Business owners react to Governor’s order of reopening state

On April 20, Governor Brian Kemp issued an executive order, which allowed for businesses, including industries such as hair salons, tattoo parlors, and bowling alleys among others, to reopen following certain guidelines.

“One minute I feel like it’s great, and then the other side I feel like it’s going to be really hard,” said Tiffany Baker, owner of Tre Bella Hair Salon in Perry. Baker said that the guidelines for businesses to follow might be difficult for certain industries.

Baker also voiced concerns about the health of her family as well as the families of her other stylists. Baker shared that her mother-in-law has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and that she worries about being able to safely see her once the shelter-in-place order is over, as well as possibly inhibiting her husband from being able to go to see his mother at a moment’s notice, if needed. This is not only a concern of hers, Baker said, but is also shared by some of her staff as well who has similar circumstances. Baker said it is a difficult decision, and she is torn because of the loss of income, as none in the salon have been approved for unemployment, nor has the business itself been approved for a small business loan.

“We need to make money, but yet, our health is important too, because if we get sick … then we are bringing something home that could hurt our families,” Baker noted, adding that if a worker were to become ill, they wouldn’t be working either.

Baker shared some of the guidelines, such as stylists and customers wearing N95 masks (which she said she has not found), wearing smocks, capes, gloves, covering shampoo bowls and chairs with plastic and replacing them after each customer, checking temperatures and questioning clients about symptoms and exposure, limiting the number of customers in the salon, and staying six feet apart—which Baker said is impossible for lines of work such as barbering, hair cutting, and massage therapy. Baker also explained that she couldn’t find disinfectants and astringents such as barbicide, needed to properly clean instruments.

Baker said that no definitive decision has been made as to when Tre Bella will reopen, and that she has been in contact with the staff about the issue and that they are still uncertain. Baker explained that she personally thought that it was too early to reopen, citing concerns about the peak of the virus and how much time should pass afterward. She mentioned that the disagreement that President Donald Trump has expressed with Kemp’s decision adds to the uncertainty.

“For me, I don’t think that it’s really necessary because I think that hair and nails can wait, but [is it] necessary for us to make income? Yes. That’s why we are so torn,” Baker said, and then further explained that she is grateful to have a governor and president that want to reopen the economy.

Sam Satterfield of Satterfield and Dempsey Jewelers in Warner Robins shared that the store plans to open on Monday April 27, and that if everyone follows the guidelines set forth for businesses the reopening may not be an issue.

“I think if folks do what they’re supposed to do and have it in the forefront of their minds to be cautious, I think it will be okay,” Satterfield explained.

According to Satterfield, the store will reopen under normal business hours, but there will be precautions taken. Satterfield explained that they will be allowing no more than two customers at a time in the store, and that the store will be wiped down after each customer leaves. Satterfield also informed that when it comes to services such as jewelry cleaning and repair, customers will be asked to remove their jewelry themselves and place the items directly into a bowl of alcohol to be disinfected, after which the repairs and cleanings would be performed.

Satterfield said he had thought about taking “baby steps” to reopening the store around May 1, after the shelter-in-place order was lifted.

“At this point, I don’t think anybody knows 100% how to handle any of this … I don’t think there’s a right or wrong answer. I think it’s going to be up to the public or the people,” Satterfield shared. He further emphasized that people should be cautious, especially those with underlying health conditions, or if they don’t feel well.

“Be cautious and aware of your surroundings and what you are doing,” Satterfield said. “I think, not just Georgia, but the country has got to slowly at least, get back to working. And financially, as a business, as an individual, as a country, as a state, we have to get the ball kind of back rolling again.”

Satterfield noted that whether it was too soon to reopen was up to the individual, and certain things that are being set in place now that were not thought of six months ago, such as social distancing, may be the norm in the future.

HHJ News