Fair enough, I'm not suggesting that PR campaigns are mounted covering "what is about to happen" but why not tell us (the industry) what is likely or proposed?

A PR campaign covering "What to look for in a good nail technician" is what I suggested. This information we already know of course. Who would pay for it would be another thing!

Exactly - the media will scrutinise standards so all aspects need to be covered, thus not giving them anymore ammunition.

I didn't see GMTV today & could only find the checklist on their website but ive submitted my views on it all the same, just hope someone bothers to read them.

Im not worried about the effect it will have on existing clients but i think that it could put off prospective clients in the short term. I remember when i worked in an office and every morning there would be a conversation about what had been on GMTV so i do think people will be talking about it.

If anything good comes of it then the NSS will be driven out of business

I would imagine that all of the quality nail companies would help to fund an advertising campaign.
Personally speaking, I would be happy to dip my hand into my pocket if it were for the good of the industry, as I'm sure a lot of decent techs would too.

Everyone does. Follow what is happening on www.habia.org, watch this site (there have been calls for consultation on several important and relevant topics).

What needs to be done is an accurate education of EHOs and local authorities. Then a movement to use that education and only then would a public PR campaign be of any benefit.

Countless key people are donating their time to try and fight for the industry (Marian and myself are only 2 of the countless many). No one is saying sit on your hands and let things blow over. We are saying that you need to work locally to educate the public, become active nationally to help the standards and finally make sure all ducks are in order before you try to convince a cynical media that is obsessed with the quick and dirty.

Yes, it is scaremongering, but if one out of 5 supermarkets would be selling spoiled food, we would want our daily newspapers/tv to report on it. This is good news for our industry, as it exposes the rotten apples. It might hurt on the short term, but will benefit in the long term qualified, educated nail technicians.

I am inviting my local newspaper to see what the difference is between a bad and good nail service and hope to get something published and use the momentum of news to get the attention of the public to finally be aware that there is good and bad nail services out there and if they are educated they can make an informed choice. The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health are on our side after all!!!!

Sam
Xtremities

That is a great positive step Sam

I know it's long time no speak, however I was so disgusted with GMTV this morning and an article I have recently read in the Daily Mail Yesterday, that I thought I would pop in to see the general response.

I'm all ready dealing with calls from salons that are dealing with client concerns. What an irresponsable interview for all of the educators teaching and techs out there that are working thier buts off to maintain high standards, only to have fuel added to an existing fire - non standard salons etc.

I too have e-mailed GMTV and the Daily Mail outraged about the potential damage that they could have done to our industry (sorry forgot to add e-mail to the link).

I will keep you informed of any response received.

Sam Watkinson x
IBD International Educator
National Education Manager (Grafton Int)

You may be interested to know that Bristol City Council had nothing to do with the release of this nail story - and when I spoke to them, they confirmed that the research was done in 2004!

It was released by The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) which is currently not available for comment as its having its annual conference in Bournemouth - but if you google and go to their site
you’ll see the release on the home page that started this.

This type of "news" is always so discouraging to those of us who strive to acheive another level of professionalism.

In the past there have been scares here as well due to outbreaks in non-complaint salons.

I inform my clients what I do to protect them in my salon- I always stress that this is for MY protection too.

I have an extremely sanitary salon and go to great lengths to keep it like that. My clients notice- especially if they have been to salons where the tech don't clean their station or change towels between clients, wash their hands, dust, sanitize or sterilize implements...........etc.

While discouraging, I think the best way to fight this kind of publicity is through education- one client at a time.

heres the release from the CIEH:

http://www.cieh.org/news_and_media/c..._says_cieh.htm

“A fifth of nail bars could be unsafe,” says CIEH

So that means 4/5ths ARE safe, and only suggests that 1/5th may not be.

If you have certificates relating to sanitation standards - make sure they are displayed in a very obvious place. And make sure your certificates relating to your training are displayed too. This will help the public to identify quality salons from poor ones

This was the tack I took on the 1xtra website yesterday (I think) - I said that it is about time the public were aware of this - 20% of salons are unsafe - but hey that leaves 80% that are safe so seek them out.

All of my certificates are proudly displayed on my wall for all my clients to see and lots of them comment on how many I have LOL.

Some great points on this thread!

"The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health are on our side after all!!!!"

Dead right Sam C!

Also some very important and relevant comments from GMG.

There are some worried and and not necessarily accurate comments too. These come from passion for the industry and genuine care. It might help if I, briefly, clarify a few things.

There is no secrecy about anything. The project I was referring to is not mine to announce and is only just about to start. Dribbling out bits of information does no good to any important statement/launch etc. The sensible way is to provide all the relevant informatiion concisely and in context for maximum effect.

The only reason I mentioned is because there have been so many, "Why don't..", "Why can't...", etc and so many people worried that I just wanted to let you all know that there really is plenty of work being done. It just takes so (in the words of GNG) "freaking" long!!!!!

The whole EH issue really is not new! This has been rumbling around for quite some time. Local Authorities have been more than aware of problems with nail salons for years. However, they can do nothing about it without real facts and information that has been compiled under conditions that they can use, legally. This cannot come from research from the US, for example, nor from product companies. EH depts have very wide powers (like the Health and Safety Executive) that directly affect us and they have needed to do their own research in order to address the issue effectively (and, yes, the, so called, NSS salons have played a part in encouraging this move, although there are plenty of salons that do not fall into this very innaccurate description that have pushed it along too!)

This has come out at this moment because of the conference and so many journos seeing a nice little story, specially when they can relate it to V Beckham and Colleen!

Don't panic! The industry has had many media stories such as this but has never had so much 'official' background work going on before; we just had to 'weather' it. Keep doing good work, don't take short cuts in education or your level of service, behave and think like a 'professional' rather than a 'hobbyist' and you will be fine. Women who want their nails done will always want their nails done and your best advertising will always be word of mouth supported by great nails!

People like GMG and me are called upon to help with all this 'stuff' because we are genuinely unbiased (brands etc) and are genuinely considered to be 'experts'. It is also obvious to 'those that matter' that we are doing it for all the right reasons as we get no payment and do not advance our career. We do not list what we do for pats on the back. We do it to help our industry and be informed enough to be considered 'experts' in a narrow field but one that has such wide implications.

Long post for which I apologise (don't usually do that!) but I just want to put things into perspective and happen to have the time to do it.

May be a long post Marian - but it was also a Kick-Ass one!!!