The latest issue of BarberEVO North America is OUT NOW.

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The latest issue of BarberEVO North America is OUT NOW! This beautifully presented, 104-page issue is headed up by the STMNT founders, Miguel Gutierrez, Sofie Pok and Julius Cvesar who grace our front cover as they are featured to talk about what is next for the STMNT brand. 

And we follow that by announcing the brand’s latest ambassadors as they each explain why STMNT was the brand they want to align with. 

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

BaByliss is known for its cutting-edge technology and as the new BaByliss Snap FX hits the shelves, we are delighted to have a closer look at the latest advance in clipper and trimmer tech.

Also disturbing the industry is the team at American Crew with their latest collection called London Calling lands, created by the latest All Star Challenge winners, bringing influences from across the globe, and we are thrilled to share with you a behind the scenes exclusive.

And while we are getting behind the scenes… we also get the low down on the Floyd’s 99 and Reuzel recent collab and hear how this illustrious collaboration came about. 

BEARD AND MUSTACHE CARE

The facial fuzz is here to stay, and who better to kick off our beardcare special than the hirsute hero that is Matty Conrad of Victory Barber as he talks about his beardcare product line. 

Following him with beardcare techniques and advice is Johnathan Valdez of Johnny B Haircare, as well as James Zap Dapper Den who talks about growing your shop’s services to embrace the beard.

Building badass beards is the domain of Beard Octane  and owner Joe Miller shares why working directly with barbers is what his brand is all about. Also discussed is the benefit of taking the barbershop experience into a higher realm of male grooming and the latest facial hair trends… and so much more. 

TECHNOLOGY

There are digital tools for everything now and the barbershop is no different. In our tech feature, we are finding out what appointment software options are available, and that is just scratching the surface. 

We look into the best way of being tipped virtually, how to deal with no shows, client communication, point of sale options, what systems are essential and how you manage them and also the option of having your own app built to suit every aspect of your own brand. 

As franchise models expand, we look at which booking systems make life easier across multiple locations. It’s a huge subject and there’s so much to learn, we hope you find some answers to your tech problems.

We hope you enjoy this issue! You can order your print copy here. 

By Ollie Foster, OSMO Ambassador and owner of Number 47 Barbers in Chester

Assess your shop space costs

Are there areas within your shop that you can look to shave costs?  Lighting for example, you can change your bulbs to low energy where you don’t need the brightness as much (think staff rooms, toilets etc), can you also change your lights to movement sensor ones too in areas?  With your backwash, can you look to swap to a water pressure system like ECOHEADS that helps to increase the water pressure without using more water?  Also, have you looked at comparison on washing your towels in the shop versus an outside company?  You may be surprised! 

Take a good look at your colour stock

Size and space matters!  For those barber shops who’ve expanded their services into colour, have you taken time to really understand what’s needed or not in you colour stock room?  Buying lots of colours when you can just invest in a colour range that enables you to create permanent or semi shades from one tube, is a great cost saving option.  OSMO IKON is a demi colour range, so you just adjust the mix and timings to achieve your desired effect.  Plus, all the shades are intermixable, so you get an endless colour palette, too.  Also, think about how much you’re getting in your colour tube – often it’s only 50/60ml tubes, whereas brands like OSMO are 100ml tubes, so not only will you probably be paying less per tube, but you’re also getting a bigger size too.  So, make sure you’re looking at your colour stock and consider sensible changes to your core colours, as you can definitely be making savings on your colour services.  

Ensure your backwash is earning for you

We’re good at offering added services like shaves and maybe facial waxing, but are there treatments we can up-selling at the backwash area too?  Products like the new OSMO Scalp Therapy Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt is a great pre-cut experience to help remove product build up and get the scalp healthy too.  You can then finish this with the new OSMO Scalp Therapy Mask to elevate your hair cutting experience.  Work the backwash costs into your hair cut, so it’s not seen as an add-on but more of a luxury service.  Even if you don’t offer colour services, have you considered offering colour conditioning treatments at the backwash instead?  Products like the OSMO Colour Revive Conditioning Treatment is a low investment option to give your customers a refresh of their natural hair or help mask early greys – plus may stop them heading to those dreaded Just For Men box dyes!  The backwash is your shop window for retail too, so ensure you’re talking up the products you’re using, how they can be beneficial ie scalp cleansing, thickening, moisturising etc.  You’ve got a captive audience in that chair, and they want to hear what you have to say to ensure their cut lasts.

