In the time of the novel coronavirus outbreak, hairstylists, makeup artists, nail technicians, and salons generally are all in a, really tough spot. Many state and city governments have mandated closures of those types of businesses. Some states which have ordered the closure of salon businesses include Minnesota, Ohio, Kentucky, and Nevada—and also the list will certainly grow. Salons in some states continue to be open for the time being, but business has slowed to a trickle.
In this short article, I’ll provide you with some useful suggestions about how your salon can adapt and survive in this incredibly trying time.
Need more details and resources aimed toward small business owners in this Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic? Please check out the resource hub we've created.
Why The wonder Industry Is Likely to be Hit Hard By Coronavirus
Given the present state of things with social distancing guidelines and mandatory closures of nonessential businesses, beauty salons, makeup artists, barbershops, spas, and other similar businesses are all suffering. Salons, their employees, and independent contractors who rent space all will be affected.
Even if your clients are still legally allowed to remain open, you may have to make the difficult decision to close temporarily because of the pandemic. Salon workers have a job that needs close physical connection with people, putting both customer and the worker at risk. Even worse, many salon workers are contractors, who've to build their very own business in the ground up and keep a magazine of clients—and lots of of these workers don’t have health insurance.
4 Steps you can take Now to Protect Your Business
Here are some actionable things you can do to limit the spread of coronavirus and protect clients and workers in case your clients are still open:
Relax Cancellation Policies
Obviously, many purchasers are going to be canceling at this time, and for good reason. Although there’s no rule or law saying you have to waive cancelation fees or refund down payments right now, there’s a good chance that if you don’t, the client won't return to your salon when the current crisis has ended.
Revisit Sanitation & Hygiene
Make sure your company in compliance using the CDC’s sanitation and hygiene guidelines re: COVID-19 (see CDC: Interim Guidance for Businesses & Employers). If you operate a medical spa which uses doctors and/or nurses, you should also follow the CDC Guidelines For Healthcare Professionals.
Revisit Attendance Policies For Employees
Now is the time to encourage sick employees or workers and also require been exposed to the virus to in sick—with or without a doctor’s note. This might require you to relax your present attendance policy. Specifically, here’s exactly what the CDC is recommending at this time:
Employees who've symptoms of acute respiratory illness are recommended to stay home and never come to work until they're free from fever (100.4° F [38.0° C] or greater utilizing an oral thermometer), indications of temperature, and any other symptoms not less than 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing or any other symptom-altering medicines.
Communicate With Clients
Remind people to not come in if they’re sick and have been around somebody that might be carrying the virus. You should also communicate with your clients about whether or not where you are is still open, if your buisness hours have changed, and knowledge regarding your sanitation policy. You can use email and social media of these communications.
6 Steps you can take To Keep Your Business Moving in Hard Times
Here is really a list of things you can do today to help keep your business afloat during this time of extreme uncertainty.
Analyze Cash Flow
Take a glance at your money, your bills, as well as your income. How much money do you have, and just how long will it last? Are you able to survive a closure or reduced business? Just how long can you reasonably afford to close for? Rates of interest are in rock bottom at this time, so it could make sense to invest in a small company loan that will help you bridge the space in this temporary lack of income.
Add Gift Cards
Selling gift certificates allows clients to buy services now and redeem them later. Some POS systems, including Square, Shopify, and Clover, allow you to sell digital gift cards, making things easier still during this period of social distancing. Based on your setup, you may be able to sell gift certificates on your website or on social media. Once you’re all set up, send a text or email to customers with a link to buy a digital gift certificate of your stuff, perhaps in a discounted rate.
Sell Online
In addition to gift cards, an eCommerce website enables you to sell merchandise, for example beauty items, “home spa” kits, or anything else that pertains to business. And again, you can use text or e-mail marketing to market whatever it is you’re selling. Should you don’t come with an eCommerce-enabled website, you can look into options offered by your salon POS system or make use of a web builder for example Wix or Squarespace to set one up.
Look Into Business Interruption Insurance
If you have business interruption insurance, find out whether your insurance plan includes disruptions from communicable diseases. If you don’t come with an insurance plan that will cover a closure associated with COVID-19, find out if you will get one before it hits your neighborhood. It may be past too far to obtain a policy to help you with COVID-related business losses, however it doesn’t hurt to check, in order to protect your business for the next crisis.
Talk With Creditors
Stay in communication together with your landlord, creditors, and vendors with whom your debt money and have contractual obligations. They may be prepared to work with you and also will appreciate that you’re making an effort as opposed to just dropping off. Some respite may be available to assist you to meet your obligations or pause a number of your bills—for instance, governments in certain states and cities are prohibiting evictions and utility shut-offs.
Look Into Unemployment Benefits
Even if workers are not fully laid off and are on reduced hours, they might be able to claim for time off work during the outbreak. Put together some resources to provide unemployment information for the employees. As a business owner, you ought to be able to apply for unemployment if you were paid a normal salary which had unemployment taxes taken out. Self-employed individuals and independent contractors are not generally permitted to receive unemployment benefits, but it is entirely possible that states may expand unemployment advantages to these kinds of workers because the epidemic progresses.
Coronavirus Resources For Small Business
Here are some additional resources for beauty/wellness professionals and smaller businesses generally:
- What SBA Disaster Loans Are & How To Be eligible for a One
- The Fed Has Cut Interest Rates To some 12-Year Low: Here’s What It Could Mean For Your Business
- Small Business Outbreak & Pandemic Guide: Coronavirus Edition
- How To Implement A pre-balance credit card Program For Small company: What you ought to Know & How To Get Started
- Social Distancing For Small Business: The best way to Adapt & Survive The Coronavirus
- Coronavirus Payments Guide: All you need to Learn about Switching To Online & Phone Payments
If you'll need funds for the salon at this time, I would head straight to the SBA’s disaster loan assistance hub, because the SBA has made disaster relief funds immediately readily available for businesses suffering economic injury because of COVID-19.
Being Proactive Is The Best Safeguard For the Business
Now is the time to act. Even when your company is still doing okay, you ought to get moreover now and begin planning before the epidemic hits your neighborhood. If all you do today is send emails to customers, you’re still taking action to keep your business going, even if your salon’s doors are temporarily closed.
