Terms & Conditions

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing and using The Salon Hub ("the Platform"), operated by THE HUB COLLECTIVE LTD, a company registered in England and Wales, you agree to be bound by these Terms & Conditions. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use our services.

2. Description of Service

The Salon Hub is a UK B2B marketplace connecting beauty salons, suppliers, and professionals. We provide:

• A directory of verified suppliers for the UK tanning and beauty salon industry
• A directory for beauty professionals seeking employment opportunities
• 91 educational compliance guides with interactive quizzes
• Job listings and recruitment services
• Insurance quote facilitation through Oak Insurance Brokers (FCA-regulated)
• Industry news aggregation
• Points-based rewards and gamification system
• Community Q&A forum (Connect)

3. User Accounts

3.1 Registration & User Types

The Salon Hub serves three types of users:

• Salons (FREE): Beauty salon owners and managers - full access to supplier directory, professionals directory (for hiring), guides, jobs, and community features at no cost. Can upgrade to Premium (£9.99/month) for additional benefits
• Professionals (FREE): Beauty industry workers (stylists, therapists, technicians) - browse jobs, build profiles, apply for positions, toggle "Looking for Work" status, and access all educational content at no cost. Can upgrade to Professional Premium (£9.99/month) for additional benefits
• Suppliers (FREE/PAID): Businesses providing products/services to salons - can list for free or upgrade to Premium (£35/month) for enhanced visibility (see Section 5.3 for details)

3.1.1 Directory Visibility

Different account types have access to different directory tabs:

• Salons can view: Suppliers (for products/services) and Professionals (for hiring staff)
• Suppliers can view: Salons (potential customers) and Professionals (industry contacts)
• Professionals can view: Suppliers only (to find products and services for their work)

Professionals who enable "Looking for Work" on their dashboard will be highlighted in the directory with enhanced visibility to help them find employment opportunities.

All users must:

• Provide accurate and complete information during registration
• Maintain the confidentiality of their account credentials
• Update their information if business or personal details change

3.2 Supplier Account Activation

• Premium Subscribers: Suppliers who subscribe to Premium (£35/month) are activated immediately upon successful payment, skipping the admin approval queue
• Free Accounts: Free supplier accounts are subject to admin approval before activation. Approval typically takes 1-2 business days
• Once approved, suppliers receive a free directory listing automatically (see Section 5.3)
• We reserve the right to reject any application without explanation

3.3 Account Termination

• You may delete your account at any time
• We may suspend or terminate accounts that violate these terms
• Supplier subscriptions are non-refundable upon termination

3.4 Premium Instant Access

• Premium Subscribers: Premium account holders are activated immediately upon successful payment with no waiting period for admin approval
• Free Accounts: Free accounts require admin approval before activation, typically taking 1-2 business days
• Premium subscribers get instant access to all premium features upon payment confirmation
• This applies to Supplier Premium (£35/month), Salon Premium (£9.99/month), and Professional Premium (£9.99/month)

4. Acceptable Use Policy

You agree NOT to:

• Post false, misleading, or fraudulent information
• Impersonate another business or individual
• Upload harmful content (viruses, malware, etc.)
• Harass, abuse, or threaten other users
• Scrape or copy content without permission
• Use the platform for illegal activities
• Spam other users with unsolicited communications
• Post offensive, discriminatory, or inappropriate content

Violation of this policy may result in immediate account termination.

5. Supplier Listings

5.1 Listing Requirements

• Suppliers must be legitimate, registered UK businesses
• All information provided must be accurate and up-to-date
• Suppliers must update their listing if business details change
• Listings are subject to approval and verification by admin

5.2 Verification Badge

• The "Verified" badge is awarded at admin discretion
• Verification indicates the supplier is legitimate and established
• Verification can be revoked if circumstances change

5.3 Supplier Listings & Subscription

Suppliers can choose between two options:

• Free Listing (£0/month): Full directory listing with business name, description, category, location, website link, and logo. All suppliers can upload a logo and earn achievements. Appears after Premium Suppliers in directory ranking.
• Premium (£35/month): Everything in Free Listing, plus: priority placement above free listings, "Premium" badge, highlighted styling with enhanced visibility, promotional deals with countdown timers, profile analytics dashboard, and eligibility for homepage rotation.

