commit early to your programs. Offering a custom accessory as a free gift for early registration can nudge them to sign up sooner.
- Example promotion:
- “Register by [Date] and receive a free custom scrunchie with your studio’s logo!”
- “Sign up for two or more classes and get a matching set featuring a headband and bow in your team colors!
- Why it works: Families love to feel like they’re getting something extra for their commitment, and small rewards can help overcome procrastination.
Ticket Sales Incentives
Selling tickets to recitals, showcases, or events is essential for many studios and clubs. Use custom hair accessories as a freebie to drive higher sales.
- Example promotion:
- “Buy five or more recital tickets and receive a free bow!”
- “Purchase a family ticket package and get 2 free scrunchies.”
Why it works: Families who were already planning to purchase tickets are motivated to buy in larger quantities when there’s an added bonus. This can increase overall attendance and boost your revenue.
Class Package Incentives
If you offer class packages or memberships, you can use custom hair accessories to encourage upgrades or longer-term commitments.
- Example promotion:
- Practical tip: Promote these incentives as limited-time offers to create urgency.
3. Use Them as Celebratory Items
Custom hair accessories aren’t just for sales and promotions—they’re also perfect for recognizing achievements and celebrating milestones. Small, thoughtful rewards like a personalized bow or scrunchie can make students feel valued while reinforcing your studio’s community spirit.
Prizes for Achievements
Recognize hard work and dedication with custom accessories as prizes for student accomplishments. These rewards can be tied to monthly, quarterly, or annual milestones.
- Examples:
- Award a special bow to the “Student of the Month.”
- Gift a scrunchie to students who achieve perfect attendance for a semester.
- Celebrate competition wins by giving team members a custom headband that commemorates the event.
- Why it works: Tangible rewards make achievements feel more meaningful. Custom accessories also serve as mementos that students can cherish for years.
Recital or Showcase Gifts
Use custom hair accessories as part of your recital or showcase traditions. Gifting a scrunchie or bow to each performer adds a personal touch to the event and creates a sense of unity among participants.
- How to make it special: Personalize the accessories with the recital year, team name, or event logo. This makes them a keepsake that students will treasure.
- Budget-friendly idea: Order in bulk and bundle the accessories with other recital items like programs or T-shirts.
Special Event Giveaways
Celebrate holidays, studio anniversaries, or other special occasions by giving away custom hair accessories as part of the festivities.
- Examples:
- Host a holiday party and give each student a festive custom team bow in your team colors.
- Celebrate National Dance Day or Gymnastics Day with free custom scrunchies for all attendees.
- Create a “Welcome Back” gift for the start of a new season that includes a custom branded headband.
- Why it works: These small gestures foster a sense of belonging and excitement, which can lead to higher student retention, loyalty and word of mouth.
Practical Tips for Implementing Custom Hair Accessories
To make the most of custom hair accessories, here are some tips for ensuring their success in your studio or club:
- Work with a Trusted Supplier: Partner with a team wear company that specializes in custom accessories for dance studios and gymnastics teams. Ensure they use high-quality materials and offer precise customization options.
- Leverage Your Branding: Use your studio or club’s colors, logos, and patterns to create accessories that feel unique and exclusive. This reinforces your brand identity and builds pride among your students.
- Promote Consistently: Use social media, newsletters, and in-studio signage to highlight your custom accessories and related promotions. Showcase your students wearing them to generate excitement.
- Listen to Feedback: Ask your students and parents what styles and designs they prefer. Incorporating their input can make your accessories even more popular.
The Bottom Line
Custom scrunchies, bows, and headbands are much more than simple hair accessories—they’re versatile tools that can help you grow your business, foster team spirit, and build loyalty among your students and their families. By selling them, using them as incentives, and incorporating them into your celebratory events, you can maximize their value while enhancing the experience you provide to your studio or club community.
With the right approach, these small but impactful items can become a big win for your business! Are you ready to start designing your custom accessories? Let your creativity shine and watch your team—and your bottom line—grow.