Beauty operators say longer hours unlikely to boost business

[Photo: Ricaela Diputado]

Local beauty salon operators have voiced concerns that proposed regulatory changes allowing extended operating hours would do little to stimulate business growth, citing weak nighttime demand and persistent manpower shortages as key constraints.

The commentary comes in response to the government’s amendments to the “Regulatory System for Specific Businesses and Activities,” which propose removing operating hour restrictions for various establishments, including beauty salons.

According to the Macao Daily News, industry representatives argue that market demand inherently limits the effectiveness of extended hours, as most customers are accustomed to booking daytime appointments and rarely seek beauty services at night.

Even if salons were permitted to stay open later, operators doubt there would be sufficient patronage to justify the additional costs.

Manpower shortages compound the issue, with salon managers noting that staff schedules are already tightly aligned with daytime bookings, leaving little flexibility for overnight shifts. Extending operating hours would inevitably increase utility bills and overhead costs, yet without adequate customer flow, these added expenses cannot be offset by marginal revenue gains, they explained.

Currently, most salons operate from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., a schedule that industry players believe already meets market demand.

With a two-shift staffing system in place, this timeframe effectively covers the vast majority of client appointments while maintaining a balance between operational efficiency and cost management. Operators maintain that this arrangement remains the most practical and sustainable model for the sector under current market conditions.