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AIBU?

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Original poster

To be surprised that in a recession...

118 replies

Joolyjoolyjoo · 14/10/2011 23:04

The businesses that seem to be thriving in my town centre are nail bars, beauticians and travel agencies Confused Oh, and pawn shops/ buy your gold/ brighthouse.

The nail bars/ foot-eating-fish emporiums are always busy. But other businesses seem to be going under. I have been watching, as I've recently opened my own business (vets) in the town, and I am appreciative that times are tough. Don't get me wrong, we are slowly doing ok (lots of lovely clients and I think I am fairly priced). But it seems to me that when times are tough the first things to go would be the luxuries (to me, acrylic nails etc) but this doesn't seem to be the way it works. I am intrigued by this.

To me, priority is bills, then food, then essential household stuff (kids clothes/ shoes/ necessary repairs etc) I can understand why (sadly) some smaller speciality shops have gone, and even the demise of Woolies (which I loved Blush) but every time a long established business closes a beautician/ nail bar seems to open up and be busy.

It seems like the people in my town must be pawning their gear, selling their gold...then going to get their nails/ feet done before booking a holiday! Anyone else's town starting to look like this?

OP posts:
doublechocchip · 15/10/2011 07:09

I think the ages between 16-25 are also a contributing factor to why designer baby shops/nail bars/tanning shops do so well. A lot of young people between this age range work and still live with parents so have much more disposable income than say someone 10 years older with all the bills in tow.

A lot of people between this age bracket particuarly girls are much more image concious nowadays and they dont even view getting their nails/tan done a luxury to them its a necessity.

KittyFane · 15/10/2011 07:11

I like the quote "it's very expensive to look this cheap"

HauntyMython · 15/10/2011 07:50

All types of shop are suffering in my town.

We are suffering financially - not recession related but because DH can't work due to injury and I'm on PT minimum(ish) wage. We are really sensible usually but we do still need the odd 'treat' - wouldn't be as much as £20 usually, more like some ice cream or a £3 DVD.

GalloweesG · 15/10/2011 07:58

I blame business rates actually. They are exorbitant in my failing town but small businesses in small properties seem to have lots of reductions. The landlords will take anything rent wise for their properties in this climate but rates are often the thing that the tenant baulks at paying.

Nail bars run by "certain" groups of people are often a pop up shop, great for money and people laundering. They change ownership and staff frequently.

Btw I would have a £15 blow dry instead of buying a new outfit if I wanted to look groomed. So I see the logic in that but my big farty dog comes first (£79 PCM to plan with a £90 excess).

ShroudOfHamsters · 15/10/2011 08:00

SolarPrestigeAGammon - you're not alone. Well, I'm 39 but don't plan on having a manicure/tan/nails done in the next couple of months so I'll be joining you. My pamper regime extends to some Deep Heat on my persistent stiff shoulder once in a while Grin

ShroudOfHamsters · 15/10/2011 08:01

Oh and yy to nail bars/tanning salons as a front for other business activities!

kimycoughdrop · 15/10/2011 08:11

It interesting there are so many fishy feet places everywhere. I am a chiropodist and people have come to see me the day after seeing the fish and they havent done a thing to their hard skin. I wonder how long they will last ?

ToothbrushThief · 15/10/2011 08:11

jooly -I think you live in my town
I am with you. But I've never had my eyebrows waxed, nails 'done, used tanning things....and I've looked fine a minger for years. I'd love to pamper myself but have always prioritised everything and everyone else.

Many of my clothes are years and years old.

I had my haircut recently having done numerous DIY jobs this year. The cost meant I will return to diy hair for another 6 months.

I'm a relatively well paid professional (or minger if you look too closely) Grin but can't bring myself to waste spend money on this sort of thing.

GalloweesG · 15/10/2011 08:22

The Fish pedi thing won't ever do anything to hard skin but it's effective at flaky skin which I some people seem to have.

BellaDonnaSansMerci · 15/10/2011 08:30

jooly you explained your confusion perfectly when you mentioned your walking boots... Grin. Forgive me for generalising but I'm guessing you probably wouldn't be a regular at a nail bar whatever the financial position?

AlpinePony · 15/10/2011 09:09

I've tried fake nails and they've looked beautiful for up to 4 hours afterwards! ;) but life's too short to wear gloves for everything and they seem incompatible with dogs & horses. And don't even get me started on the fact they fall off within hours and destroy my nailbeds for weeks after.

