Salonfocus January - February 2016

ÂŁ3.50 Jan/Feb 2016

The essential magazine for salon owners

Look SHARP Our Photographic Stylist of the Year winners revealed 22

How hairdressing is changing post-recession

26

From start-up to mature: following the salon 'lifecycle'

42

Take your business to another level in 2016

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Contents

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T S

P6 NEWS 100% small business rates relief extended

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P12 PEOPLE POWER Hairdressing has a powerful new voice in Parliament P13 LETTER OF THE LAW HMRC’s minimum wage campaign has been a wake-up call P14 A DAY OF INSPIRATION All the excitement – and the winners – from Britain’s Best P18 LOOK SHARP Our Photographic Stylist of the Year winners in the frame P22 YOUR INDUSTRY, YOUR FEDERATION New stats put industry in the spotlight P26 ALL CHANGE PLEASE What makes salons tick at different stages of their “lifecycle” P32 PENSIONS PERIL The clock is ticking down fast to pensions auto-enrolment

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P34 BOXING CLEVER The NHF’s new health and safety box P35 YOUR QUESTIONS Your employment headaches answered P36 SET YOUR SALON APART By freshening up your magazines offer P38 LONDON LIVING How the NHF can inspire you at Salon London

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P40 NEXT LEVEL LEARNING All you need to know about the NHF’s 2016 events P42 EVENTS

CONNECT WITH US AND HAVE YOUR COMMENTS AND TWEETS IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF SALONFOCUS Jan/Feb 2016 | salonfocus

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Welcome

PRESIDENT’S

L E T T E R H SALONFOCUS IS PUBLISHED BY: National Hairdressers’ Federation, One Abbey Court, Fraser Road, Priory Business Park, Bedford MK44 3WH t: +44 (0) 1234 831965 f: +44 (0) 1234 838875 e: sfenquiries@salonfocus.co.uk w: www.nhf.info PUBLISHER Hilary Hall e: hilary.hall@nhf.info EDITOR Nic Paton e: sfeditor@salonfocus.co.uk EVENTS AND SOCIAL MEDIA Victoria Priestley t: +44 (0) 1234 834386 e: Victoria.Priestley@nhf.info ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER Andy Etherton T: + 44 (0) 1536 527297 e: andy.etherton@nhf.info DESIGN AND PRODUCTION Rick Fraterrigo Matrix Print Consultants Ltd t: +44 (0) 1536 527297 e: rick@matrixprint.com While every care is taken in compiling this issue of salonfocus including manuscripts and photographs submitted, we accept no responsibility for any losses or damage, whatever the cause. All information and prices contained in advertisements are accepted by the publishers in good faith as being correct at the time of going to press. Neither the advertisers nor the publishers accept any responsibility for any variations affecting price variations or availability after the publication has gone to press. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the permission of the publisher, to whom application must first be made. The views expressed by contributors to salonfocus are not necessarily those of the NHF, the publisher or its editor. © 2016 The National Hairdressers’ Federation.

Material for consideration in this section of the magazine should be submitted via email or digital file transfer to the editor, salonfocus. Submissions should be made on the understanding that the National Hairdressers’ Federation has the right to use the material in any part of the magazine and any of its other publications, promotions or website, free from any copyright restrictions, or appearance fees other than the issue of artistic and photographic credits where applicable. Please include salon name, photographer and stylist.

COVER IMAGE BY CAROLINE SANDERSON, EGO HAIR DESIGN, INVERNESS. ONE OF THE WINNING IMAGES FROM THE 2015 PHOTOGRAPHIC STYLIST OF THE YEAR COMPETITION.

appy New Year! I hope you all had a relaxing break and a busy and profitable pre-Christmas rush.

One of the best things about our autumn survey of NHF members was that more than half of you said your turnover went up in 2015.

Even though some members are still having a tough time, I see this as a sign that the recovery is finally bedding in and clients are feeling more relaxed about spending money.

Long may it continue.

ABOUT PAUL As salon owners we shouldn’t get too Paul Curry is president of “comfortable” in what we do. Once you’ve gone the NHF and a registered hairdresser. For more through the exhilarating first years of getting than 25 years he has run Studio 12 in York, a busy a salon off the ground, it’s easy to get into a high street salon that faces rut, whether creatively or just in terms of how exactly the same challenges and pressures as the you’re running your business. majority of NHF members.

That’s why competitions like Britain’s Best, our Photographic Stylist of the Year and our regional events are all such great places to network, push yourself and your team and get inspired – as you can see in our 2015 winners.

We’re all busy people and taking time out of the salon can be hard, but I’d also encourage you to check out the extensive programme of business events and workshops we’re running around the country this year.

The start of a new year is a great time to refresh your business and these events will give you plenty of practical tips and ideas.

Whatever point you are in your salon “lifecycle”, it’s never too late to learn something new.

PAUL CURRY NHF president

COMING UP IN MARCH/APRIL

THE BRIDAL EDITION How salons can maximise bridal hair and beauty, both Asian and European.

salonfocus | Jan/Feb 2016

Enhancing the client experience, including the benefits of mystery shopping The pitfalls you need to be aware of around “guest” Wi-Fi

Do you have a salon story to tell? Would you like to be featured in salonfocus?

Get in touch with the team, on 01234 834385, or send an email to sfeditor@ salonfocus.co.uk

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News

SMALLEST SALONS GET TO KEEP 100% R AT E S R E L I E F ery small hairdressing and beauty salons and barber shops will not be required to pay business rates for at least another year, after chancellor George Osborne in November extended 100% Small Business Rate Relief for micro businesses until April 2017.

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The move, announced in the Autumn Statement, means any business with a rateable value of £6,000 or less will be able to get 100% relief on their business rates until April next year. The relief had been due to expire this April.

The rate of relief gradually decreases from 100% to 0% for properties with a rateable value of between £6,001 and £12,000.

NHF president Paul Curry said: “Anything that makes life easier for small and micro businesses is helpful and welcome. However, we want to see 100% relief being made permanent, rather than something in the ‘gift’ of the chancellor and able to be extended or taken away at a whim.”

RETAIL RELIEF SCRAPPED The NHF nevertheless expressed dismay that the so-called “retail discount” which allows many shops – including some hairdressers and barbers – to reduce

their business rates by up to £1,500 will not be extended, and so will end this coming April.

This relief is available for any retail property with a rateable value of £50,000 or less.

The chancellor also outlined details of his planned apprenticeship “levy”.

This is being introduced from April 2017 but will only be something paid by larger businesses, or those with a pay bill of more than £3m.

The government has said this will mean fewer than 2% of businesses will pay it. However, for those that fall into this bracket, the levy will be set a rate of 0.5% of the pay bill, with the money set to be ploughed back into apprenticeships.

‘KEEP MIN WAGE RISES TO 1%’ SAYS NHF The National Minimum Wage should be increased by no more than 1% this autumn, the NHF has said.

In its latest evidence to the Low Pay Commission, the NHF said restraint was needed after the sharp rises seen in October, when the apprentice wage rose by 21%.

salonfocus | Jan/Feb 2016

The Federation argued the 21-24 year-old rate should rise to £6.77 an hour (from its current £6.70) and the 18-20 year-old rate to £5.35 (from £5.30). The 16-17 year-old rate should then rise to £3.91 (from £3.87) and the apprentice rate should go up to £3.36 (from £3.30), it added.

The NHF also expressed concern about the impact on salons of the new compulsory £7.20-an-hour National Living Wage from April, which will be for employees aged 25 and over.

Many salons were concerned about the effect this could have on their wage bill, the NHF warned.

News

HAIRDRESSERS ARE ‘MOST INJURY PRONE’

Nearly half of hairdressers and beauty therapists say they have been injured at some point at work, making the industry one of the most accident-prone in the country, a survey has suggested.

The research by insurance comparison site Confused.com even argued hairdressing and beauty beat jobs such as police officers for accidents and injuries.

The most common sorts of injuries at work were cuts, sprains and burns, followed by broken bones, the survey argued.

The NHF has developed a health and safety “box” for salons and is during 2016 running a new programme of first aid training for salons for the first time. More details on these can be found on pages 34 and Events, pages 40–42, respectively.

H A B B PAC K Habb, Hair & Beauty Benevolent, has brought out a new fundraising supporters pack.

The pack includes details about how salons and individuals can help to raise money for the charity as well as testimonials from some of those who have been helped over the years.

An insert about the pack is being included within this edition of salonfocus, so look out for it and if it isn’t there, contact Habb (below) for more details.

Separately, Habb is also selling a range of limited edition ‘Magi:Bobbles’ hair bobbles that can be sold as a gift within a salon.

The five-pack bobbles retail at £2.95 and have a trade price of £2.46 with a minimum order of 20 and a complimentary shelf talker. For more details contact Habb on 01737 212494.

