8 Ways TO PROTECT YOUR SALON FROM CORONAVIRUS
Atlanta, GA is prepping up to reopen business this Friday, April 24, 2020. For my Friends and Customers, especially for Nail salons. Make sure to prepare yourself.
So far, we know that business will have to continue no matter what since it will take 16-18 months to have the vaccine. We cannot wait that long to reopen, some people don’t have the resources like others. The shutdown was meant to prepare our country and states with enough protective equipment and adjust our healthcare system for whatever ahead.
Nail and Hair salons will be one of the riskiest professions due to the interaction with customers, probably only behind healthcare workers due to close contact. Business-wise, skins, nails, and hair grow out naturally and everyone needs to get it done, customers have been waiting for too long and there will surely be a surge of customers coming to your doors, all at the same time. So prepare yourself, mentally and physically. The keyword is SAFE, to slow down and prevent the spread of the virus to your family, love ones, and customers.
1. Keep clean of your work environment, swipe, disinfect and sanitize- tables, spa chairs, doors, windows, after every usage if possible. Keep track and announce it with signs/track sheet and possibly share on social media so customers can be aware of your safe environment.
2. Recommend everyone to clean their hands constantly and provide free sanitizer solutions. Setup up a sanitize station similar to Walmart in the front.
3. Protective equipment. There is no way to tell who has the virus or not, please make sure to protect yourself with masks and gloves on at all time.
4. Tabletop shield/barrier. A customer of mine, Alpha Nails and Day Spa has done a great job at installing barriers to their manicure tables, providing another layer of protection. Pricing ranges between $40-$60 online or at your local nail supply stores. Do-it-yourself can be bought and cut from Home Depot or other supply places.
5. Face shield. This is a portable solution for those who need to move around, can be applied during pedicures. Again, do-it-yourself solutions are from your local supply place.
6. Practice social “distancing”. Probably the only tool we have to slow down the spread for now. This will apply to the number of customers inside the shop and the distance between each customer. Tables-chairs will be spread out, allowing enough space to prevent the spread of the virus. Another solution is to install layers or protective shields between each spa chair, you can be creative here, it could be temporary or permanent.
Alpha Nails & Day Spa Loganville GA (video)
7. Give out free samples/gifts to customers. It’s nice to see many salons step up during the shutdown to assist their local hospitals and medical staff with protective equipment. A customer of mine, Pink Cactus Nail Boutique provides free gift items to customers during the shutdown. I think this might be a good long term practice. Besides sanitizing stations, also give out gloves and face masks if possible for customers to use during the days. It’s better for them to come back to the salon to get their supplies rather than going elsewhere. It’s something that they will need daily until the coming year.
8. It’s important to know who you are servicing, their health condition. It might be a good time to push on the appointment, ask if they are sick or showing any symptoms. Post a Sign with the symptoms and both customer/employee experiencing such symptoms are not allowed to enter until they’re recovered. Some restaurants and supermarkets even use heat/temperature scanner. Interview, talk to your customers and employees, make sure they’re in good condition. You are in business for the long term and such exposure will harm the business, your customers and employees.
These are some of the strategies I saw from other salons. Mainly focus on the business level. On a personal level, please educate yourself on the virus, it is very serious and the number will continue to rise. Check out CDC.GOV to learn how to protect yourself and your loved ones. Keep note of where the testing locations are in your neighborhood. God bless and stay safe everyone.
(ps. I’m not associated with any of these sellers, I only meant to share the info. Please be careful when buying online or from unknown sellers. If you are a distributor, you’re welcome to share your info in the comment. Thanks All)
