Coronavirus: Wella shares practical advice for salons

wella professionals coronavirus advice

In these testing times, we need to stay close and support each other. We are amazed by all the positivity and sympathy displayed by our industry. We will go through this together. We hope you will find the below useful and can count on us to support you to the best of our ability.

Hairdressing salons throughout the world are naturally very concerned about the coronavirus having a major impact on their business. There are so many potential issues that let’s be honest, none of us were completely prepared for. Operating a business with reduced staff due to isolation, our customers being afraid to visit the salon, implementing more stringent hygiene practices, all whilst trying to maintain your own personal health.

 

These are incredibly challenging times for any business, and sadly our sector will be hit, and many salons will struggle as a result of COVID-19. Here at Wella Professionals we have been by your side for 140 years, and we remain by your side to support our salons in whatever ways we can.

 

Let’s start with some practical advice…

 

What happens if you’re struggling to pay your VAT, Corporation tax, PAYE/NIC?

 

There is a Government Tax Helpline that’s been set up to help businesses.  The helpline allows any business or self-employed individual who is concerned about paying their tax due to coronavirus to get practical help and advice. Up to 2,000 experienced call handlers are available to support both salon owners and self-employed hairdressers.

 

For salon owners and hairdressers who are not taxed at source, who are concerned about paying their tax due to Coronavirus, call HMRC’s helpline on 0800 0159 559. Opening hours are Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm, and Saturday 8am to 4pm.

 

Financial support

 

Communication from the Government is changing daily, however at the current time the message is very clear. We are being urged NOT to make staff redundant and lay team members off, because when the country recovers from this crisis, we are going to need our brilliant teams behind us. This is particularly relevant in our industry, where recruitment is a challenge. That said, salons need clients to generate income, and it’s unavoidable that we will be hit. We are told that further support will be coming from the Government, however at this current time there are some financial support measures in place.

 

The COVID-19 support for businesses is clearly outlined here.

 

The grants referred to in the Budget of £3,000 have now been extended to £10,000. However, it is worth noting that they relate to businesses that either rent or own commercial premises and are eligible for small business rate relief. The grants will be from local authorities and businesses will be contacted directly by local authorities.

 

If you are working from home, or the rateable value of your property is more than £15,000 this lower grant will not apply.

 

A £25,000 grant will also be provided to retail, hospitality and leisure businesses operating from smaller premises, with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000. It is not clear at this stage on the definition of “retail, hospitality and leisure” and if salons come under this category. Again, the grant only applies if you occupy business premises.

 

A new Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, delivered by the British Business Bank, will enable businesses to apply for a loan of up to £5 million, with the government covering up to 80% of any losses with no fees. Businesses can access the first 6 months of that finance interest free, as government will cover the first six months of interest payments.

 

The Government website is an excellent source for the latest updated information, so it is worth checking in regularly to gain further information.

 

Where can I go for support?

 

Your local council is a sensible first step. In addition, there are Government support helplines set up which we would urge you to contact for more specific information.

 

Business Support Helpline (England)

Invest Northern Ireland

Find Business Support Scotland

Business Wales Helpline

 

If you fear that you may end up without income for a period, there is also a Universal Credit hotline on 0800 328 5644. Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm.

 

Further information can be found here.

 

HR & Legal advice

 

Head to ACAS for everything you need to know about staff being off, when you need to pay them, their employment rights, your obligations and how to effectively manage the staffing situation throughout this crisis.

 

Another valuable resource is the Federation of Small Businesses.  If you’re not a member, there’s still intensive detailed advice on how to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. There is an incredible bank of free information available which will answer every question you may have about your business in this period.

 

The latest NHS advice on the coronavirus can be found here.  Remember… The health and welfare of your team and clients are paramount. We are being asked by our Government to follow their guidelines and that means asking clients to postpone their appointment if they have any symptoms.

 

What can Wella do to help?

 

If you are currently open, here are some ideas on keeping the wheels turning in your business during this challenging time.