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NHF SUBS New NHF subscription fees for 2016 have been agreed.

From January, the fee for a salon member will be £261 a year. For a solo member the fee will be £142 a year. The annual fee for affiliate members will be £138 a year.

Members are being reminded the NHF will write to them when their subscriptions are due for renewal.

SCOTS

TAX CHANGE Scottish salons are being urged to speak to their payroll provider and administrator about the possible effect on their business of the introduction of a new Scottish rate of income tax from April.

The tax is part of wider moves to give Scotland greater devolved powers.

The move is unlikely to make too much practical difference to small salons and will not mean any change to how income tax is reported or paid, the government has said.

But it will mean P60s or payslips will need to show an individual’s Scottish tax code.

Jan/Feb 2016 | salonfocus

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News

VIDEOSTARS HF members are at the heart of a series of new videos being launched in the New Year promoting the value and benefit of Federation membership.

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The NHF filmed members explaining why they are members, how NHF membership has benefited them as business owners, and why they feel others should become members too.

The salon owners and members featured include

Emily Warne, director of Head Romance in Havant, Hampshire; Karl Foster, managing director of barber shop chain Mr Barbers; and Debbie Elderton, co-owner of Arcana in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire.

Other members featured are Tom Old, co-owner of Mr Barbers in Sudbury, Suffolk; Sam Golding, owner of SG Hair in Birmingham; and Charlotte Walsh, recruitment manager at salon recruitment company Salon Angels.

The videos can be viewed on the NHF website nhf.info or on social media.

NHF WINNERS The 2015 British Hairdressing Awards were announced in November, with Darren Ambrose, of D&J Ambrose in Pinner, being crowned British Hairdresser of the Year.

NHF members also won three category awards.

Gary Taylor of Edward & Co in Brighouse, Yorkshire won the North Western

salonfocus | Jan/Feb 2016

Hairdresser of the Year.

Jill Watkins-Wright, of Watkins-Wright Hairdressing in Thirsk, won North Eastern Hairdresser of the Year.

And Caroline Sanderson and Claire McIntyre of Ego Hair Design in Inverness won the Scottish Hairdresser of the Year award.

Caroline was also a

winner of the NHF’s Photographic Stylist of the Year competition (see pages 18-20) in November, making it a double win for the salon.

Jayne Lewis-Orr, executive director of Hairdressers’ Journal International, which runs the awards, said: “British hairdressing is regarded as the best in the world.

We are leaders in this international industry and the British Hairdressing Awards recognise this talent.”

News

TWITTER FOLLOWERS 8,672

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FACEBOOK LIKES 11,332

WHAT’S TRENDING TWEETS FROM BRITAIN’S BEST @ToxicCherryA Loving my award!

The girls are already excited for next year & planning to enter the live competition @NHFederation @master_barbers Well played to @ImageBarber for Men’s photographic collection Britain’s Best.

It was an honour to make finals, thanks to @NHFederation

COMPUTER WHIZ The NHF member who last year won a software package worth nearly £3,000 in an NHF competition has praised the difference it has made to her salon.

Sharon Clay, owner of H2O Hairdressing in Barrow upon Soar, Loughborough, won the package when salonfocus teamed up with Premier Software.

The new software was installed last summer

and since then the team has been getting to grips with the new technology, Sharon (pictured above, on the right) told salonfocus.

“We’re really happy with it. We’re starting to look into how to use it to generate reports, which will be very helpful to improve the salon.

“It’s also made a big difference to how we book appointments and communicate with clients,” she added.

PRIZE WINNER PATRICIA Congratulations to long-standing NHF member Patricia Taylor, who is the lucky winner of an overnight stay at the Holiday Inn Regent’s Park, London and a threecourse meal for two at Marco Pierre White’s restaurant The View from the Shard.

Patricia, a member for 45 years, is owner of Pattines Hair in Birmingham and won the prize draw simply for entering the NHF’s member survey.

“It is a lovely prize; I am delighted to have won it and really looking forward to it,” she told salonfocus. The survey gathered views from nearly 600 NHF members to find out how the industry and trading conditions have changed since 2013.

@ThommmoKearns Great day of experiencing my first on floor competition today at #BritainsBest #MaleFashionLook, thanks @NHFederation for a brilliant day @HeadHuntersGU21 Thanks @NHFederation for organising #britainsbest, giving hairdressers the opportunity to strut their stuff. It really is appreciated @benmadlehair So happy to have won 2015 @NHFederation Afro Image of The Year!

Thanks to everyone who has supported me! @ModernBarberMag Great diversity and finish in the Men’s Fashion Category @NHFederation #britainsbest #tough #competition

JOIN IN THE CONVERSATION

@NHFederation

FIND OUT MORE See our analysis on the results of the member survey on pages 24-25.

facebook.com/national hairdressersfederation

Jan/Feb 2016 | salonfocus

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News: regional competitions and events

EVERYONE'S A WINNER HF MEMBERS WERE GETTING CREATIVE AND BEING INSPIRED

BY COMPETITIONS AND EVENTS AROUND THE UK DURING THE AUTUMN. SALONFOCUS WENT ON THE ROAD.

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BARBERING WITH TOM BAXTER

Tickets sold out to renowned barber Tom Baxter’s demonstration in Middlesbrough on 19 October. Tom wowed his audience by demonstrating a host of different barbering skills and techniques.

SID SOTTUNG LIVE NOTTINGHAM It was a packed house to watch internationally recognised barber and educator Sid Sottung deliver a barbering and wet shave demonstration on 28 September. Sid also presented 12 models from his collection “Gangland”.

RED ROSE CHAMPIONSHIPS WARRINGTON

Tariq Mehmood of Turf Impressions, Burnley, was a multiple winner in the NHF’s Red Rose Championships in November.

Tariq was crowned overall Gents Champion but also won in the Clipper Cut (open), Blow Dry (open) and Male Fashion Look (open) categories.

The overall Ladies Champion at the competition, which was held at the Village Urban Resort in Warrington, was Mathew Berry.

WELSH HAIRDRESSING AND BEAUTY AWARDS

Emma Edwards from Vanity Hair in Tonyrefail, near Pontypridd, was crowned Welsh Hairdresser of the Year at the Welsh Hairdressing & Beauty Awards in Cardiff on 1 November. Tino Lazarou, of Lazarou Barbers in Cardiff, was named Welsh Barber of the Year.

The Welsh Award Hall of Fame was awarded to Phillip Mungeam, of The Room, Usk. Phillip has worked alongside Andrew Collinge, Tresemme and Aveda and has been an amazing ambassador for the haircare industry through media appearances and his tireless support for the treatment of hair loss in chemotherapy.

salonfocus | Jan/Feb 2016

SCOTTISH OPEN AND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Hairdressers and barbers from across Scotland celebrated being crowned ‘The Pride of Scotland’ at the NHF Scottish Open & National Championships on 26 October.

The championships saw salons and colleges competing across 11 fiercely fought categories.

The three overall champions were Tariq Mehmood, of Turf Impressions, Burnley, (Open Gents Champion), Ryan Edditt of Kenneth Michael Hair, Belfast, (Open Ladies Champion), and Donna Gunn, of My Hair Guru, Paisley (National Ladies Champion).

A DAY WITH

JACK HOWARD Official colourist for Next Model Management and the man widely credited with bringing Balayage to the UK, Jack Howard showcased creative colouring techniques on 2 November at an event in Darlington and then ran a hands-on workshop that went down a storm with his audience.

GO ONLINE Full details of winners in all the NHF’s competitions can be found at nhf.info/ events/competitions

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WHAT IS AN

ALL-PARTY

PARLIAMENTARY

COMMITTEE?

There are a vast range of All-Party Parliamentary Groups operating at Westminster, covering everything from “Afghanistan” at the start of the alphabet to “zoos and aquariums” at the other end.

They are informal cross-party groups run by and for MPs and Lords, though they can involve individuals or organisations from outside Parliament (in this case the Hair Council and the NHF, among others).

They have no official Parliamentary status, in other words having a committee is not going to help you get a Parliamentary vote or debate.

What it will do is help to generate interest and discussion; it can act as a talking shop for MPs and others to find out more about, become involved in or even campaign for your area of interest.

Having an All-Party Parliamentary Group on Hair therefore means the industry now has a much more prominent and influential voice within Parliament.

salonfocus | Jan/Feb 2016

PEOPLEPOWER THE INDUSTRY NOW HAS A NEW VOICE IN PARLIAMENT, THE ALL-PARTY PARLIAMENTARY GROUP ON HAIR. SALONFOCUS LOOKS AT WHAT IT WILL MEAN.

t will probably have passed by most salons coping with the mad rush to Christmas, but 8 December was something of a red-letter day for the hairdressing industry, and especially the campaign to secure mandatory state registration for hairdressing.

