It has been a particularly difficult year for businesses, but one particular industry has copped blow after blow as a result of the pandemic.
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Wagga-based beauty and fashion businesses have not only had to contend with forced closures, but owners have also navigated the cancellation of big-ticket events, including race days, school formals, debutantes, balls and weddings.
Alana Higgins, owner and manager of The Style Bar on Gurwood Street has been particularly hard hit.
"Essentially, we lost our whole Autumn wedding season with the lockdown and then many of those brides moved their weddings to September, now we're looking at rescheduling for 2021," Ms Higgins said.
"The events are our cream. The Spring racing carnivals are big here, the school formals as well. Those girls book in a year in advance and spend thousands on it. It's not just a day for them."
Although admitting "it's hard to put a figure on it", this month alone Ms Higgins estimates there have already been eight cancellations.
"We're really grateful to have our regulars, but honestly no-one is going anywhere so they're thinking, what's the point," she said.
"We're relying on our regular colouring and we'll do some offers throughout spring but it's going to be hard to recoup.
"We're fortunate, we've been here for four years, but for those businesses that have just started, this will be hitting them very hard."
Ms Higgins also fears that the federal government's reboot of JobKeeper will not ease their financial discomfort.
"Our revenue will not be down 30 per cent from last year at this time, so we [probably] won't be eligible for any help," Ms Higgins said.
With no change on the horizon in terms of the restrictions, Ms Higgins and her team are preparing for cancellations during what would usually be their end-of-year rush.
"Christmas parties are going to be less extravagant this year, business awards are going online so people are trying to get together at home via Zoom," she said.
In other news:
Kim Martens-Shaw of Wagga Beauty and Health Focus on Copland Street shares Ms Higgins' frustrations after having been shut down from March until July.
"At the time in March, we were wondering whether we would have to survive without an income until September, but thankfully that wasn't the case," Ms Martens-Shaw said.
"Now though, we're missing all the races and a lot of our clients are either self-funded retirees who have lost some money, or they've lost their jobs. We had some clients from overseas too who have had to go back."
In a normal year, Ms Martens-Shaw would see her busiest time between September and January. This year though, even with new clients coming through the doors, she's unsure of what the future will hold.
"We're Wagga's longest-running beauty business, we've been here for 35 years so whatever happens, we'll still be here when [the pandemic] is all over," she said.
Jennie Moynihan, owner of Jet Hair by Jennie, managed to weather through the worst of the pandemic restrictions with accidental ease.
As a hairdresser, Ms Moynihan did not face the forced closure during the economic lockdown, but even more to her good fortune, it wouldn't have mattered if she did.
Three months ago, Ms Moynihan began a long-awaited renovation, relocating her business of 23 years to the top floor of the Australian Arcade on Fitzmaurice Street.
"Luckily I was able to put all my energy on the salon renovation," Ms Moynihan said.
"I'm also a single operator so I haven't had the same issues others have had with making sure there's room for the distance."
While there has been no downturn in her regular appointments, Ms Moynihan has seen a slight slowing down in her one-off appointments.
"I'm not having a lot coming in for jazzing up for the races, but it means I can fill the gaps with more regulars," she said.
"I don't want to jinx it, but I almost couldn't be busier. But I do feel for those salons that exclusively do special events, they will have had to diversify now."