At the Wella RED Business Network Live a few weeks ago, the realities of running a high-street salon were laid bare, not just within our own community, but in a way that reached far beyond it. The conversations happening in the room were so powerful that they caught the attention of one of the speakers, TV presenter and business journalist Steph McGovern, who then went on to highlight the struggles of the hairdressing industry on The Rest Is Money podcast, which she hosts alongside hugely-respected economic journalist Robert Peston.
Why does this matter? Because it means that the pressures you feel every day – rising costs, business rates, employment expenses, VAT and the fight to keep high-street salons alive – have been taken seriously at a national level, by people who shape economic conversation in this country. McGovern spoke openly about how tough things are for salon owners, while also recognising the vital role hairdressers play at the heart of their communities – from confidantes and confidence-boosters to frontline listeners when it comes to mental health. The episode also featured Toby Dicker from the Salon Employers Association, who clearly explained why our sector is uniquely and unfairly taxed.
Hairdressing is built on people, relationships and community, but it is too often undervalued and overlooked. To see it acknowledged and supported by high-profile economic journalists is not just validating, it is reassuring and could be a helpful step forward. This is why platforms like the Wella RED Business Network Live (see page 12), and the Phorest Salon Owners Summit (see page 14) are so crucial – they don’t just bring us together, they inform us and they make sure our voices are heard.
Watch the The Rest Is Money podcast on our website NOW
