The problem
Infill cancellations usually come the day before, too late to fill by posting on Instagram. If 6 slots a month cancel late and stay empty, at $47£35€42A$67C$66 an infill, that's $279£210€250A$403C$395 a month lost.
What the AI does
Fresha lists a waitlist on both plans: clients join it when their preferred time is full, and when a slot opens Fresha matches it with waiting clients and sends a Time slot available message. You choose how clients are notified: first in line, high-value first, or offer to everyone with the first to book getting the slot. Turn the waitlist on for your lash and brow services and mention it in your booking confirmation so clients know to use it.
A worked example
A lash technician in Brighton books up 2 weeks ahead and has about 6 late infill cancellations a month. They turn on Fresha's waitlist, set it to offer the slot to everyone waiting with the first to book getting it, and add a line to the booking page about joining the waitlist.
Before
About 6 late cancellations a month left empty, worth $279£210€250A$403C$395
After
About 3 of 6 canceled slots refilled from the waitlist, worth $140£105€125A$202C$197 a month
What it's worth
About $105£79€94A$152C$149 a month in profit, if the waitlist refills 3 of 6 canceled slots (an assumption), at an assumed 75% margin on 3 × $47£35€42A$67C$66. That is against Fresha Independent at €14.95 (about $17£13€15A$25C$24) a month, shown in local currency, or nothing extra if you already use Fresha; waitlist texts come out of the 20 free a month, then €0.12 (about 10p) each.
How to set it up
- Turn on the waitlist in Fresha for your lash and brow services.
- Choose how waiting clients are notified, such as offering to all with the first to book getting the slot.
- Add a line to your booking page and confirmation telling clients they can join the waitlist for earlier times.
- When a client cancels, cancel the appointment in Fresha straight away so the waitlist can act.
- Check after a month how many canceled slots were refilled.
What goes wrong
- The waitlist only works if cancellations are put into Fresha promptly. A cancellation by DM that never reaches the diary fills nothing.
- A client taking a waitlist slot still needs a valid patch test; check before you start.
- Messages cost money after the free allowance, so prefer email notifications where clients have one.