Challenge:
Shropshire Therapies offers a range of therapies, treatments and packages such as Clinical Hypnotherapy; Energy Healing; Stress Management; the ancient Egyptian art of hair removal using sugar paste; and relaxing facials using ultra-premium Arbonne botanicals.
Ghislaine Headland-Vanni, owner of Shropshire Therapies was very interested in investigating innovative ways to generate web traffic and interest in her business. Ghislaine quickly identified automatic identification and data capture technologies such as Quick Response (quick response) codes and their technical ability with a view to incorporating them into her business activity.
Solution:
Through discussion, the NTAILS Project identified that Shropshire Therapies could use QR codes to allow its customers to easily add their appointments to their mobile phone calendars. As many calendar applications automatically include an audible reminder (often fifteen minutes before the appointment), customers would be more aware of their appointment and less likely to forget to attend. Offering such a facility, by including the QR code in a confirmation email or letter, also suggests a greater customer focus and this could provide a competitive edge for Shropshire Therapies. Additional work was also completed around the areas of personalisation of QR codes which incorporated the Shropshire Therapies logo and branding. This could increase Ghislaine’s competitive edge and market position as would help to increase her brand strength and visibility.
Results:
Since receiving assistance from the NTAILS project, Shropshire Therapies, Ghislaine has been able to extend her business portfolio. Ghislaine said ‘I can’t thank IT Futures enough for all their help. Their expertise provided me with some excellent advice for my holistic therapies business as well as a whole new business. I had been using QR codes for some time but did not like the fact that they looked so boring in black and white. As part of the help I received, IT Futures helped to create a fabulous bespoke QR code for me. I was so intrigued that I went on to produce my own bespoke QR codes and then did several for friends. From this www.uniQR.co.uk was born. The guys at IT Futures are professional experts in their field who are also very approachable and helpful’
About the Consultant:
Matthew Smith is a Technology Consultant in IT Futures. He has more than five years’ experience in ICT involvement with industry and the SME community. Matt currently works on the NTAILS Project providing technical advice, guidance and support. IT Futures is based at the University of Wolverhampton and brings together the expertise of the University’s School of Technology to businesses across the West Midlands Region.
Find out how the NTAILS Project can assist your business:
T. 01952 288 210 • E.