Grantham tanning salons reopen after "difficult" few months

Gold Sun Grantham Tanning Salon, on the High Street, opened for the first time since March on Monday.

Manager Zoryana Dickinson is hoping to move forward after a “difficult” few months.

She said: “Like all businesses going through this, we have found it difficult. We were upset when we heard that hairdressers were allowed to open and not tanning salons as it’s easier to social distance in a tanning salon.

“We have always sterilised the equipment after each use but we have now brought in even more safety measures including removing the chairs out of the waiting room, antibacterial areas, sanitisers, individual rooms for each customer and protective screens. Each staff member has also taken an online course to achieve the beauty industry certificate in working during Covid-19.

Since opening on Monday, the salon has had a steady stream of customers.

Zoryana added: “It’s been slightly quieter than usual but we hope that it will soon start picking up.

Tropicana Tan, in the George Shopping Centre, also opened on Monday.

Owner and manager Julie Read feels that the beauty industry has been one of the worst affected by the pandemic.

She said: "We have completely missed out on our busiest months of the year, March - June, when our customers get ready for summer, and also when most of our customers want their pre-holiday base tans.

I feel that our industry and the beauty sector in general has been one of the worst affected. We have had the same financial support as businesses which were able to reopen a month ago and unlike a lot of other businesses we have not had the option of selling our services online.

"We have implemented various changes in the salon following the government guidelines issued; our cleaning regime has always been to the highest standard anyway but we have provided additional measures such as installing a screen in reception, providing PPE for staff, providing hand sanitiser for use at entry and exit, removal of bins in the cubicles, providing free disposable eyewear, cleaning of contact points and surfaces after every customer.

"We have been working closely with The Sunbed Association, of which we are a member, in carrying out a Covid Risk Assessment, all the girls have completed an online covid awareness course. Our customers are requested to wait outside until invited to enter the salon, as per government guidelines we are operating on an appointment-only system, and we have staggered our appointment times so people are not arriving at the same time.

"We have had amazing feedback from our customers this week. I had a message yesterday from a lady who said how impressed her daughter and friends were when attending their tanning session, they could see the extra measures in place and felt safe and relaxed. We have also had positive feedback from people arriving at the salon. It has been lovely to see all our regulars and some new faces this week.

"Everyone is so pleased we have been able to reopen, and we are happy to be boosting everyone’s vitamin D levels and immune systems and getting rid of their white legs."