Does anyone else still feel like Covid has totally wrecked your business? I’m still feeling a real knock on effect of slow business, even though we’ve technically been open for nearly a full year since the last lockdown. Of course throughout 2021 we were dealing with restrictions at work, but now everything is supposedly ‘back to normal’, I’m finding that business is not. I’ve got empty days galore in my diary and pre-pandemic was booked up for 4-6 weeks usually. I’ve lost a lot of clients due to them moving away to countryside or far away areas (I’m in Greater London), people aren’t going on holiday at the same rate they used to, and big events and weddings still don’t sound as frequent as they once were. Is it just me, or is anyone else still really struggling to get bums on seats since Covid, after the initial post-lockdown rushes that we had?
Pandemic ruined business
- Thread starter Hairgurl
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(Not hair - I'm nails) completely agree and potentially going to get worse with the cost of living price rises. The bit of spare cash people had to spend on self care is gone on bills instead. I work from home so my overheads are increasing but nothing like those with salons are about to experience. Its heartbreaking. Its all very well saying 'charge your worth' bit that relies on the basis that clients have money to spend. They don't and are unlikely to have for quite some time. Hair will be hit hard, npbut nowhere near as hard as beauty and nails. We are quite literally the definition of 'luxury' when it boils down to food, heat or nails/facial.
Completely agree, About every third week is very very quiet. The clients that came back in between lockdowns are great and keep booking every so many weeks as usual. The missing clients are the ones who came when they had special things on such as holidays, weddings etc and it's surprising the difference this makes to weekly turnover.
I'm not running any discount packages beyond what is already in my treatment menu so at least I'm getting full price when they do come.
I've done plenty of FB advertising but to be honest I don't think it brought in any extra bookings. I am just keeping a visible profile for future improved demand.
A good proportion of my clients are comfortably off retirees but this age group are still not keen to travel or socialise greatly - hence no need to look good.
I feel I'm still in the 'just keep ticking over' stage at the moment.
The extra strain on peoples finances with bills & fuel rising I suspect will dent treatment demand further from my younger clients.
My hairdresser has been hit badly with cancellations due to covid in recent weeks. One day last week she had 7 clients booked in and only 1 made it, the rest cancelled due to illness. Tough times.
Just got to hang on in there...
I'm not running any discount packages beyond what is already in my treatment menu so at least I'm getting full price when they do come.
I've done plenty of FB advertising but to be honest I don't think it brought in any extra bookings. I am just keeping a visible profile for future improved demand.
A good proportion of my clients are comfortably off retirees but this age group are still not keen to travel or socialise greatly - hence no need to look good.
I feel I'm still in the 'just keep ticking over' stage at the moment.
The extra strain on peoples finances with bills & fuel rising I suspect will dent treatment demand further from my younger clients.
My hairdresser has been hit badly with cancellations due to covid in recent weeks. One day last week she had 7 clients booked in and only 1 made it, the rest cancelled due to illness. Tough times.
Just got to hang on in there...
Thanks this is all very reassuring, not that it’s good news by any means of course. But it’s nice to know it isn’t just me who’s losing out on work, it’s hard not to start questioning everything and wondering if it’s you they don’t like!!
Neater
Member
Neater
Member
Hi yes I totally agree. Im mobile but my business has definately changed in the last 2 years. I lost a lot of elderly clients (passed away) and a number of middle aged one's never came back. A few decided not have colours and embraced the grey and a few colour their own now and perms are less. Supermarket colours seem to be much better than they used to! Yes they will need cuts, but often thats not cost effective on its own. Petrol is increasing, products are increasing in price and I sometimes wonder is it worth it. People just don't want to pay more, so Im careful to increase prices Lots of salons near me have shut. I will keep ticking over but am always looking for other work. So no, its not just you, Im feeling it too.
The glory days are gone it seems, and to have a full week of clients is all far too long a distant memory. I think it really was the 2nd and 3rd lockdowns that ruined my business and now the world is in a mess.
Clients aren't really bothering to have anything done or have gone down the DIY route.
Whilst I have not missed being rushed off my feet , there's a massive difference to my own business. It is wrecked.
So very few on my books now and I feel like I am begging the few remaining clients to please have an extra treatment whilst they are here.
You are not on your own. I am plodding on, still trading for now but feel very deflated.
Clients aren't really bothering to have anything done or have gone down the DIY route.
Whilst I have not missed being rushed off my feet , there's a massive difference to my own business. It is wrecked.
So very few on my books now and I feel like I am begging the few remaining clients to please have an extra treatment whilst they are here.
You are not on your own. I am plodding on, still trading for now but feel very deflated.
jlsdds
Well-Known Member
I’m in the US, West Texas to be exact. We live in an area that is growing leaps and bounds. A large college with 35,000 students, oil, gas, cotton and ranching. People from California are moving here to have lower property taxes, no personal income tax, lower cost of living.
The salons haven’t slowed much because (I think) the Texas mentality is so independent that they ignored COVID and it just went away IN THEIR MINDS. Activity hasn’t slowed even when hospitals were full and people were dying. Our county has suffered 1,300 deaths.
Also, there are an overabundance of nail ‘spas’, one or two in every strip mall. No exaggeration.
So, I am booth renting in a large salon right now. 5 nail techs and 24 hairdressers. Everyone is busy.
