Be Ready to Pay More for Salons and Bakery Products in Maharashtra Starting 1st Jan

Starting January 1, residents across Maharashtra will need to budget more for personal grooming and baked goods, as salon and bakery service providers announce price hikes to cope with escalating operational costs.

Salon Services to See 20-30% Hike

The Maharashtra Association of Salon and Beauty Parlour Operators has decided to raise prices for haircuts, shaving, and beauty treatments by 20% to 30%. The move is aimed at offsetting the rising costs of shop rents, staff salaries, and beauty products, compounded by taxes like GST.

For instance, a standard men’s haircut, which currently costs between Rs 130 and Rs 200 in smaller salons, will now increase by Rs 26 to Rs 40. Shaving services, priced between Rs 70 and Rs 100, will see a hike of Rs 14 to Rs 20. Women’s haircuts and beauty treatments such as facials and hair coloring, which typically range from Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000 or more, will rise by Rs 600 to Rs 1,500 on average.

Association president Prasad Chavan stated, “We haven’t revised our rates in the past three years despite significant increases in the cost of living, including food prices and shop rents. Many salon owners are still recovering from the heavy financial losses incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Ganpatrao Kshirsagar, a Pune-based representative, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the struggles faced by salons in rural areas where customer numbers have dwindled post-COVID.

Bakery Prices Already Increased

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Bakers Association implemented price increases for bakery products starting December 1. The price adjustments were driven by a sharp rise in input costs such as refined flour, which jumped from Rs 1,300-1,400 per 50 kg to Rs 2,000, and refined oil, now priced at Rs 150 per kg from the earlier Rs 90.

Key Price Changes:

• Khari and butter toast: Up from Rs 250 per kg to Rs 300 per kg.
• Biscuits: Increased from Rs 150 per kg to Rs 200 per kg.
• Sandwich and milk bread pouches: Now Rs 35, previously Rs 30.

Satyajit Khade, president of the Kolhapur Bakery Association, explained, “This is our first price revision in two years. Operational costs, including LPG, water, and electricity, have risen significantly, leaving us no choice but to adjust prices.”

Industry Grapples with Inflation

Both industries emphasize that these price increases are necessary to sustain business operations amidst inflation and increased operational expenses. With over 30,000 salons in Pune city and 10,000 in rural Pune alone, the impact of these hikes will be felt widely.

Customers are advised to plan accordingly for the New Year as essential services become costlier.