Be the expert you are when it comes to retailing advice

Selling retail products, doesn’t come naturally to many of us but we need to believe in our expertise and products we use!  Customers are investing their time and money to have a professional service, so ensuring they have the best products and advise to use at home, is a no-brainer.   Plus, once you get your customer onto that product, he becomes a fan of it for life usually!  Also, make sure you’re picking up on selling tales – is your customer concerned about his thinning hair?  Then recommend them subtle volumising products like the OSMO Power Powder, it’s easy to use and gets results instantly.  Retail should be second nature to us experts. 

Make sure you’re encouraging regular re-visits to your shop

As barbers, we get a mix of those bi-weekly customers versus those once every few months walking in.  It’s up to us to get our customers booking in more regularly.  Can you look at your current booking system – does it have a text/email reminder that can be sent out?  Target your social media posts to your  customers so they’re aware of your availability (and any cancellations).  Listen out to chats in the chair about upcoming Birthdays/Job interviews etc and encourage them to book in the day before with you.  If you can, the best way is to get them booking before they leave the shop – when you have them in the chair, this is the ideal time to be talking through the haircut, home styling tips and then cutting maintenance over the coming few months.  Get them into a routine of trims and reshapes. 

To order OSMO for your salon visit www.osmo.uk.com for your nearest wholesaler

Booksy, the leader in booking and business technology for the beauty industry, celebrates the one-year anniversary and partnership with Booksy ambassador, barber A-ROD! Also known as @arod23pr to his two million Instagram followers, A-ROD’s enormous popularity, thanks to his vast library of videos and content, is regularly viewed all over the world and proves that he is barber industry royalty in a profession that’s loved and respected across the globe. This proud Puerto Rican with modest beginnings regularly works with A-list celebrities, top-level online influencers, and fellow industry juggernauts who respect his brand. 

His long list of accolades includes being the co-founder and CMO of L3VEL3. A-ROD last year earned top-tier partnerships with major brands including Wahl and Booksy. Despite his demanding schedule, A-ROD regularly gives back to the barbering and grooming community by sharing online video and image content. 

A-ROD creates and shares educational content and industry tips on creating fresh cuts, thriving during COVID-19, and developing an online following to stop viewers in their searches. In general A-ROD creates content that is relatable as he shares his own experience and challenges with being a busy barber, and how Booksy can help with the day-to day challenges.

Since becoming an ambassador, A-ROD has worked with Booksy on the Get Discovered Campaign, where he speaks to his audience about the importance of having a good Booksyprofile to attract the correct clientele, and the Get Discovered Backstage Contest, where he represented Booksy backstage at the music festival, Riot Fest. He has also worked with Booksy on the Make the Switch Campaign and has represented Booksy at events like Orlando Premiere 2021 and 2022, ABS 2022, and ISSE 2022.             

“We are delighted to have someone the caliber and talent of A-ROD be part of our Ambassador community and our Booksy family. He is an inspiration to so many barbers and we look forward to partnering with him in 2023 and beyond. Congratulations to him on his anniversary,” commented Dee Hadley, Head of Marketing Booksy U.S. 

Download the Booksy Biz mobile app for free or visit Booksy.com/biz to learn more.

Fresha continues to lead software innovation and introduce advanced features for hair, beauty, barbering and wellness businesses. 

With partners involved in shaping their software experience with Fresha, by requesting the tools and features they need to run their businesses even more efficiently, Fresha has listened and responded by introducing six new automated text notifications. From rescheduled and cancelled appointments to thank you messages, salons can now keep their clients informed like never before. 

Making sure clients receive up-to-date information about their appointment while avoiding no-shows and late cancellations is important to keep clients happy, and protect businesses from potential loss. In addition to Fresha’s existing appointment reminder text message, these six new text notifications are now available to Fresha partners.

Appointment confirmation 

Send clients an appointment confirmation once they’ve made a booking online or in-store. This important step lets clients know all the important details about the appointment they’ve just made, such as the date, time and address.

Appointment reminders

Enabling reminders for upcoming appointments ensures clients remember their appointment, which also helps to reduce no-shows and cancellations! Salons simply decide what time the reminder goes out, whether it’s one or two hours, or one or two days before. 

Rescheduled appointments

If an appointment needs to be rescheduled, partners can send an automated text message to confirm this. Salons will also be able to include any updated information regarding their appointment. 

