Coronavirus: SalonOnline email encourages hairdressers, barbers to set up at home
An online hairdressing and barber shop supplier has drawn the ire of frustrated stylists after it sent an email encouraging them to set up ‘home salons’.
Central Coast
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Hairdressing and barber shop supplier SalonOnline sent an email to customers encouraging them to set up at home on the same day the industry was pleading with the government to shut it down.
The email, sent to customers on Thursday, boasted the supplier had “over 4000 products!” and “over 150 brands!” which would be “everything you need to set up your home salon”.
It came on the same day, last Thursday, that the Australian Hairdressing Council wrote to the national Chief Medical Officer making the “strong recommendation that the hairdressing and barbering industries be closed”.
“Our understanding is that to flatline the spread of COVID-19, we should all be restricting contact,” the letter read.
“The hairdressing and barbering industries are in DIRECT contact with consumers, regardless of the 1.5 metre social distancing rule and the 4 square metres per person restriction.”
Many barber shops and hairdressing salons have voluntarily closed including Australia’s largest chain Just Cuts citing fears the sustained, close contact of stylists and clients could help spread the disease.
The beauty industry was listed by the National Cabinet last Wednesday as “non-essential” however the hairdressing and barber industry was exempt.
A brief restriction to cap haircuts to 30 minutes was scrapped the following morning but the industry still has to abide by the one person per 4sq m social distancing rule.
It has infuriated operators who feel pressured from clients, staff and landlords to stay open in line with the National Cabinet’s advice despite patronage flatlining.
Operators also face the prospect they will not be eligible for rent and other assistance measures if the industry is not deemed “non-essential”.
One barber, who received the email from SalonOnline, said the inferred sales pitch was unconscionable.
“These guys are setting up to undermine that,” he said.
“No-one would be setting up a new business now. These home salons won’t be council approved, or monitored for compliance. (It’s) a very dangerous approach.”
The email also contained a link at the bottom outlining the measures SalonOnline was doing to protect customers from the spread of COVID-19 including offering a 10 per cent discount on their next purchase.
When contacted by the Express Advocate a spokesman said SalonOnline was “unaware” of the timing of the Australian Hairdressing Council’s statement.
Asked if the company supported stylists circumventing social distancing laws by setting up at home they said: “No. SalonOnline expects that all citizens, including our customers, comply with measures set by the Government. Current rules allow for the hairdressing industry to remain open.”
The spokesman added: “We will support the Government with any further measures they take in regards to combating the spread of the coronavirus.”
Meanwhile Just Cuts founder and CEO Denis McFadden said the chain was not “prepared to put the lives of our people or our clients on the line anymore”.
“Our stylists are scared. Our customers are scared. How can we ask them to continue when everything and all the medical experts says the risks are too high?,” Mr McFadden said.
“So, we have today taken the decision to shut our doors for at least the next four weeks and are recommending to our independently owned and operated franchises that they do the same.”
Just Cuts has salons at Woy Woy, Tuggerah, Wyong, Lake Haven, Bateau Bay, Erina and Gosford.