It goes without saying that learning to live and work with an evolving pandemic will require grit and determination.
For many of us in the beauty industry, navigating the fallout from the current COVID-19 crisis is a challenge. Sick staff and the ongoing confusion caused by constantly changing mandates will make running your beauty business one of the biggest challenges you’ll face this year.
According to HABA (Hair & Beauty Australia Industry Association), amongst the continued uncertainty around covid, other hurdles such as supply issues and the historical effects of an undertrained workforce are amongst the top four issues facing salon owners in 2022.
However, taking the time to contemplate the current situation in order to strategise some counteractive measures will go a long way in helping you weather the storm.
Finding And Managing Qualified Staff:
One of the biggest challenges facing salon owners right now is finding staff to fill those covid induced vacancies plaguing many businesses across Australia.
A collision between current training inadequacies and the effects of covid stand-downs, border closures and Job Seeker entitlements has created a vacuum of skilled workers and left the beauty industry with an unprecedented labour shortage like never experienced before.
While industry representatives such as HABA and APAN work tirelessly reviewing and recommending changes to our industry training programs (in order to develop salon-ready candidates for the beauty industry), these changes can take some time.
However, in some recent good news for Queensland, and thanks to well-known industry expert and educator Gay Wardle and her team, the DESBT (Department of Employment, Small Business and Training) has given the green light to a funded apprenticeship for the Diploma Of Beauty.
While, for now, there is no specific information available regarding this QLD Diploma of Beauty Therapy Apprenticeship, it does open up a glimmer of hope for the rest of Australia to follow suit. In the meantime, no matter what state your beauty business is located in, you can build a professional and dedicated team by:
- Focusing firstly on the employees you already have, identify any training gaps and consider enrolling them in some post-graduate training courses offered online or face-to-face via the Skin & Beauty Training Centre. If that is not feasible for you right now, perhaps discuss the option of a pay rise on completion should your employee be happy to fund their own training. Ensuring your salon offers in-demand services will help you attract new clients, keep your employees engaged and keep your business moving in the right direction.
- Look to your suppliers for help with training. Many suppliers offer in-house or in-salon training, often ran by industry professionals who are highly skilled in using the particular product or equipment they supply.
Companies such as the Australian Skin Institute offer free online training for beauty professionals needing to learn or brush up on their knowledge of how cosmeceuticals work on the skin. While Australian based beauty equipment supplier, MediLight offers free in-depth, face-to-face or online training with all of their beauty systems, including their MediLight 6 Step HydraFacial, MediLight LED MED600 and MediLight SHR/IPL PRO.
Work With Industry Suppliers That Help You To Grow:
With the news of local and international border reopenings coming in late in 2021, many of us assumed the days of mask shortages and hard to find hand sanitisers were long behind us.
However, as we now know, the reality is that global supply chain issues will continue to affect not only the beauty industry but every industry in Australia - and is likely to do so for some time to come.
Regularly taking stock and staying ahead of what you need in your clinic is essential. However, overly increasing your stock order quantities to cover any possible shortages due to delivery delays is only swapping one problem for another. If you are trying to reduce costs and manage cash flow - having cash sitting on your shelf in the form of excess stock may not be the best solution.
Re-evaluate your stock and supply needs. Consider working with home-grown, local suppliers willing to cater to your needs by offering smaller or no minimum orders and faster delivery times.
Companies such as ASI - Australian Skin Institute not only provide a range of Australian made cosmeceutical skincare exclusively developed for the Australian skin but are also happy to help you keep your stock levels under control by offering a hassle-free ordering system and no lock-in contracts or massive opening orders - their packages start at just $120.00!
ASI Australian Skin Institute Is Here To Support Your Beauty Business In 2022
ASI - Australian Skin Institute is a community of beauty and pharmaceutical experts passionate about skincare.
Founded by Australian entrepreneur and award-winning businesswoman Francesca Webster, ASI was created with a commitment to continual innovation of cosmeceutical strength formulations, biotechnology and the development of cutting edge skin delivery systems.
Fresh, potent and affordable, ASI is more than just another skincare company. Whether you are an established clinic, spa, salon, or run a small beauty business from home, ASI welcomes and supports all beauty business owners. We provide exceptional Australian-made skincare formulations and practical business tools and support to help make you and your business successful.
Accredited by the Skin & Beauty Training Centre and MediLight Australia, our skincare range is featured in countless independent and national clinics across Australia, including our sister brand Brazilian Beauty. We train 100's of beauty therapists each year who have performed ASI professional treatments on thousands of happy customers.
We invite you to visit our website, join our Facebook community or contact our friendly team about becoming an ASI Partner Stockist.
Contact us by telephone on 07 3357 4081, Live Chat online or click here to fill out an enquiry form for all inquiries.