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74% of UK beauty salons and spas are ready to reopen by July 4

Almost three quarters (74%) of UK beauty businesses, including salons, spas, clinics and mobile/home-based therapists, will be ready to reopen by July 4 or earlier, found Professional Beauty’s Covid-19 Survey.

Some 1,400 people who work within the beauty industry responded to PB’s survey between May 21–26, 2020, providing valuable insight into how the sector is planning to reopen successfully.

The highest proportion (44%) selected July 4 as the date they feel most ready to open their doors again – which is the Government’s estimated date for salons to begin reopening in England, while a further 30% said they are ready to reopen before then. However, 26% believe they won’t be able to safely do so until a later date (past July 4).

Using the beauty salon and spa-specific data from the survey (794 respondents), we delved deeper into the results of how these businesses are getting ready to reopen. By July 4, more than half (65%) will have rearranged their premises to maximise social distancing, and 92% will be requiring staff to wear masks, gloves and other relevant PPE.

Many are investing in hygiene and safety training during this time of closure – 39% had done this before June 1, while 10% plan to do this by June 15 and 25% by July 4, the survey found. Many are also undertaking an assessment of their services to ensure the treatments they offer are safe.

More than a quarter (26%) plan to do a review by July 4, while 11% will by June 15 and 21% by June 1. Less than a fifth of respondents (16%) feel it’s unnecessary to adjust their services.

As the industry moves forward towards reopening, PB has launched its “We are Ready” campaign – where industry icons highlight the measures beauty pros are putting in place to protect their customers and teams. The video features major names such as nail tech Marian Newman and brow queen Karen Betts. Watch it here.

APPG demands clear reopening instructions from Government

The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Beauty, Aesthetics and Wellbeing has issued a “call to action” to ask the Government for clearer instructions for reopening. The group includes representatives from trade bodies Babtac, NHBF and the UK Spa Association. Its demands include:

• Provide clear instructions and advance warning on when beauty and wellness businesses can reopen and what treatments they can offer, including for services within hospitality businesses such as hotels, and what grades of PPE must be used

• Ensure industry access to

affordable PPE to protect staff and

customers

• Crack down on rogue operators continuing to sell services behind closed doors risking public health, and explain how to report non-compliance

• Better protection against risks of modern slavery as businesses reopen.

APPG co-chairs Carolyn Harris MP and Judith Cummins MP said: “The industry has expressed loud and clear the need for clarity on when businesses can reopen and for consistent rules on PPE use. Without this, the long-term repercussions of the pandemic could leave many with no choice but to close their doors for good.”

inbrief

// World Wellness Weekend, founded by consultant Jean-Guy de Gabriac, has launched its new website world-wellness-weekend.org, which now facilitates 11 languages such as Arabic and Hindi, a “one-click geo-locator” for finding nearby wellness professionals, and a Wellness Pledge to promote positivity. Also newly available is online registration and a wellness blog.

// London Lash Pro has won a prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in recognition of international trade and “outstanding short-term growth”. Hanna Putjato, managing director of London Lash Pro said the award was “a true honour”.

// Salons across the UK have sold more than £1 million in gift vouchers during Covid-19 lockdown, according to stats published by Phorest Salon Software in late April. During the first three weeks of April, the average gift voucher sale was worth £69.

// Look Good Feel Better has launched virtual workshops in support of people undergoing cancer treatments, providing emotional and practical support. The sessions are hosted by trained experts, who will offer advice on combating the visible side effects of treatment, as well as an opportunity to chat and share experiences.

// Leah Durrant Salons Group has created window displays to show its support for the NHS and key workers during the coronavirus pandemic. It has also announced the introduction of a Priority Club as a means of controlling its bookings when salons are finally safe to reopen.

New Covid-19 safety measures at Professional Beauty London

The Professional Beauty Group has introduced new Covid-19 safety measures for the PB London show on October 11–12, 2020, in partnership with ExCeL London.

“The wellbeing of all who visit and work in our exhibitions is our number-one priority. We have implemented a series of measures to enhance safety and these will be revised and updated over the coming weeks,” said Mark Moloney, managing director of the Professional Beauty Group. The new measures include:

• Timed entry to spread the flow of visitors – all who attend the event will be asked to select a preferred entry time on registering

• Smartphone entry tickets to cease queues – e-tickets will replace printed tickets with limited collections on-site

• Online booking throughout to limit waiting – all tickets will be available to book, both before the event and while it is taking place

• Strict sanitisation measures – intense cleaning of all areas of the venue and exhibition stands and features

• Widespread availability of hand sanitisers

• Longer opening times

• Strict trade and professional-only policy. No general public will be permitted; this is to restrict numbers and ensure an enhanced environment for genuine industry professionals

Employers asked to contribute to Job Retention Scheme

The Chancellor has announced updates to its job retention scheme, with employers required to start contributing to its furloughed employees’ salaries.