• All suppliers can create a free listing that is publicly visible
• Subscription to Premium is optional for enhanced visibility
• Subscriptions renew automatically monthly
• Payments are non-refundable
• You can upgrade from Free to Premium or cancel your Premium subscription at any time via your dashboard

5.3.1 Public Directory Display

By creating a listing on The Salon Hub, you acknowledge and agree that:

• Public Visibility: Your listing information (business name, description, category, and town/city) will be publicly viewable without requiring users to log in
• Contact Details — Members Only: We do not share your contact details (email address, phone number, full address, and website) with the public. Members get full contact access — your contact information is only visible to verified members of The Salon Hub who have been approved to join the platform. Non-members and visitors see a locked panel with a prompt to create a free account. Membership is free and public listing content (business name, description, category, and location) remains visible to all visitors for search engine indexing.
• Search Engine Indexing: Your listing may be indexed by search engines (Google, Bing, etc.) and appear in search results. Contact details are not included in public search results.
• Directory Ranking: Listing order is determined by subscription tier (Premium first, then free listings) and platform algorithms. The Salon Hub reserves the right to modify ranking logic at any time.
• No Guarantee of Results: Premium status provides priority placement but does not guarantee leads, sales, or any specific business outcomes

5.4 Payment Management, Failed Payments & Cancellation

All subscription payments are processed securely through Stripe. You can manage your payments at any time:

• Manage Payments: Click "Manage Payments" on your dashboard to open your secure Stripe billing portal. From there you can update your card, view invoices, download receipts, and cancel your subscription
• Cancel from Dashboard: You can also cancel your subscription directly from your dashboard using the "Cancel Subscription" button
• Immediate Cancellation: When you cancel by any method, your subscription stops immediately - no further charges will be taken and premium features are removed straight away
• Failed Payment: If your monthly payment fails, Stripe will automatically retry the payment and we will notify you by email with instructions to update your payment method via the billing portal
• Payment Retry Schedule: Stripe will automatically retry your payment according to its smart retry schedule
• Cancellation on Failure: If all retry attempts fail, your subscription will be cancelled and your account will revert to the free tier
• Reactivation: To restore Premium status after cancellation, you can upgrade again via your dashboard at any time
• Data Retention: Your account and listing data will be retained for 30 days after cancellation, allowing easy reactivation

6. Directory Boosts

Salons, Professionals, and Suppliers can purchase directory boosts for enhanced visibility in the directory:

6.1 Top Placement Boost

• Pins your listing in the top 3 positions with a highlighted profile card and "Featured" label
• Pinned above all Premium and Free listings in your category
• Limited to 3 slots per category to maintain exclusivity and scarcity
• Pricing varies by duration - see our Pricing page for current rates
• Weekly and monthly options are available
• Available as a one-off purchase - no recurring charges. Once your boost period ends, your listing returns to its normal position
• Available for salon, professional, and supplier accounts

6.2 Boost Terms

• Boosts activate immediately upon successful payment
• Boost duration is 7 or 30 days from the purchase date (depending on the option selected) and expires automatically when the period ends
• Boosts are one-off purchases - there is no recurring charge. Once your boost period ends, your listing returns to its normal position
• Boost payments are non-refundable once activated
• We reserve the right to remove boosts from listings that violate our terms
• Boosts can also be earned for free through our points system

6.5 Salon & Professional Premium Subscriptions

Salons and Professionals can upgrade to Premium for access to additional features:

6.5.1 Premium Benefits (£9.99/month)

• Downloadable Certificate PDFs: All logged-in users can take quizzes and earn certificates. Premium unlocks the ability to download certificates as professional PDF documents
• Editable Template Library: Fully editable professional documents including consultation forms, consent forms, policy templates, staff rotas, and health & safety checklists
• "Verified Member" Badge: A verified badge displayed on your listing to build trust and credibility
• Ranked Above Free Listings: Premium members appear above free listings in the directory
• Exclusive Member Deals: Access to exclusive deals and discounts from industry partners
• Social Media Shout-outs: Featured on The Salon Hub social media channels
• Future Compliance Pack Updates: Access to new templates and compliance materials as they are added

