Festive Ways to Drive More Pet Grooming Appointments This Holiday Season

The holiday season isn’t just a time for cozy sweaters, festive treats, and twinkling lights. It’s also one of the biggest opportunities of the year for pet grooming salons to boost revenue, attract new clients, and delight pet parents who want their pups looking picture-perfect. With the right seasonal offerings, thoughtful promotions, and a little help from smart automation, your salon can turn December (and the months surrounding it) into a flurry of bookings in the best possible way.

At Gingr, we know pet-care professionals are busier than ever during the holidays. Between full schedules, excited pet parents, and wiggle-butt pups ready for their makeover, you need simple, effective ways to fill your calendar and keep operations running smoothly. That’s where a little creative planning—and the right tools—make all the difference.

Let’s dive into holiday ideas that bring more visits to your grooming salon, build long-term loyalty, and create unforgettable experiences for your clients.

1. Build Festive Grooming Packages That Sell Themselves

Seasonal grooming packages let you add value without adding much work—and pet parents love treating their pups to something special around the holidays. Consider creating tiered packages with whimsical names, clear benefits, and fun add-ons.

Package ideas that tap into holiday cheer:

The “Merry & Bright Makeover”
A bath, trim, nail buff, festive bandana, and a spritz of holiday-scented cologne.

The “Holiday Glow-Up”
Includes everything above plus paw balm treatment, teeth brushing, and a cute take-home holiday photo (instant pet-parent delight!).

The “Snow Day Spa”
Hot oil treatment, deep coat conditioning, blueberry facial, and winter-themed accessories.

Why this works: Holiday packages make it easy for pet parents to upgrade, increasing your average ticket. Gingr users see, on average, $15–$25 boosts in add-ons when offerings are visible and easy to select, especially through online booking .

Pro Tip: You can include these packages as add-ons during booking, prompting both pet parents and staff to select festive extras without lifting a paw. Automated pricing rules also let you adjust holiday rates with zero stress.

2. Host a Holiday Photo Day

Few things light up a pet parent’s world like a high-quality, adorable holiday pet photo. Hosting themed photo days not only increases foot traffic but also boosts engagement across social platforms.

How it works:

1. Choose one or two weekends in November or December.
2. Partner with a local photographer, or dedicate a corner of your salon with simple lights and props.
3. Offer discounted touch-up grooming add-ons for photo participants.
4. Upload photos to your salon’s social channels and encourage pet parents to share.

Bonus: Clients who book holiday photos are more likely to schedule grooming right before the big day, which drives repeat visits.

3. Offer Early-Bird Holiday Grooming Specials

Holiday grooming appointments fill quickly, but early-bird incentives help spread bookings across the season, reducing last-minute chaos.

Try offering:

• A small discount or free nail buff for appointments booked before a specific date.
• Priority scheduling for recurring customers or members.
• Early access to holiday packages for loyalty clients.

And with Gingr, you can automate reminders and marketing messages to encourage early booking, saving your team hours of outreach. Pet parents increasingly expect quick, digital responses, and automation helps you meet that demand without overwhelming your staff.

4. Create a 12 Days of Grooming Promotion

Seasonal countdowns add excitement, urgency, and variety to your holiday promotions.

Example promo ideas to get started:

• Day 1: Free festive bandana with any groom
• Day 2: $5 off nail services
• Day 3: Complimentary paw balm
• Day 4: Double loyalty points
• …and so on!

Use email and SMS tools to send daily or weekly updates. You can segment customers based on past services, encouraging upsells and rebooking (no extra platforms required!).

5. Sell Gift Cards or Prepaid Grooming Bundles

Gift cards and packages make fantastic holiday presents for dog lovers—and they help you generate predictable, upfront revenue.

Here’s what to offer:

• Holiday gift cards: Promote them online and in your lobby.
• Prepaid grooming bundles: 3- or 6-pack bundles for 2025 at a small discount.
• Membership specials: Offer a holiday sign-up bonus for grooming memberships.

Gingr makes it easy to track packages and automate renewals, helping salons avoid manual errors and keep revenue flowing smoothly year-round.

6. Add Holiday-Themed Add-Ons That Spark Joy

Small, seasonal add-ons can make a big difference in both revenue and customer delight.

Consider offering:

• Colored tail or ear dye (pet-safe and temporary)
• Holiday nail polish
• Snowflake or candy-cane stencil designs
• Winter-coat moisturizers for dry skin
• Gingerbread-scented cologne spritz

Even simple, low-cost add-ons add up, especially when they’re embedded naturally in the booking flow. Using an intuitive system for pet groomers helps staff capture more add-ons during every appointment, resulting in consistent revenue gains.