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That’s because it was the first formal meeting of the new All-Party Parliamentary Committee on Hair, a cross-party grouping of MPs, Lords and others either passionate about, or just interested in, promoting the industry within Parliament.

“This is something we’ve been working to achieve for two to three years, so it is a massive step. More and more MPs are starting to take our industry seriously; they understand how important we are and what we contribute to the economy,” said Sally Styles, registrar of the Hair Council, which has been key in creating the committee The committee is being chaired by former barber and Scottish National Party MP John

McNally. Technically it met for the first time in September to become established and also held an informal meeting in December to promote the “Movember” campaign.

But 8 December was the first time its members met to discuss serious industry issues, with topics such as VAT, the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage all on the agenda for discussion.

NHF chief executive Hilary Hall and NEC member Ian Egerton (the NHF’s representative on the Hair Council) will also be joining meetings regularly.

As well as John McNally, MP members include Plaid Cymru’s Liz Saville-Roberts and Labour’s Christina Rees and Liz McInnes.

SALON CAMPAIGN The council is promoting an “MPs’ day” later this year – with the date still to be confirmed – where it will encourage all registered salons to invite in their MP. The Hair Council will also be running a campaign with the NHF in March to encourage NHF members voluntarily to register their teams.

National Minimum Wage

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L E T T E R O F T H E L AW HM REVENUE & CUSTOM’S MINIMUM WAGE CAMPAIGN HAS NOW ENDED, AND HAS BEEN A WAKE-UP CALL FOR THE INDUSTRY.

ou may recall that last summer the government launched a major campaign targeting hairdressers, barbers and beauty salons that were failing to pay the National Minimum Wage.

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That campaign came to an end at the end of November. Worryingly for the industry, it has emerged that HM Revenue & Customs identified as many as 400 salons where there appeared to be questions about their minimum wage payments.

Some of these 400, it was clear from calls to the NHF, were also Federation members.

So, if you’ve had one of these letters, what should you do?

The first thing to say is – don’t ignore it! And definitely don’t assume it will just go away by itself.

COME FORWARD HMRC did create a small “window of opportunity” for salons, but only those that came forward voluntarily and engaged with HMRC to sort things out before the end of November.

Salons that did this and spoke to HMRC by that deadline have until the end of this month (January) to get their payment processes in order and sort out any under-payments without the risk of being fined or “named and shamed”. salonfocus | Jan/Feb 2015

However, if you’ve been contacted by HMRC and have failed to come forward, then unfortunately you’re already in hotter water.

Nevertheless, even in this scenario, it’s going to count in your favour to come forward voluntarily and show you’re prepared actively to work with HMRC to resolve any mistakes or under-payments.

So, speak to the NHF and speak to HMRC. As NHF president Paul Curry has emphasised: “Let this be an urgent wakeup call to any salon that you need to act now to put things right, especially if your salon is one of the 400 that has received a letter from HMRC about potential underpayments.”

WHAT TO DO IF YOU’VE HAD A LETTER Don’t ignore it – Get in touch with HMRC on 0800 9172368 or speak to NHF head office on 01234 831965

‘THEY WENT THROUGH ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING’ What’s it like to be on the receiving end of an HMRC minimum wage investigation? Hell, says Kevin Huggins of Fusion Hair Consultants in Great Yarmouth.

We were investigated in May 2015. I don’t even know what sparked it, but we did have a couple of girls who left who had not been particularly happy about their pay, so it could easily have been from that.

The first I knew about it was when I got a phone call from an HMRC officer saying I was under investigation.

A team from HMRC then came to see us and went through absolutely everything, everything to do with wages and money, how many staff we had, how often we paid them.

RECORDS CHECK We pay our employees every four weeks rather than monthly. But everything is above-board; holiday pay, sick pay, rewards, the lot. We also keep everything electronically – wage slips, P60s, everything.

In November I had the closing letter from HMRC saying everything was fine. But it’s been a very stressful time; you’re always on tenterhooks.

We know what the fines are and the dangers of being “named and shamed”.

It’s all about keeping your records.

You need to be show you’re doing everything absolutely by the book or you will be found out.

Jan/Feb 2016 | salonfocus

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F O Y A AD AT NOVEMBER’S BRITAIN’S BEST SALONS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY COMPETED AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL TO BE CROWNED THE BEST IN BRITAIN. SALONFOCUS PRESENTS A SELECTION OF IMAGES FROM A TRULY MEMORABLE DAY AND, OVERLEAF, THE 2015 WINNERS.

Derek Cooknall Photography

BRITAIN’S BEST WILL BE RETURNING IN 2016! WATCH THIS SPACE AND BRITAINSBEST.ME FOR MORE DETAILS LATER IN THE YEAR

' AND THE 2015

WINNERS WERE...

Joseph Sirry, The Oak Room, Barnstaple, Devon

Marcus Feeley, Spirit Hair Team, Ystrad Mynach, Caerphilly

Ruben Rodroguez, Ross Charles Hairdressing, York

Kade Burgess, Image Hair, Bedford

Marcus Feeley, Spirit Hair Team, Ystrad Mynach, Caerphilly

Nadia Shayler, Sandwell College, West Bromwich

Joe Cartmel, Cartmel Barbers, Preston, Lancashire

Vaida Urbaite, Hair & Colour Expert, London

Emilijana Veseli, Sandwell College, West Bromwich

Stacey Hayward, Stacey Jade, Bristol

Sarah Arnold, Hair & Beauty by Sarah Arnold, Coleshill, Birmingham

Sally Bracey, Bristol

Jane Conneely, Salon Vie Hairdressing, Nantwich, Cheshire

Emma Louise Davies, Salon Vie Hairdressing, Tattenhall, Chester

salonfocus | Jan/Feb 2016

VISIT BRITAINSBEST.ME FOR A FULL LIST OF WINNERS, RUNNERS UP AND MORE FANTASTIC PICTURES FROM BRITAIN'S BEST.

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Britains Best

LOOK

SHARP

THE WINNERS OF THE NHF’S PRESTIGIOUS PHOTOGRAPHIC STYLIST OF THE YEAR COMPETITION WERE ALSO REVEALED AT BRITAIN’S BEST.

LADIES’ CATEGORY 1 – FASHION LOOK (STUDENTS AND TRAINEES) AMBER WRAY – THE HAIR BANK, MANCHESTER

LADIES' CATEGORY 4 – AFRO-CARIBBEAN – FASHION LOOK (ALL) BENJAMIN MADLE – HEADHUNTERS, WOKING, SURREY

MEN’S CATEGORY 1 – FASHION LOOK (STUDENTS AND TRAINEES) salonfocus | Jan/Feb 2015 EIRANN BYRNE – AKA PROFESSIONAL HAIRDRESSING, BRISTOL

LADIES’ CATEGORY 2 – FASHION LOOK (ALL), PAULA GROCOCK –TOXIC CHERRY HAIR & BEAUTY, ASHBY DE LA ZOUCH, LEICESTERSHIRE

Photographic Stylist Britain's of the Year Best

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OUR WINNERS CELEBRATE AND SHOWCASE THE VERY BEST OUR INDUSTRY HAS TO OFFER; THEY’VE PUSHED THE BOUNDARIES OF WHAT’S POSSIBLE AND COME UP WITH DESIGNS OF BREATH-TAKING INVENTION, BEAUTY AND CREATIVITY PAUL CURRY, NHF PRESIDENT

MEN’S CATEGORY 2 – FASHION LOOK (ALL) ALLAN MCKECHNIE – HAIR BY RUTHERFORDS, OBAN, ARGYLL & BUTE

MEN’S CATEGORY 4 – AFRO-CARIBBEAN – FASHION LOOK (ALL) KADE BURGESS – IMAGE HAIR, BEDFORD

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Photographic Stylist of the Year

MEN’S CATEGORY3 – FASHION COLLECTION (ALL) MICHAEL DAMIANO – IMAGE HAIR, BEDFORD

LADIES' CATEGORY 3 – FASHION COLLECTION (ALL) CAROLINE SANDERSON– EGO HAIR DESIGN, INVERNESS

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NHF industry research and members’ survey

YO U R I N D U S T R Y,

Your Federation

DURING THE AUTUMN, THE NHF CARRIED OUT TWO LARGE PIECES OF RESEARCH: AN ANALYSIS OF WHAT OUR INDUSTRY LOOKS LIKE POST-RECESSION, AND AN IN-DEPTH SURVEY OF NHF MEMBERS. SALONFOCUS CRUNCHED THE NUMBERS.

Our Businesses THERE ARE 40,000 hairdressing, barbering and beauty businesses in the UK. 26% of these are in London and the South East

£

here’s no getting around the fact the recession of 2008/09 and long, slow recovery that followed took a heavy toll on hairdressing, barbering and beauty. Salons shut or had to cut back sharply as high streets suffered.

