I own a hair salon. Typically, November is my busiest season. It has been SO quiet. A lot of my colleagues are also saying the same thing and have had to close up shop because of it - or get a second job.

People keep saying it will get better and the economy will bounce back but I don’t know. I am so close from just throwing in the towel, closing up shop and getting a corporate gig.

  • LetuceLinger@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    I have a confession. I don’t like tipping, so I avoid all services where it is expected that I tip. If I could go to a salon that didn’t expect tipping, I would get my hair cut and styled often, but it seems there isn’t a place in the US. So, I grow out my hair long, wear it in braids, and go to the salon in Europe where I don’t need to tip.

    Having said that, I’m sorry you are going through this. As business owners, I think most of us are going through this after the covid stimulus and during this high inflation. We need to pivot. We need to be the first or the best. In some cases, both.

    Be the first to do something different in your business. Take every clue. If you are in a big city, you could even be the first no tip salon and take clients from the other salons.

    I may be wrong, but it’s worth a try

    • vapor2020@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      10 months ago

      Did you just say you’d rather fly to Europe than pay your barely-scraping-by hair stylist an extra $5?

        • LetuceLinger@alien.topBEnglish
          1·
          10 months ago

          The question is…but why? Why do we need to tip hair dressers? I can afford to eat out and get my hair done, but I can’t afford the extra 20-25% that is the tax we call a tip.

          You are right! Tip fatigue…I’d rather buy very expensive ingredients and good at home when I’m feeling fancy

      • LetuceLinger@alien.topBEnglish
        1·
        10 months ago

        Stop it with the guilt trip. I am already in Europe for a vacation. I am not flying for a hair appointment.

        As for scraping by, it is not my job to give people money because they don’t have a sustainable business.

        This is the same client mentality that gets my waitress friend enough tips to pay for her luxury car with 2 days of tips at the restaurant.

        Lastly, y’all know that they expect more than a 5 dollar tip. Don’t act like they don’t. I think their job is important, but I don’t want to tip.