@alan the other approach is bavk-of-the-envelope. If we assume 60 million customers getting hair done 4 times a year and taking 20 minutes, we get 80 million person hours or roughly 50,000 FTEs. Obviously very conservative values, but given most salons are sole traders it gives a reasonable approximation.
I'm now going to have to get my hair cut so I can interrogate my hairdresser about her customer mix.
In summary: ways to estimate country totals for POIs:
* Official statistics (e.g. VAT registered businesses)
* Govt #OpenData (e.g., UK Food Hygiene)
* Trade bodies & trade journals
* Extrapolation from well-mapped places on #OpenStreetMap
* Ball park estimates from first principles with a bit of introspection.
MT @alan
In summary: ways to estimate country totals for POIs:
* Official statistics (e.g. VAT registered businesses)
* Govt #OpenData (e.g., UK Food Hygiene)
* Trade bodies & trade journals
* Extrapolation from well-mapped places on #OpenStreetMap
* Ball park estimates from first principles with a bit of introspection.