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But now, with recovery well-set (even if we’re perhaps not yet completely out of the woods), what does our industry look like? To find out, the NHF over the autumn carried out two significant pieces of research.

First, it pulled together and carried out an analysis of current statistics about the industry as a whole. And then, second, it surveyed nearly 600 NHF members to find out about them, their salons and what was making them tick. This was designed to provide a comparison with a similar survey carried out in 2013.

Over the next four pages, salonfocus looks at both sets of research, first, on these two pages, the wider industry analysis and then, overleaf, some of the key findings from the NHF members’ survey.

TURNOVER OF PARTICIPATING SALONS salonfocus | Jan/Feb 2016

THE HAIRDRESSING, BARBERING AND BEAUTY INDUSTRY generates almost £7bn in turnover each year

HAIRDRESSING/BARBERING BUSINESSES are the most popular independent start-up and beauty salons are the 8th most popular

4% £250,000 – £499,000

4% £450,000 – £999,000

0.3% £1m – £2m

28% £100,000 – £249,000

39% £50,000 – £99,000

27% < £49,000

NHF industry research and membersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; survey

Our People

3million ALMOST 3M PEOPLE WORK IN THE HAIRDRESSING, BARBERING AND BEAUTY INDUSTRY

44% OF PEOPLE working in hairdressing and barbering and 56% of people working in beauty are self-employed.

HALF THE PEOPLE working in hairdressing and barbering work part-time. Part-time working is more common in the beauty industry than in hairdressing and barbering

52% OF PEOPLE working in hair and beauty are aged between 16 and 34.

Females aged between 25 and 34 are the largest group, accounting for a quarter of everyone working in the industry.

88% OF PEOPLE working in hairdressing and barbering and 92% of people working in beauty are female. 72% of salon owners are female and 28% of hair and beauty business owners are male.

THERE WERE 15,000 hairdressing apprenticeship starts in 2013/14 in England, making it the 10th most popular apprenticeship

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52%

OCCUPATIONS WITH THE HIGHEST RATES OF CONTACT DERMATITIS IN GREAT BRITAIN (2014) CASES PER 100,000 WORKERS PER YEAR FLORISTS

115

HAIRDRESSERS & BARBERS

82

BEAUTY THERAPISTS

70

COOKS

66

METAL WORKING MACHINISTS

56

Jan/Feb 2016 | salonfocus

24

NHF industry research and members’ survey

YOUR

INDUSTRY WHO ARE NHF MEMBERS? SALON OWNERS

96%

26%

HAVE BEEN NHF MEMBERS FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS

ARE FEMALE

67%

27%

HAVE BEEN MEMBERS FOR LESS THAN FIVE YEARS

AGED BETWEEN 41 AND 60

64%

88%

OWN ONE SALON

HAVE OWNED THEIR BUSINESS FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS

39%

9%

OWN TWO SALONS

HAVE BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR LESS THAN FIVE YEARS

18%

1%

OWN THREE SALONS

SERVICES THAT NHF MEMBERS OFFER?

66% own salons that offer services to ladies and men

29% own hair and beauty salons

4% specialise in AfroCaribbean hair services

4% provide just barbering

1% provide just beauty services

56% offer Wi-Fi

17% provide TV/DVDs

38% provide no additional services

(Other popular additional services are food, alcohol and children’s play areas)

WHAT MEMBERS SAY ABOUT THE NHF:

“” salonfocus | Jan/Feb 2016

Your Federation

HOW DO NHF MEMBERS MANAGE THEIR PAYROLL?

61% OUTSOURCE.

WHAT ARE NHF MEMBERS MOST CONCERNED ABOUT?

OF THOSE THAT DO IT THEMSELVES,

58% INCREASING PROFITS

51% USE

HMRC BASIC PAYE

40% CLIENT EXPERIENCE 35% EMPLOYEE ISSUES

TOOLS

31% TAX AND VAT 29% WAGES (INC NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE)

WHO DO NHF MEMBERS EMPLOY?

8* Average number of people working within a NHF salon

64%

49%

Employ one or more apprentice

Have one or more chair renter operating in their salon

HOW BIG ARE NHF MEMBER SALONS? 82% of salons have up to 10 chairs 34%

25%

of these have 5 – 7 chairs

100

of these have 1 – 5 chairs

23%

of these have 8 – 10 chairs

75

*Given the figures on the previous page showed 93% of salons employ fewer than 10 people and two thirds fewer than five, this suggests NHF salons are generally larger than average 50

TURNOVER SINCE 2013 HAS… 2013

2015

Gone up

32%

53%

Stayed the same

43%

25%

Gone down

25%

22%

25

*This appears to indicate trading has improved for many since 2013, but the very smallest salons are most likely to report decreasing turnover

“”

SOMEONE TO TURN TO WHEN I AM NOT SURE, ALWAYS KNOW ANSWERS OR WHERE TO GET ANSWERS, HELPFUL STAFF.

“”

IT IS REASSURING TO KNOW THERE IS SOMEONE TO HELP WITH ANY ISSUES RUNNING A BUSINESS. IT CAN BE VERY LONELY WHEN YOU’RE A SOLE TRADER; WE NEED HELP.

0

“”

I WOULD RECOMMEND THE NHF FOR MANY REASONS, BUT MOST OF ALL PROFESSIONAL BACK-UP IN ALL ASPECTS OF HAIR AND BEAUTY.

Jan/Feb 2016 | salonfocus

26

Supporting the salon business lifecycle

ALL CHANGE PLEASE

ALL CHANGE

WHETHER YOUR SALON IS YOUNG, A FEW YEARS OLD OR MATURE, THE NHF IS HERE TO HELP. SALONFOCUS SPOKE TO MEMBERS AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF THEIR SALON ‘LIFECYCLE’ ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES, THEIR PRIORITIES, AND HOW THE NHF HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE.

very salon, naturally, is going to be different.

But it’s fair to say most salons will go through a pretty similar three-stage “lifecycle”.

‘I TOOK OVER THE SALON FOUR MONTHS AGO'

There will be the exhilarating first few years when you’re just starting out and trying to get established. Then there will be a “middle age” when the focus probably shifts to maintaining what you’ve built and trying to grow or trying new things out, perhaps extending into new service areas or even multiple sites.

Finally, there will be a time when your salon is “mature”. Your salon has hopefully become a popular and respected fixture on your high street or in your community but you’re starting to think about the next stage – whether that’s a new venture (meaning you start the cycle again), passing on the business to a new generation or just selling up and retiring.

We spoke to salons at these different stages about their hopes and plans, and how they felt the NHF had helped them.

These are their stories.

Richard Haircraft has been going for 34 years – and I started here as a Saturday girl about 13 years ago and have simply worked my way up.

Last autumn the previous owners decided they wanted to retire and I was able to take over the business, which has obviously been a major change for me.

Managing a team, for example, is a big thing; I’m very aware I need to be doing the right thing.

The good thing is that the salon is established; it has a good reputation and loyal clients. But at the same time that can make it hard to change anything.

I have my own ideas and want to put my stamp on the salon.

E

salonfocus | Jan/Feb 2016

Sam Corbett (right) has run Richard Haircraft in Newmarket, Suffolk, since September and at the end of this month (January) will be relaunching it under a new name, The Cutting Room.

SALON RELAUNCH The plan is that from this month we will be relaunching and rebranding – and so I’m currently working hard convincing our existing clients this will be a positive move!

I’m going to completely redecorate the salon, as it hasn’t been refurbished in 25 years. There will be new basins that can

tilt rather than be static. The decor will all change and there will be a new storage area – it’s all very exciting.

The NHF has helped greatly, especially when we were going through the selling and buying process. It was also very helpful around managing the changeover in terms of staffing.

When you have any queries – whether about pay or sickness or whatever it is – the NHF is always really helpful. You always get a straightforward answer.

I’ve also found the regular newsletters helpful in terms of explaining things that are changing and what you need to be aware of.

Our pension “staging date” is going to be in 2017 so I’m intending to go with the NHF scheme and will, I expect, be asking it for a lot of help along the way.

We do have two years but I know we have to start thinking about it and get a handle on what it is we need to be doing.

THE SALON IS ESTABLISHED, HAS A GOOD REPUTATION AND CLIENTS. BUT I HAVE MY OWN IDEAS AND WANT TO PUT MY STAMP ON IT

Photography: Post Photographic

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28

Supporting the salon business lifecycle

‘MY PRIORITY IS JUST GETTING OFF THE GROUND’ Lewis James opened Lewis James & Co in Chatham in Kent in July last year.

but it’s a brilliant little parade of shops and with free parking. For me it ticks all the boxes. It’s also spitting distance from my house, which is ideal!

