Mobile barbering vs starting a shop

[Thebarber98]

I have another post i posted today but ignore that.


What are your opinions on brick and mortar vs mobile when it comes to barbering? I consider myself a professional and want to start working for myself in the next 4 months. Ive saved enough to start a shop but im also considering to maybe get a car and go to peoples' house instead.

As a mobile barber id be saving atleast £1200 on rent alone + business rates. On the other hand, the barber chair and lighting are convenient, as well as people coming to you instead.

Id really appreciate some advice on how i should go on about this.

 

[intheTRADE]

A few years ago yes, but London where you are is dominated by the Trim-It app who do exactly this in their fully kitted out barber shop vans. How would you compete with them? Unless you become one of their barbers

 

[Thebarber98]

A few years ago yes, but London where you are is dominated by the Trim-It app who do exactly this in their fully kitted out barber shop vans. How would you compete with them? Unless you become one of their barbers

I take a piece of the pie.. Barbershops in london have another one opened within a 2 minute walk, so why couldn't i compete against a van?

 

[intheTRADE]

What i mean is how would you compete with them online when a customer is searching for a mobile barber? They've got millions behind them and will be dominating the search results

Then there is there is the actual haircut itself. Customers don't need someone in their house making mess. It's all done in the van at any location (home, office etc) that they want

 

[Thebarber98]

What i mean is how would you compete with them online when a customer is searching for a mobile barber? They've got millions behind them and will be dominating the search results

Then there is there is the actual haircut itself. Customers don't need someone in their house making mess. It's all done in the van at any location (home, office etc) that they want

Right now they dont seem to have many vans to meet demand but yes youre correct about the mess in people's home. Also for advertising i was thinking hiring someone to hand out leaflets (also doing some myself too, to get started. But anyway, what do you suggest then?

 

[intheTRADE]

It's not my industry so any suggestions on how to market such a service from me would be pure speculation.

Personally I wouldn't bother with leaflets. Who would keep a leaflet until they need a haircut? People requiring a mobile barber will just search online.

I dont even live in London but I know who Trim-it are and with them being 'the uber' of the barbering industry and with the ability for customers to book on the app without even needing to speak to anyone just screams to me that someone new entering the market won't even be able to compete with them unless they are backed with very very deep pockets for marketing

 

[Thebarber98]

It's not my industry so any suggestions on how to market such a service from me would be pure speculation.

Personally I wouldn't bother with leaflets. Who would keep a leaflet until they need a haircut? People requiring a mobile barber will just search online.

I dont even live in London but I know who Trim-it are and with them being 'the uber' of the barbering industry and with the ability for customers to book on the app without even needing to speak to anyone just screams to me that someone new entering the market won't even be able to compete with them unless they are backed with very very deep pockets for marketing

Thanks for your opinion.

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

I wouldn't be worrying too much about Uber style vans but there are some things to consider.

My missus and two daughters have had their hair done at home for many years. We're talking cut, cut, colour, wash, restyle, and the only mess is a bit of hair on the kitchen floor. Their regular lady has retired after many years and they've found it difficult replacing her, so there is a demand. HOWEVER, their being charged women's rates, anything upwards of £45 +++, all at one house or in close proximity and can most times book the next appointment when the last is finished.
How much will you be able to charge?
Getting from one haircut to several in a day in the same area could be difficult unless you have a client list to start off with. Unknown hairdresser, home visit, trust, covid etc., etc.,

My Barbers are no longer busy on Saturdays as home workers now fill most of the weekday appointments and want their weekends free. Haircuts at home could fit nicely with modern work practices.

Rent: Is that £1200 a month?

Depending on how your fixed and where you are located, how about the best of both worlds, working from home in a purpose built facility in your garden, but willing to travel for worthwhile bookings?

 

[MOIC]

Do you already have a customer base? If not then that's where you need to start.

Rent a chair at a barbers/hairdressers for a year and develop your customers (contract permitting) within that geographical area. When you have enough customers that like your service, you can then branch out as a mobile barber.

Being a mobile barber has many advantages over a shop which will require set-up costs, rent, rates, insurance, cleaning, utilities, staff etc etc. A mobile barber just needs a client base and your tools of trade (as well as petrol costs) . . . . . . . . . . with an added bonus of running your business on your timetable!

Good luck with your project.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

Again I know of another successful barber shop running out of a mobile old ambulance in East London
Stamina for hair

 

[IanSuth]

Ex squaddie mate decided to train as a barber, he was going to do it at Bike Rallies on top of weekday work (proper shave etc) rented a chair for a bit, he just couldn't make the £ work and so went back to working in a factory. A lot of blokes are happy with the local turkish barbers offering a simple dry cut for <£10 and there is one of them in pretty much every local arcade of shops around here

I think as others have said, if you are going to go to peoples houses, you need a loyal local client base first and grow from there - leaflet wise, my daughter used to deliver to 2000 homes once a month on her way to and from school and earned about £120pcm for 2 leaflets (which also had to be printed by the advertiser) if that helps with costings, the guy she did it through claimed he only took 5% off the top but as it was £90 for 1 £120 for 2 I think he likely charged each advertiser £100 or he gave a huge discount to a local estate agents who had a regular quarterly leaflet run