AHP Indie Stylist

Volume 1, Issue 1

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18 indie stylist Volume 1 Issue 1 In many ways, my experience in the beauty industry has prepared me for this moment. Besides working directly with clients, I spend most of my time advocating, advising, and educating on behalf of other pros and salon owners. In particular, I focus on the business of beauty, like licensure, salon safety, labor, and tax laws—all the parts of our industry devoid of glamour. Over my last 13 years of advocacy, I have participated in more than 60 board meetings and contributed to more than 25 cases as an expert witness. For our industry, the abrupt cancellation of the Beauty Experience New York show (on March 7, 2020) foreshadowed the seriousness of this pandemic. Unable to teach my classes, I stayed through the weekend and traveled home with a strange mix of relief and dread. The following week, when nearby counties issued the first shelter-in-place orders in the country, I anticipated that my county would quickly act. The very next day, Tuesday, March 17, 2020, would be our last at the salon. Within hours of the county order, we sent an email to clients scheduled through the end date of the initial order (April 8), announcing the cancellation of their appointments. When the order was later extended indefinitely, all appointment reservations for the remainder of the year were canceled, to be rescheduled upon resuming operations. WIDE-RANGING EMOTIONS The response of beauty professionals to COVID-19 has been sometimes enlightening and, at times, encouraging. More often, though, the response has been discouraging. For every expression of empathy, I observe multiple expressions of denial and anger. What began as wishful thinking that the coronavirus would go away without affecting businesses has given way to feelings of entitlement (to provide services in violation of orders) and even hatred for those individuals who have qualified for and received assistance. The disruption to our lives is compounded by the uncertainty of what happens next. The worst may not be over. How do we cope with what has already happened and not become completely overwhelmed? Understandably, comparisons have been made to moving through the stages of grief. Processing grief takes time, but rather than be consumed with negative emotions, let us start with acceptance and move through the other stages as needed. Regardless of our individual circumstances or response, what I know to be true about our industry has not changed. When we chose to be licensed beauty professionals, we obligated ourselves to comply with the relevant laws and regulations at the local, state, and national levels, no matter how inconvenient or expensive. The more we embrace compliance, the better we can adapt. TAKE ACTION Sustaining our beauty businesses has never been more challenging. Some have tried to compensate for lost income by promoting retail products, gift cards, or press-on nails. That did not interest me, nor would it suit the needs of my clients. Certain aspects of my business will not require any changes. The salon already functions by appointment only, with standings scheduled a year in advance. We control all appointment reservations (no online booking). A magnetic door lock prohibits anyone from entering without our permission. We wash our hands, wear gloves, use a new file for every service, and autoclave-sterilize metal tools. Clients receive services in leather recliners spaced 12 feet apart. Many of our clients prepay, minimizing transactions at the front desk. I have taken this opportunity to review every aspect of my business to determine which actions would be most beneficial. Since the closure, I have stayed busy with the following to-do list: • Apply for assistance as needed • Cancel redundant/unnecessary outside services • Change business travel plans • Check workers' compensation insurance rates • Connect with local small business development center • Edit salon website • Engage landlord to explore options if unable to pay rent • Inventory entire salon • Maintain contact with clients scheduled through the end of the year • Participate in webinars and town halls presented by reliable sources • Research new suppliers, products, and pricing • Review liability insurance policy • Share experiences with local chambers of commerce, legislators, and journalists • Stay informed • Sort products for donation • Transition to new salon software with current client info only • Update binder of Safety Data Sheets (SDS) • Upgrade payroll service

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