Two stylists discuss if they’ve thought about going card-only...
Brian Leo McCallum, Roar Hair & Beauty, says yes...
"Going cashless is very much a talking point in every single industry at the moment – it affects businesses and consumers alike, so with that in mind we need to be careful that if we are considering going cashless, we take into account all guests when making this decision for our business.
"For us here at ROAR in Scotland, this is something that is very much driven by our guests. I would say that at the moment we are currently around 90% cashless. Our guests do prefer to pay digitally, however we are committed to being a fully inclusive salon so right now we would never go completely cashless because we want to ensure those who prefer to pay with cash, and have a strong desire to pay this way, are able to do so.
"Something that we have implemented in our salons, is that every guest must have a valid card saved on file with us in order to book an appointment. This is standard, so naturally guests are happy to use this method because it is essentially a one-click payment.
"From our recent observations, those who fall into the Gen X category tend to opt towards cash payments and those in the Gen Z bracket prefer to use card payments.
"It is something that has increasingly become a discussion point however
as the years go by, we are certainly seeing a rise in cashless payments as the digital world develops, and I think this will inevitably continue."
Michelle Summer Davies, Matrix Artist Ambassador, says no...
"I accept both card and cash payments at my Pembrokeshire salon because I have a diverse clientele. I know there is a real push for businesses to become cashless, but this isn’t something I would consider as a big proportion of my clients have always wanted to pay with cash.
"Some clients may prefer the convenience and digital record-keeping of card transactions, while others might feel more comfortable using cash. Providing both options ensures a more inclusive and customer-friendly experience for your clients.
"Do I think I will change my mind and become cashless? Not unless I have to. If some form of legislation comes in which means that I have to become cashless, I would certainly lose a proportion of my clientele, which obviously would affect my business. I'm old school, and over the years, it's been all about cash for me.
"Don’t get me wrong, the percentage of card transactions is far greater than cash in my business and I pay for it in more ways than one. I believe we won't have a single decisive moment on this matter, but if we as salon owners unite in advocating for the continued use of cash, it won't just on tight budgets, assist individuals living it will also foster the growth of small businesses by maintaining the option of multiple payment methods.
"Choosing a cashless approach not only simplifies transactions but also expands global reach, however it has the potential to exclude some customers."
