Keep this next idea handy when you need to spike your retail sales in a pinch! Ever hear of a little game show called "Deal or No Deal?" This three-day sales contest follows the same idea, but we like to call it Goal or No Goal. What can we say? We’re suckers for glitzy game shows! As a bonus, this contest can unify the team because they have to work together to make the salon’s sales goals. If the salon’s total sales goal is met each day, the entire staff is rewarded (keep the prizes cost-effective!). Here’s how it works:

1. Take five envelopes and enclose a note with a different prize written in each one. Each prize should be a step above the previous one. For example:

    Envelope #1: A latte or uber-fancy coffee of your choice

    Envelope #2: The authority to set the salon’s dress-code color for one week

    Envelope #3: Lunch from your favorite restaurant

    Envelope #4: A $25 gift card to iTunes or a hip boutique

    Envelope #5: $50 cash

    (All would be per staff member)

2. Create your game board. Write down Thursday, the Thursday goal, and tape envelope #1 next to it. On the next line write down Friday, Friday’s goal, and tape envelopes #2 and #3 next to it. Do the same for Saturday using envelopes #4 and #5.

3. If the staff hits Thursday’s goal, they can decide (as a team) to either take envelope #1, or say “Goal,” put it aside and go for both #2 and #3 on Friday. If they take envelope #1, they are playing only for envelope #2 on Friday.

If they hit Friday’s goal, they can decide to keep their envelope (or envelopes) or say “Goal” and put them aside and shoot for Saturday’s goal where they will win both envelopes #4 and #5. If they miss Friday’s goal, they don’t get either envelope but would still have a shot at winning envelope #4 if they hit Saturday’s goal.

If you want, tell them on Saturday morning that if they can bring in 150 percent of the entire day’s goal you’ll give them all the envelopes.

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