From August, employers will be required to pay employees’ National Insurance and pension contributions. From September, the Government will reduce the furlough pay from 80% to 70% (capping at £2,190) and from October, this will then taper to 60%, (capping at £1,875). Employers will then need to top up the rest of the salaries to 80% of pre-Covid levels. After October, the job retention scheme will end.

Until the end of July, there will be no changes to the scheme, which currently sees the Government grant covering 80% of the salary of furloughed workers, up to the sum of £2,500 per month and backdated to March 1.

Additionally, the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme has been extended and will pay out one additional single grant for up to 70% of income, covering the three months to the end of August, and capped at £6,570.

inbrief

// Elemis has partnered with British designer Olivia Rubin to create ranges packaged in three exclusive bags. The bags feature Rubin’s signature rainbow designs. There is a For Her version, with seven Elemis skincare favourites, a For Him collection with five products and a smaller bag of minis.

// Dermalux manufacturer Aesthetic Technology has developed a regulatory compliant ventilator to help the NHS. The portable Aesthetic Technology C-19 Ventilator is based on an existing design for which the company has a worldwide permissive licence from Medtronic to manufacture during the pandemic.

// Premier Software has pledged support for the Low Ears campaign. The initiative was launched by The Potting Shed Spa owner Sam Pearce to offer professional services to help protect the emotional wellbeing of spa workers. The Low Ears dog icon will be added to Core by Premier Software.

// Celluma Light Therapy, in collaboration with The Wynyard Aesthetics Academy, has launched its online Light Therapy Certification programme, named The Science Behind Light Therapy and its Clinical Application. The course consists of three, one-hour learning segments taught by aesthetic nurse Pam Cushing.

// BC Softwear has updated its wellness teddy bear in support of the NHS during coronavirus. Now available as The Rainbow Teddy, the bear has a rainbow on the back of its dressing gown. All profits will be donated to the NHS Charities Together fund.

More than a third of aesthetic treatments take place in salons

Some 39% of aesthetic treatments are now taking place in beauty salons, while just under half (49%) are happening within aesthetic practices or clinics run by medics, according to a survey from the National Hair and Beauty Federation (NHBF).

Microneedling and chemical peels are the most commonly provided non-invasive aesthetics treatments, with the majority of these performed by aesthetic therapists in beauty salons. Other popular non-invasive treatments include microblading and laser.

The survey, which had 412 respondents, found that the majority of these treatments are performed by aesthetic therapists (116) – those with a Level 3 beauty qualification and further aesthetics training; followed by nurses (86), aesthetic practitioners (48) and Level 3-trained beauty therapists with no additional aesthetics training or education (33).

The NHBF stated that these results suggest many beauty salons and aesthetic practices are working in partnership with nurses or other medical practitioners to provide non-surgical aesthetic treatments.

Of those businesses that require medical oversight, more than half (61%) have a medic on-site, more than a quarter (28%) have a medic on call and a smaller number (11%) have a remote medic.

Coronavirus impacts consumers’ beauty buying behaviour

Consumers’ beauty purchasing behaviour has changed during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a survey from The Skin Health Alliance.

It showed that brand loyalty rose by 12% during April, compared to the same month in 2019. Positive reviews from family and friends also mattered more – important to 37% of consumers in 2019, rising to 44% in 2020.

While the price of a product still remains the number-one factor for choosing a beauty product, its influence dropped from 90% to 88%, while professional recommendations rose considerably, from 23% to 32%.

Other important factors, such as environmental and sustainability initiatives and celebrity endorsements, experienced reductions (dropping 3% and 2% respectively).

inbrief

// Gharieni Group has provided relaxation beds for medical staff at the Virga Jessa hospital in Hasselt, Belgium, which has been caring for more than 100 Covid-19 patients at a time. The Sea Wave System and RLX loungers were delivered in April.

// Distributor Sweet Squared has created new Instagram pages for each of its sectors. @sweetsquared.nails is the place to go for all things CND, Light Elegance, Lecenté and:Yours, while the new @sweetsquared.beauty page features Lashus, Wax:one, MoroccanTan and Nimue. Its hair brands all fall under @sweetsquared.hair.

// Sensory Retreats has launched the Home Spa Treat Box, which salons and spas can retail to their clients. The package is designed to “reduce stress, relax the mind and soothe a tired body”, containing green mint tea pouches, self-heating eye masks, a set of motivational wellbeing cards and more.

// Easydry has created a hygiene sticker for its customers to display to guarantee a level of safety to clients. Its towels are made from medical-grade fibre and are single-use, meaning their use in salons is hygienic.

// The 2020 FHT Excellence Awards are now open for entries. Alongside established categories such as Beauty Therapist of the Year and Student of the Year, a new category has been introduced: the FHT Green Therapy Business of the Year.

