SUCCESS IS IN THE MAKE-UP: Holly Sharpe is part of an expanding workforce to meet the demands of huge growth in the beauty industry. Photo: JUDE KEOGH 1029beauty
WHILE some businesses are struggling to get customers through the door, the beauty industry in Orange is enjoying huge growth with women now considering a visit to the beautician as important as a visit to the doctor or the dentist.
At Orange TAFE campus not only is there a waiting list for women wanting to train as beauticians, head teacher of hair and beauty Tracey Elliott said.
“We also have employers calling all the time looking for staff,” Ms Elliott said.
“Our certificate three in beauty is not only popular with people looking for a fulltime or part-time career, it is popular with our employers,” she said.
“We are getting a wide range of students from school leavers to women over 40 who want a career change,” she said.
NSW Business Chamber board member Ellie Brown who was last week invited to speak about the business success of beauty salons in the Sydney media said Orange is a snapshot of what is happening across the country.
“Salons have a new and developing market in mature women coming to salons who would never have contemplated it when they were younger because a visit to a beauty salon was seen as something of a luxury.
“Now women just slot their appointments in for months ahead, just like you would the dentist,” she said.
Mrs Brown said younger women with disposable incomes see weekly or regular beauty treatments as part of their lifestyle routine.
“Not only do they see going to the beautician on a regular basis as completely normal, but they are well educated about the products and the results they expect from researching it on the internet,” she said.
Mrs Brown said another area where beauticians are widening their customer base is the huge interest in injectables such as Botox and Restylane.
“Women just want their skin to look as good as it possibly can,” she said.
