Snow causes chaos for salons across the country

With temperatures dropping to -20 deg Centigrade in parts of the UK, recent weeks have seen a return of the dreaded white stuff and a repeat of the chaos experienced in January.

HJ spoke to a selection of readers from across the UK to find out how their businesses had been affected by the severe weather, and how they were tackling the problem.

Ian Egerton, managing director of Stress Exchange in London Bridge said: "Snow has affected business badly as we have had lots of cancellations and no shows. People who have made it in are running late  - this is London, in the snow!"

Gary Hooker and Michael Young of Hooker and Young, who have salons in and around Newcastle-upon-Tyne, reported that all salons in the group had been affected by the weather.

Said Michael: "Two of our six salons cater for clients based in rural areas, which have been completely shut off. Instead of moaning about it we are using the time to plan for 2011, do team appraisals and work out systems so that once the snow has gone we can accommodate all client bookings at this busy time of year.

"Our Wynyard salon is located in a gated community so the teams there are being proactive and visiting the houses of people who are snowed in. If they can't drive to work then they have time on their hands and can walk to the salon for last minute appointments.

Said Malcolm MacNeil, co-owner of Ishoka in Aberdeen: "We are quite used to snow and so are our clients. This year has been particularly bad, as the snow has come very early and in Aberdeen and the surrounding areas it's been lying for a week. 

"We do have cancellations but very often they get filled quickly by clients who live in town and can walk to the salons. We have a waiting list and always call clients on the list to see if we can fill the cancellations."

Said Angela Lowery, of Y Salon, Newcastle-upon-Tyne: "The snow here is really bad with more than 10 inches in places. This really has had an effect on business as clients are not willing to risk roads in their cars and buses have been taken off.

"We saw several clients cancelling appointments this week - some have rebooked for later in the week and next week but generally Newcastle is quiet right now."

Said Paul Johnson, partner of Ransay & Johnson in Sunderland: "Here in the North East we have never seen weather like this for years and it has had a really negative affect on business. The first weekend of bad weather should have been the start of our busy run till Christmas but the salon was left empty all weekend and the beginning of the week.

"Blizzard- like conditions swept through the whole area leaving over a foot of snow everywhere.These conditions meant many staff could not make it into work for days and clients cancelling there appointments by the dozen as people were warned not to leave there homes."

Dawn Lawrence, of Q Hair & Beauty  in Chichester was one of the lucky few not to have suffered as a result of the snow, but said she and the team were not taking any chances: "We have been fortunate enough to have not been affected by the snow although it is now beginning to fall. 

"We have our annual Christmas promotional eventsoon and will have a contingency plan to call our clients and keep them up to speed on the state of the car parks and roads locally and encourage them to make the journey whether for the open evening or day-to-day business."

There were also stories of staff showing their commitment.

Said Charles Dodds, co-owner of  Cutting Room Creative, Leeds: "We have five inches of snow in Leeds (and more in the surrounding areas) however not a single member of our team has yet been late and amazingly cancellations have been very few.

"I guess because Christmas is coming clients are wary of cancelling their appointments as they might not fit in another. I think maybe we are getting used to it at last!"

The legal implications of snow days 



Legal expert Julian Sampson, of solicitors Wright & Wright, reminds salon owners of their obligation to staff during severe weather.

"It is unlikely that the template employment contract will contain any provision for a "snow day" and so the basic rule is that if the employee does no work (because they are absent) then they do not get paid.

"Of course, this can lead to bad feeling in the salon, and so the manager must balance the right to withhold pay against the sentiment of the staff who may genuinely feel coming in is beyond their control.

This does assume that the salon is open for business - if it has been closed then the employee must be paid. If the salon remains open, then remember that regulations state the minimum working temperature must be 16C or above."

How has your salon coped with the snow? Upload your image to the snow gallery or share your snow story on the HJi Community forum.