4000 Salons across Ireland in a population of 4.7 million, working with people from young to old.  We are Beauty Therapists, Skin Specialists, Massage Therapists, Sports Therapists, Holistic Therapists, Nail Technicians, MUA's Laser and Hair Removal Specialists, Advanced Aesthetic Specialists; Dermoceutic Specialists; Listeners; Friends; Confidantes; Advisors; Employees, Employers, Entrepreneurs, Innovators, Marketers, Trainers, Trainees, Mentors, Sales People, Service Providers.  We count.  BEAUTY counts.  We matter.  BEAUTY MATTERS.

While the European Commission is actively working to promote entrepreneurship throughout Europe given that only 37% of Europeans would like to be self -employed, compared with 51% in China and the US,  (https://ec.europa.eu/growth/smes/promoting-entrepreneurship_en it’s extraordinary to think that there are over 4000 salons in Ireland who don’t have one specific industry federation encompassing all the associations relative to the industry segments, despite the enthusiasm, drive, passion and economic contribution that is being generated year on year.  It is an industry that seriously lacks the recognition and respect it deserves.

Beauty Salons will have to find a way of working in the new landscape.  Initially, I had expressed a cry for recognition that we should be included as equals to the Hairdressing sector when considering a change in Service VAT as part of a recovery plan.  I was all too aware of the pain felt when this was a failure by the Government in response to the recession recovery plan, when the government introduced a reduction in services vat from 13.5% to 9% for the hairdressing sector and tourism industry, but the beauty industry services vat remained at 13.5%.  It is therefore, historically proven that the hair and beauty sectors are not treated equally and could in fact be better served as separate entities. 

I campaign on behalf of the Self Employed Beauty Salon owners throughout Ireland, who create jobs for themselves and up to 10 employees.  I have devised a blueprint of day to day operational changes, new policies and procedures, new booking, payment and processing methodology to facilitate all necessary precautions to avoid the spread of COVID19.   I have analysed the financials to consider the extra running costs for personal protective equipment, cleaning and hygiene, appointment staggering with slower treatment turnaround times, and the like.  It will take more than a drop in Service VAT of 4.5% to facilitate operations in this new landscape, but the saving grace will be that with the help of a suitable support package, the Industry will be sustained in the wait of a vaccine, and less people will lose their jobs, in fact, there will be opportunity for a new support roles in our blueprint as we create a new normal.  I have the backing of lots of Beauty Salon owners throughout Ireland.  This campaign is for all of us.  Please afford us the opportunity to discuss our needs when drafting the Governments Capital Plan for Recovery Investment.

If you are one of the aforementioned professionals that we campaign on behalf of, or you are a customer of a local beauty salon owner who you want to support in these turbulent times, please sign our petition and create awareness of our campaign by sharing it through your social media channels and via word of mouth.

Thank you for taking the time to read our petition, and more importantly, for signing and sharing it.  

Yours sincerely,

Anna Costello. National & Local Award Winning Beauty Salon Owner, Cavan. 

Mobile:  0872342985

email:  anna@newgenskin.ie

www.linkedin.com/in/annamcostello