News

Beauty therapists among top 10 lowest paid workers

Beauty therapists are in the UK’s top 10 worst paid jobs for full-time workers, according to The Office for National Statistics (ONS) Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings 2019 report.

Government figures revealed that bar staff are the worst-paid full-time workers, earning on average £16,055 per year, with beauty therapists coming in seventh with a salary of £17,179, and hairdressers and barbers tenth with £17,609.

The news has caused heavy debate among industry pros on PB’s Facebook and Instagram accounts.

Lauren Peattie, beauty therapist at Perfectly Pretty Nails and Beauty in Bognor, said: “Not at all surprised, considering I earn less than minimum wage working six days per week, but that’s part being self-employed and part PAYE. It makes you want to quit. People want cheap, not quality.” While another salon owner on Facebook argued that the problem is how consumers view the industry: “It’s because we’ve been devalued as a trade. People will happily pay £80 plus for hair appointments but when it comes to beauty treatments, the price seems to scare people off. We all lower our prices to try and compete and then the [industry] becomes stagnant. We should be charging our worth.” Nicola Atkins, owner of Utopia Beauty Salon in Oxfordshire, commented that the Government makes it hard for owners to pay more. “It is incredibly difficult as unfortunately wages are not the only outgoing a salon has, it’s just the tip of it, with VAT, PAYE, pensions, sick pay, rent, rates, utility bills, insurance, etc. I’m sure my employees have no idea how much it costs me a year just to break even, without making a single penny. Right now, I pay them as much as I can.” The ONS used data from pay-asyou- earn (PAYE) tax records on a random sample of 1% of workers to get an idea of how much different groups of employees are earning.

Edinburgh, London and Glasgow named UK’s biggest beauty treatment spenders

People in Edinburgh are the biggest beauty spenders in the UK, splashing out on average £39 on a treatment, according to data by analyst SumUp, which examined one million card transactions made at beauty salons, barbers and nail bars.

London came in second, with consumers in the city spending £37 per beauty transaction, and Glasgow third with an average splurge of £33 per visit. Of the 12 major cities, the least likely to spend big is Birmingham, with an average transaction of £26.

The data also revealed that clients in Leeds are the most likely to pay for a beauty treatment via a contactless card, while those living in Newcastle are the least likely. The most popular day for customers to spend big at salons is Friday, with Sunday being the quietest.

The top 12 UK cities that spend the most on beauty treatments are:

1. Edinburgh – £39

2. London – £37

3. Glasgow – £33

4. Newcastle – £33

5. Leeds – £32

6. Liverpool – £31

7. Cardiff – £30

8. Manchester – £30

9. Belfast – £29

10. Bristol – £28

11. Sheffield – £27

12. Birmingham – £26

PB to launch campaign to tackle modern slavery in salons

The news that 39 people died in October while being illegally trafficked into the UK has put the horrific effects of modern slavery back in the spotlight.

While it is unconfirmed whether those that died were destined for nail bars, we as an industry are all too aware that many people trafficked into the UK end up working illegally in salons, trapped into modern slavery.

This issue has meant that reputable salons often can’t compete on price, and exit nails. Over time, this creates a gap that could ultimately make the problem worse.

Professional Beauty is planning an awareness campaign and we need your support. One idea is that PB can provide, free of charge, a series of posters for qualified professionals to help spread a message; for example, “Make sure you always visit a team that’s properly qualified”.

Can you suggest a phrase that can get the message across? Have you got any other ideas that can be put into practice now? Let us know via our feedback form at professionalbeauty.co.uk/antislavery PB will also be reaching out to interested parties in the beauty sector to help promote legitimate businesses – nail brands, charities, and industry bodies such as Habia, VTCT, Babtac and HBC.

University of Derby to close its spa management course in 2022

The University of Derby is shutting its spa management degree, with the course closing in three years (2022) once all current students have graduated.

In an official statement, the university said the decision “reflects a shift within [this] sector to more industry-led qualifications, which has led to a steady decline in student numbers over recent years”.

Going forward, the university will be focusing on vocational qualifications as “there is potential to maximise the industrial strengths of the town and surrounding area for us to pursue,” said Professor Malcom Todd, deputy vice-chancellor.

The University of Derby was the first in the country to offer spa and wellness management degrees.

Buxton and Leek College, which has been part of the University of Derby group since 2013, will still offer Level 3 Beauty and Spa Therapy.

inbrief

// Oriele Frank, UK managing director and co-founder of Elemis, won an award at CEW UK’s 2019 Annual Achiever Awards in London.

Frank was recognised for “her driving force to create a number-one, global skincare brand”. Other winners included brand owner Margaret Dabbs, Harrods beauty director Annalise Fard and blogger Caroline Hirons.

// K.B. Pro has announced an update to its permanent make-up training. Foundation courses in microblading, digital brows and digital full-face permanent make-up can be taken further with skill upgrades, and the company is also offering specialist classes in brow mapping, ombré brows, nanoblading and pigment mixology.

// Moddershall Oaks Country Spa Retreat has opened a Sleep Lounge to counteract the increasing use of mobile phones and their damaging effect on clients’ sleeping patterns. It features spa loungers sculpted to the curvature of the spine, egg-shaped pods, mood lighting and a fireplace.

