The Linda Yip Charitable Foundation has been supporting the Youth College for many years, and the founder Ms Linda Yip was invited to attend and present the awards to the winners. Mr. Michael Mesiti, the Principal of AAMA Cosmetology Academy, and Mr. Zen Yip, a Senior Educator, acted as hair instructors for the Diploma in Hairdressing programme.
Press Conference of “What is the future of the hairdressing industry in Hong Kong?”
On 17th November, 2016, the “What is the future of the hairdressing industry in Hong Kong? Questionnaire Survey Report” conference was held during the Cosmoprof Asia HK.
Good morning everyone. Distinguish guests and all of our guests here today, the hairdressers and all the supportive friends. Hello everyone.
Today, thanks to Cosmoprof Asia, supported by Cosmoprof held the Hong Kong hairdressing industry market survey report conference, thank you very much for the arrangement.
Hong Kong hairdressing industry began in the 1970s, through the 80s, 90s and 2000, since 2000, Hong Kong has become an international financial center on the international stage. After this, Hong Kong hairdressing industry to face more problems, such as human resources, rent and so on, makes the road ahead a little difficult. From 2005 to 2016, rents have more than doubled in a decade. In addition, the younger generation has a vague impression of the hairdressing industry; they think it’s the long working hours, low income from labor costs, the upgrade system is not clear in this case, and young people do not consider entering the hairdressing industry. So in this case, the hairdressing industry needs more time to do some research feasible and sustainable future development plan. So I’m here to tell you, in the future I suggest, I acted as the convenor, a study group on talent and development of hairdressing industry in Hong Kong will be set up, long-term study of hairdressing industry feasibility plan for hairdressing industry reference, and to advise and enlist the support of the government. We will start by examining the proposed scheme and timetable for professional qualification; I hope it will happen in five years.
About ten years ago, I have been considering how to improve the hair industry root problem, these questions kept turning over and over in my head. So I thought of marking a market survey report on hairdressing industry in Hong Kong. Personally, I think it is more appropriate to use numbers to reflect the actual situation. So one year ago I asked President Joseph for advice, with his assistance, it took one year’s time prepare a market research report on hairdressing industry, hope this report can bring some inspection to friends in the industry. Anyway, the past is the past, we have learned much experience, in the spirit of summing up experience, and we conduct research to find out the way of future development, set up some feasibility reports, and provide references and suggestions to industry and government. Hairdressing is a service industry; how to improve service level of hairdressing industry it is a very important job, raise prices with good service, solve the future development of hairdressing industry, employees can have a better income to increase staff stability, so that they can work steadily in the salon, and eventually become professionals, let salon industry in the future development of greater and better space. Above I speak with sincerity and sincerity, but it also requires recognition, cooperation and support, the above vision can be realized, make consumers more satisfied with the service, let hairdressing industry have greater development space, make hairdressing industry has more outstanding talent and bring about greater industrial development, will have a better future. Finally I would like to thank those who helped in the research process, for example, professionals and students at School of Business, The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong and all AHMA members, thanks to visiting salons for their cooperation. There are many more person to thank, and thank you especially to our guests on the stage.
Linda Yip
Founder of AHMA Hair Council
Beauty and Hair magazine is one of the earliest formal professional magazines in Chinese Beauty and Hairdressing Industry. I am delighted to have accepted the magazine’s invitation, and I can take this opportunity to share some people and things with friends in the hairdressing industry in Hong Kong and mainland.
During the more than two years of the epidemic, the business of the hairdressing industry in Hong Kong has been seriously hit! On average, the income of salons has decreased by 20%-30%, the promotion activities of hair product companies have decreased by about 80%, and the staff turnover rate of salons has reached 10%-15%. Employees forced to change jobs to support family expenses. Although the epidemic still exists, life still has to go on, so we must work together to get through these.
