There are two ways you should react to the Coronavirus ..
1. Your calm, helpful and informative public face
2. Your behind the scenes actions to protect your business
What to say to clients & staff...
Please note : If you are a Salon Guru website client please book a call to your manager to discuss how we can help.
If you feel it is appropriate, you may wish to put a notice up in your salon, on facebook, send out a newsletter, and/or put a notice on your website home page, reassuring guests of the precautions you are taking in salon.
The points you may wish to cover in any notice might include reassurance that you have put extra steps in place, which may include :
- All kit is sterilised after every client
- The salon is deep cleaned every day with bleach and antibacterial products, including areas which are regularly touched, such as door handles, toilet flushes, taps and card machine.
- All staff are taking personal hygiene seriously by following government guidelines to avoid catching or spreading germs
- Antibacterial hand wash, wipes or sanitiser gel are available for use by clients visiting the salon (if applicable).
It is also worth adding a note giving your clients advice should they fall ill, along the lines of:
Before making an appointment, please ask yourself the following questions
- Have you travelled abroad or to any locations that have been hit by the virus?
- Do you have any cold or flu-like symptoms?
- Are you, or is anyone close to you, feeling unwell?
If so, please seek medical advice. Please also call the salon on XXXXXX/
* Wash your hands with soap and water often and for at least 20 seconds
* Wash your hands when you get home or arrive at work
* Use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
* Cover your mouth with a tissue or your sleeve when you cough or sneeze
* Put used tissues in the bin straight away and wash your hands afterwards
* Try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell (1 metre has been suggested)
* Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean.
If you add a notice to your website home page, we would suggest the following wording:
In light of the current Coronavirus situation, we are taking a common sense approach and would like things to continue as normal as much as is possible during these challenging times. We are following government guidelines and are, as always, taking precautions.
If you concerned about being unwell, please seek medical advice..
Please also call our salon on XXXXXXXXX to let us know you will be cancelling your appointment.
We value your co-operation. Thank you.
The actions to protect your business...
This is not about the obvious steps you should take to reduce the chance of infections within the salon. This is about the drop-off in business all salons will face when clients delay visits and self-isolate.
You have two choices to protect your salon’s income and profit....
1. Cut-back hard on costs and baton down the hatches until the crisis is over.
2. Be the most active marketer in your area to increase your percentage of available clients.
The problem with option 1 is that most of your biggest costs are fixed (like rent and wages) and the latest government projections suggest Coronavirus may be a recurring infection problem for at least 12 months.
Option 2 means using ALL your energy and budget to attract new clients to replace those lost due to delays and self-isolation.
During any emergency people will still need pampering – you just have to ensure you are the salon making the most noise through advertising. You could also consider including your in-salon virus protection steps as part of your marketing.