// More than a third (36%) of vegetarians are unaware that the beauty products they use could contain animal by-products, found a study by Flawless Lashes by Loreta.

The survey of more than 500 vegetarians also revealed that 34% were still willing to use these products regardless of this fact.

// Phorest Salon Software has pledged to support the Ocean Cleanup initiative, which is the world’s largest clean-up project. The company’s goal is to raise E10,000 to help tackle ocean pollution.

inbrief

International standards body Cidesco will open a training salon at its head office in Zurich, Switzerland, in 2020, sponsored by brands including Lemi, Florence Roby and Repêchage. The new space will also allow Cidesco to produce educational webinars for its international examiners and schools.

// Consultant Susan Routledge held a networking event for salon owners in the North East to promote the available funding to small and medium-sized businesses in the area.

Valuable information was shared, including the news that £5,000 can be given to SMEs in certain areas that are employing someone under 25 years old.

// Nearly three quarters (74%) of baby boomers and 64% of generation X believe beauty advertising underrepresents older women, according to a survey by AARP. More than 70% of women across both age groups said they would be more likely to shop with brands that showed a greater variety of ages in marketing material.

// Malvern salon Belle Beauty raised £1,129 for charity Target Ovarian Cancer in October. The fundraiser was held in memory of receptionist Jackie Munrowd’s mother who passed away last year from the disease.

// Lash-extension and lift specialist Nouveau Lashes secured two new deals in Moscow, Russia, after attending the country’s Beauty British Bar 2019 event, which was organised by the Department for International Trade. During the event, the brand demonstrated its SVS treatment to the Russian market for the first time.

David Lloyd introduces YouTube trend ASMR into spas

David Lloyd has introduced ASMR experiences into its Club Spas, in collaboration with ASMR YouTuber Sophie Michelle.

ASMR (auto sensory meridian response) is the feeling of soothed relaxation combined with a tingling sensation in the scalp and down the back of the neck in response to certain sounds picked up by microphones.

David Lloyd’s ASMR spa experience is available now on YouTube and involves Sophie Michelle using common spa objects that are proven ASMR triggers.

For example, she can be heard whispering while slicing lemons or folding spa towels, and dipping a hand in and out of the spa’s hydro pool.

David Lloyd also plans to run live ASMR sessions in its four Spa Retreat locations, which will involve Sophie Michelle performing ASMR triggers into microphones as headphone-wearing visitors watch on live.

Medics urged not to train therapists in injectables

The British Association of Cosmetic Nurses (BACN) has proposed a motion that regulated healthcare professionals shouldn’t train therapists in injectables.

The association also recommended its members don’t supply any prescription-only products, such as Botox, for use by therapists or other non-healthcare professionals.

BACN said the reason was a rising number of complications associated with invasive treatments administered by beauty therapists, such as lip filler.

The motion is the latest in a number of proposals from different groups to prevent therapists from performing injectables since the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP) removed access for beauty therapists from its injectables register in August last year.

Pure Spa & Beauty opens first standalone retail store in Edinburgh

Spa and salon chain Pure Spa & Beauty has opened its first retail-only space.

Pure Beauty Zone opened on Rose Street in Edinburgh on November 8.

The new 2,000sq ft retail store will sell Pure’s range of capsules and aromatherapy face and body products, as well as natural products from brands including Myroo, EyeSlices and Pure Savvy.

The opening follows a recent bout of expansion for Pure, which opened six salons this year, in locations including Canary Wharf, Peterborough and Bristol.

Pure chief executive Becky Woodhouse (pictured) said, “It’s been a dream to finally get an actual shop location where we can really expand the Pure range.

”While the retail space will occupy the ground floor of the new premises, the second floor will now house the company’s headquarters, a new office, and a meetings and event space.

The Hair and Beauty Charity launches to support professionals

The official charity of the hair industry has rebranded to incorporate the beauty industry, changing its name from The Hairdressers’ Charity to The Hair and Beauty Charity.

“We have always supported those in the beauty and barbering industries and now it helps to clarify our focus,” said Samantha Grocutt, managing director at Essence PR and co-president of The Hair and Beauty Charity, pictured here with co-president ASP’s Philip Sharp.

Since its inception in 1853 under the name Hair and Beauty Benevolent, the charity has offered financial help to industry professionals who are in difficult times due to unforeseen circumstances, such as illness, bereavement and financial hardship.

The name change also comes as the charity has formed a partnership with Professional Beauty Group as its official charity partner.

Half of beauty salon owners have considered shutting up shop

Salon software provider Phorest recently surveyed 1,000 salon owners, finding that 45% have considered giving up on their business.

It was also revealed that most began feeling this way around three of more years into running their businesses.

The challenge of finding good therapists and managing staff (32%) was cited as the top reason for salon owners wanting to shut up shop, with the economy, rising rent rates and tax (22%) also common drivers.

The challenges of managing large sales and marketing strategies (12%) and ever-growing admin and accounting tasks (10%) were also listed.