Cancelled appointments

Appointment cancellations are less than ideal, but they do happen. Whether the salon or the client needs to cancel their appointment, a text message can now be sent to confirm the cancellation. If the client cancels, they will also receive information about any late cancellation fees that may apply. 

No-shows

What’s worse than a cancellation? A no-show. If a client misses an appointment, businesses can now automate a text message to let them know, along with information about the fees they’ve incurred for not arriving at their appointment.

Say thank you! 

As well as helping partners to manage issues, Fresha’s improved text message feature gives salons the option to send a ‘Thank you for visiting’ message once the client has completed their treatment and checked out. At this stage they’ll be prompted to rate and review the salon, and they’ll be given the option to leave a tip. If they do add a tip, businesses can also set up an automated text to thank them for that too.

For more information about this new feature announcement, read the latest blog here    

To join Fresha free, visit https://www.fresha.com/for-business   

On Wednesday 21^st September, the Business Secretary, Jacob Rees-Mogg announced a scheme called the Energy Bill Relief Scheme, to help with energy bills for businesses, voluntary sector organisations, such as charities and public sector organisations such as schools, hospitals and care homes. This includes hair & beauty salons and barbershops in the UK who are:

·         on existing fixed price contracts that were agreed on or after 1 April 2022

·         signing new fixed price contracts

·         on deemed / out of contract or variable tariffs

·         on flexible purchase or similar contracts

Richard Lambert, NHBF chief executive, said: “The energy support announced today is a lifeline for many businesses in the hair & beauty sector that have battled through the last two years. The Government has listened, and we will be providing further evidence to make the case for hair & beauty as a ‘vulnerable industry’ needing support after the initial six-month period has ended.”

How does it work?

The Government will compare what you are estimated to pay to your energy supplier against an amount they have set. The Government amount is called a baseline and is priced at less than what it is expected suppliers will pay for wholesale energy this winter.

The Government supported price has been set at:

• £211 per megawatt-hour (MWh) for electricity
• £75 per MWh for gas

(A comparable rate will be set shortly for Northern Ireland.)

This is less than the expected price from energy suppliers which is:

• £600 per MWh for electricity
• £180 per MWh for gas

However, the reduction only applies to the wholesale price of your energy not your final cost. This is to keep it in line with the Energy Price Guarantee for domestic customers ie your home energy bills. Your final per unit price could include network charges and operating costs, plus the impact of competition between suppliers. It will also change for different contracts and tariffs.

Fixed Contracts

The discount will be based on the difference between the government-supported price and the wholesale price for the day that the fixed contract started. The Government will publish the wholesale prices and will use for calculating this for each day from 1 April 2022.

Variable, deemed, and all other contracts including those due to renew

The discount will reflect the difference between the Government supported price and relevant wholesale price but will be subject to a ‘maximum discount’ that will be determined at the beginning of the scheme.

If you are on a variable or flexible contract, you will need to choose if you want to move to a fixed contract. This is likely to suit you if you don’t want your price to keep changing each month. Your supplier should be in touch to discuss this.

When will I receive my benefit?

This will be applied automatically, and you will see the discount from your October bill – which you usually receive in November. You will continue to receive this benefit until 31^st March 2023. The energy situation will then be reviewed.

PLEASE NOTE: If you get a message asking for your bank details, this could be a scam. You can report messages you think are suspicious

What do I need to do? 

Business owners do not need to do anything as the Government expects suppliers to contact them over the coming weeks to explain what will happen. The discount on wholesale energy is same for every supplier. However, we advise contacting your supplier to ensure that you will get the most benefit from this new scheme.

Energy brokers have no influence over the reductions that will be applied to wholesale energy costs under this scheme. You do not have to take out a new contract or change your contract for appropriate reductions to apply to your bills automatically.

Case Example

A small retail shop uses around 1 MWh of electricity and 2 MWh of gas each month.

They are on a variable contract, giving them a current monthly energy bill of around £1,400 per month. As they are on a variable contract, they can receive support up to the Maximum Discount (currently estimated to be £405/MWh for electricity and £115/MWh for gas).

Applying the Maximum Discount rates means that their monthly energy bill reduces by around 45%, leaving them with a bill of around £800 per month.

For more advice and information about the Energy Bill Relief Scheme please visit the UK Government website.

TWO DISTINCT PROFESSIONAL CLIPPERS WITH REMOVABLE AND ADJUSTABLE BLADES; SLEEK & SLIM DESIGN FOR ALL CREATORS

Andis® Company, a leading manufacturer of barbering and grooming tools, is excited to announce the launch of its new professional, cordless reVITE Clippers.

