On the 21st March, we closed our City of London based beauty salon due to the pandemic. During lockdown, we set up an online shop which has done well but didn't make enough money to cover expenses. We partially re-opened on the 13th of July, due to only being able to treat areas below the neck. Initially, we were busy, but after a week were very quiet. On the 15th August, we were able to offer facial treatments again which was very good news.
We didn't receive a government grant as our rateable value was £75,000. We have been charged our full £60,000pa rent throughout the time our salon has been closed.
Having reopened we have been running at 80% less than this time last year. Most of our clients are still working from home & will be for the foreseeable future. Some will not be back until 2021. We're currently 80% down on this time last year. I'm concerned that the furlough scheme will be finishing in October & we may not have enough clients back in order to be able to have all our therapists in the salon.
If we had received a grant we would be in a much better position than we are now. We have had this salon for 25 years & always run a profitable business. Now this has changed. I have worked in the City for 35 years & have never been in such dire financial straits.