Spa industry mourns Michael Quinn

Michael J Quinn, who formerly headed up Thermarium and Hydrotherm Spa in the UK, passed away in October, after a few months of illness, at the age of 66.

Quinn leaves behind his wife, two children and eight grandchildren, along with his sisters and brother. Quinn entered the thermal spa equipment business in 1999 as general manager of Thermarium. He then set up HydrothermSpa in 2005, working on major spa developments for brands including Center Parcs, Champneys and Banyan Tree.

He spoke at wellness industry conferences in Germany, France, China and the Philippines and was an active volunteer in his community.

inbrief

// The date beauty businesses take the most Christmas bookings is October 17, with clients making more appointments for the festive period on this day than any other, according to data of 6,000 UK salons by Phorest Salon Software. By the first week of November, appointment bookings almost double from the average number of weekly bookings taken too.

// Eco-friendly hotel The Salthouse in Ballycastle, Ireland, has opened a high-end spa following a £400,000 investment. The spa, which sits alongside the 24-bed hotel, features three treatment rooms, a thermal suite, rain shower, aromatherapy steam room and four heated daybeds, which offer views of Rathlin Island.

// Mia Kyricos, senior vice president and global head of wellbeing for Hyatt, won the Leading Woman in Wellness Award at the 2019 Global Wellness Summit (GWS).

Kyricos was recognised for her “visionary leadership” and “role in helping to define the wellness industry”. The GWS Summit will be held in Tel Aviv, Israel, next year.

// Former Pure Massage Spa Training Method co-founder Beata Aleksandrowicz has launched a new training business for spas.

Aleksandrowicz System will offer courses based on the massage specialist’s disciplines developed over the past 17 years, including communication, psychology and healing.

// Jim McKenny has joined LED machine brand Celluma as vice president of global sales.

McKenny will manage the company’s international growth. He brings 20 years of leadership experience, and joins from investment firm Townsend Kane, where he was chief operating officer.

diarydates

// December 9 The Two Old Queens Coal Road, Leeds Intimate evening with nail industry legends Marian Newman and Gigi Rouse.

0333 000 7000 my.sweetsquared.com/ education/course/349 // January 30–February 1, 2020 IMCAS Annual World Congress Palais de Congress, Paris International expo covering aesthetic procedures.

+33 (0) 140 738 282 imcas.com/en // February 16–17, 2020 Professional Beauty GCC Festival Arena, Dubai The biggest industry event in Dubai, includes World Spa & Wellness Convention Dubai.

+971 (0) 4375 7300 professionalbeauty.ae // March 4, 2020 UK Spa Association UKSA Spring Networking Event Carden Park, Chester An opportunity for UKSA members and non-members to meet and network.manager@spa-uk.orgspa-uk.org

// March 6–8, 2020 Beauty Düsseldorf Messe Düsseldorf Trade fair for cosmetics, nails, wellness and spa.

+49 211 4560 7602 beauty-duesseldorf.com // March 8–9, 2020 Irish Beauty Show RDS Main Area, Dublin Show created specifically for beauty and nail professionals.

01789 773434 irishbeauty.ie

Beauty therapist Katie Hoyle wins CACI PB North giveaway

Katie Hoyle, owner of Simply Beautiful by Katie in Littleborough, was the lucky winner of machine brand CACI’s £15,000 Synergy giveaway at Professional Beauty North.

The brand held the competition in the run-up to PB North, with those wanting to be in with a chance of winning the device registering with a special code and then having their badge scanned on the brand’s stand. The winner was selected at random by CACI managing director Dean Nathanson and PB editor Eve Oxberry on the Monday (October 14) of the show.

“I’m over the moon and I can’t wait to do the training and see where this opportunity takes me. I feel so lucky,” Hoyle said. “I can’t thank Professional Beauty and CACI enough.”

Outback Organics unveils new team of 11 waxing educators

Waxing brand Outback Organics has expanded its UK education network with the addition of 11 new trainers. The ambassadors are: Beth Thurman for Scotland & the North West; Amanda Mugford, Emma Smith and Jen Turner in the South East; Alison Guildford and Catherine Reed covering the North West; Chloe Bailey in the East Midlands; Claudette Bramley in the West Midlands; Jacqui Lacey teaching in both London and Ireland; Ali McAlister working in London; and Maria Nicholas covering Wales.

Head educator Claire Prior held a “train the trainer” day for the team at the brand’s Somerset education centre in October, teaching them about Outback Organic’s wax theory, ethos and product knowledge. “We’re thrilled to be able to broaden our training offering and are confident with the selected trainers,” she said.

Phorest encourages salons to go paperless with eco campaign

Phorest Salon Software has launched a campaign urging salons to go paperless in a bid to reduce the negative impact the beauty industry has on the environment.

The salon software provider’s campaign, which launched in October, aims to help beauty businesses stop excessive paper use, specifically the printing of receipts – on average 300 billion paper receipts are printed each year, which equates to the felling of 25 million trees.

Both clients and non-clients of Phorest were asked to fill out its Salon Paperless Pledge, after which they were sent a special media pack to help with the goal. The pledge included switching to digital receipts and consultation forms as well as banning paper cups.