Both uniquely designed reVITE Clippers (black and gray) include a stainless-steel blade design which combines the functionality of a removable blade and adjustable blade in one single tool. This enables the stylist or barber to make changes between a Taper blade and Fade blade quickly and easily for added efficiency and convenience. The reVITE also has a large, textured grip that enhances comfort to prevent slipping, a tapered body to improve ergonomics for all hand sizes as well as a new high-speed rotary motor with Constant Speed Technology; meaning it won’t drag or stall in thick hair. The reVITE features 2 hours of non-stop run time while the LED battery status indicator turns from blue to red when battery level is below 10%.

Black reVITE Clipper

The black reVITE features a Fade blade which adjusts from size 00000-000 for ulta-close cutting, and an unbreakable aluminum housing for years of dependable use. This reVITE is great for clipper-over-comb technique, bald fading and freehand work. 

 Gray reVITE Clipper
The gray reVITE features a Taper blade which adjusts from size 000-1 for all-around haircutting. However, this version is designed for those who prefer to create with an ultra-lightweight clipper and features a composite housing. This combination of light weight and slim shape is perfect for smaller hands.

“The reVITE clipper is a sleek tool with endless versatility that meets all of my needs,” says Angie Perino, Andis Company Global Education Manager and cosmetologist. “Its powerful cutting performance and ergonomic design allows me to feel empowered to create any look — I can quickly swap the Fade blade out for the Taper blade in a matter of seconds. The reVITE features a high-speed rotary motor with Constant Speed Technology to prevent any dragging or stalling when used on thick, coarse hair. Plus, the  precision of the reVITE provides a sharp edge, giving the modern classic look, a perfect finish.”

MSRP: $200 For more information visit www.andis.com

Andis® Company is also currently celebrating its centennial year — and the reVITE Clippers are the first Andis professional clippers to use the new visual brand language since its recent rebranding.To keep up with Andis® Company, follow them on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.

New barber recruits from Mexico and India further expand brand’s creative vision.

Andis® Company, a leader in professional tools and education for the barber and beauty industry, is excited to announce today Daniel Montalvo and Dharmesh “Dodo” Hingorani as the latest additions to its Global Education Team; which now consists of 45 educators across four continents. Both barbershop owners, Daniel and Dodo have strong interests in passing on their hard-earned knowledge to the next generation of creators in their home countries and on the world’s stage.

“I’m thrilled to add more international barbering talent to our roster of global educators,” said Angie Perino, Andis® Global Education Manager. “Both Dodo and Daniel are incredibly talented. They’re strong advocates for barbering education locally, but, most importantly, they are committed to bettering the next generation of barbers and stylists, no matter where they’re from or what stage in their career.”

Daniel Montalvo (@nicksbarbertattoo) — Hailing from San Luis Potosi, Mexico, Daniel Montalvo has more than 15 years of barbering experience, owns three barbershops, a trendy micropigmentation and tattoo studio, eyelash studio and an academy for training in his hometown. He has won multiple awards including back-to-back wins at Barber Match México.

Daniel believes in paying it forward to help others. His team of barbers have collaborated with rehab shelters to offer free haircuts to those in need. He also works with barbers throughout Mexico to put on free barbering events to bring continuing education and hands-on training to those who might not be able to afford to travel to major cities.

Having used Andis tools since the beginning of his career, Daniel is excited to be a part of the Andis Global Education Team where he can continue to pass along his knowledge to the brand’s global following, especially in Mexico and Latin America.

Dharmesh “Dodo” Hingorani (@dodothebarber) — Mumbai-based “Dodo” Hingorani’s professional career began in 2005. Having an interest in hair from an early age, a haircut on a trip to Canada from an Art Director at Toni & Guy cemented Hingorani’s desire to pursue barbering.

Education is everything to Hingorani. Recently, he began to organize free barbering workshops to empower others in the industry.

Hingorani owns Zido Salon in Mumbai, India’s most populous city.
For more information about Andis Company or the brand’s educational offerings, please visit www.andis.com

To keep up with Andis global educators and see how others #CREATEYOURWAY, follow Andis on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.

WAHL British Barber of the Year 2022

Have you got what it takes to be crowned Wahl British Barber of the Year? It’s time to show them what you can do! If you want to be recognised as one of the UK’s finest barbering talents, now is your moment.