This is the first salon I’ve owned, so at the moment my priority is very much just trying to get it off the ground. It used to be a bookies and had been empty for about two years, so it is great to be able to do something with it.

We have four stylists – all chair renters – a nail technician and an assistant.

So at the moment it’s all about helping them to build up their columns and get established. We’re not on the high street

CHAIR RENTING I decided to go the chair renting route because I did not want to have the complication of employing people. I think it’ll help the salon to get off the ground more quickly. But it can be hard.

You want the girls to do well – and I’ll do anything I can to help them – but if they’ve not had a good week and then you’ve still got to take the rent off them at the end of it that can be difficult.

Photography: Derek Cooknall Photography

salonfocus | Jan/Feb 2016

It’s about them getting out there and promoting themselves, making our own way as a salon and getting established.

It is just a case of building things up slowly and carefully, a lot of it by word of mouth.

My mum and dad both own their own salons and are NHF members, and so they advised me to join. I’ve already used it to get advice around various contract issues. I’ve found the chair renting guide very useful, too. Employment is not something I have huge knowledge about, so knowing I can go to the NHF for advice means I can spend more time concentrating on the salon.

Supporting the salon business lifecycle

EVEN IF YOU HAVE TAKEN ON AN ESTABLISHED SALON, THERE ARE BUSINESS LESSONS TO BE LEARNT

‘I’M REBUILDING THE BUSINESS’ Nina Hodgkiss (left) has owned Nina Capelli in Wolverhampton since 2006 .

I began my hairdressing career with Regis, building myself a good clientele base before, at the age of 22, deciding to branch out on my own.

I have been an NHF member since 2012, and it has been a fantastic support and safety net for my business. It was after being on the receiving end of a National Minimum Wage investigation in 2011 that I decided I needed to join the NHF for future back-up.

Although the investigation found no evidence of wrongdoing on my part, and while it was a stressful experience to go through, when I look back at it, it was actually a good thing to have happened.

That was because it taught me the dos and don’ts when it comes to things like hours and pay – and, of course, also the benefits of being an NHF member!

In 2012, I became a mum and decided to cut my hours down to two days a week, but unfortunately this did present problems and I found it a struggle for 18 months. In April 2014 I also decided to rebrand the salon to its current name, and this also created new challenges.

LESSONS LEARNT But after a few fails and lessons learnt I am now slowly rebuilding the business.

I have a new brand, and an up-andcoming and beautiful salon that I am extremely proud of.

Even if you have taken on an established salon, there are business lessons to be learnt. In many respects, after having gone through the rebranding and so many changes, I effectively think of the salon and business as being in its first year again.

I use the NHF for support, advice

29

and, of course, its many benefits. My employed staff are all on NHF contracts, along with staff handbooks and health and safety books. We have invested in software from Premier Software, and I hope in the future my fabulous stylists will be entering NHF competitions.

I am very proud of what I have achieved so far, and I am looking forward to a bright future at Nina Capelli. I have fantastic support from my family, friends and our loyal clients. I have an amazing team who make the salon a fabulous place to work and for clients to visit!

HOW THE NHF CAN HELP NHF membership comes with an extremely wide range of benefits. Even if you think you know all that the NHF offers, take a look, as there might be some benefits you hadn’t realised.

• A24/7 Legal Lifeline • Free standard employment contracts • Legal protection against employment disputes • Tax and VAT protection • Tax and commercial helpline • Discounted insurance • Guaranteed access to a salon-specific NHF pension scheme • Free chair renting and apprenticeship agreements • Campaigning and lobbying in Westminster and Europe • Business factsheets, guides and toolkits, including a health and safety “box” • Updates on legislation and other news every three months • Salon-specific training and events • Regional and national artistic competitions • NHF-branded salon stationery • A dispute resolution/mediation service • Deals on music licences, customer and industry magazines, credit/debit card transactions and advertising • Salonfocus magazine every two months • Networking and promotional events Full details on all of these can be found at nhf.info

Jan/Feb 2016 | salonfocus

30

Supporting the salon business lifecycle

‘I’D LIKE TO SEE VAT REFORMED’ Jan Gibbings has run Blonde on Blonde Hair in Gloucester for the past 14 years.

Before starting Blonde on Blonde I worked for the Regis group in Gloucester but then, in 2001, myself and my business partner Vikki – who had originally worked with me as an apprentice at Regis – decided it was time to “do it for ourselves”.

We rented a premises in Tuffley, a suburb of Gloucester about two miles from the city centre and opened Blonde on Blonde in November of that year. Initially we just had the one employee but my focus was, naturally, on growth and expansion. Within a year we were VAT registered and a team of five.

But then, of course, in 2007 the recession hit.

The team declined in size, with the girls moving on, some to other salons, others just on to different careers. In fact for a time it returned to being just the two of us plus a few Saturday girls to help out.

However, I am pleased to say things started to turn around from 2010 onwards. We renovated our spare space and began to rent it out as a beauty room to a beauty therapist. We also started to rent space to a stylist who specialises in gents hair and hair colouring services, which has been going really well.

TURBULENT DECADE There’s no getting around the fact it’s been a turbulent decade but we’ve been lucky in that our salon clientele is mainly composed of regular clients, who have been the key to our success.

All along the NHF has been a great support.

When you have a problem they are the first person there for you. The NHF has helped me a lot over the years, particularly with questions about apprentices, both about employing them and making sure I’m paying them correctly.

I find the information in salonfocus very useful too. Because you’re in the salon all day, if you’re not careful it’s quite easy to become isolated as a salon owner. So the advice and help the NHF offers, and the fact it runs competitions and events, is invaluable.

The NHF’s campaigns around VAT have been something we back. We have always been VAT registered but we do feel the VAT threshold needs to be reformed to help small salons like ours that are trying to offer a great service in a competitive climate.

Looking forward, the rising cost of the minimum wage, especially the apprentice wage and from this year the National Living Wage, is making it harder for salons when it comes to employing people, which is why we chair rent rather than employ people. Having to offer a pension is also going to be an issue. salonfocus | Jan/Feb 2016

JADE HALES: DAUGHTER OF PHIL HALES HAS JOINED HER FATHER'S BUSINESS

‘I’M BEGINNING TO THINK ABOUT MY SUCCESSION’ Phil Hales (right) has run True Hairdressing in Gravesend, Kent for the past 14 years.

We started off small, as a single unit in Gravesend but have gone from around three employees to about 10.

One of the big changes for me was in 2009 when the shop next door came up for sale and I decided it was too good an opportunity to miss, and so I expanded into it, opening a beauty salon.

It was clear to me that the industry was moving towards a higher end of service so I wanted to offer an experience where we got more time with each client and a much more in-depth consultation.

Of course, it was Murphy’s law that the recession came along at the same time the property came up for sale. I think I’d only taken ownership for three or four weeks and then the collapse happened, so it was a tough time.

Although it has been hard financially, having the second unit has come into its own. It’s given me two more basins and five more work positions, and so I have more room for manoeuvre.

When you start your own salon you are focused on just trying to get established; it’s about growing organically, retaining your existing clients and repeat business but also doing things to bring in new clients.

I do expect to be doing this for a few more years – I expect to be here for life! But my daughter Jade has recently joined the business after doing a degree in fashion and design at art college.

She is, as you might imagine, very creative and artistic and, while it is early days, my hope is that one day either she or another member of staff will take over. As yet it is a tentative plan but you do have to start thinking early about your exit plan. I might easing out in five years, but it’ll probably be more like 10!

Supporting the salon business lifecycle

The NHF has been great for offering reassurance. If I’m asked a question about employment I’ll very rarely give an answer straight away, and will go and ask the NHF first.

I’m very conscious of the value of getting proper advice before saying anything.

What is great is that the advice the team gives relates specifically to our industry; the people you speak to understand hairdressing as well as the employment situation.

LIVING WAGE I think generally the National Living Wage is going to be an issue this year. Salons will have to make sure they get it right. For us, most of the people we have who are 25 or over are already earning a higher rate anyway, so I don’t think it’s going to be too bad.

Having to offer a pension is going to be another issue, but it’s just one of those things you have to accept. I think the girls are likely to say they’ll want to opt out, but we’ll still have to offer it.

Small business owners are like those circus performers who spin lots of plates. One wobbles in the corner and you have to rush over to it, then another and you rush over to that.

Photography: Peter Langdown

SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS ARE LIKE THOSE CIRCUS PERFORMERS WHO SPIN LOTS OF PLATES. ONE WOBBLES IN THE CORNER AND YOU HAVE TO RUSH OVER TO IT, THEN ANOTHER AND YOU RUSH OVER TO THAT

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32

Countdown to pensions auto-enrolment

DON’T PUT YOURSELF

IN PENSIONS PERIL

HALF OF NHF MEMBERS WILL NEED TO START OFFERING PENSIONS TO STAFF DURING 2016. MAKE SURE YOU’RE NOT CAUGHT OUT, THE NHF IS WARNING.

early a fifth of NHF salons say they still don’t know when they’re supposed to be offering their staff access to a pension. This is despite the fact nearly half of members also say they have been told they will need to go “live” with a pension this year – and it can take as long as 12 months to put a pension scheme in place.

