Salon and Bakery Services in Maharashtra to Cost More Starting January 2025
Pune, 14th December 2024: Starting January 1, residents across Maharashtra will have to spend more on haircuts, shaving, beauty treatments, and bakery items as businesses grapple with rising operational costs. The Maharashtra Association of Salon and Beauty Parlour Operators has announced a price hike of 20% to 30% for various salon services, citing inflationary pressures.
For men, a basic haircut currently priced between Rs 130 and Rs 200 in smaller salons is expected to increase by Rs 26 to Rs 40. Similarly, the cost of a shave, now ranging between Rs 70 and Rs 100, will see an additional Rs 14 to Rs 20. Women’s haircuts and beauty services such as facials and hair coloring, which often cost between Rs 2,000 and Rs 5,000 or more, are expected to rise by Rs 600 to Rs 1,500 on average.
The president of the association, Prasad Chavan, elaborated on the rationale behind the decision. “The rates have remained unchanged for the past three years, while the cost of living, staff salaries, shop rents, and product prices have all increased significantly,” he explained. Chavan also pointed to GST and other taxes as factors driving up the cost of beauty products.
He noted that many salon owners are still struggling to recover from the financial losses incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Our industry was shut down for months. Haircutting services were among the last to be permitted, and some owners have yet to bounce back from those losses,” Chavan added.
With approximately 30,000 salons in Pune city and 10,000 in rural Pune, this price hike will impact a large customer base.
Bakery Prices Also on the Rise
In a parallel development, the Maharashtra Bakers Association has raised the prices of bread and biscuits, effective December 1, due to increasing input costs. The cost of refined flour has surged from Rs 1,300-1,400 per 50 kg to Rs 2,000, while refined oil prices have risen from Rs 90 per kg to Rs 150 per kg.
“We’ve had to adjust prices to account for rising utility bills, LPG prices, and other operational expenses,” said Satyajit Khade, president of the Kolhapur Bakery Association. For instance, the price of khari and butter toast has gone up from Rs 250 per kg to Rs 300 per kg, while biscuits now cost Rs 200 per kg instead of Rs 150. Sandwich and milk bread pouches have also seen a price increase, now costing Rs 35 instead of Rs 30.
Khade noted that this is the first price revision in two years and emphasized that the decision was essential to sustain business operations amidst soaring costs.
