From online takeaway menu site, to slick beauty booking site, Matt Dyer, founder of BookWell.com.au, is a pro when it comes to creating easy-to-operate portals that consumers are happy to download. Find out how this site promises to boost your salon’s profile – and fill your bookings book!
In a nutshell, what is Bookwell.com.au?
“BookWell.com.au is a platform where businesses in the health, beauty and wellness industry can list their venue and customers can book online,” says Matt Dyer, founder of BookWell.com.au. “Venues are given web based calendar software to manage their bookings and gain access to new customers to grow their business. Customers can view and compare venues, see in real time what appointments are available, and book and pay online.”
When did it launch?
“BookWell.com.au launched in April 2016.”
Where did the idea come from?
“The concept is working in Europe and the USA. It was not on the drawing board for very long as we really felt like there were big advantages to using the product for both salons and end customers.”
What is your background?
“I was a software developer and had tried my hand at a few online businesses before. But had a big hit when I launched EatNow.com.au in 2010. It was a competitive marketplace even then, but we gained market share and became a serious player in the space. EatNow merged with Menulog in January 2015 and was sold to Just Eat the same year.”
What type of business is Bookwell great for?
“Any business in the health, beauty and wellness industry that is looking to grow and get access to new customers. One of the key advantages for the salons is it only costs them a percentage of each booking, so essentially it is pay-on-results marketing, which is a far safer bet than ads in the Yellow Pages or TV and radio spots.”
What are three capabilities of this new booking portal that will change a beauty therapist’s world?
“They get more exposure for their business while only paying upon a result. They also get a 24/7 receptionist; new and existing customers can book online saving time and avoiding missing out on appointments. And thirdly, they have access to tools for their business such as a calendar and SMS reminders for their customers.”
How easy is it for a business to get on board?
“It is very easy for a business to get on board. We will set everything up and give a training session on how to use our calendar software. There are no fees to setup and a business only pays when we generate bookings for them.”
What is unique about BookWell?
“BookWell is Australian owned and run, and we’re bringing a pay-per-sale model to the beauty and wellness salon niche, while also removing potential hassles from old fashioned booking procedures for customers. This is unique in that it creates a truly win-win situation for all involved. The salons get more customers without upfront marketing investments, BookWell grows as the salons grow, and the customer wins due to the increased convenience provided by the BookWell booking process.”
What are your three top tips for running a successful business?
“Focus on what is important; there are always so many distractions. Hire the right people. And make sure you are working on the right business. No matter how hard you work, if there is no customer demand you will not get very far.”
What has been the feedback from salon owners so far?
“We have had great feedback from salon owners on the simplicity of the calendar system and the ease of getting setup. We are always learning and trying to improve the product so it has been interesting to get feedback on the challenges of running a small business and what the owners really care about. We want to help the salons to grow their business and simplify their operations. The way BookWell works means that the better they do, the better we do, so you can be certain we will be working very hard to make sure all the salons using our service benefit from it.”