As Covid restrictions come to an end, it’s never been more important for businesses to stand out from the crowd. And with many customers keen to tackle the climate crisis, being a more sustainable barber could give you the edge while doing good for the planet.
A recent survey of 1,000 small business owners found that nearly a quarter (21%) worry about missing out on trade because their business is not sustainable enough, while nearly half (42%) of consumers say they are more likely to visit a business that cares about sustainability.
The good news is there’s a simple first step your barbers can make to not only help it become more sustainable, but also make energy management easier; get a smart meter installed.
Smart meters replace traditional analogue energy meters and can help businesses keep better track of their energy use and consumption. Whether you rely on a collection of clippers or a handful of hairdryers, a smart meter will give you access to information on how much energy is used day-to-day, helping you find ways to reduce it.
Having a smart meter installed will not only bolster your barbershop’s eco-credentials, but also help make your business energy easier to manage.
The technology, available at no extra cost from your business’ energy supplier, ensures accurate bills by sending meter readings automatically so you can spend time making people look and feel great.
To help you be even more efficient Smart Energy GB offers barbers a selection of quick and easy steps to help your barbershop stand out as an eco-friendly business:
- Recycle smarter – Buying refillable products will drastically cut down the packaging waste and also save you a bit of money.
- Use an eco-hairdryer – New and improved versions of the trusty hairdryer are more energy efficient and come in recycled packaging and plastic. As the most popular appliance used to fix a bad hair day, an eco-hairdryer will help cut your carbon footprint while fixing your hair.
- Keep cool – Using cooler water to rinse hair is not only great for the scalp and your hair’s condition and shine, it’s also more efficient. While it’s not everyone’s preference, asking your customer if they’d prefer it could offer another step towards to a lower energy bill.
- Avoid aerosols – Non-aerosol hair sprays will last 3 or 4 times longer than the aerosol versions and can be a great way to hold down that one curly lock that just won’t stay in place. What’s more, you can pick them up for the same price!
- A simple solution – For those customers unsure of what style to go for next, offering a low maintenance hair cut could pass on the saving with less need for heated appliances and products when they get home.
To find out if your business is eligible for a smart meter, contact your energy supplier. You can then arrange a date and time suitable for you for your installation.
Once installation is complete, your installer can show you and your staff how your smart meter works so you can get on with being green.
Find out more at: https://www.smartenergygb.org/en