Why Small Businesses Matter in Westport (Reimagined): Whip Salon

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Why Small Businesses Matter Reimagined

Small businesses matter - now more than ever. They are answering the call with innovation and determination like never before.

We hope you join us in supporting them by sharing their story far and wide and shopping local! We are thankful to Fairfield County Bank for their continued support and making this series possible.

Step inside Whip Salon and meet owner, Amy Pal.

What do you want the community to know? Are there ways for the community to help you and other local businesses to prosper?

Running a hair salon amidst a pandemic certainly is challenging but we are doing our best and making it work at Whip Salon. We were allowed by the state of CT to reopen on June 1st. There is a long list of rules and regulations set forth by the government and beauty industry that we studied and applied before reopening. However, we went the extra mile to put in place protocols beyond what is required to run our salon in a way that ensures both staff and clients are comfortable and safe at all times.    
 
The best thing the community can do during this time (for all local businesses) is to continue to patronize them. We are only allowed to be at 50% capacity by state law, so if we can at least strive for 100% capacity of that 50% that will help us keep afloat. Also, in general, cut small businesses some slack. Understand we are grappling with not only new regulations but ongoing uncertainty, it isn't easy and we are doing our best. In fact, when you tell us we're doing a good job, that means everything. Maybe even take a minute to write that 5 star Google review and show your support. 
 
Are you offering any new products or ways for customers to purchase your products or services that are popular during this crisis?
 
When we were forced to be closed we offered root spray and powder to our clients by mail order. This helped keep them looking good on those Zoom calls while waiting for the salon to reopen. It was a good tie over that didn't harm their hair and we still offer these products which help elongate the number of time clients can go between root touch up services. In Westport, we are also trying out offering outdoor haircuts for those that are not quite comfortable coming indoors. 
 
Are there certain individuals or organizations that supported you and your business through this trying time?
 
We are so grateful to our clients who stuck with us! Truly it has been so amazing to be reunited with our clients whenever they are ready to return. For our stylists, it's just an incredible feeling to see them back and so happy with their hair. In Ridgefield, our landlord has done everything possible to help us keep our doors open and we are super grateful for the empathy and support. 
 
Please share the ways your business is adapting to keep your customers and employees safe in addition to the standard guidelines.
 
At Whip Salon we are clean freaks. In the beauty industry, it is ingrained in you to keep your work area and entire salon sanitized even during "normal" times. To that end, we have a rigorous hourly sanitization chart. We also take temperatures of both staff and clients on a daily basis even though it is not an official requirement. Because clients are one on one with their stylist, we make sure that both parties are completely healthy and safe before the service even starts.
 
We regularly update our COVID procedures on our website too: https://www.whipsalon.com/covid19
 
Whip Salon has three locations. Visit them at 23 Governor Street in Ridgefield, 14 Elm Street, Suite 205, in Westport, and 102 Church Hill Road in Sandy Hook.
 
Visit Whip Salon online HERE to book your appointment or learn more about the Salon.
 
HamletHub thanks Fairfield County Bank for making our Why Small Businesses Matter series possible!
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Submitted by Westport, CT

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