Yahoo Finance Hair and beauty salons face Brexit chaos as products tangled in red tape
Sourcing protective gloves have also become an issue for some hair salons
(PA)Hair salons have become the latest businesses to be hit by the Brexit chaos since Britain’s split with the European Union was finalised at the end of the year.
Owners said they were struggling to secure the supplies of hair colours and other products they will need when the sector reopens after lockdown as most are imported from Germany, Italy and France.
Agnès Gaudron, owner of Agnès Organic Hair and Beauty Salon in Ealing, said: “The whole hairdressing side of the business relies on the two French suppliers. To import things, we now have to do so many forms, applications and authorisation.
“If I’m doing all of the paperwork, then I’m not working as a beautician.”
The salon relies on organic hair dyes that are only available in France. Ms Gaudron said she bought four months of supply last month but said she faced additional costs once she has to restock.
She told the Hillingdon Times: “When you see the amount of administration, it’s just insane.”
“I hope they will realise how badly small businesses are affected and they will do something more simple.”
Mike Patey, general manager of the Hair and Beauty Suppliers’ Association, described the extra bureaucracy for his members as “horrendous, an absolute disaster”.
As well as hair products, sourcing the protective gloves needed to be worn when dyes are applied to hair “has become a real global problem because they are needed for PPE.”
Exporters in all sectors are also facing a huge increase in paperwork.
Selwyn Stein, managing director of VAT reclamation advisers VAT IT, said they now getting up to 200 calls a week from companies hit by the burden of bureaucracy that goes with selling into Europe.
He said: “A lot of companies thought that just because a deal was done everything would stay the same but what we are finding, whether they are SMEs, FTSE 100 or Fortune 500 companies, is that they are not prepared for all the forms and regulations they have to adhere to.
“We are getting calls from companies that are finding their goods are getting stuck at the border and they’re getting an invoice. We are helping them with our contacts and expertise.
“Every country in Europe has a different system and different forms that have to be filled out. If you get just one thing wrong you risk a fine of a percentage of your goods or having them held up at customs.
“Also, each country will have a different VAT charge of up to 27 per cent. It is a real minefield. We have been told of cases where freight and shipping companies have held up goods due to only a small difference in the charges. The uncertainty of the final costs are leaving a lot of suppliers and customers unsure of whether their goods will be delivered on time.”
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