Medical Devices Regulation has been delayed until 2021

The European Medical Devices Regulation, which was due to come into force on May 26, 2020, has been postponed by one year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Many aesthetic devices will then be classified as medical, meaning manufacturers will have to partner with a designated “notified body” to obtain a CE Mark; and implement a quality-management system for production, in line with the EN ISO 13485:2016 standard. There are also other, more detailed, requirements.

The MHRA told Professional Beauty that while the European Commission has not yet confirmed which specific products will be included within each category, machines based on technologies such as radiofrequency, microcurrent and LED may be covered by the category outlined in Annex XVI, which also includes laser and IPL.

There is no requirement for clinics or salons to ensure that existing devices in use are compliant. As the new enforcement date falls outside of the UK’s transition period to leave the EU, the MHRA said it will provide more guidance in due course

Advanced Beauty Therapist Apprenticeship Level 3 approved

The Trailblazer standards and end-point assessment plan for the Advanced Beauty Therapist Apprenticeship Level 3 have been approved by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE).

The apprenticeship will provide a progression pathway for the industry and has been approved with a maximum funding cap of £8,000.

George Hammer, chair of the Trailblazer Steering Group for beauty professionals and chairman of Urban Retreat, said the standard will provide “the right knowledge, skills and behaviours that employers want for their staff to competently work within the beauty sector.”

However, starts on the apprenticeship will only be possible once an end-point assessment organisation has given an “in principle” commitment to deliver assessments on the standard.

OPI majority share sold to KKR

Investment firm KKR has signed a deal to acquire a majority stake in the Coty Professional Beauty portfolio, including nail brand OPI, in a deal worth $4.3 billion (£3.5bn).

Under the terms of the agreement, Coty will make Wella, which includes OPI, along with hair brands Wella

Professionals, Clairol and GHD, a standalone company in which KKR will own a 60% stake and Coty will retain the remaining 40%.

diarydates

// October 11 World Spa & Wellness Awards London

A celebration of the best hotels and resort spas from around the world.

020 7351 0536

worldspawellness.com/awards

// October 11–12 World Spa & Wellness Convention London ExCel London

The essential conference for international spa owners and hoteliers looking to network.

020 7351 0536

worldspawellness.com/London

// October 11–12 Professional Beauty London ExCeL London

The flagship show from the PB Group will now be held alongside major hair show Salon International. It will include conferences for spa, manufacturing, and more.

020 7351 0536

professionalbeauty.co.uk/London

// November 2 Professional Beauty Awards London Hilton Park Lane

Prestigious awards ceremony for beauty, spa and nails.

020 7351 0536

professionalbeauty.co.uk/pbawards

// November 8–9 Professional Beauty and Hairdressers’ Journal Ireland Citywest Dublin

Join Ireland’s biggest beauty, hair and spa trade show, featuring PBHJ Ireland Awards.

020 7351 0536

professionalbeauty.ie/interest

// November 15–16 Professional Beauty North EventCity Manchester

The largest beauty exhibition in the North is back.

020 7351 0536

professionalbeauty.co.uk/north

Brands provide more education to the pro community during Covid-19

With UK beauty salons not likely to reopen until July at the earliest, even more pro brands are finding new ways to provide online education to therapists, supporting them in upskilling during this time of closure.

Dermalogica has produced its Principles for Enhanced Service Safety – a set of post-coronavirus protocols to follow when you reopen, as well as a Clean Touch Certification for therapists who complete the online training.

Tracie Giles is hosting online classes about semi-permanent make-up, The Manicure Company is doing nail art “how to” tutorials, and massage expert Beata Aleksandrowicz is offering her new virtual Face Massage Classes as a complimentary gift for UK spas to reconnect with their clients.

Online training is also available through Skinceuticals’s live sessions, covering the brand’s USP and product knowledge; and Beauty House Training Academy is covering topics such as anatomy, physiology and mental health.

Among the new initiatives include Salon System’s social media campaign #backtobasics – where a series of experts take over the brand’s social media to offer advice on lash, brow and waxing troubleshooting issues.

Meanwhile, Million Dollar Facial’s Trust Our Techs campaign explains how to convince your clients to refrain from purchasing home kits and devices.

The Creative Beauty Group has implemented something similar with its #shesworththewait campaign, providing graphically designed visuals for use on social media.

Increase your salon’s cash flow with these lockdown initiatives

Several beauty brands have introduced financial initiatives to encourage healthy cash flow in salons during closure and when reopening in the pandemic. Tanning and waxing brand Sienna X is offering up to 30% cashback codes on a monthly basis, covering several of its ranges, while Premier Software is freezing all of its clients’ direct debits until further notice.

Further financial support comes from skincare brand Sothys, which is working to deliver goods directly from the warehouse to clients’ doors, saving salons postage and packaging costs.

Additionally, INK London has discounted its “Survival Box” for accounts to just £5. The kit contains remover, wraps and a miracle file.

And Miin Cosmetics is offering Professional Beauty readers an exclusive 10% discount on all website orders for Korean Cosmetics using the code PBHELP.

This article appears in June 2020

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June 2020
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