It‘s our locality that makes the difference. I feel terrible for those who have been impacted more than others. we lived in New Mexico (state next to Texas) during the first 8 months of COVID. I was able to get unemployment compensation from 4/2020 to 9/2021. Also, two government loans, one of which was forgiven.
Would I have rather been able to work? Yes, i missed the interaction and stimulation. It’s taken me 5 months since I went back to work, to get 9 regulars and a few scattered one off mani or pedi. During which I still pay a weekly booth fee.
I try not to be disheartened and remind myself that I’ve started over a few times due to moves. I can do this, I keep telling myself.
The salons haven’t slowed much because (I think) the Texas mentality is so independent that they ignored COVID and it just went away IN THEIR MINDS. Activity hasn’t slowed even when hospitals were full and people were dying. Our county has suffered 1,300 deaths.
Also, there are an overabundance of nail ‘spas’, one or two in every strip mall. No exaggeration.
So, I am booth renting in a large salon right now. 5 nail techs and 24 hairdressers. Everyone is busy.
It‘s our locality that makes the difference. I feel terrible for those who have been impacted more than others. we lived in New Mexico (state next to Texas) during the first 8 months of COVID. I was able to get unemployment compensation from 4/2020 to 9/2021. Also, two government loans, one of which was forgiven.
Would I have rather been able to work? Yes, i missed the interaction and stimulation. It’s taken me 5 months since I went back to work, to get 9 regulars and a few scattered one off mani or pedi. During which I still pay a weekly booth fee.
I try not to be disheartened and remind myself that I’ve started over a few times due to moves. I can do this, I keep telling myself.
scissorchik
Member
I find my business definitely took punch. The salon I rented a chair in closed after the first lockdown, and I converted a room in my house to work from. Fortunately I had worked a second job through the lockdown, and made new clients among my coworkers. When it came time to open, 3 of my elderly regulars had passed or were in nursing homes, a number of my regulars got used to colouring their hair at home, or letting their natural grow in to save money, which really hurt me financially. I find even haircuts are being pushed further apart, with the cost of gas and groceries skyrocketing, I expect it will get worse.
What sucks more is that I received a business grant last year, and now owe a large chunk of it back in taxes. I wish I'd never applied, because it bumped me into a higher tax bracket, affecting my provincial drug benefit program. My deductible will be three times as much.
I'm glad I have the second job, as I am pretty sure I lost up to 60%
The only bright side is that I don't have to pay to work anymore, and I love working from home.
What sucks more is that I received a business grant last year, and now owe a large chunk of it back in taxes. I wish I'd never applied, because it bumped me into a higher tax bracket, affecting my provincial drug benefit program. My deductible will be three times as much.
I'm glad I have the second job, as I am pretty sure I lost up to 60%
The only bright side is that I don't have to pay to work anymore, and I love working from home.
So so sad reading this
I’m reaching out for support too!
I’ve just been informed my current energy supplier cannot supply me with energy on the agreed tarriff
So I am forced to take another contract rising 200% more than I was paying!! I’m on the verge of cracking up ! The pressure of the last few years has reached boiling point! We’ve already raised prices once in January now I have no choice in another increase.
has anyone experienced the same energy increase ?
thanks in advance xxx
I’m reaching out for support too!
I’ve just been informed my current energy supplier cannot supply me with energy on the agreed tarriff
So I am forced to take another contract rising 200% more than I was paying!! I’m on the verge of cracking up ! The pressure of the last few years has reached boiling point! We’ve already raised prices once in January now I have no choice in another increase.
has anyone experienced the same energy increase ?
thanks in advance xxx
Just to say that since Easter I have had a noticeable upturn in bookings at last! The difference is that people are now going on holiday, going to weddings etc so they actually want their nails, waxing and so on done. Yesterday I had a client in who I hadn't seen for 3 years.
So, fingers crossed we are over the worst and making progress back to better booking levels.
So, fingers crossed we are over the worst and making progress back to better booking levels.
I’ve had a noticeable uplift in enquiries for the past 6 weeks. However I’ve had time to reflect on what suits me and I’m making a big effort not to become a “busy fool”
I’ve price checked some of my treatments, knowing that I used to be cheap by local standards for some services - and what do you know, my competitors have matched or undercut my prices! I’m very happy to have lost my most price sensitive clients. Now I have time for the more profitable enquiries!
I’ve been busy in the past with mostly waxing and nails, now I’m deliberately targeting facials, massage and more high end services. I’m trying not to panic book enquiries for low profit, cheap and cheerful services in the time slots that are most requested. I’m carefully only offering the “difficult to fill” time spots to low profit enquiries.
Everyone has to do what is best for their business of course but it’s always useful to reflect on your personal market trends. Looking at who your best clients are and what they book for; reflecting on your “hero” services that you know you do really well and want to do more of; can steer you in the right direction.
I’ve price checked some of my treatments, knowing that I used to be cheap by local standards for some services - and what do you know, my competitors have matched or undercut my prices! I’m very happy to have lost my most price sensitive clients. Now I have time for the more profitable enquiries!
I’ve been busy in the past with mostly waxing and nails, now I’m deliberately targeting facials, massage and more high end services. I’m trying not to panic book enquiries for low profit, cheap and cheerful services in the time slots that are most requested. I’m carefully only offering the “difficult to fill” time spots to low profit enquiries.
Everyone has to do what is best for their business of course but it’s always useful to reflect on your personal market trends. Looking at who your best clients are and what they book for; reflecting on your “hero” services that you know you do really well and want to do more of; can steer you in the right direction.
