What makes a good barbers shop?
I know that this is an almost open-ended question, and the obvious answer is one that is successful. But how do you get to be successful and, indeed, what do you class as successful? Do you class success as a shop that increases the number of chairs and employees, or one that stays as one chair but makes a very pleasant living for the single barber?
The answer is whatever gives you pleasure. I'm happy to run a one-man band that gives me a reasonable living. However, some of my mates want a shop that grows and grows and then branches into two or several shops. (See below for pro's and con's)
It doesn't really matter what market you aim for (young or old, affluent or effluent). Set your stall out and over a period of time your customers will find you. Recommendations from these clients will follow. If you are the sort that wears leather trousers with boots, don't be surprised if you fail to attract the older client, and obviously vice versa. Also if you are overtly homosexual you might not find yourself cutting many homophobes.
I took a poll of my customers and asked them what attracted them into the shop and the result was quite interesting. In order the priority was:
1) Not too long to wait
2) Nice place to wait
3) Cut by the same barber
4) Personality of the barber
5) Sensible conversation
6) Price
The price, as long as you don't go mad, is irrelevant. People only tend to have their haircut every 6-8 weeks, so an extra £1 or a couple of $ doesn't matter a jig.
I feel that the shop should reflect the personality of the barber/owner. You cannot change what you are, so don't fill the shop with chrome and stainless steel if you are a "cardigan and slippers" type of person.
So unless you are a two headed hydra with dandruff and halitosis you should attract a client base of similar people. Lets hope there's enough 'similar to you' to make a living!
I've set my shop out to be an extension of myself. Blues and 70's rock music, easy chairs, quizzes, birds, and quality newspapers. BE YOURSELF.
Pro's and Con's - How many chairs etc?
a) with one chair you can easily lose customers who see a queue and go away.
b) with several chairs, many people prefer the same barber - one who 'understands' their hair.
c) don't make so much money with one chair
d) what happens when it pours with rain on a dull Tuesday, and nobody comes in for 3/4 hours? You will have to have a busy Wednesday just to stand still.
e) one answer to the losing customers problem is if you are continuously busy, then put your prices up quite a bit. You'll then lose some customers, but the vast majority will stay with you. The estate agent that organised my shop came in for a haircut 4/5 months after i opened and said "Good, you've put your prices up", "Why good?" I replied, "It's a sign you are successful".
f) employ several people and you'll find somebody goes sick, somebody has holiday, somebody is crap, and the last one leaves and opens up around the corner, taking some of your trade. Rent a chair is one answer but you tend to get little loyality.
g) one tip if you are running two chairs. The person in your chair is never as interesting as the guy in the other chair, but don't spend your time talking to the other chap. Also don't talk over the heads of the customers to the other barber (you can do that when there's nobody in when its raining). The person in your chair is 'buying' your time (we all prostitue ourselves in some shape or form), so he might easily feel aggitated if you spend your time talking to somebody else.
That's about it. Please send through any thoughts you may have on any barber related subject. Feel free if you want to link sites (God knows how you do that - it's all double-dutch to me. Please e-mail my son Chris who is all knowledgeable about "computer stuff")
WE ARE ALL VERY LUCKY TO BE WORKING IN, IN MY OPINION, THE BEST PROFESSION
IN THE WORLD, SO BE PROUD OF IT.
Hear from you soon
Tom.
TALK THE TALK AND WALK THE WALK
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