The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

Barbers say customer demand has been “sluggish” with the sector missing the usual back-to-school boost following the COVID-19 shutdown.

Anton Minnis, vice-president of the Bahamian Cosmetologists and Barbers Association (BCBA), told Tribune Business: “Things are moving sluggish, but for some it is going pretty good. We have to deal with the fact that a lot of our patrons aren’t working, so it’s not as robust as it used to be, but it’s workable and some level of sustainability is happening, so we are thankful for that.

"Hopefully we should be seeing something pick up, but because of the COVID-19 we don’t recommend that the old practice of the MPs setting up barber booths are their constituency headquarters for back to school."

Cameron Lubin owner/operator of Cameron Clean Cutz, said: “It’s still a bit slow but it is what it is now. We are doing appointments only. Basically people are still home.”

Beatrice Reid, owner/operator of Eclipse Beauty Salon, said: “Things are going fine, I can’t complain. We don’t allow for walk-ins, only appointments. We have always operated by appointment for the hair stylists, but for me I am a nail technician. The hair stylists, they would take walk-ins, but since the pandemic we have not been doing that.”

"We can’t complain, but we have seen a decline because most of our customers aren’t working in the hotel industry. For the most part we are hoping that business picks up but we are doing OK.”