Opening A 'Modern' Barbers
Discussion
Hello all,
Great forum. Lurked for a while. I've been toying with the idea of opening a 'Modern' barbers for a long time now and am finally in a position to get moving. Business Plan and Cash Flows all completed, finance in place.
There are a couple of holes in the plan though, hence why I'm posting. Is there anybody out there that runs/ran a Barbers or Salon?
I'm still undecided between running a 'staff' model or 'rent a chair'. And then from that if it's 'rent a chair', is it a fixed price or a profit split. Really I'm looking for thoughts on this.
The second point is a more general one for any guys (with hair!). How much do you pay for a general cut and how much would you pay? The idea is for a Barbers with perks e.g. an impressive waiting area with WiFi, iPads, Pinball table etc. Then a high level of service e.g. Being greated and seated when you enter, coat hung up for you etc. May sound basic but doesn't happen in many places. Any comments on this would be great.
Thanks!
Great forum. Lurked for a while. I've been toying with the idea of opening a 'Modern' barbers for a long time now and am finally in a position to get moving. Business Plan and Cash Flows all completed, finance in place.
There are a couple of holes in the plan though, hence why I'm posting. Is there anybody out there that runs/ran a Barbers or Salon?
I'm still undecided between running a 'staff' model or 'rent a chair'. And then from that if it's 'rent a chair', is it a fixed price or a profit split. Really I'm looking for thoughts on this.
The second point is a more general one for any guys (with hair!). How much do you pay for a general cut and how much would you pay? The idea is for a Barbers with perks e.g. an impressive waiting area with WiFi, iPads, Pinball table etc. Then a high level of service e.g. Being greated and seated when you enter, coat hung up for you etc. May sound basic but doesn't happen in many places. Any comments on this would be great.
Thanks!
I'm not sure where you are, but here in Swansea they're springing up like weeds.
There are Turkish barbers all over town offering shaves, head massages and the slightly more interesting haircuts, and there's a new 'hipster' type just down the road, that sounds broadly similar to your model, and despite all of the trendy kitsch they've got displayed, they appear to be struggling to get many suburbanites to cough up £15 for a haircut and £10 for a shave.
Gppd luck though.
There are Turkish barbers all over town offering shaves, head massages and the slightly more interesting haircuts, and there's a new 'hipster' type just down the road, that sounds broadly similar to your model, and despite all of the trendy kitsch they've got displayed, they appear to be struggling to get many suburbanites to cough up £15 for a haircut and £10 for a shave.
Gppd luck though.
pheonix7 said:
a Barbers with perks e.g. an impressive waiting area with WiFi, iPads, Pinball table etc. Then a high level of service e.g. Being greated and seated when you enter, coat hung up for you etc.
That waiting area doesn't sounds impressive to me, it sounds awful. A pinball machine? Who are you target customers, lunchtime drinkers from the late 90s? IIRC there was a thread on this subject a while back.
Will your local market be receptive to a posh barbers? In reality its hard to offer much that is of value in terms of 'fun items' etc as people aren't usually expecting to spend long with you.
It may sound obvious but none of the ones i use or are in my home town do any marketing or promotion. Do that and you'll have an advantage immediately.
Will your local market be receptive to a posh barbers? In reality its hard to offer much that is of value in terms of 'fun items' etc as people aren't usually expecting to spend long with you.
It may sound obvious but none of the ones i use or are in my home town do any marketing or promotion. Do that and you'll have an advantage immediately.
I use a walk-in place, but I don't wait more than 5 mins, and the newspaper/my smartphone suffices for the duration
Short back and sides done exactly how I like it in around 10 mins.
£9. I shouldn't need to pay any more than that. I would resent paying more than a tenner for something that takes such a short time.
Short back and sides done exactly how I like it in around 10 mins.
£9. I shouldn't need to pay any more than that. I would resent paying more than a tenner for something that takes such a short time.
I considered an upmarket barbers some time back as a potential outlet but decided that the market outside of I-Saw-You-Coming types in London was too small.
However, I can see potential in offering an upmarket cut and shave as a mobile service; giving chaps a pampering, for example, on the morning of their wedding whilst their OH is getting made-up, etc.
However, I can see potential in offering an upmarket cut and shave as a mobile service; giving chaps a pampering, for example, on the morning of their wedding whilst their OH is getting made-up, etc.
My local Eastern European run joint charge £12 for a simple cut they do a decent job, some of the girls are hot and each chair has a TV playing footy highlights. I happily tip the fitties the extra £3.
Once went to a fancy place hipster type place just off Dean St in Soho and they charged £32 for some tattooed freak with one of those hoop things in ears to cut my hair. No better job than my polish girls but I did get offered a beer. Wouldn't go back though.
Once went to a fancy place hipster type place just off Dean St in Soho and they charged £32 for some tattooed freak with one of those hoop things in ears to cut my hair. No better job than my polish girls but I did get offered a beer. Wouldn't go back though.
Out of the 4 barbers in my town 2 have been there for decades and traditional short back and sides always got customers in £7 for a cut you always go back to the same person etc... Then there are the new ones that charge more with the play stations, sky sports on etc... That are normally empty! No need to wait there is nobody in there.
Good luck if it were me I'd be doing the rent a chair and let them get their own clients.
Good luck if it were me I'd be doing the rent a chair and let them get their own clients.
Turkish barbers just opened near to me...£7 for a cut. Each chair has a TV showing either football or music channel - nice clean and bright - spray you with an assortment of fresh smelling stuff.