7. Launch a Holiday Referral Contest

Word of mouth is powerful, especially during social, celebratory seasons. Encourage existing customers to refer new ones with a festive incentive.

Contest ideas:

• Each referral earns an entry to win a free full-service groom.
• Double entries for December bookings.
• A bonus raffle for anyone who refers 3+ new clients.

Pair this with post-appointment automated review requests, powered by Broadly. Positive reviews significantly influence where pet parents choose to book, particularly during peak grooming seasons.

8. Create a Cozy 'Winter Welcome' Lobby Experience

Pet parents love stepping into a salon that feels warm, welcoming, and festive. A simple décor refresh can elevate the client experience while reinforcing your brand.

Try out these ideas:

• A holiday scent (think pine, gingerbread, or vanilla)
• Seasonal music at a soft volume
• A small treat station with pet-safe holiday cookies
• Cute themed signage featuring holiday grooming packages

This added touch makes clients feel special (and more likely to rebook before they leave).

9. Boost Last-Minute Availability With Waitlists and Automation

Last-minute cancellations happen more often during the holidays, but they don’t have to mean lost revenue.

Use Gingr’s built-in:

• Waitlist tools
• Automated reminders
• Digital confirmations
• Two-way SMS

These features reduce no-shows and help you fill openings quickly without your staff spending hours on the phone. Many pet-care facilities using this grooming software save up to several hours daily simply through online booking and automated communications.

10. Offer 'Groom & Go' Convenience Add-Ons for Busy Pet Parents

Pet businesses and parents both know that the holiday hustle is real!

Make life easier with time-saving options like:

• Curbside drop-off or pick-up
• Express grooming appointments
• Same-day add-ons for walk-ins
• Text alerts when pets are ready

Modernizing the customer experience with seamless digital processes, from Gingr PreCheck to automated pickup notifications—helps you build customers for life.

11. Send Holiday Pet Updates That Spark Pet Parent Joy

Holiday-themed pet report cards are a small gesture with big impact. They help pet parents feel informed, connected, and confident in your care.

Include:

• A festive frame or sticker
• Notes on coat condition, behavior, or recommended follow-up services
• A cute holiday photo

Gingr’s report-card templates make this quick and easy—while building trust and boosting rebooking rates.

12. Run a 'New Year, New Coat' Campaign Into January

Holiday momentum doesn’t have to stop at Christmas.

Encourage January bookings by promoting:

• Fresh start grooms
• De-shedding and detox treatments for winter coats
• Follow-up services for dogs who received December cuts
• “Start-the-year-right” grooming memberships

This helps your business avoid the post-holiday slump and strengthens long-term retention—one of the most valuable growth drivers for grooming salons.

13. Make Holiday Booking a Breeze With Online Scheduling

Families juggle a million things during the holidays. Offering fast, intuitive online booking means your clients can reserve appointments anytimewithout calling during business hours.

A pet parent portal makes it easy for clients to:

• Book and pay anytime
• Upload vaccination records
• Choose holiday add-ons
• Review upcoming reservations

Facilities that rely on self-service booking through an online portal and/or mobile app regularly save hours each day and see higher upsell rates thanks to in-app promotions.

14. Use Automated Marketing to Stay Top-of-Mind During the Holiday Rush

The holiday season is not the time to manually send reminders or follow-ups. Automation ensures every client gets the right message at the right time—even while you're shampooing, clipping, or fluff-drying.

Smart workflows help you:

• Confirm reservations
• Send appointment reminders
• Promote seasonal packages
• Re-engage clients who haven’t visited recently
• Capture leads instantly through your website or chat tools

Automation is your holiday helper, keeping your schedule full while your team stays focused on hands-on care.

15. Combine Holiday Fun With Year-Round Strategy

While these ideas support your busiest season, they also encourage consistent growth long after the decorations come down. The key is building a customer journey that feels joyful, seamless, and reliable.

Gingr helps you do that by:

1. Reducing holiday no-shows with automated confirmations
2. Increasing add-ons and revenue with intuitive online booking workflows
3. Streamlining check-in with PreCheck so your team can give more attention to pets
4. Supporting staff with easy-to-use tools that minimize errors and stress
5. Keeping pet parents engaged with report cards, reminders, and the mobile app

When your operations run smoothly, you have more room to be creative, festive, and customer-focused—the things that truly set your grooming salon apart.

Bringing Holiday Magic to Your Pet Grooming Salon

The holidays are a special time for pet parents, and your grooming salon plays a meaningful part in helping families celebrate with their furry companions. With the right combination of themed offerings, smart promotions, and powerful automation, you can create experiences that feel magical while supporting the long-term health of your business.

If you’re ready to streamline operations, boost holiday bookings, and build customers for life—we’re here to help.

Join the pack. Book a Gingr demo today.