Hidden risks putting Australian beauty distributors and importers in danger

Many Australian beauty product distributors and importers are unaware of the significant risks their businesses face should the equipment they’re providing prove faulty, with Parmia Insurance stating they’re just as liable as the manufacturers developing them.

The award winning Queensland niche insurance broker states there is a misconception within the industry that claims can only be made against beauty product developers and not professionals supplying the equipment to salons and therapists.

Director of Parmia and the National Insurance Broker Association’s 2013 Broker of the Year, Danny Gumm stresses this is not the case and urges distributors and importers to review their insurance policies to make sure they’re adequately covered.

“Distributors are exposed to considerable risks as in Australia the regulations are that equipment importers face the same liabilities as manufacturers,” he explained. “This is despite, in many instances, distributors having no say in quality control or processes of equipment manufacturing.”

A previous Vice President of the Association of Professional Aestheticians of Australia (APAA) who has over thirty years of experience in the industry, Mr Gumm is considered an industry expert in developing strong, tailored insurance packages for all professionals operating in the beauty sector.

He says one of the biggest dangers for distributors and importers lies in ‘off-the-shelf’ packages that claim to provide protection against all potential risks and claims but in reality only provide superficial cover.

“’Off-the-shelf’ packages offer little or inadequate protection because they don’t take into consideration the unique nature of each individual business,” he said. “What may be suitable protection for a beauty salon may not be for a distributor or manufacturer. The only way to gain complete peace of mind that a business is adequately protected is to actually sit down with a broker and have all of your individual risks assessed so that you’re purchasing tailored insurance cover that meets all of your needs.”

Parmia’s insurance policies for the Australian beauty industry, which are written by world leading insurer Lloyd’s of London, are award winning. For more information, please visit www.parmiainsurance.com.au.

Media Enquiries: Suzanne Ross at Graymedia on 07 3250 9406, 0488 441 589 or email s.ross@graymedia.com.au.

New pharmacy clinic helps parents prepare for pregnancy

In an industry first for a national pharmacy brand, Discount Drug Stores will be providing ‘Preparing for Pregnancy’ clinics in more than 100 of its stores in May to help prepare those who are thinking of starting a family.

The clinics aim to help Australians cut through the sea of information available online on falling pregnant and pregnancy in general, by providing them with the opportunity to have a one-on-one consultation with a registered nurse.

Professional Services Manager at Discount Drug Stores Casey Clark states the idea came as a result of seeing many customers being misled by common myths and misconceptions about pregnancy.

“There are so many forums and online organisations offering advice and tips on how to fall pregnant or on what to do once you are pregnant that it’s now very difficult to know what information to trust and follow,” she explained. “We want to ensure that our customers who either are, or who are looking to become pregnant, are equipped with highly credible information that they can trust.”

Discount Drug Stores’ ‘Preparing for Pregnancy’ clinics will give Australians the opportunity to discuss these myths openly and to clarify what is fact and what is fiction.

To run in over 100 Discount Drug Stores across Australia, Ms Clark states another core objective for the clinics was to make it easier for Australians to access and gain preliminary information about preparing for pregnancy.

“Many Australians, particularly those living in regional areas, can find it hard to get an appointment with a credible, local source of information for all of their pregnancy questions,” she said. “These clinics aim to resolve this by providing a convenient and easy to access touch point where parents can have all of their questions answered.”  

During the clinics, the registered nurses will cover the topics of conception, how to maximise your chances of falling pregnant, advice for fathers, the best time to get pregnant, when to seek help and what to do once pregnant.

“Our nurses will provide comprehensive advice on all aspects of pregnancy,” explained Ms Clark, “but more importantly, they’ll be on hand to answer all of our customers’ questions. Starting a family is a life changing decision so we think that having a medical professional available for people to bounce their queries off of and to advise them will be invaluable.”

Ms Clark believes that providing advice for fathers will also be a strong draw card for new parents, as very few information hubs offer information to expectant dads.

“Soon to be dads play an important role during their partners’ pregnancies and we want to ensure that they are also equipped with the information they need and are given the chance to ask any questions that they may have,” she said.

The first time that a pharmacy brand has offered such a service in store, Ms Clark continues stating the ‘Preparing for Pregnancy’ clinics aim to provide Australians looking to conceive with greater opportunity to have all of their questions answered.

“Our pharmacies are already convenient avenues for Australians to purchase products to assist in their pregnancy planning,” she said. “These one day clinics are an additional opportunity for customers wanting to discuss preparing for pregnancy and are a preliminary avenue in which they can ask questions and to gain qualified advice prior to beginning their family.”

Discount Drug Stores’ ‘Preparing for Pregnancy’ clinics will cost $10 and include a 15 minute, one on one consultation with a registered nurse. Attendees will receive gifts and vouchers to the value of $15 to use to purchase products that may suit their individual pregnancy planning needs.

Bookings are essential. For more information, please visit www.discountdrugstores.com.au/health-clinics.

Media Enquiries: Suzanne Ross at Graymedia on 07 3250 9406, 0488 441 589 or email s.ross@graymedia.com.au.