Coral Pleas, owner and founder of Cutting Loose Salon and manager Travis Scheuer, attended the 15th annual Welcome to Our World (WTOW) event by The Professional Beauty Federation (PBF) in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 28th. With over 500 attendees, WTOW creates an atmosphere on Capitol Hill where members of the professional beauty industry educate Members of Congress about the power and influence of the $48 billion dollar salon industry.*
During their time in Washington, D.C., Pleas and Scheuer met with Members of Congress to discuss the importance of maintaining regulation in the beauty industry. By deregulating the industry, stylists would no longer need to schooling or licensing prior to employment. As longtime proponents of education, Pleas and Scheuer stressed to Congress the safety concerns of unlicensed professionals performing services and processing chemicals without proper training. Pleas and Scheuer were the only salon owners to address congress and joined numerous beauty schools. Pleas and Scheuer bring 45 years to the beauty industry and their expertise make their insights invaluable assets.
“As beauty industry professionals, we touch so many lives. I am passionate about maintaining education and accountability the public deserves from us,” said Coral Pleas.
The PBF is a non-profit coalition of businesses and associations working together to advance the interests of America’s professional beauty industry. WTOW provides an opportunity for PBF members to speak directly to Members of Congress about the professional industry’s key issues, including modernizing the United States Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) cosmetic laws, access to cosmetology education and financial aid, equitable taxation, and small business support.
For additional Professional Beauty Association (PBA) research and reports, including “Portrait of the U.S. Salon/Spa Industry by Congressional District,” “Nail Manufacturers Council on Safety Publications,” and “Economic Snapshot of the Salon/Spa Industry,” visit probeauty.org/research.
* Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau; 2013 figures
