Low patronage has led to the closing down of many saloons and make-up shops in Kebbi, an investigation by Caliphate Trust has revealed.
Caliphate Trust reports that a few years ago, saloon and make-up businesses were among the most thriving in the state as brides and bridal trains rushed to them for their beautification services.
Of recent, however, patronage has dropped as most of the customers have developed less interest in makeup.
The drop in patronage may not necessarily be because of apathy toward the art of beauty but owing to the rising cost of such services.
The cost of materials needed for rendering the services has been rising by the day necessitating the skyrocketing of the cost for rendering the services.
Also, prices of some of the basic components for saloon service have kept on increasing in the last two years such that most of the customers no longer patronise them.
Caliphate Trust correspondent also observed that the number of women using hair attachment has drastically reduced as a result of sharp increase in the price of the product.
Make up business in the state has now become a part time job as beauticians only enjoy patronage during weddings and even at such periods, not all brides patronised them.
Agnes Bala, a saloon proprietress who has been into the business for years, has owing to poor patronage, closed shop and sent all her workers home.
She said her business also involved the sale of beauty accessories but that she had to close down everything due to poor patronage.
Bala said saloons in neighbouring communities were also buying from her which boosted her business.
“But now, as patronage has dropped, it affects them all and they could not sustain the business.
“When it hit us that the business had reached such a critical level, we were left with no option than to close shop.”
Zubaida Sani, a beautician, said poor patronage forced her to close shop, adding that about 80 per cent of those who patronised her in the past have all disappeared and that the few who still manage to continue have reduced their patronage.
Sani said she had already relocated to Abuja for greener posture as the patronage was becoming lower by the day and the prices of their basic components were increasing.
She lamented that under such an unfriendly circumstances business would eventually die if no assistance gets to them.
“This is exactly the situation, we have found ourselves in Kebbi State. Therefore, we have no option than to close shop.”