To enter, go to the submissions area on their website and tell Wahl why you think you’re worthy of the title Wahl British Barber of the Year. They want to hear about your barbering career so far and your ambitions for the future, so this is your opportunity to sell yourself. You’ll also need to submit up to 4 images showcasing your best work. Make sure these are the best possible representation of your skills. Wahl want to be impressed!

Finalists will be contacted and provided with further details once entries close on 30th September 2022.

WAHL British Barbershop of the Year 2022

Do you have a unique environment that sets you apart from every other shop? Are your staff the best in the business?                                        

If this sounds like your barbershop, you’re in with a chance of being crowned Wahl Barbershop of the Year 2022. To be considered ENTER your submissions TODAY.

Finalists will be contacted and provided with further details once entries close on 30th September 2022.

Ever wondered what it takes to become a WAHL Barber of The Year Finalist?

Visit past competitions and see who made it to the finals and also the entries that made them stand out and secure a place in the final. 

See how your work and standards compare and who knows, you could be joining them one day.

It costs nothing to enter, but the rewards if you make the finals are monumental as you will see this competition has helped to launch many careers!

http://www.wahl-competitions.com/british-barber-of-the-year-winners

FEATURING BOOKSY AMBASSADORS ALFREDO LEWIS AND PHILIP WOLFF

Booksy is delighted to announce their sponsorship of the Total Look Community’s Balayage & Shags Tour 2022, featuring noted professional beauty leaders and Booksy Ambassadors, Alfredo Lewis and Philip Wolff! During this 9-city tour that kicks off in September 2022 and runs through 2023, the creative and inspirational duo will be delivering a completely new, interactive educational experience that includes in-person demos of their signature techniques and styles, secrets on how they create Total Looks, opportunities for VIP business and social coaching, “hands-in” immersive training plus state-of-the-art, online “PRE-Digital Education Kit and POST Digital Education Review’. 

“Philip and I had been talking about doing a tour together for a few years but wanted to deliver something unique and fresh that we felt would really uplift the industry. As hairstylists, we crave a real connection, and we all need that in-person experience. So many beauty professionals were hit so hard during Covid and we were more determined than ever to do this tour! We also don’t see a lot of people doing both cutting and color education in one class and wanted to bring extra value,” commented Alfredo Lewis.

Philip Wolff agrees wholeheartedly with Alfredo and is delighted to be able to bring this tour to life.

“I truly believe ongoing education is, and forever will be, such a huge part of personal growth in this industry. As the world evolves, so does fashion and style. Alfredo and I wanted to offer both real world foundational education, as well as current trend color and cutting techniques to create the “Total Look” for clients/future clients.”

Why Booksy? “I was looking for an app that could help optimize my time in a very unique way.  Because I work in multiple places constantly, I honestly didn’t think something that could support me in a meaningful way existed until I came across Booksy through a friend.  I was a little hesitant at first because I felt the transition process from other apps would be too time consuming and a pain but NOPE, the team at Booksy made the transition so seamless and easy, and even offered features I didn’t know existed! One of my favorites is the Boost feature which allows for any artist to get discovered in their area, build a clientele quicker, and it’s all built right in the app! Bottom line, I love it, my clients love it, and my personal life loves it because Booksy also helped me organize my time for myself as well,” added Wolff.

“Alfredo and Philip are exceptional artists and educators that we are honored to have as our Ambassadors. We know their Balayage and Shags Tour is going to be something very powerful and unique in the industry that will help beauty professionals expand on their artistry, as well as their business acumen. Both Philip and Alfredo embody what we strive to deliver: top education, a community of professionals, and most importantly the confidence in Booksy to support their business in the best possible way,” commented Dee Hadley, Head of Marketing US, Booksy.

“In today’s hectic world, having the right tools for success is crucial. Booksy has literally everything I need to and even things I didn’t know I needed until I had them! It’s so easy and the support and exposure with Booksy is incredible. I moved across the country in 2020 and thanks to the Booksy marketplace I’ve been able to build a new clientele in half the time it would have normally taken me. Maybe less! It’s the real deal!” he added.

In addition to all the incredible education, tour attendees will receive a complimentary Booksy goodie bag, as well as a special deal for signing up. In addition, participants will receive a free Booksy card reader for your salon’s payment solution, which works seamlessly with the Booksy app. 

For more tour information visit: 

https://totallookcommunity.com

Download the Booksy Biz mobile app for free or visit Booksy.com/biz to learn more.

