Business

Andrew Diprose is the founder and editor of dorsetbiznews.co.uk, the No.1 business website in the county with more than 27,000 unique users

Jemma Sandell loves her work. In fact, she feels she has her dream job. But it’s been a difficult and uncertain time for the massage and beauty therapist who owns Ferndown-based Relax & Remedy. Because if there’s one sector that’s taken a particular battering over the last 18 months, it’s the beauty industry. According to statistics from the NHBF (National Hair and Beauty Federation) and the British Beauty Council, more than 7,300 beauty salons have closed since March 2020. And the latest survey of beauty professionals and salons by the NHBF revealed that business is down for three in five beauty businesses while only one in four are making much profit. Especially worrying is that after the initial busy period post lockdown, clients have not returned to the hair and beauty sector in the same numbers as before. In the beauty sector, with trade relying heavily on client experience and social events, 60 per cent of the 1,750 respondents in the survey reported business as being quieter or really quiet. Meanwhile The Local Data Company estimated that, as of May, 16 per cent of the industry has been lost to the covid-19 crisis. Without careful management of the recovery, it’s feared the figure could continue to rise, with the greatest impact felt by women and young people. A key reason why the British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology (BABTAC) has urged people to ‘Book in for Beauty’. The twin aim is for clients to secure the future of the salons they love while improving their own wellbeing. The initiative is strongly backed by Jemma, 34, who launched Essence of you Beauty two years ago but rebranded to Relax & Remedy in July. She said: “It’s not just a question of having a pamper or beauty treatment but also people’s mental health, “People have missed human touch and interaction. It’s something I’ve certainly noticed with my clients.” Lesley Blair, BABTAC CEO and Chair, said: “Constantly having to stay at home has discouraged the need for personal grooming, which could play a factor in rising anxiety levels. “When we feel low, sick, or tired, we also tend to stop focusing on self-care, which can affect our confidence. “Generally, when we take pride in our appearance, it boosts our confidence and makes us feel happier.” Jemma is full of praise for BABTAC. The not for profit organisation is one of the UK’s leading membership organisations and insurance providers. It was founded to raise the level of professionalism in the beauty, holistic and hair industries. Jemma, who is married to Ashley and has two daughters aged seven and eight, said: “They’ve been very supportive throughout the pandemic.” Jemma, who has her own treatment room in the Arena Business Centre on the Ferndown Industrial Estate, started out as a nail technician. She then trained in holistic massage, adding deep tissue massage, beauty therapy, intimate waxing and many other skills and courses. Since launching her business Jemma has built up a client base of nearly 200. They range in age from teenagers to clients in their 80s. The lockdowns allowed her to work on her website and learn new skills. She also launched new innovations such as pamper boxes and video sessions and worked closely with her business mentor, Natasha Britton. Jemma said: “I thoroughly enjoy all the treatments I offer and love to see the finished results, even if it is a leg wax! “Seeing the difference a treatment can make to a client is what I enjoy. “Happy clients make me happy.” l relaxandremedy.co.uk

BOUNCING BACK: Jemma Sandell

Picture: DORSET BIZ NEWS

Jemma supports ‘Book in for Beauty’ comeback campaign

Award-winning firm projects right image

By Andrew Diprose A company which won Dorset’s only Queen’s Award for Enterprise earlier this year has unveiled its first gesture controlled touchless kiosk in response to the global pandemic. Touchless self-service solutions avoid hand to kiosk contact and eliminate any hygiene concerns. With many companies now turning to no-touch tech and contactless devices, fastgrowing imageHOLDERS says it’s on a mission to be at the forefront of self-service kiosk technology. A survey by Ultraleap showed that 80 per cent of consumers consider public touchscreens to be unhealthy. In response, Ferndown-based imageHOLDERS believes its innovation is crucial in restoring public confidence as the world learns to live with Covid-19. The kiosk is powered by a hand tracking camera. Users can type, select, scroll and navigate a kiosk display using mid-air gestures without having to touch the screen. The non-touch approach reduces the risk of spreading germs and bacteria build-up. The gesture control technology uses an optical hand tracking module that captures the movement of hands and fingers so they can interact naturally with the on-screen content. The controller is capable of tracking hands within a 3D interactive zone that extends up to 60cm or more. The software can discern 27 distinct hand elements, including bones and joints, and track them even when they are obscured by other parts of the hands. It is both intuitive and easy to use for businesses. A selection of optional devices can be added, including printers, scanners, and payment devices, to ensure each kiosk is tailored to individual business needs. imageHOLDERS can tailor each kiosk dependent on the industry including: l Public kiosks l Entertainment complexes l Healthcare l Office and workplaces l Education Adrian Thompson, CEO, said: “We are extremely proud of our latest innovation. “Our mission was to instil confidence in the general public and, in turn, galvanise multiple industries to be able to get back to full strength in a post-covid world. “Our interactive kiosk solutions are both intuitive and easy to use and our digital kiosks are tailorable to every business. “Developing this touchless technology was a gratifying challenge and I am very excited to see how it helps people navigate their busy lives in real world applications.” The company makes interactive touch screen and computer kiosks in addition to its new gesture controlled touchless kiosk. It has a £5million annual turnover with 70 per cent of sales going overseas. It employs 43 staff at its Ferndown Industrial Estate site – up from 24 just over a year ago – with a further three roles in its offices in Vancouver and also Taiwan. imageHOLDERS supports clients in a variety of industry sectors including hospitality, retail, leisure, automotive, casino, corporate and healthcare. Customers include Amazon, Bentley, Legoland, Hard Rock Café. Hilton, McDonald’s, Mercedes-Benz, Nasa and the NHS. In April imageHOLDERS, which has exported its products to 72 countries in recent years, received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the International Trade category.