These worrying statistics, taken from the NHF’s 2015 survey of members, highlight just how challenging 2016 could be for many salons when it comes to ensuring you don’t get caught out by pensions auto-enrolment.

Even if your salon is very small – even, in fact, if you only employ one person and they’ve said they’re not interested in a pension – you will still legally have to offer a pension scheme.

RISK OF FINES To recap, pensions auto-enrolment is a nationwide change in the law that is making it compulsory for businesses of all sizes to offer, and pay into, a workplace pension for their employees.

For most small salons their staging date or starting point will either be during 2016 or 2017. But it can take up to a year to do all the groundwork to put a pension in place.

Businesses found not to be offering a pension when they should be can be fined as much as £50,000.

The NHF offers a salon-specific pension scheme, details of which can be found at nhfpensions.co.uk.

• Work out what you and they will need to pay. Under auto-enrolment you, as the employer, will be expected to pay a contribution into the pension as well as your employee.

• Choose a pension scheme. There are a lot of different schemes out there but there have also been warnings that, as more and more small employers rush to put schemes in place, there may be a “capacity crunch”, with pension providers becoming overwhelmed by the demand. The NHF in 2014 set up a low-cost salon-specific pension scheme that guarantees entry to members.

• Write to your staff. You need to tell your employees what is happening, how your pension scheme will work and what it will mean for them. The NHF pension comes with a free leaflet explaining how it all works, which could be handy for staff to read too.

Remember, employees can make the choice to opt out of paying into a pension, but it is illegal to try and persuade them to do so.

STAGING DATE The NHF is therefore strongly urging all salons – but especially salons with a “staging date” (or start date) during 2016 – to be spending the traditionally quieter months of January and February focusing on what you need to be putting in place and drawing up a “to do” list.

Any salon that still does not know its staging date should as a matter of urgency use the “Finding out your staging date” tool on The Pensions Regulator’s website, thepensionsregulator.gov.uk.

If you don’t know your staging date, you won’t know when you need to start this process or how long you have left to

THINGS YOU SHOULD BE DOING If you haven’t done so already, at the very least you need to do the following things: • Find out your staging date.

Without this you’re completely ignorant about how far away (or how close) you are to breaking the law and being heavily fined.

• Assess your staff. Not all staff will be eligible for auto-enrolment (for example if they’re self-employed) so you need to be working out who this change will apply to, and ensuring you have accurate data about employee ages, salary levels and their National Insurance Contributions.

ARE YOU WORRIED? If you’re unsure what you need to be doing around pensions auto-enrolment, members can download the free The NHF’s Pensions Auto-Enrolment Guide. It can be found at nhf.info/nhf-guides/.

The NHF is during 2016 running “Are you prepared for pensions autoenrolment?” events around the country.

For details of when these are coming to your area, turn to Events on page 38 and 40–42 or go to nhfpensions.co.uk.

Alternatively, speak to the NHF team on 01234 831965.

There is also a lot of detail and advice on The Pensions Regulator’s website thepensionsregulator.gov.uk.

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salonfocus | Jan/Feb 2016

sort things out – you may even already be breaking the law.

As NHF president Paul Curry has warned: “One way or another, pensions auto-enrolment will be coming to your salon in a matter of months – so salons need to get focused, get engaged and get preparing.”

Facts and figures

7% Members who have already gone “live” with a pension scheme during 2015

2016 44% Members who say they will be “staging” during this year

2017 31% Members who are set to stage during 2017

19% Members who still do not know when their staging date is

48% Members who admit to feeling unprepared for pensions autoenrolment Source: NHF members survey, 2015

Jan/Feb 2016 | salonfocus

34

Q&A Countdown to pensions auto-enrolment

BOXING

CLEVER

THE NHF HAS LAUNCHED A HEALTH AND SAFETY ‘BOX’ TO HELP SALON OWNERS KEEP STAFF SAFE. SALONFOCUS TOOK A LOOK INSIDE.

early half of hairdressers and beauty therapists say they have been injured at work, making our industry one of the most accident-prone in the country. And only florists have a higher rate of the skin disease contact dermatitis than hairdressers, barbers and beauty therapists.

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These two sets of figures – highlighted in News and in our industry survey on pages 22-23 – show why it is so important salon owners keep on top of health and safety.

As an employer, salon owners have a “duty of care” both to their employed staff and to any chair renters taking space in their salon.

And it is a duty that can be costly if an employment tribunal finds someone has been injured or made ill because of their employer’s neglect.

Most salon owners, of course, genuinely care about their people and want to see them in – and happy at – work, and contributing to the salon.

But it is also true that someone being ill, injured or absent will be a cost to any

salonfocus | Jan/Feb 2016

small team or business, both financially and in terms of the added pressure it puts on other team members.

FIRST AID SUPPORT To this end, the NHF has brought out a practical, easy-to-follow toolkit specifically for salon owners, a health and safety “box”.

The NHF is also during 2016 running a programme of “emergency at work” first aid training. This will help you cope if a client or team member becomes ill is injured at the salon.

INSIDE THE BOX The health and safety toolkit, literally packaged as a cardboard box, is designed to contain everything a salon needs to comply with health and safety legislation and is specifically tailored for hair and beauty salons and barber shops. It includes: • A copy of the NHF’s new guide Health and Safety for Hair Salons and Barber Shops.

• A set of risk assessment template documents.

• A template document you can use to draw up a health and safety policy for your salon.

• A health and safety guide for workers.

• A first aid kit.

• A health and safety poster to put up in the salon.

• A notice advising what to do in the event of a salon fire.

• A sign you can put up to show staff the location of the first aid box.

• An accident book for recording any injuries or accidents.

• A copy of the NHF’s Guide to Allergy Alert Testing and Colour Products plus a sample record card.

• A voucher from Aston & Fincher offering a discount on nitrile gloves and glide stools.

• A health and safety guide to hair products published by the Hairdressing and Beauty Suppliers Association and Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association.

The box is available for members to buy from this month (January), through the NHF’s online shop (which can be found via the website nhf.info) or by ringing 01234 831965.

FIND OUT MORE For details about the first aid training turn to Events on pages 38, 40 and 43.

Health and safety

35

LEGAL LIFELINE Members with a business, legal or employment question can call the Legal Lifeline on 01234 831965 or email enquiries@nhf.info.

Employment-related support is available 24/7 and advice on commercial issues 9am-5pm Monday-Friday.

YOUR

QUESTIONS embers in December were worried about how to deal with an alleged case of fake absence, a rude apprentice and a light-fingered stylist.

M

Q

One of my stylists called in sick late on a Friday night, which is one of our busiest times in the salon.

She was then seen in a nightclub later that evening by another of my stylists. The two talked and she told her colleague she had another job and would never set foot within the salon again. Can I treat this as a resignation and issue her P45?

A

As you’ve only had this information second-hand from another employee you need to be careful; there is the potential it is incorrect. Unless the stylist formally notifies you of her intention to resign, it is unsafe to assume you can terminate her employment.

However, if she does turn up for her next shift, you should investigate her absence on the Friday night. If it becomes clear the

absence was not genuine, you could take disciplinary action.

If she hands in her notice to resign you could still investigate the Friday night issue and take disciplinary action if appropriate, as she remains your employee until her last day of employment. She could, however, resign without notice to get around this.

Is she fails to turn up for any more shifts, then you will need to get in touch to establish what’s going on. It may well be she can be dismissed, although you will still need to follow a fair procedure.

Q

One of our apprentices was rude to a client who later raised a complaint. We have investigated and have decided to invite her to a disciplinary hearing regarding the issue. She is 16 and her father has called in to say he has a legal right to attend with her given her age. Is this correct?

A

An employee does not have a statutory right to be accompanied by a family member at a disciplinary hearing. However, if they either work at the salon or as a trade union representative they could come as an “accompanying person”.

Having said that, given the age of the employee and the fact she is an apprentice, it may be sensible to go ahead and allow her to bring along her father.

If you are concerned he may hinder the proceedings you should make it clear you are allowing him to attend but only as a courtesy, and outline what you expect to happen at the hearing.

Q

We have had reason to suspect one of our employees is taking stock from the shop. We have CCTV cameras to prevent external criminal activity but wish to review the recordings to see if our concerns our founded. The staff are all aware we have CCTV. Can we use the material for these purposes?

