The Irish Spa Association is contacted daily by Irish Spa and Salon owners and employees who are desperate to return to work.
A recent survey conducted by ISME concluded that: 5.46% of businesses surveyed will effectively cease trading altogether. A further 5.88% of businesses will be able to continue as a viable going concern for up to one 1 month. 18.49% will be able to survive for 1 to 3 months and 25.79% for 3 to 6 months. The figures are stark and unfortunately, spas and salons still lack a workable proposal to provide liquidity solutions for Irish Salons and Spas says the not-for-profit Irish Spa Association.
“We are not the only industry that has been decimated by the impact of Covid-19, and while we agree that it was absolutely the right approach initially and public health will remain our foremost concern as an industry, we are speaking with our colleagues in Spain, Italy, Germany and France where Salons and Spas have reopened weeks ago and we are a little perplexed as to why we are deemed ‘high risk’ versus our European counterparts,” says Anita Murray, Co-Founder.
Job losses, debts and closures are really beginning to stack up. The days and weeks are now becoming critical as so many businesses are at breaking point. There are case studies from right across Europe where this vital sector has reopened and once recommended measures and guidelines are in place the beauty spa and salon sector has posed no threat to public health.
“Pre Covid-19 there were an estimated 4,000 Spas and Beauty Salons in Ireland – contributing to a sector that generates €540 million P/A to the Irish economy. The Beauty, Spa and Wellness sector also greatly contributed to Irish Tourism every year via our much sought after luxury destination spas and wellness destinations,” says Peigin Crowley, Co-founder.
Speaking to one of the many businesses impacted Libby Murray explains the devastating impact the prolonged closures have had on her business.
‘’We have had to make the difficult decision to close our South William Street branch permanently. We will continue to operate from our Dawson Street and Greystones locations once we reopen. However, there is such uncertainty around when and how this will happen. Social distancing and reduced client and staff numbers, mean our business will struggle. With the current rate of tax and low margins the industry already has, it will be even more difficult to operate successfully and almost impossible to be profitable,’’ Says Libby Murray Director at Elysian Brows & Beauty.
‘’We cannot guarantee our employees their jobs going forward. These are
incredibly stressful and uncertain times for all of us,’’ Libby continues.
The Irish Spa Association has written to government Ministers calling for urgent support. A primary concern is an assurance that the government will continue to support the COVID-19 wage subsidy scheme until the salons and spas are able to operate in a feasible and sustainable manner. The association is also calling for a reduction in VAT.
The Irish Spa Association also welcomes the National small business recovery plan, a plan to recover small businesses and ensure that employment is sustained. Salons and Spas are vital to our social fabric.
The not-for-profit organisation opened its channels to non-members to foster a sense of community and offer support during the crisis, the body published a free Blueprint for Salons and Spas – the comprehensive body of work outlines best practice and guidelines for business continuity for beauty, spa & wellness businesses to ensure they’re ready to open, including advice on PPE and other safeguards.
‘The Blueprint’ successfully addresses a great deal of industry specific concerns including HR, Risk assessment, new SOPs and communications.
“Not only have customers been unable to access Spa and Salon services, resulting in many people adopting at-home methods, there has also been a rise in the unscrupulous black market. The closures have additionally put many professionals out of work with the likelihood of many of these salons and spas being unable to re-open,” says Peigin Crowley Co-Founder.
“We have had discussions with Minister Heather Humphries as part of an official hair and beauty industry taskforce, reviewing the HSA protocol and working proactively on developing sector specific plans and guidelines as well as the possibility of an earlier return to work,” Anita Murray, Co-Founder adds.
The Irish Spa Association has been inundated with outreach from anxious Irish salon and spa owners calling for businesses to re-open. Overheads are continuing to stack up and a dangerous black market is continuing to grow – for example, professionals in the beauty industry are worried about treatments such as botox, fillers and microneedling being carried out in people’s homes.
“We are aware of some beauty therapists and aesthetic clinics presently seeing patients and injecting botox for their patients. However, most reputable doctors and beauty therapists are waiting for clear guidance from the government on when they can reopen their doors to clients wanting to resume their beauty treatments and facial injections,” Dr Patrick Treacy CMO Irish Spa Association and Medical Director Ailesbury clinics.
“We are following the government’s advice and when we do open, we will be taking a staged approach, limiting patients, practitioners and the number of treatments available,” he added.
Anita Murray, ISA Co-Founder stressed that: “This is by no means any suggestion of a return to business as usual. It is vital that the public and the businesses follow precautionary and preventative guidelines until the situation has completely normalised.”
