VAT survey appeal to all hairdressing business owners

The National Hairdressers' Federation (NHF)-led CuttheVAT campaign is appealing to all hairdressing business owners ranging from salon owners to freelances to answer four simple questions that have the potential to achieve the coalition's goal of reducing VAT for hairdressing services to 5%. The campaign, http://www.cutthevat.org, needs hairdressing business owners to answer the questions as a matter of urgency so that campaign organisers can present the strongest arguments possible to Treasury officials at a meeting on June 19.

NHF president Harry Walker, secretary general Eileen Lawson, Habia deputy chief executive Andrew Darby, Fellowship for British Hairdressing chairman Frank Shipton and Freelance Hair and Beauty Federation director Sheila Abrahams will represent the entire industry and explain to the Treasury officials present how a 5% VAT rate would benefit the final consumer without running contrary to Treasury or government policy objectives.

CuttheVAT needs hairdressing business owners, whether salon proprietors or freelance operators, to reply to the following no later than June 10:

1. About how many hairdressing appointments does your business have in the average week?
2. What is the average spend per client? (You can work this out by taking your typical week's takings and dividing by the figure in question 1).
3. Are you registered for VAT?
4. Is your business ladies, gents or unisex?

Simply e-mail your answers marked 1-4 NOW to enquiries@nhf.info

Your replies could make all the difference.

For further information contact Eileen Lawson, NHF
secretary general on 0845 3456500/ 01234 831965/01234 834 380 or 07765 891 573.

Editors’ notes:

• Visit the campaign website at http://www.cutthevat.org
• The NHF has a membership of 7,000-plus hairdressing salons - the biggest trade association in the industry. It has set itself a target to have more than half of all salons within its membership by the end of 2013.
• The NHF provides its members with support in legal, trading, personnel and insurance matters. It is also a significant lobbyist, frequently feeding back to government on crucial issues that affect the industry. It is a major player on the competition circuit.