A

Yes. The recordings will be classed as personal data under the Data Protection Act 1998 but, as you have made your employees aware they are being monitored and they have accepted this, you have “implied consent” to use it.

If, when you view the recordings, your suspicions are confirmed, then you will need to conduct a thorough investigation.

Be aware, however, you will need to allow them to see the CCTV footage so they can fully understand the case against them.

36

Set your salon apart: magazine packages

PAGE TURNER

THE DAYS OF A PILE OF ELDERLY, DOG-EARED MAGAZINES IN RECEPTION ARE LONG GONE. NOWADAYS, CLIENTS WANT TO BE ABLE TO READ UP ON THE LATEST NEWS AND GOSSIP, WHETHER IN A MAGAZINE OR, INCREASINGLY, ON A TABLET.

HOW DOES IT WORK? A magazine package is where you subscribe with a provider who periodically sends a range of magazines for your clients to read while they wait for their appointment. These can be physical magazines or digital versions you read via an app on a tablet, an option becoming increasingly popular.

WHAT’S TO STOP CLIENTS STEALING THEM? You can buy security cables to keep each tablet safe. Another deterrent is to install a location-tracking app on each tablet (and advertise the fact they’re fitted with this) and to record the device’s serial number and international mobile identity number (IMEI). These can normally be found within “Settings”.

HOW MANY MAGAZINES WILL I GET? It depends on the package but will normally be either eight, 12, 18 or 24. You will be sent new editions automatically so it’s a good way of keeping magazines fresh and up-to-date. You can normally choose, or even customise, what titles you think your clients would like to read. With digital versions, once you’ve subscribed, you download the app, register your account and the digital editions are automatically uploaded.

WHAT’LL IT SET ME BACK? While the cost is going to vary depending on your package, the price is normally the same for a digital or conventional package.

To that end you could be looking at between £18 to around £40 a month. Being a member of the NHF can help. For example, the NHF has a money-off deal with provider DLT Magazines.

So ask the question.

WITH DIGITAL, WILL I NEED TO SUPPLY THE TABLETS? Yes. This is something more and more salons are doing at the chair anyway, so it is simply an extension of a trend already happening. You’ll obviously need to decide how many tablets to have available in your reception.

SET YOUR

SALON

APART

WHAT ELSE DO I GET? With a conventional magazine package you’ll normally be able to get accessories such as a rack to display the titles neatly and protective covers – these can also act as a deterrent to people taking them away. With digital, you can brand your “newsstand” – for example inserting your salon logo. You can also, feasibly, sell advertising space, so incorporating promotional banners or advertising.

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NHF Advert Halfpage 1.indd 1

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Events: Salon London

BUSINESS

ACCELERATOR THE NHF WILL BE RUNNING ITS OWN BUSINESS STAGE AT NEXT MONTH’S SALON LONDON (FORMERLY HAIR PRO LIVE). JOIN US THERE TO FIND OUT HOW THE NHF CAN HELP YOU.

WHAT: SALON LONDON (FORMERLY KNOWN AS HAIR PRO LIVE) WHEN: 28-29 FEBRUARY WHERE: LONDON’S EXCEL CENTRE COST: £10 IN ADVANCE, £20 ON THE DOOR HOW TO REGISTER: GO TO HAIREXHIBITIONS. CO.UK

S U N D AY 2 8 F E B R U A R Y 11AM TO 11.55AM: TARGET THE TALENT Do you struggle with recruiting new members of the team? Find out top tips for recruiting the right candidate.

Run by Debbie Elderton, salon owner and operations manager of recruitment agency Salon Angels and Charlotte Walsh, recruitment manager at Salon Angels

12PM TO 12.55PM: USE OUTSTANDING CONSULTATIONS TO GROW Losing clients can be expensive, especially your “bread and butter” ones. So, why are they so often taken for granted?

Learn how to use powerful “buzz words” in your consultations, and find out how your professional recommendations will drive up retail sales as well as growing your business by increasing retention and building client rapport.

Run by Alexandra Girling, salon owner and author of The SOS Theory, a must-read guide to the hairdressing industry

1PM TO 1.55PM: ARE YOUR PRICES MAKING YOU MONEY, OR LOSING YOU MONEY? Most of the money in hair and beauty salons is made on certain services, so why do we hang onto the ones that don’t?

Find out how to eliminate the loss makers, and drive up the profit makers.

Run by salon owners and NHF business event coaches Richard Wallace and Chris Amos, of Winning Ways Education

2PM TO 2.55PM: THE NEW ‘RULES’ FOR POSTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook and Twitter have changed enormously in the past few months, and if you don’t know what these changes are, you could waste time and energy. As well as explaining the changes, this session will introduce the newer channels such as Pinterest and Instagram. You’ll leave with a clear plan on how to market your business and use social media.

Run by Catherine Trebble, MBA, author of The Full Appointment Book Step-by-Step Marketing Course and hair, nail and beauty salon trainer

3PM TO 3.55PM: HOW TO HANDLE CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS Everyone wants their clients to be happy with the service they’ve received and no-one wants to lose clients. But sometimes things go wrong and you have to handle complaints. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 has given clients extra rights, potentially making complaints much trickier to manage. This event will give you greater confidence when dealing with complaints as well as explain the benefits of independent third-party mediation.

Run by Jo Holland, chief executive of Small Claims Mediation salonfocus | Jan/Feb 2016

M O N D AY 2 9 F E B R U A R Y 11AM TO 11.55AM: MOTIVATING YOUR TEAM If you want a fired-up, motivated team they need to know the answer to two questions: where are they are going, and why should they go there? For you to be able to motivate them you need to know the answers too. Do you?

Run by Ken West, director of salon coaching firm Salon 365.com

12PM TO 12.55PM: TEN SCARY FACTS ON CLIENT RETENTION This lively session will be a powerful reminder of just how much damage losing clients does to your business – and why we need to do everything possible to keep our customers.

Run by NHF business event trainer Penny Etheridge, of Radiant Hair Consultancy

1PM TO 1.55PM: HOW TO GET YOUR CLIENTS IN MORE OFTEN, SPENDING MORE This session will showcase what some of the world’s best salons from Ireland, the UK, Finland and the US are doing to grow their businesses, including how to get clients back more often, spending more and generating referrals. If you want to walk away with practical ideas to grow your business every year without fail, then this is the seminar for you.

Run by Connor Keppel, head of marketing, Phorest Software

2PM TO 2.55PM: HOW TO CREATE A WINNING IMPRESSION OF YOUR SALON Clients often look at the little details of your salon and form an immediate impression which is difficult to shift. This session will look at how paying attention to every part of the client experience can help you get clients and keep them. It will also highlight how it’s often hard to look at your own business with fresh eyes and therefore why mystery shopping can often help.

Run by Angela Bartlett and Antonio Aznar Dominguez of Hidden Beauty

3PM TO 3.55PM: TEN THINGS SALON OWNERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT EMPLOYMENT LAW Employment law can be a minefield for salon owners. This session will take the legal jargon away and get back to basics – giving the salon owners clear pointers as to the things they really need to know, what’s changing and where to get reliable advice.

Run by Richard Willett, senior employment consultant at Croner, which runs the NHF’s Legal Lifeline Jan/Feb 2016 | salonfocus

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The NHF’s 2016 events programme

NEXT LEVEL

LEARNING

BOOKINGS Anyone interested in attending events should Go to nhf.info/events, email events@nhf.info or call the membership team on 01234 831965.

THE NHF IS DURING 2016 RUNNING ONE-DAY, HALF-DAY AND EVENING EVENTS TO TAKE YOUR BUSINESS TO THE NEXT LEVEL. COME ALONG AND BE INSPIRED!

WHOLE-DAY EVENTS HOW TO INCREASE YOUR PROFITS What should you pay your team in wages, commissions or bonuses? How do you increase your prices without losing clients? This is a hands-on, fun and practical day focused on making your salon more profitable.

Members: £170 (early bird £130) Non-members: £250 HOW TO DELIVER A GREAT CLIENT EXPERIENCE Is your “client journey” losing you clients? Is it worth the price you’re charging? Are you ready for new clients?

Learn what your clients really want and how to be sure your business is consistently great – even when you’re not there.

Members: £170 (early bird £130) Non-members: £250 USING FACEBOOK TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS Do you want to use Facebook to generate business and build a community of loyal fans who will want to spend money in your salon? This event will teach you how to use Facebook to benefit your business, and how to get the right content to share with your fans.

Members: £170 (early bird £130) Non-members: £250

salonfocus | Jan/Feb 2016

HOW TO GET THE BEST FROM YOUR TEAM Do you struggle to motivate your team?

Find out how to set goals and targets for your team members and how to review their performance. Learn how to improve your communication skills to make appraisals positive and motivating for everyone. A fun, hands-on and interactive day.