Usually a quick turn around so if it's busy there's not long to wait.
If I've sat for more than ten minutes I'll leave and come back another day. I wouldn't hang about even if there were ipad's/pinball machines etc
Usually a quick turn around so if it's busy there's not long to wait.
If I've sat for more than ten minutes I'll leave and come back another day. I wouldn't hang about even if there were ipad's/pinball machines etc
Appreciate all of the comments guys.
Agree RE waiting, I can't stand it either. The idea is that by having a few 'novelties', people who may wonder off when we are busy are more likely to hold on.
There are obviously different types of customers that like different things. To some price will be key, others it will be service, the cut itself, waiting times etc. if we can hit a few of the key ones without spreading too thin then I think we'll be onto something.
Agree RE waiting, I can't stand it either. The idea is that by having a few 'novelties', people who may wonder off when we are busy are more likely to hold on.
There are obviously different types of customers that like different things. To some price will be key, others it will be service, the cut itself, waiting times etc. if we can hit a few of the key ones without spreading too thin then I think we'll be onto something.
Price point of between £12-15 which puts us in the middle to upper end of the market in our location.
Agree with the point about Marketing. I've never seen any form of advertising or promotion of a Barbers. Perhaps there is a reason for that, but I think with a good marketing plan you could gain a lot of footfall quite quickly. From that, use a few basic promotional tools to keep the customer coming back.
Agree with the point about Marketing. I've never seen any form of advertising or promotion of a Barbers. Perhaps there is a reason for that, but I think with a good marketing plan you could gain a lot of footfall quite quickly. From that, use a few basic promotional tools to keep the customer coming back.
My barbers has space outside the front and I always thought it'd be cool in the summer to have chairs outside and have alfresco haircuts.
As above, my one has been there for years with a basic service and nothing too flashy while others have come and gone probably a hundred times, all nice/posh/flashy. I tihnk the majority of men are 'blokes' who don't want/need anything flashy, just a 'standard' haircut.
Late opening times is always helpful.
As above, my one has been there for years with a basic service and nothing too flashy while others have come and gone probably a hundred times, all nice/posh/flashy. I tihnk the majority of men are 'blokes' who don't want/need anything flashy, just a 'standard' haircut.
Late opening times is always helpful.
10 years ago living down South, I used to pay £10 for a cut in local town, rarely waiting more than 10 mins
These days up North in rural area, I pay £5 for a mobile hairdresser. I dont know how she does it for that, obviously does a few in the area same day. Often does the missus at same time
Barber shop to me is about convenience, I want to be in there as short at time as possible and £12 max for a trim
These days up North in rural area, I pay £5 for a mobile hairdresser. I dont know how she does it for that, obviously does a few in the area same day. Often does the missus at same time
Barber shop to me is about convenience, I want to be in there as short at time as possible and £12 max for a trim
My barber is a good mate with a similar approach in a small town, and seems to be doing well.
Best thing he did though (IMHO), was to cater for 'working' customers by opening late once a week and inviting bookings by text/phone. This was quiet at first but he has steadily built a regular evening client base and now works solidly until 10pm twice a week, often collecting tips because customers appreciate his flexibility. If I had to go up to town on a Saturday morning I simply wouldn't bother - I'd find a place near work.
Best thing he did though (IMHO), was to cater for 'working' customers by opening late once a week and inviting bookings by text/phone. This was quiet at first but he has steadily built a regular evening client base and now works solidly until 10pm twice a week, often collecting tips because customers appreciate his flexibility. If I had to go up to town on a Saturday morning I simply wouldn't bother - I'd find a place near work.
Where will it be based?
In Birmingham there is a Jacks of London which is a modern barber shop charges around £23 and does well. Around the corner another barber shop has opened (i think it's called gentleman barber?) and looks to be busy. In my town a barber shop has opened and again is bus and charges £10 a cut.
There is a market and people are jumping all over this tattooed 1930's style barbering and the products such as Apothecary do very well. If you get a barber with a following who can do a decent fade you will do well. People will only only use one barber who can do good fades etc. and wait for him in shops.
In Birmingham there is a Jacks of London which is a modern barber shop charges around £23 and does well. Around the corner another barber shop has opened (i think it's called gentleman barber?) and looks to be busy. In my town a barber shop has opened and again is bus and charges £10 a cut.
There is a market and people are jumping all over this tattooed 1930's style barbering and the products such as Apothecary do very well. If you get a barber with a following who can do a decent fade you will do well. People will only only use one barber who can do good fades etc. and wait for him in shops.
Edited by olivebrown on Thursday 25th June 18:52
Edited by olivebrown on Thursday 25th June 18:54
pheonix7 said:
Price point of between £12-15 which puts us in the middle to upper end of the market in our location.
Agree with the point about Marketing. I've never seen any form of advertising or promotion of a Barbers. Perhaps there is a reason for that, but I think with a good marketing plan you could gain a lot of footfall quite quickly. From that, use a few basic promotional tools to keep the customer coming back.
CutThroatPete does a superb job of marketing online, a lot of it is done through his social media channels. Agree with the point about Marketing. I've never seen any form of advertising or promotion of a Barbers. Perhaps there is a reason for that, but I think with a good marketing plan you could gain a lot of footfall quite quickly. From that, use a few basic promotional tools to keep the customer coming back.
As for your original question, my barbers charge £8, I just give them a tenner and they do a superb job. They've got a PS4 in the corner but nobody other than school kids use it.
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