‘Frantic’ clients ensure salon’s fully booked until mid-may
A Bath hairdresser says he has been overwhelmed with appointment bookings as he reopened his salon on Monday.
David Maxwell, 62, runs a salon on Argyle Street and said he didn’t have a single appointment left for the next month.
“We do have a waiting list and we are booked up until the middle of May,” he said. “I came into work this morning and I had 116 missed calls – people are frantic to get in with us. Because they know it’s busy, they are booking three appointments in one go.
“This last lockdown has been the hardest, I think the novelty has gone out of it, and we were in the darkest months of the year. The grants and support haven’t been as good this time around either.
“But we’re still good and we’re still financially stable. It’s looking very, very positive and we’re all very excited about reopening,” he said.
David added that he had struggled with the uncertainty of lockdown and not knowing when things would reopen, or when support would come.
He said: “It’s the leaving us without any info until the last minute – even with the grants. I got an email yesterday to say they’re giving it to us next week, even though we’re open next week. We don’t need it now, we needed it before now.”
Due to coronavirus restrictions, those wanting a haircut must have an appointment and walk-ins will not be accepted.
Chairs remain two metres apart, while staff will wear a visor and a mask and sanitise surfaces after each client.
“We have got an NHS QR code as well and we are going to be investing in the lateral flow tests,” David said.
His is not the only salon that has been overwhelmed with bookings this week. Claire at Natalie Smith Hairdressing said: “We are chocka and have no appointments left until May.
“We have some clients that are still scared to come out, but most who have had their jab are coming and then we’ve some new clients too.
“We are busy for six weeks and then it will go quiet and that’s what’s hard.”