6.5.2 Subscription Terms

• Premium subscriptions are billed monthly at £9.99
• Subscriptions renew automatically each month via Stripe
• You can manage your subscription at any time by clicking "Manage Payments" on your dashboard to open your secure Stripe billing portal, where you can update your card, view invoices, and cancel
• You can also cancel directly from your dashboard using the "Cancel Subscription" button
• When you cancel, your premium access and future charges stop immediately
• First-time subscribers have a 14-day cooling off period for a full refund (see Section 7.2)
• If payment fails, Stripe will automatically retry before cancelling (see Section 5.4 for details)

6.5.3 Template Usage Rights

• Templates are licensed for use within your business only
• You may not redistribute, resell, or share templates with other businesses
• Templates downloaded during your subscription remain yours to use even after cancellation
• We reserve the right to update or modify template content at any time

6.5.4 Free Access Grants

The Salon Hub may, at its sole discretion, grant temporary free access to Premium features. This may occur through promotional offers, referral rewards, or admin discretion. Free access periods are clearly displayed on your dashboard and do not automatically convert to paid subscriptions.

6.5.5 Promotional Offers & Launch Periods

From time to time, The Salon Hub may run promotional periods (such as our Launch Offer) during which Premium features are available at no cost. The following terms apply to all promotional offers:

• No Payment Required: During an active promotion, users who select the Premium plan during signup will receive full Premium access without needing to enter any payment details
• Instant Access: Premium accounts created during a promotional period are automatically approved and activated immediately — there is no waiting period for admin approval
• Promotional Period: The end date of each promotion is clearly displayed on the signup page and your dashboard. Promotional dates may vary by user type (Salon, Professional, Supplier)
• After the Promotion Ends: When the promotional period expires, your Premium features will be deactivated. You can then choose to subscribe at the regular price (Salons/Professionals: £9.99/month, Suppliers: £35/month) or continue using the platform on the free plan
• No Automatic Billing: Promotional access does not automatically convert to a paid subscription. You will never be charged without explicitly choosing to subscribe
• Feature Parity: Promotional Premium access includes all the same features as a paid Premium subscription — there are no restrictions during the promotional period
• One Per Account: Each account can only benefit from one promotional offer at a time. Promotional access cannot be stacked with other offers or discounts
• Right to Modify: The Salon Hub reserves the right to start, extend, shorten, or end promotional periods at any time without prior notice

7. Refund Policy

We want you to be satisfied with our services. Please read our refund policy carefully:

7.1 General Policy

• Subscription payments are generally non-refundable
• Boost purchases are non-refundable once activated
• You may cancel your subscription at any time via your dashboard or through the Stripe billing portal (accessible from your dashboard). When you cancel, future charges stop immediately

7.2 Cooling Off Period (First-Time Subscribers)

In accordance with UK Consumer Contracts Regulations:

• First-time subscribers may request a full refund within 14 days of their initial subscription purchase
• This cooling off period applies only to your first subscription payment
• To request a refund, contact us at support@salonhub.co.uk within 14 days of purchase
• Refunds will be processed within 14 days of approval
• This right does not apply to renewals or subsequent payments

7.3 Exceptions

We may issue refunds at our discretion in the following circumstances:

• Technical Issues: If our platform experiences significant downtime or errors preventing you from using the service
• Duplicate Payments: If you are accidentally charged twice for the same service
• Billing Errors: If you are charged an incorrect amount

7.4 How to Request a Refund

• Email us at support@salonhub.co.uk with your account details and reason for the refund request
• Include your registered email address and the date of the payment
• We will review your request and respond within 5 business days
• Approved refunds are processed to your original payment method

7.5 Chargebacks

If you dispute a charge with your bank or card provider without first contacting us, we reserve the right to suspend your account pending resolution. Please contact us directly to resolve any billing concerns.

8. Job Postings

• Job postings must be genuine employment opportunities
• Jobs must comply with UK employment law
• We do not verify job postings or employers
• We are not responsible for disputes between employers and applicants
• Discriminatory job postings are strictly prohibited

8.5 Reviews and Ratings

Users can leave reviews and ratings for suppliers they have engaged with:

8.5.1 Review Submission

• Only registered salons and professionals with approved accounts may submit reviews
• Reviews include star ratings (1-5) for Quality, Service, and Reliability
• Reviewers may include an optional brief message (up to 500 characters)
• Each user may only submit one review per supplier

8.5.2 Review Moderation

All reviews require admin approval before being published. This ensures quality and compliance with our guidelines:

• Pending: New reviews are held for moderation before appearing publicly
• Approved: Reviews that meet our guidelines are published and visible to all users
• Rejected: Reviews that violate our guidelines are hidden with a reason provided

The review moderation process typically takes 1-2 business days.

