Calderdale beautician says salon industry at 'breaking point' after being decimated by Covid-19

Katie Gledhill, who owns Saks Beauty, in Albion Street, said more needs to be to save salons throughout Calderdale, which have been hit hard since the UK first entered lockdown on March 23.

Ms Gledhill said the coronavirus pandemic has led to 'massive' financial losses, including the loss of two members of staff.

She said: "Compared to September last year we're down 50 percent on earnings, which I believe is due to the restrictions in place.

"Other industries were able to open to full operation, but beauty salons weren't allowed to do facials until recently - that's half a year being told we weren't allowed to do our main service."

Ms Gledhill argued the beauty industry was hit hard due to the fact providers cannot provide services online like other retailers, which could remain open and continue to trade digitally.

Another blow came when talks came about the beauty industry re-opening in July during the Government's 'Roadmap to Recovery' plan.

However, the plan including hairdressing but not the beauty industry.

"We protested online," she said.

"We wear more PPE than most industries at the best of times. We sanitise and disinfect tools in between clients and have all written and passed assignments on cross contamination, infection control and blood-born viruses.

"I'm counting the loss of earnings from July 4 as that's when we should have reopened like hairdressers."

Information taken from Professional Beauty, NHBF and Habia states the average beauty salon makes £5,000 per week working at capacity with all services available.

Ms Gledhill said: "We weren't then given three days notice we could reopen; the least any industry has been given.

"We got told we could do face treatments from August 15 with less than 24 hours notice, but not Calderdale, because our Covid-19 rates are too high.

"The fear sets in that clients who have face treatments with us will now leave Calderdale to have these treatments done in areas that can now do them.

"Halifax is still restricted however everyone else can go back to normal.

"The reality was that clients can drive 10 minutes out of Halifax to go to other salons for treatments.

"Something they will do because they have now waited six months. Other salons won't turn down this business as they too have suffered like us.

"Since reopening mid-July we have worked at less than 40 percent capacity and continue to do so because of the ridiculousness of this situation.

"The salon industry is at breaking point after being decimated."

Ms Gledhill has also voiced her anger against the government's decision to give the hospitality industry a 15 percent reduction in VAT with the Eat Out to Help Out scheme.

She said: "The beauty industry has had absolutely nothing and we're dying.

"November is our quietest month and the furlough scheme ends with no mention of an extension for industries more significantly impacted."

The beautician said the decrease in sales has been coupled with her financial struggles paying for overheads such as heating, which she expects to become more costly during the approaching winters months.

"December should be our busiest month on record, Christmas parties galore, people treating themselves for the holiday season - that won't happen this year," she said.

"I've paid every single bill during lockdown, to my landlords, my electricity and water companies.

"I'm up to date with my VAT because if I don't it just affects the next person up the ladder. I used my business grant for this purpose to keep my business afloat and it just stretched until we were able to reopen.

"Why has our industry been completely ignored and not given the additional support it needs?

"You may think nails and eyebrows are not an essential service, but we don't just provide that.

"We provide a support network, so many clients visit us just for 15 minutes of escapism or 'me time'.

"That eyebrow wax builds their confidence and makes them feel better about themselves.

"It's a quick catch up with their 'therapist' to ask how they are doing. It's a two-way system we support each other."

Halifax MP Holly Lynch said; “I'm looking forward to meeting Katie later this week to discuss exactly how her business has been affected.

"Over 590,000 jobs are linked to the beauty sector which contributed over £7 billion in tax revenues in 2018 so we need to ensure they have a future.

"The Government spent £522 million on the Eat Out To Help Out scheme which provided a boost to restaurants and café’s but sectors like beauty, children’s soft play centres and bowling alleys face ongoing restrictions and uncertainty, and that must be reflected in the support available.

"I have written to the Government on several occasions asking them to think again about helping Halifax businesses but the Labour Party is calling for sector specific plans to help businesses like Katie’s.”

Jane Scullion, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Strategy, said: “We know how difficult the Covid-19 situation continues to be for many businesses, and we understand their concerns.

"They are an important part of our place, our economy and people’s lives, and we are doing everything we can to support them.

"This support has been a key part of our 10-point Covid-19 response plan from the outset.

"We have paid out over 5,500 coronavirus-related grants worth over £60 million to businesses across Calderdale, and our teams are working around the clock to give guidance and help them operate safely.”

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy was approached for a comment earlier today and we are awaiting a response.