The salon and spa management platform Boulevard has just unveiled its debut payment hardware, Boulevard Duo. Custom-designed to handle the unique needs—and meet the high standards—of the beauty industry, Boulevard Duo is a sleek, elegant point-of-sale card-reader that elevates the in-person client experience while minimizing backend complexity for the salon.    

Hardware/Software

Companioning the new hardware is sophisticated software also customized for service retailers. The modern design aesthetic of the hardware mirrors the software's upscale features, such as discreet tipping and contactless payments to help salons and spas deliver an excellent customer experience from booking to final payment.

“Payments are a recurring pain point for nearly all salons and spas,” says Matt Danna, co-founder and CEO of Boulevard. “Most payment hardware is built for retailers and coffee shops, not high-end service providers. Boulevard Duo represents a significant milestone in our mission to modernize the personal care industry—an especially important step as we bounce back from COVID-19.” 

Beauty Industry Specifics

Boulevard Duo’s design was informed by the Boulevard's collaboration with top spa and salon owners. Boulevard Duo brings beauty and flexibility to payments along with modern design, lightning-fast EMV processing, and multiple secure payment options. The software's integration with Boulevard’s platform for appointment scheduling, inventory management, staff commissions, and reporting enables businesses to quickly and easily reconcile bank deposits with their appointments and sales history.

Boulevard Duo:

• Supports chip card and contactless payment options like Apple Pay and Google Pay 

• Is EMV-certified to reduce chargebacks and protect customer data

• Provides transparent pricing with no long-term contracts

• Is ready to use right out of the box, with no set up required 

• Integrates with the Boulevard Duo iPad app for discreet tipping

• Includes Boulevard’s best-in-class partner support team

The purpose-built hardware devices are already in use at premium salon and spa brands and fast-growing franchises, including Fox & Jane Salon, Fellow Barber, Plump Cosmetics & Injectables, and W Nail Bar. 

Jeremy Shieh, owner of Refine Men’s Salons, says his salon has done well with the new technology. “Payments can sometimes be an uncomfortable interaction between clients and their stylists, but Boulevard makes it fast, easy, and painless—without having the stylist ask how much the customer would like to tip," Shieh reports. "Now we have an elegant solution that prompts our clients through a smooth, seamless checkout flow. We love the features and functionality of Boulevard Duo, but more than anything, we love the overall design and how good it looks at our front desk.”