 

To help you utilise your existing stock, why don’t you help your clients maintain their salon colour for longer, with a personalised ‘Love Your Hair Kit’. Consider offering free consultations over the phone or putting together a personalised kit for your clients with a Color Fresh product to prolong their colour. Consider free delivery and use local neighbourhood online groups to share your remote consultation service.

 

You can continue to place your orders via the WellaStore or call UK Customer Service on 0203 901 1163 and Republic of Ireland Customer Service on 1800 246100. We have now removed the minimum spend and free delivery is applicable for all orders until 30th June 2020.

 

Wella Education is offering ‘Power Hour’ sessions with your educator. If you have downtime in the salon and you would like to have some team education via Skype with a Wella Technical educator, please let your account manager know and we will set up a call. Power Hour topics include: top tips for toning, creative toner mixtures, grey coverage and blending, as well as bespoke training for your salon’s needs.

 

What about TrendVision?

 

With responsibility for ourselves and others in the community, we have decided with regret that live events will be replaced with a digital format to ensure the safety of our partners, employees, communities and to comply with health requirements. This includes the TrendVision Award UK & Ireland Regional Heat live events that were due to take place on 1st/2nd/8th/9th June in the UK and 24th August in Ireland.

 

Easier to enter than ever before, no new work is needed, simply upload your after and before images and follow the guidance on the TVA rules and regs platform to be considered.

 

We have already had a fantastic number of entries showcasing the amazing talent of our industry, but in addition, we have decided to extend the photographic entry deadline to 30th April. More details and the judging criteria for this digital format will follow.

 

If you get through to the Regional Heats you will be asked to submit information online that relates to your Photographic entry, you won’t need to complete a new model look. Please ensure you make a note of the revised key dates for your diary and remember to check www.wella.co.uk/trendvision for updates and entry requirements.

 

 

Our Education and Events team are working from home during this time but we continue to be here to support you so if you have any questions about TrendVision Award or any of our events please email us at wellaevents@cotyinc.com where you can ask us a question or request a call back from one of the team.

 

If you temporarily close your salon, here are some positive ideas you can put into practice

 

There is no doubt about it – these tough times will affect every step of the hairdressing chain. From the factories that manufacture our products, to the sales teams and distributors, and you the hairdresser and your clients.

 

No one is immune to this and we will all do the best we possibly can to beat this. If you do find yourself in isolation and have some time on your hands, it might be worth using the time to put measures in place that will make your business stronger once this is all over.

 

Update your website or build a new one. There are multiple online resources available to build a free website. Build your social media platforms.

 

Check out platforms like Hootsuite.com to help you schedule your social media, and there are bundles of free education there too for anyone who needs a crash course in getting social.

 

Update your salon manuals.

 

Utilise free online resources such as ACAS, which gives employees and employers free, impartial advice on workplace rights, rules and best practice. It offers free training and has downloadable templates that are incredibly useful for creating HR procedures that you may not have in place.

 

Brush up on your education skills. Wella’s eEducation platform uses the latest technology to educate professional hairdressers in an entirely innovative way. eEducation provides a new flexible and fun approach to hairdressing education that can be tailored to suit different learning styles and skill levels. It can be accessed via tablet, phone or PC, making it especially suitable for hairdressers on the go. eEducation is open to all hairdressers, and offers an array of online seminars, tutorials and step-by-steps, all at the swipe of a finger.

 

Implement a remote service for your clients. If you have a database with your client’s details, think about the kind of information they might like to receive. Trends, haircare updates to maintain great hair at home, tips and techniques for disguising their roots if they can’t get into the salon. Use this as an opportunity to build a community with your clients whilst offering practical advice.

 

Try using websites such as Canva to create stylish newsletters or marketing material and use the images available on Wella MyMarketing if you don’t have any imagery of your own.

 

Finally, here’s some questions that we have been asked on our social media platforms and advisory lines. We’d like to share them & our suggested responses, because we suspect these are common queries amongst our salons.