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Just Cuts shutdown: CEO takes action

Sarah Stowe

Just Cuts has closed down salons to avoid further risk to clients and staff.

CEO and founder Denis McFadden took the difficult decision to shut down the company-owned salons in the hairdressing chain for four weeks and is recommending franchisees do the same as the coronavirus threat continues.

There are 2500 fully qualified stylists in the Just Cuts Australian network, predominantly in shopping centres, and 3500 globally.

Just Cuts has 190 salons across all states and territories of Australia, 28 salons in New Zealand and six in the UK.

The UK Government moved on 22 March to close salons with New Zealand following on 23 March.

Last week McFadden called on Australian politicians to pull the pin on barbers and hairdressing salons. Beauty salons and spas were among industries temporarily shut down by the National Cabinet.

National Cabinet had agreed “that the instruction regarding 30 minutes per patron would be lifted but that the 4sqm per person must be strictly observed within the premises and that personal contact during the patron’s visit should be minimised wherever possible.”

Just Cuts shutdown

McFadden has pointed out the impossibility of operating a hair salon under these measures.

With no action taken to add hairdressing to the list of non-essential services he has said the network cannot wait for the National Cabinet to do the right thing.

“We had hoped National Cabinet would understand the difficulties their failure to change position leaves our franchise salon owners and their teams in,” said McFadden.

“We are extremely disappointed that our calls for action fell on deaf ears. We aren’t prepared to put the lives of our people or our clients on the line anymore. Livelihoods are still at stake.

“Our stylists are scared. Our customers are scared. How can we ask them to continue when everything and all the medical experts says the risks are too high?

“So, we have today taken the decision to shut our doors for at least the next four weeks and are recommending to our independently owned and operated franchisees that they do the same.”

The two company owned salons in Western Australia closed at 5pm, Saturday 28 March 2020 and franchisees were expected shut down within a similar time frame.