Members: £170 (early bird £130) Non-members: £250

EVENING EVENTS (7PM TO 9PM) ARE YOU PREPARED FOR PENSIONS AUTO-ENROLMENT? By 2018 all UK companies with one employee or more must offer a pension scheme. Do you know when your “staging date” is, what to do to prepare and what it will all cost? Come and find out what auto-enrolment means for you as a business owner.

Members: £50 (early bird £40) Non-members: £75

HOW TO MANAGE CONFLICT Salons can be pressure-cooker environments. This one-day session looks at what causes conflict, how different behaviours can make the situation worse and will give you the skills to stay calm and take control of any conflict situation.

Members: £170 (early bird £130) Non-members: £250

HAVING DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS Putting off those difficult conversations?

What makes those conversations so difficult? How can you prepare for them and be sure of getting the right result?

A hands-on session.

Members: £40 (early bird £30) Non-members: £60

EMERGENCY FIRST AID AT WORK What happens if a client or team member becomes ill or has an accident in your salon? This certified one-day emergency first aid at work training course is recommended to comply with the NHF salon health and safety guidelines.

Members: £85 (early bird £65) Non-members: £125

THE DOS AND DON’TS OF CHAIR RENTING What are the differences between chair renting and employment? How do you stay on the right side of the law? What else do you need to think about before introducing chair renting into your salon? Find out from Croner, the experts who run the NHF’s Legal Lifeline.

Members: £50 (early bird £40) Non-members: £75

The NHF’s 2016 events programme

INTRODUCING BEAUTY INTO YOUR SALON Thinking of introducing beauty into your business? Not sure what space will be required, the costs involved and what treatments to add to your service list? Come to this event before making the decision to expand your business into beauty.

Members: £40 (early bird £30) Non-members: £60 TEN THINGS SALON OWNERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT EMPLOYMENT LAW Employment law can be a minefield for salon owners. This session takes away the legal jargon to give salon owners clear pointers as to the things they need to know and what’s changing.

Delivered by Croner, operators of the NHF’s Legal Lifeline.

Members: £50 (early bird £40) Non-members: £75

INSIGHT INTO AFRO (7PM TO 9PM) Want to find out more about different hair types and textures, including Afro-Caribbean hair? Learn how to handle this hair type with a practical demonstration introducing simple and speedy techniques for working with textured hair.

Members: £40 (early bird £30) Non-members: £60 BRIDAL MAKE-UP (9.30 TO 1PM) Suitable for beginners or the inexperienced, this session will cover brush/applicator choice, flawless skin coverage, shading and contouring, “natural beauty” eyes and lips, plus tips on cleaning and sterilising professional equipment.

Members: £45 (early bird £35) Non-members: £65

FRANCHISING OR LICENSING? Thinking of expanding your business?

What’s the difference between franchising and licensing? What are the advantages and disadvantages?

This event looks at what’s involved and the next steps for anyone considering franchising or licensing their business.

Members: £40 (early bird £30) Non-members: £60

AN EVENING WITH DESMOND MURRAY (7PM TO 9PM) Find out how Desmond Murray got to be a multi award-winning hairdresser as well as a renowned photographer for London Fashion Week and worldwide. Des will present two completed couture looks on live models and then unpick them for you, this event will be followed by a Q&A session.

Members: £45 (early bird £35) Non-members: £65

SHORT WORKSHOPS AND DEMONSTRATIONS FOCUS ON HAIR LOSS (9.30AM TO 1PM) This half-day session will give you a deeper understanding of the stages and types of hair loss, including hair loss in women, sudden hair loss, male pattern baldness and bald spots caused by pulling. It’ll also explain how to give good advice and offer realistic solutions.

Members: £50 (early bird £40) Non-members: £75

NAIL ART WORKSHOP (9.30AM TO 1PM) Suitable for qualified nail technicians who currently use a gel manicure system and who want to expand to include techniques such as dried flowers, embedding (for example gems), using glitter, striping, dotting and flicks and ombré nails. Check nhf.info for details of equipment and materials you’ll need to bring.

Members: £65 (early bird £50) Non-members: £95

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CLIPPER OVER CHAT WITH MK (7PM TO 9PM) MK is one of the UK’s best-known barbers, with more than 20 years’ experience. His unique approach to cutting-edge barbering has won him multiple awards. MK’s session will be inspiring and fun, geared around you, the audience – he’ll entertain you with barber chat while he works!

Members: £45 (early bird £35) Non-members: £65 SHAVING DEMONSTRATION (7PM TO 9PM) Using three live models, Robert and Dan Rix will demonstrate full beard removal, which will include a classic hot towel shave, and an oriental shave using antique razors. They will discuss the differences between the various kinds of razors, shaving products and tools available to use.

Members: £45 (early bird £35) Non-members: £65 BARBER WORKSHOPS (7PM TO 9PM) An evening with a fantastic barber – James Beattie who will demonstrate a range of different barbering techniques.

Members: £25 (early bird £20) Non-members: £40 TRICHOLOGY TASTER (4PM TO 6PM) Want to provide a better service to your clients by getting a basic understanding of the science of hair and skin?

Understand what can cause hair loss, the difference between skin irritants and allergens and what professional hairdressers can do to help clients.

Members: £40 (early bird £30) Non-members: £60 FIND OUT MORE See page 42 to find out when events are coming to your region, or go to nhf.info/events

Jan/Feb 2016 | salonfocus

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BOOKINGS Anyone interested in attending events should Go to nhf.info/events, email events@nhf.info or call the membership team on 01234 831965.

Events

EVENTS UP-COMING

O N E - D AY E V E N TS

HOW TO INCREASE YOUR PROFITS 25 January – London 22 February – Middlesbrough 7 March – Birmingham HOW TO DELIVER A GREAT CLIENT EXPERIENCE 4 April – Durham USING FACEBOOK TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS 21 March – Glasgow 18 April – Nottingham HOW TO GET THE BEST FROM YOUR TEAM 9 May – Darlington HOW TO MANAGE CONFLICT 27 June – Milton Keynes EMERGENCY FIRST AID AT WORK 1 February – Leeds 7 March – Bristol

7 March – Newark 14 March – Wolverhampton 4 April – York 11 April – Exeter 18 April – Glasgow 18 April – Edinburgh

EVENING E V E N TS ARE YOU PREPARED FOR PENSIONS AUTOENROLMENT? 8 February – Birmingham 8 February – Thurrock 29 February – Sheffield 21 March – Middlesbrough 11 April – Liverpool HAVING DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS 22 February – Birmingham

TEN THINGS ABOUT EMPLOYMENT LAW 25 April – Leeds FRANCHISING OR LICENSING? 25 April – Wolverhampton

WORKSHOPS/ DEMOS FOCUS ON HAIR LOSS 8 February – Nottingham 11 April – Cardiff INSIGHT INTO AFRO 21 March – Southampton BRIDAL MAKE-UP 14 March – Bedford AN EVENING WITH DESMOND MURRAY 17 April – Swindon

THE DOS AND DON’TS OF CHAIR RENTING 14 March – Leeds

NAIL ART WORKSHOP 16 May – Bedford

INTRODUCING BEAUTY INTO YOUR SALON 4 April – Birmingham

CLIPPER OVER CHAT WITH MK 11 April – Birmingham

SHAVING DEMONSTRATION 16 May – Guildford 27 June – Wakefield BARBER WORKSHOPS 15 February – Cardiff (James Beattie) 7 March – Newcastle (Tom Baxter) 21 March – Birmingham (Tom Baxter) TRICHOLOGY TASTER 15 February – Birmingham

FLOOR COMPETITIONS 13-14 March – Blackpool Hairdressing Competitions 25 April – Pride of the North East, Newcastle 9 May – Central England Hairdressing Championships, Birmingham 5 June – South West Hairfest, Taunton 6 June – Red Rose Championships, Warrington 19 June – Wales’ Finest, Cardiff 24 October – Pride of Scotland, Glasgow

FORMAL NOTICE OF THE NHF’S AGM Formal notice is hereby given that the 74th Annual General Meeting of the members of the National Hairdressers’ Federation will be held at the Holiday Inn Regent’s Park, Carburton St, London W1W 5EE on Sunday 15 May, starting at 1pm.

It will be for the purpose of: receiving the minutes of the previous meeting; to consider the National Executive Council’s report for 2015; financial report and statement of accounts for the year ended 31 December 2015; to appoint auditors; the installation of the president, vice president and officers; and to consider any

salonfocus | Jan/Feb 2016

other item of business of which due notice has been given.

Members must submit items of business to tina.beaumont@ nhf.info by no later than 5pm on Monday 4 April 2016. Questions about the minutes of last year’s meeting or the accounts should be sent to simon.thomson@nhf.info at least seven days before the Annual General Meeting.

By order of the National Executive Council Hilary Hall, secretary general

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