#NewNormal: The PH beauty salon industry after lockdown
As a woman, one of the industries that we have overlooked is the power of beauty salons and the therapy it gives after leaving its doors with a fresh and styled haircut.
But after two months since the imposed lockdown, it's safe to say that we can all agree that visiting a hair salon has come to mind once or twice during this whole pandemic.
With the GCQ now upon us and the Department of Trade and Industry easing their regulations, salons and barbershops have begun resuming their operations at 30% capacity since June 7th.
GMANetwork.com spoke with two salon owners, Lourd Ramos founder of Creations by Lourd Ramos and Mark Rosales of Marqed Salon, to find out what happened to their business during the lockdown and how they've prepared for the new normal.
The lockdown
Like most industries during the height of the pandemic, salons like Creations by Lourd Ramos and Marqed Salon were forced to close their businesses to help prevent the spread of the virus to its employees and customers.
With their industry relying on face-to-face contact with clients, both Lourd and Mark share that the lockdown has impacted their business to the highest degree.
“It killed the business,” Lourd said frankly.
“A lot of my people had to go freelancing and I had to let go of a few of my staff who just came on-board because wala tayong pera. Ubos 'yung calamity fund and ubos 'yung emergency fund because no one thought of a three to four-month lockdown.
“So it has a big effect on the business to almost bankruptcy and that's the whole scenario of all of it.”
Mark added, “It was really hard because you don't know how to plan and when to restart when to begin the whole concept of planning. You don't know how to do it because everything is uncertain. There is a lot of loss because you still have to pay for your rental fees, your overheads, so it's really challenging.”
Being business owners, each of them had to think two steps ahead when it came to the welfare of their business and most especially their employees --- including the purchasing of Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs), alcohols, and other sanitation devices that could assure returning customers that their establishment is free from the virus.
During the whole lockdown period, Lourd has also taken extra precautionary measures by getting vaccinated to protect his manpower.
“It's not the proper vaccine [for COVID-19] but I had them have flu shots, vitamin shots, and all that to prevent and protect us even if we're not working.”
Mark, on the other hand, took the time to observe opened establishments and see how each operates under the new normal.
“I observed kung paano nila ginawa 'yung operations,” he stated.
“Like, they had to practice social distancing in a way na, they placed stickers where you can wait and how they do their payments.”
Furthermore, he's also been actively training his employees through helpful messaging apps like Zoom and Viber as a way to prepare them for the reopening of his salon.
“Thank God, we have Zoom or Messenger because we train our staff through digital talaga. Our salon is located in Greenhills so for a time, we were not allowed to enter the premises since wala pang announcement 'yung government that we would be operating then. So, what we do is we conduct our training online”
The 'new normal'
Last May 30, the Department of Trade and Industry announced that barbershops and salons can finally open its doors to customers beginning June 7th in general community quarantine areas.
Along with the announcement, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez shared the department's guidelines and protocols for establishments including a 30% operating capacity and limiting services to basic haircut and hairstyle.
With the provisions in order, a few salons like Marqed Salon have slowly begun their operations and accepting clients via booking last Sunday.
According to Mark, re-opening his salon after a two-month hiatus felt like having a grand opening for a new business.
“I'm a bit nervous, kasi it feels like you are opening a brand new salon and we've been in the industry for more than a year. This year talaga dapat maging profitable 'yung business, to gain more clients, but ayun nga… it happened.
“Thank God we have loyal clients. So most of our customers nitong first week are regulars, we're fully booked na nga, e.”
Unlike Mark, Lourd decided to have his main branches closed for the time being adhering to his business beliefs that they're not going to operate “until there is a vaccine that is proven to heal, cure, or at least prevent the pandemic.”
He claimed, “Napakalaki ng risk, e.
“One, risking money. To be honest, I'm gonna bleed to death if I'm gonna operate the salon because ang regulation ng DTI is one client, one PPE per person. PPE pa lang, lugi ka na tapos mayroon pang alcohol, mask, goggles. For me, that's such a big bulk of the expense.”
His second reason for not opening his salon? To avoid the risk of losing his business due to a potential mishap.
