Nail salons have warned that price hikes will be inevitable as they continue to struggle amid a cost of living crisis.
As the price to run a business continues to rise, nail salons are finding it difficult to keep their services at the current rates.
Many salons in the area will be increasing their prices slightly to counteract a rise in stock charges.
Aphrodite Hair Nails and Beauty in Lynn is among many in the same position.
The salon has been running for 20 years, and last week it increased prices for the majority of services by £1-£2 for the first time in more than four years.
Carole Pike, the salon owner, said she has tried to keep the increase as low as she possibly can because people are struggling.
She said: “Some customers won't like it because we have had the price increased, but it's not going to have that much effect apart from paying the extra for the stock, as it's the stock that has gone up so much.”
Most customers have taken the news well when she has told them, Carole said.
At the salon, she has a strong client base that has been visiting her for a very long time.
Carole added: “They know that I don’t just increase my prices for no reason.
“The majority of the people are understanding but you get the few that have a little moan.”
Carole thinks there “most definitely” should be support from local authorities and the Government, as the beauty industry struggled through pandemic restrictions as it was among the first to close and the last to reopen.
She added: “We have had to build back up, and now with the cost of living it is affecting businesses because some people are struggling at home.
“Then they are thinking, ‘I have to pay for this and that, so I'm going to have to cancel my nails’, and we will be the first thing they cancel to pay a bill.”
In response to this, West Norfolk Council has said there are several grant schemes available to help businesses that may face difficult times.
A spokesperson for the council said: “During Covid, the council administered a number of grants to support local businesses, including the Additional Restrictions, Refresh and Reopen, and Planning for the Future grants.
“The council paid out nearly £80million in grants to support West Norfolk businesses.
“Since then, we have promoted other grant schemes, such as the Rural England Prosperity Fund, and we have held events showcasing the wide-ranging support available to businesses, such as ‘KLIC and Connect’.
Meanwhile, The Philosophy Rooms in Swaffham is yet to decide whether and when it will be making changes to prices.
Carolyn Cracknell, owner of the salon, is not particularly worried about the current cost of living affecting her business - and thinks it is a good thing for nail industry prices to rise across the board at the same time to show solidarity.
She said: “I’m sure that all beauty therapist and nail technicians are glad of this.
“They are earning what should be the national average wage. Some therapists haven’t raised their prices in years.
“Quality and price are directly correlated because education, quality of products and standard of work are all related to the price.”
Carolyn said this includes education during the year to keep up with new trends, new products, and training - plus insurance, rent, and other overheads.
She added: “So when somebody is looking at something that's more expensive than they would expect to pay, it is more often than not related to the fact that the person that they're looking at is educated to a higher standard.”
She said this is because they use better quality products and have probably been in the industry longer than somebody who may charge less.
At The Philosophy Rooms, staff pride themselves on being qualified therapists who have trained hard at their particular qualifications such as nail treatments, aesthetics, hairdressing, laser treatments, and beauticians.
Carolyn is very welcoming towards pay rises, and thinks if all nail businesses stand together and raise their prices at the same time, they will have commitment from their clients.
She says any prices hikes will be down to a “need to survive”, and would not impact her commitment to clients.
The borough council encourages small businesses to get advice and support to help them thrive.
More information is available through the New Anglia Growth Hub at www.newangliagrowthhub.co.uk on the council’s website at www.west-norfolk.gov.uk in the business and property section.
