Salon software company Timely has announced a significant financial relief package for the UK hair and beauty industry. Timely is calling on other industry suppliers to step up and do more to help during this latest lockdown.
Timely has provided over £370,000 to more than 15,000 businesses during lockdown and has proactively extended this relief in the UK and Ireland for a further 3 months while salons are unable to trade. In addition to relief for existing customers, Timely is now giving its platform away for free to businesses currently using pen and paper or on other systems for the duration of the lockdown.
Timely co-founder and CEO Ryan Baker believes the industry can do more to support businesses.
“Our mission is to grow the value of the beauty industry and increase the wealth of all its participants. However, right now, the beauty industry is in crisis as a result of COVID-19 and the necessary lockdowns. I’m calling on all beauty industry suppliers to do more to support our industry in the form of financial relief.” explained Baker.
Data from The National Hair & Beauty Federation demonstrates the severe impact facing the beauty services sector. 62% of salon owners are not sure their business would survive until the end of the financial year in April 2021, with almost a third of that number (18%) explicitly sure they would have to close. Mental Health UK states that one third (32.66%) of UK adults say they are worrying about their finances, such as bill payments and debt.
Mille Kendall MBE, CEO, British Beauty Council has welcomed the announcement.
“Timely has supported the UK beauty industry throughout the pandemic and this next step is incredibly important and generous. It will help to support the mental wellbeing of our members and wider industry. Timely’s contribution and partnership with the British Beauty Council, will help our industry get back on their feet faster when we are able to re-open. ”
Industry leaders are also focussed on the mental and emotional wellbeing of the beauty industry during this difficult time.
“It’s not just financial distress that’s impacting the estimated 50,000 thousand hair and beauty business in the UK, it’s mental health as well. That’s why I’m proud of our partnership with The Help Hub and our overall focus on Wellness,” said Baker.
Late last year Timely announced its partnership with the Help Hub, a not-for-profit organisation, and recipient of ITV’s Good Morning Britain Frontline Hero Award, that has been established to offer free emotional support services to people across the UK. Using the Timely platform people can book a free 20 minute appointment with a trained therapist.
“Wellness plays an important role in our lives, especially at this time, so our partnership with Timely is something we are incredibly proud of. Through Timely we have the capacity to connect with a high volume of people a week with the support they need – without having to worry about the technology, and that’s simply incredible to us”, said Help Hub founder Ruth Chaloner