8.5.3 Review Guidelines

Reviews must:

• Be based on genuine experiences with the supplier
• Be honest, accurate, and fair
• Not contain offensive, discriminatory, or inappropriate language
• Not include personal attacks or harassment
• Not contain spam, advertising, or promotional content
• Not include false or misleading claims

8.5.4 Review Removal

• We reserve the right to reject or remove reviews that violate these guidelines
• Suppliers may not offer incentives for positive reviews
• Users may not submit fake or fraudulent reviews
• Repeated violations may result in account suspension

9. Content and Intellectual Property

9.1 Your Content

• You retain ownership of content you post (listings, job posts, etc.)
• You grant us a license to display and distribute your content on the Platform
• You confirm you have the rights to post your content

9.2 Our Content

• The Salon Hub name, logo, and branding are our intellectual property
• Compliance guides and platform content are protected by copyright
• You may not reproduce our content without permission

10. Disclaimers and Limitations of Liability

10.1 No Warranties

The Platform is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind. We do not guarantee:

• Uninterrupted or error-free service
• Accuracy of user-submitted content
• Availability of specific suppliers or jobs
• Business outcomes from using the Platform

9.2 Educational Guides and Quizzes

IMPORTANT: The educational guides and quizzes provided on The Salon Hub are:

• NOT official training courses - They are informal learning resources only
• NOT accredited qualifications - Completing guides or quizzes does not certify you professionally
• NOT a substitute for proper training - You must undertake appropriate accredited courses for professional qualifications
• For information and entertainment only - The quizzes are designed as a fun way to test general knowledge
• NOT comprehensive or exhaustive - They provide general guidance, not complete regulatory compliance

The points, badges, and certificates earned through our gamification system are internal rewards only and hold no professional, legal, or regulatory value. They cannot be used as evidence of formal training or qualification. Always ensure you and your staff complete appropriate, accredited training courses from recognised providers for your industry.

9.3 Not Professional Advice

• Compliance guides are for informational purposes only - NOT legal advice
• Insurance quotes are facilitated, not provided by us
• We are not regulated insurance advisors or legal professionals
• Always consult qualified professionals for legal, financial, or regulatory matters

9.4 Third-Party Services

• We are not responsible for suppliers listed in our directory
• We are not responsible for job postings or employment outcomes
• We do not endorse any particular supplier, product, or service
• Transactions and disputes are between users - we are not liable

9.5 Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, The Salon Hub shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of the Platform.

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless The Salon Hub from any claims, damages, or expenses arising from:

• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any law or regulation
• Your content or business listings
• Your interactions with other users

12. Data Protection & Retention

Your use of the Platform is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal data in accordance with UK GDPR.

12.1 Data Retention Policy

We retain different types of data for different periods:

• Account Data: Retained while your account is active, plus 30 days after deletion request
• Points & Achievements: Retained permanently as lifetime records (these are earned rewards)
• Subscription & Payment History: Retained permanently for financial record-keeping
• Analytics Events: Raw analytics data (profile views, clicks) is automatically archived after 12 months - we keep monthly summaries for historical reporting
• Job Applications: Retained for 2 years after the job closes

This approach keeps our database lean while preserving the data that matters for your experience and our business records.

13. Complaints Procedure

We take all complaints seriously and aim to resolve issues quickly and fairly.

13.1 How to Complain

• General complaints: Email support@salonhub.co.uk with "Complaint" in the subject line
• Payment/billing issues: Email payments@salonhub.co.uk
• Include your account details, a clear description of the issue, and what outcome you are seeking

13.2 Response Times

• We will acknowledge your complaint within 2 business days
• Simple complaints: resolved within 5 business days
• Complex complaints: resolved within 15 business days

13.3 Escalation

If you are not satisfied with our initial response, you can request an internal review by emailing with "ESCALATION REQUEST" in the subject line. For full details of our complaints process, including external options if you remain dissatisfied, please see our Complaints Policy.

14. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will notify users of significant changes via email or platform notice. Continued use of the Platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the new Terms.

15. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

16. Contact Us

For questions about these Terms & Conditions, please contact us:

• General enquiries: support@salonhub.co.uk
• Payment issues: payments@salonhub.co.uk