Suggestions and Best Practices to Reopen and Market a Safer, Cleaner Facility.
When the time comes to reopen your place of business, it stands to reason that things may be chaotic, as clients you haven’t seen in months scramble to make appointments. Of course, crowded settings go against the advice we’ve received in fighting this virus, so proper protection takes on added importance. Below is a list of suggestions for providing a safe environment upon your return to work.
Before You Reopen
- Doorknobs or handles can be a dangerous means of spreading germs. If possible replace the doors at your main entrance with an automatic option or consider leaving the door open on nice days.
- Add touchless hand sanitizer stations at the entrance of the building, in between workrooms and near restrooms
- Close the waiting area and/or remove extra seating. If that is not an option, remove enough chairs to adjust the spacing between customers.
- Go paperless. Remove magazines, books, menus, or other materials that could spread germs. This will not only prevent the spread of germs but will discourage people from sitting inside the building while awaiting their appointment.
- Display products for purchase in clear cases if possible to avoid customer handling
- Install air filters to improve air quality and remove airborne particles
- Replace hand soap dispensers and dryers with touchless devices
- Invest in UV sterilization lamps or wands
- Install plexiglass shielding at checkout and temporary ‘walls’ between work stations if necessary and feasible.
Customers Entering the Building
- Allow plenty of space for customers to enter or leave the building.
- Encourage the use of hand sanitizer prior to entering the building and moving from room to room.
- Do temperature checks: Salons are urged to consider the installation of touchless, infrared devices that would record the body temperature of each individual entering or departing the building. Those with temperatures above 99 degrees Fahrenheit would be sent home immediately (employee or client) and not permitted to return until they display no fever and no symptoms of COVID-19.
- Assess exposure risk. Have shop personnel ask each client the following questions:
- Have you had a cough or a fever?
- Have you been around anyone exhibiting these symptoms within the past 14 days?
- Are you living with anyone who is sick or quarantined?
- Limit the number of people in the shop at any one time by appointment only scheduling.
During the Appointment
- Salon or shop employees should wear face-covering masks at all times
- Provide masks for clients and encourage them to wear them during appointments
- It is recommended that employees wear disposable gloves if possible when servicing clients and change gloves between each client to the greatest extent possible.
- If available, it is recommended that employees wear face shields when servicing clients.
- Post signs and gently remind both employees and clients not to touch their face or mouth.
- Offer customers hand wipes or hand sanitizer at the end of their appointment
After the Appointment
- Encourage contactless payment options like Venmo, PayPal, Google Pay, or Apple Pay or other means of touchless pay.
- Send scheduled appointment reminders via text or email instead of handing out physical reminder cards
- Gather recommended upsell products for the customer prior to checkout to discourage physical handling
Between Appointments
- Thoroughly clean and disinfect high-contact surfaces multiple times per day.
- Clean and disinfect chairs, headrests, and armrests after every use.
- Disinfect reusable tools including shears, clippers, clipper guards, clippies, rollers, combs, brushes, rolling carts, and any other items used in connection with servicing clients.
Business Practices and Marketing After You Reopen
- Offer delivery of new products and refills via curbside pickup between appointments.
- Sign up for Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram) to promote your business hours and showcase new products, hairstyles, makeup trends, etc.
- Sign up for Text Alert accounts like Textmagic, SimpleTexting or ClickSend to stay in touch with your customers. This will allow you to quickly alert them of policy changes, new offers, appointments, or scheduled pickups.
- Consider a refer a friend gift opportunity for clients to help build your brand recognition and referral base.
- Consider low-cost Facebook or Google Ads marketing campaigns
- Offer discount codes on popular coupon sites like Retailmenot, Groupon or Living Social.
- Contribute content to relevant websites and blogs and share the links on social media
For more detail read the official OSHA Guidelines: https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3990.pdf