Regardless of whether the impact of the epidemic will expand again, I remain optimistic about the industry situation in the mainland and Hong Kong. In the future, hairdressing industry needs comprehensive and in-depth reform, using various information platforms of the hairdressing industry to do interactive communication, relying on the cohesion of the industry association, and connecting with the industry with a positive attitude of “Hairdressing Industry as One”. To communicate and reflect the problem, we can use the media channels to openly collect the opinions of the public and the hairdressing industry in the form of questionnaire consultation, so that all aspects of the hairdressing industry and information can be exchanged and communicated more, and everyone can give more positive and correct feedback, which is exciting. while finding new ways out of difficulties.
Strengthening educational strength is also a new idea brought to us under the epidemic, from education specialization, standardization, systematization, institutionalization, rationalization, etc., created from “people-oriented”. How to sort out the formal professional certification system, so that hairdressing services can increase confidence and recognition in consumers’ psychology, and promote a more recognized mentality to promote consumption.
Finally, I hope the epidemic will become history as soon as possible and everyone can learn a stronger way to survive in life under the impact of the epidemic. No matter in the upstream or downstream, we must continue to work hard with the spirit of fighting without fear of wind and rain. Cheers to the mainland and Hong Kong hairdressing industry!
Kenny Wong
Founder of Red hill hair salon
The chairmen of AHMA Hong Kong Headquarter
The global outbreak of epidemic has hit people’s livelihood hard and salons are either forced to close, or even if they open a store, no customers come to the door. Among them, the operators of the hairdressing industry are facing a great challenge! Most of the people try to reduce unnecessary going out to avoid crowd contact, so the most intensive service industry bears the brunt, and salons have become one of the hardest hit areas of the epidemic. The beauty and hairdressing industry was required to suspend business, causing operators to face enormous financial difficulties and the impact of employee loss in maintaining operations and employees’ livelihoods.
However, the fifth wave of the epidemic came quickly and violently, and hair salons also announced on 10th February that they would temporarily close their business until 21st April. Many employers feel like they are on a roller coaster that is falling. How to survive this period?
Because the business is afraid that employees and customers will fall into the risk of infection, but if it does not open, it will face problems such as operation and employees’ livelihood. After several torment and consideration, until the government suddenly announced that the hairdressing industry has started the “Vaccine Pass” policy to resume work earlier on 10th March. Some companies and employees can decide whether to suspend work voluntarily according to the epidemic situation.
The fixed costs of hair salons in Hong Kong are very high and the rental costs are really higher in a lively area. Fortunately, some companies are prepared for risk assessments in advance. In addition to the self-developed hair products, the hair products sold in brick-and-mortar stores have also been converted to online product set sales or teaching. Utilize online course resources to provide a simplified version of the remote teaching haircutting process to cover operating expenses. There are even hair stylists that offer door-to-door haircuts. The hair stylists exert their professional and dedicated spirit and strive to the end.
Wilson Leung
Found of CITY CUT HAIR SALON
The vice-chairman of AHMA Hong Kong
The new crown pneumonia from the first wave of the epidemic in 2020 to the fifth wave of the epidemic in 2022 has made our hairdressing industry go back and forth between hell and heaven.
During the first wave of the epidemic in 2020, everyone thought it would come and go as fast as SARS. However, in the past two years, the epidemic has come back again and again, and the salon’s performance has followed the epidemic like a roller coaster. The first thing to be knocked down is the salons that have been relying on online promotion, not well trained, and dishonest. Under the epidemic, the employment situation of the hairdressing industry in Hong Kong has changed a lot. The logistics industry and food delivery platforms require a large number of employees, which is undoubtedly a great temptation for practitioners in the hairdressing industry. The most difficult time is the best time to attract talents. Customers and consumers are triangle groups, each epidemic triangle the top customer group must be the latest to appear! When they come again, they may be the most easily lost, such as when the salon still retains its stubborn habit of “muddle-through” and “self-righteous”, “they” will soon make a rational decision and choose to consume in other salons. There may still be a sixth or seventh wave of the epidemic, “after all, you only find out who is swimming naked when the tide goes out.” How many storms can the current business model still withstand? Our team only adheres to the three “performance” systematic, accurate, and sustainable. I hope we can work together.
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