Darcy Taylor
Salon Enso
At Salon Enso, the biggest pivot we made because of the pandemic was a shift in focus: Safety is the NEW Luxury. We knew we could still provide a great service and bring a piece of normalcy back to our guests’ experiences—but safety was priority. The salon was forced to close from March 16 through June 26, 2020. During that time, support was sought from local, state, and federal resources to ensure Salon Enso could withstand the unknown.
Transparency with staff and guests was key. Weekly staff meetings were held over Zoom to keep everyone abreast of the evolving situation. Stylists made weekly calls to their guests to assure them we would be ready and operating safely once permitted to reopen. Frequent emails and social media posts were shared to provide details as to what you could expect from Salon Enso when re-entering this new world. There was also continuous communication with the state, SCORE advisors, accountants, and fellow salon owners all over the country to help navigate the many complexities of the unfolding business and service industry landscape.
We were determined to follow all safety protocols recommended. Styling stations were separated, sanitation steps created, and booking protocols and client procedures instituted to ensure safety and comfort for all who came to Salon Enso. It was mandatory that our stylists had updated sanitation certifications and trainings were held encompassing all of the changes being made. Our opening strategy was complicated.
At 50-percent capacity, we would not be operating at what we had come to know as “normal” for quite some time. It had also become apparent that our guests might not feel comfortable coming back for service. Knowing that the health and safety of our guests and staff were paramount, we had a safety procedure video professionally produced to show the community what Salon Enso has done to make each experience with us as safe and comfortable as possible. We saw numerous new guests and received overwhelmingly positive feedback to our video and practices.
Being creative, adaptable, and flexible has proven the best strategy to run a business during a pandemic. Do I think that we will keep any of the changes we made in the future? Perhaps. The plexiglass partisans between stations will stay for some time and our sanitation protocols will remain in place for the foreseeable future. In the meantime, we will continue to follow the guidelines set for as long as necessary.
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Salon Enso
245 Centerville Road, Suite 6
Lancaster, PA 17603
(717) 435-9374