The National Hair & Beauty Federation (NHBF) has called on Liz Truss, the new Prime Minister, to provide a series of actions giving immediate support to hair, beauty and barbershop businesses and shore up their survival chances over the next six months.

According to the latest NHBF quarterly State of the Industry survey in July 2022, businesses are only just again showing the more positive signs of recovery that we first saw in September 2021, before it was choked off by the Omicron surge over Christmas. Only 44% of businesses are making a small or good profit, raising prices is a consistent trend and reliance on government support is still high at 50%. Business confidence has improved, but 42% of sector businesses still face the long shadow of debt built up during the pandemic lockdowns, which will take 63% of those indebted businesses more than two years to clear.

In a letter sent to both PM candidates, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak last week, the NHBF requested the following:

1. Introduce a small business energy price cap with grant support.

A small business energy price cap for small and micro businesses, accompanied by emergency grant support for a six-month period, would shield them from crippling energy bills. Energy companies should also be encouraged to offer a range of flexible payment plans so that businesses are supported to pay off bills over a longer period.

In a sector where energy costs are the largest or second largest overhead, we know from a sector wide survey in March that the overwhelming majority have seen prices rise and for half by more than 50% over the last year. In response to rising prices, businesses are already cutting costs, putting up prices, holding off taking on new staff and introducing multiple energy saving measures. 

• Reintroduce 100% business rates relief.

Businesses need crucial help with fixed overheads, to maintain cashflow and keep them in business as energy and business costs rise. Building on the 50% discount, we would like to see 100% relief re-introduced as soon as possible and for the remainder of the financial year 2022-23.

The previous 100% relief was invaluable in supporting sector businesses through the pandemic. We also call for a freeze to the business rates multiplier that will rise in the autumn in line with inflation, to protect businesses from higher rises to rates bills.

3. Offer targeted apprenticeship incentives small and micro employers.

The sector is desperate to provide meaningful jobs to more young people, but in a sector made up predominantly of small and micro businesses, affordability is challenging in the current climate. The £2.7 billion made available in the Autumn Budget 2021 and £2 billion Apprenticeship Levy underspend offers opportunities to channel funding to small and micro businesses through offering apprenticeship incentives between £1,000-3,000 per employee. This would particularly to help fund the gap between the apprentice wage and the national minimum wage for older apprentices aged 19+. 

• Restraint on increases to the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage.

We have called on the Low Pay Commission for restraint in their recommendations to the Government on further increases to the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW), given the current challenging economic environment. In response to the rise in National Insurance Contributions (NICs) and NMW/NLW in April, businesses absorbed some of the extra cost by reducing their profit margins, but many put up their prices. However, it is a balancing act and businesses can only raise prices so far before customers return less frequently.

• A fairer tax system and a crackdown on tax evading businesses.

The NHBF is calling for a fairer approach to the tax system which creates more of a level playing field between businesses with employees and businesses using self-employed individuals, a growing trend within the sector.

We would welcome further discussions with HM Treasury around the way that VAT is applied including raising the VAT threshold so that more small and micro businesses benefit from relief, reducing the VAT rate to 5% or introducing tiered rates for the smallest businesses to remove the disincentive to grow and remain below the threshold. 

We also call on the Government to lead a crackdown on informal businesses operating on a cash basis in the margins, not paying tax or VAT, which means they charge lower prices, undercutting and threatening the survival of responsible businesses and undermining pay legislation.

Richard Lambert, NHBF chief executive, says “The sector is in the midst of the cost of doing business crisis, with energy bills rising at an exponential rate, supply price inflation at levels not seen for a generation, increases to staff costs and a skills crisis that is putting the future health of the sector at risk.

The sector has ridden the rollercoaster business environment over the last two years and survived, due to its own steely resilience and the vital support provided by governments across the UK. With continued support from the UK Government, we are confident that the personal care sector will continue to play a crucial role in the UK’s economic recovery, thriving high streets and community wellbeing.”

The hair and beauty sector makes a significant contribution to the UK economy, with £5.5 billion spent on services in 2019-20^[1] and consumer spend across the whole sector totalling £27.2 billion^[2] in 2018. Salon businesses, led predominantly by female entrepreneurs, provide valuable careers to 257,000 people, more than half aged 18-35, across the UK. The sector enhances the health and wellbeing of local communities and, despite the pandemic, the number of businesses continued to grow.

@nhbfsocial

NHBF

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^[1] Industry Statistics 2021

^[2] British Beauty Council ‘Value of Beauty’ Report, Oxford Economics (July 2019)