AlpinePony · 15/10/2011 09:09

Translation: I am a scuzzy minger.

sunshineandbooks · 15/10/2011 09:16

I had no idea nail bars/beauty salons were such dens of iniquity. I will never be able to walk past one again without looking for a dodgy-looking drug-dealing boyfriend/pimp somewhere.

TheMitfordsMaid · 15/10/2011 09:32

At the moment we don't pay any business rates due to small business rate relief. I wonder how many of these salons will stay in business once that goes.

TheMitfordsMaid · 15/10/2011 09:34

Oh, and meant to add that we did some work for a new beauty salon and dealt with new owner until it came to payment. Then her rough, tough boyfriend turned up in a 4x4 with blacked out windows and threatened my husband because they weren't happy with the work we'd done. In the end we told them to bog off, to leave the goods with us and get their work done elsewhere. So yes, I agree that many of these businesses are just a front, unless I've watched too much Weeds.

Original poster
Joolyjoolyjoo · 15/10/2011 09:47

BellaDonna- Grin Grin- you are right! I am something of a walking scarecrow. My big luxury is to go to a "good" hairdresser twice a year- and only because I have the type of crazy hair that only an expert can deal with. As a pale and freckly redhead I'd look alarming with any kind of fake tan, and I had my nails done once, for my wedding, and hated them so much I pulled them all off the next day, so I am no doubt biased.

Intrigued by the fact these businesses are fronts for dodgier dealing (do they do sleeping with the fishes as well as being nibbled by them?)

Yes, the business rates are a killer here- don't get me started! Mine turned out to be 50% more again than my rent, which I am still fighting about. I'd love to see the town centre thriving again. So many empty shops now.

OP posts:
Adversecamber · 15/10/2011 09:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

handbagCrab · 15/10/2011 10:04

If it's any consolation I took my poorly cat to the vets on Thursday and I'm going to get a manicure in a bit :)

George Orwell's Road to Wigan Pier talks about people in the 30s spending their dole on fish and chips rather than healthy food and how a small treat keeps people going in dire times. I agree with posters that it is psychological rather than about meeting someone's basic needs.

I think what annoys me about times like this is that we're all supposed to keep paying the bills, mortgage, supermarket, insurance company and petrol companies to keep going to the bare minimum, but we're to see small business people such as vets, beauticians etc. as expendable. When at least paying small businesses keeps the money in the economy rather than it being forked out to shareholders or stashed offshore IMHO.

TheMitfordsMaid · 15/10/2011 10:06

There is a heartening amount of solidarity between small businesses in my area. We are doing a lot to support each other.

ragged · 15/10/2011 10:10

Beauticians always do well in recessions, even in war zones.
Anyone read Kabul Beauty School? Real eye-opener.

Red2011 · 15/10/2011 10:17

When I stopped work to go to college, 'luxuries' like pedicures and facials were the first to go. As I now have a 9 month old, the 'extra' money I had put aside tends to go on things like high chairs, car seat accessories and so forth.
I also have 2 cats, which are covered by insurance. I have had the cats for years though, long before DD and college/leaving job.

There are plenty of affordable ways to look presentable not that I actually employ any of these as I am a scruffbag of the highest degree rather than spend money on a salon treatment.

Given that I have just seen a long post with feedback about credit card rates, I think people should revisit their priorities. You can colour your hair at home for about £8 or you can go to the salon and spend £30. I would rather be £20 or so in pocket, which, if I wasn't going to earmark for any future "luxuries" could go into a fund for unexpected emergencies.

zukiecat · 15/10/2011 10:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BellaDonnaSansMerci · 15/10/2011 10:44

Red home colouring?!

Red2011 · 15/10/2011 11:34

Oh yes, home colouring - it is amazing how many things you can get hair dye on when you're a speccy four eyes who is blind as a bat without said specs short-sighted person. In fact, that is half the fun!

Purplegirlie · 15/10/2011 12:37

IME it does tend to be those on lower incomes that find the money for the nail extensions, or eyelash extensions or highlights. My friend is a single mum on a very low income but she is always spray tanned to the max with a full set of nail extensions. She's skint and they live off value food from the supermarket but she finds the money from somewhere.

Red2011 am totally with you about the hair dye going everywhere; I always manage to get it all over the bathroom floor, the tiles, the sink, everywhere really. And that's the non-drip mousse stuff!