Old news... but still maybe worth sharing.
Wednesday early afternoon I received a text from one of the reporters with the Kingman Miner who was writing an article on the hard decision hair salons have to make these days. The reporter want to know if I would be interested in answering some questions and sent them my way...
I saw your posts on FB on closing BLOOM throughout April. Whatever you can tell me about your decision process… I know you at first you wanted to stay open. What changed and when? How your clients reacted? Do you accommodate them in other ways — for example giving them color to go? Do you know if other Kingman hair places are following your example? What if May looks even more terrifying? Thank you! Hope all is good with your guys!
Later that afternoon, after chatting with my salon family, I sent back a reply.
The reporter thank me for my lengthy response and said it would run in Sunday’s paper.
Friday the Az. Governor ordered all Hair salons to close by the following day.
Saturday the reporter from the Kingman Miner text me... the story was killed due to the Az Governors order to close hair salons. The editor’s decision.
It was kind of a disappointment. I spent a good hour answering the drafted questions from the reporter. But hey that’s life I guess...
Then today I decided I should just go ahead and post myself what I had to say.
So for those who want to know here it is...
Deciding to close was not an easy decision. We discussed it early on in March when Rivers school for barbering in California closed do to the CO-vid 19 virus. (He’s able to complete his theory classes online for now and will be on the floor taking clients when he returns back to the Salon Success Academy in Riverside).
Everyone at BLOOM agreed we wanted to work as long as possible, be extremely cautious and serve our clients... but we also agreed if a “Stay home” order was issued by the Az governor we would close and do as asked! stay home!
I was a little surprised we were listed as an essential business via the governor. Keeping in mind though at the time most everything was still open with the exception of bars, gyms, theaters and dinning... I was literally calling the Az State Board of Cosmetology and the governors office daily! I figured it would only be a matter of time before we would be having to reschedule clients.
I can see both sides... To us at BLOOM OUR CLIENTS needs ARE ESSENTIAL! Whether it’s fuller lashes, Gorgeous hair or freshly polished toes... Making our clients feel their best is exactly why we do what we do! Their health is far more ESSENTIAL though... and ours.
It’s hard to justify getting a fresh new do, lash fill or pedicure when you have been asked to stay home...
On the other end though, Tabby, a stylist at BLOOM has a standing weekly appointment... Wash, set and style on the sweetest 92 year old lady you will ever meet. She has been a loyal client to Tabby since beauty school. Her husband drives her 45mins each way because washing her own hair isn’t an easy task for her anymore... Her service I would say is essential!
Maybe I’m wrong... Maybe the Governor is worried about putting people out of work? I am a little uneasy myself stepping away from behind my chair. We all had our concerns, trust me. I haven’t been home for any extended period of time since my 16 year old son was born!
It’s hard for all of us in the beauty industry and it’s hard for the clients as well.
I want to believe most of our clients at BLOOM support our choice to “Stay Home, Stay Healthy, and Stay Connected”.
I’m going to have an inch of regrowth myself so we are all in this together. A few have asked to get “to go” color and as a professional I just can’t do that. It’s not my style sorry ladies...
We plan on staying connected, doing giveaways, rewarding those who stay strong and hold off on messing with their own hair... a Color correction isn’t cheap!
We are taking this time to do some online education. We have our tripods & doll heads to keep us from going crazy. We are creative humans & this is the time to refresh and step up our game on what’s new in the beauty industry so we can continue to best serve our clients when we return back to BLOOM.
And don’t worry We will be back! I know that for a fact and better then ever! ready to BLOOM!
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