• Since confinement, some hair salons have decided to no longer welcome customers on Saturdays.

  • The start of an astonishing “new phenomenon” which seems to suit or even smile on the professionals who have started, in particular to respond to recruitment problems.

“Before, I lived offbeat, I even had to pay a babysitter to look after my children.

Now, I really enjoy my weekend, it's a real comfort of life.

For a few months, Clarisse no longer has to take her scissors on Saturdays.

A "beautiful surprise" for this young hairdresser who did not expect one day to see her restrictive working hours change.

This was without taking into account the decision of his boss, Cyril Bazin, to close the doors of his eight hairdressing salons in Nantes and its agglomeration for the weekend.

For a cut or a color, it is now from Monday to Friday that you have to show up.

A thoughtful choice during confinement in order to “further personalize the working time” of its 35 employees, but also, and this seems more surprising, to respond to new customer behavior.

“20 years ago, Saturday was a very productive day but it had become much less the case, until it was almost a day like the others, assures Cyril Bazin, who preferred to open on Monday and offer two late-night openings ( until 9 p.m.) instead.

With the Covid, then teleworking, we realized that people were adapting.

In the end, 95% of customers were delighted and followed us.

»

In Strasbourg, the observation is more or less the same at JohnPaul hairdressers.

After having tested the closure every other Saturday, the manager has also decided to lower the curtain every Friday evening.

If this reorganization allowed him to see a new clientele of bankers or merchants arrive on Monday, it also and first of all removed a nice thorn from his side.

“As everywhere, we encountered recruitment problems, says JohnPaul.

As soon as we announced that we were closing on Saturdays, we saw spontaneous applications like never before.

Young women with children especially, some of whom were ready to resign to join us.

»

A “gone to last” phenomenon

But it's not just candidates who have flocked.

According to the professional, "hundreds" of hairdressers from all over France have also since contacted him to ask him for advice, in order to also close on Saturdays, or at least in the afternoon.

If this organization is not suitable for all salons, especially the smallest or those located in shopping malls, we follow it “with attention” at the National Union of Hairdressing Companies (Unec).

“It's the beginning of a new phenomenon which is gradually taking hold and which is set to last, confirms Christophe Doré, the president of the first professional organization in the sector.

Be careful all the same to always meet the needs of the customers, and in particular the hairstyles for parties or weddings on Saturdays.

But if the consumer sees it and the company sees economic and managerial comfort in it, then that's fine!

»



In Nantes and Strasbourg, we assure that the bet is totally successful.

Cyril Bazin (who still offers home wedding services on Saturday mornings with his volunteer hairdressers) has hired eight people in one year and indicates that his figure has even been on the rise for a few months.

If JohnPaul has faced some criticism (risk of loss of attractiveness of the city center on Saturday, or that which employees, after Saturday, ask for their Wednesday afternoon), he only retains the positive.

“In the living room, the atmosphere is more convivial,” adds the manager.

The employees are less exhausted, more thoroughly.

For me too, it changed my life.

I will never go back!

»

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  • Company

  • Nantes

  • Pays de la Loire

  • Strasbourg

  • Great East

  • Hairdressing

  • Consumption

  • Trade