“What's the point of having the salon opened with only half the manpower and only haircuts are provided? There's a possibility of infecting everyone and you're going to quarantine everybody if something like that happens.”
Though most of his branches remain closed, Lourd has been actively doing home service to select clients while wearing and bringing his protective gear.
“Personally, I've been going to people's houses. So, we provide the same salon services, we give the same rates, it's just that we're wearing PPEs, naka-gloves kami, naka-goggles kami, may UV lanterns kami. Everything is complete --- from the shampoo bowl and everything.”
As of this writing, Lourd shares that select branches of Creations by Lourd Ramos in BF Paranaque and Bulacan, Bulacan holds temporary operations.
Despite the high expenses due to protocols, the two agree that to keep their businesses running, their rates have to also be retained to keep clients.
“Hindi ka puwedeng mag-increase, e, kasi hindi na babalik sa iyo yan,” Lourd said.
“It's like a suki rate. I mean, we would rather have an every month home service of the same person more than ido-double charge ko siya ng 1800 tapos after six months na siya ulit magpapagupit. So mas malaking lugi sa amin 'yun, 'di ba?”
Mark agreed, “As of this moment, what we want to provide is the service.
“And people will get shocked din, e. We don't want the clients to think that we're using this situation just to earn. Ako, it's more of meeting the number of clients dun sa target numbers ko.”
Protocols
With businesses steadily running, Mark and Lourd gladly shared the protocols their team had adhered to since opening their doors last Sunday.
According to the Marqed Salon founder, he has made sure his staff are well-prepared prior to entering the salon branch found in Greenhills.
“Before entering [the premises] my employees have to disinfect their shoes in the foot mat, wash their hands, and wear their disinfected PPEs. Then they wear their gloves, face shields, and mask. So pag ni-remove 'yun same process lang naman. They just have to disinfect the equipment.
“I also asked them to bring their own plastic bags for their respective PPEs. I ordered three washable PPEs per employee so they can wash it.”
Similarly, customers are also asked to adhere to strict protocols.
Since walk-ins are not allowed and slots are very limited, Creations by Lourd Ramos and Marqed Salon are accepting clients through online bookings. The two also take the extra mile by messaging each client about their preventive measures and advising them to bring minimal baggage, opt for cashless payments, and as much as possible, come alone to the salon.
Mark added, “Obviously, no face mask, no entry policy.
“No companions din. We asked them to go to the salon alone kasi with the age bracket, you won't need a companion talaga since seniors and kids are not allowed to go out.”
Upon entering the premises, clients are then asked to fill out forms or waivers asking where they've been and if they're feeling any symptoms related to COVID-19.
While business may be booming during the first few days, the two salon owners disclosed that their entire operations are still under observation.
According to Lourd, his branches in BF and Bulacan, Bulacan are currently in an experimentation phase for a month to see if they can manage their operations with the ongoing expenses.
“It's hard for us to compute our balances kung hindi ka mag-ooperate so we started doing the experimentation phase last June 7th. That's why we've cleared, detoxified, and sanitized the whole salon. We have proper PPEs and may rehearsal pa kami kung paano gagawin and everything para safe.”
A similar situation also applies to Mark's.
“Since we don't know what will happen pa talaga, on our end we're still gonna observe the first two weeks,” he announced.
While they're trying to get by with what they can do with the situation, both Lourd and Mark are hopeful for a brighter future for the salon industry amid the pandemic.
Lourd acknowledged, “Everyone's business is failing at the moment, it's just that maswerte kami sa mga suki namin because they patronize and trust us.
“My hope is just that my people don't get sick. I hope my clients would come back to me every now and then because it makes us alive. And third, I also hope that the economy won't be down kasi kawawa naman tayong lahat.”
Meanwhile, Mark said, “I'm excited in a way because it give us hope that our business and our artistry still matters. Kasi for the longest time, our industry hindi naman siya nababanggit and it wasn't part of the plan on when it will be opened.
“It's a new hope and a new challenge for the whole salon industry. Looking at the bright side, it's a new era for us to serve new hair for the new normal.”
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