Opening A 'Modern' Barbers

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Pheonix

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Jun 25, 2015
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  • #1
    Hello all,

    Great forum. 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!
     
    S

    Scott@KarmaContent

  • #2
    I'd work it on how much you need to charge to make a good profit. This isn't the sort of business you should be competing with others on price. You're different than the vast majority of barbers so make the most of it. In some ways, the more expensive it is could make it more attractive to your clientele.

    Where are you opening it? You need to pick the right sort of place and do your market research to see if there would be a demand.
     
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    Pheonix

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    Jun 25, 2015
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  • #3
    Thanks for the comments Scott.

    Agree with your comments on price for a large percentage of customers, but there are some who will always weigh up the difference of say £4 against the difference in quality. It's about trying to set the price at a point where the majority feel it's worth paying because of the better service. I have our costs all detailed, it's really a case of checking that the prices we are planning on charging match people's expectations.
     
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    Paul Kelly ICHYB

    Paul Kelly ICHYB

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  • #6
    Your can budget better per chair, but I am sure the profit may be lower, but so are the risks, possibly.

    Staff can have a whole load of risks, administration and costs....

    I pay £9-10 in West London. I am not the type of person that would want to 'pay' more for the fun, but, if a similar price, might prefer.

    My feeling is that, unless you can get additional value out of the client, why have them hang around? Sure, coffee when they are waiting, but as long as things are quick and efficient, you are in the right direction.
     
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    Ian J

    Ian J

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  • #7
    Pheonix said:
    Yes I'd say it's a reasonably affluent town. Cuts in other barbers range from £8 at the lower end to £18-£20.
    Click to expand...

    I'm in the middle and pay £12 but I'm not really that interested in the "perks" that you have listed as the most important perk to me is actually being dealt with in a timely manner as 3:15pm means 3:15pm and not 4:00pm but you can play pool whilst you wait
     
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    Pheonix

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    Jun 25, 2015
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  • #10
    Thanks for the replies. Agree with the comments about waiting, it's the thing I hate most about getting a cut as well. The idea is to make sure there are things available to 'hold' customers when we are busy instead of them leaving. I think it also gives a good vibe.
     
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    Pheonix

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  • #13
    No H_Martin, it's more from experience of living in the area. Agree with the point on service. I've been to places before where the person cutting my hair has spent the entire time talking to the girl next to her. Terrible customer service.
     
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    JEREMY HAWKE

    JEREMY HAWKE

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  • #15
    ethical PR said:
    The Salon I go to charges £30 for wash cut and blow try for men in London.
    Click to expand...

    You must be having a laugh ethical there is no way I would pay £30 and what bloke would want a wash and blow dry anyway .I bet its some of those hipsters with beards that you hang out with !!!!!:):):):):)
    I think a proper barber shop would be a good busuness in Devon it is actually difficult to find a good barbers shop outside of Exeter and Plymouth
     
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    mrjonathanbrown

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  • #19
    If the hair cut is good & consistently good I'll generally pay the asking price whether it be £20/30 or £8, The more expensive ones of course tend to be salons, that do the full deal wash/dry. The cheaper ones tend not to properly brush off the hairs, Which can be annoying.

    Pinball machine might be a waste of money. Ipads great idea if loaded up with stuff like hair style ideas...I'm just saying that because most people have mobile phones but may not have the trendy hairstyle sites. I like hair salons to keep me up to date on trends, keep me educated. Its all about customer service.
     
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    ethical PR

    ethical PR

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  • #20
    JEREMY HAWKE said:
    You must be having a laugh ethical there is no way I would pay £30 and what bloke would want a wash and blow dry anyway .I bet its some of those hipsters with beards that you hang out with !!!!!:):):):):)
    I think a proper barber shop would be a good busuness in Devon it is actually difficult to find a good barbers shop outside of Exeter and Plymouth
    Click to expand...

    I don't really think they're aiming the service at you Jeremy :(

    Not too many hipsters down my way - I'm not in Norrrrf London :)
     
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    Jeff FV

    Jeff FV

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  • #21
    As it happens, on Wednesday I, a 40 something bloke, and a 20 something colleague were talking about haircuts. We both agreed that the biggest annoyance was having to wait to get your haircut, and we shared strategies to overcome this problem.

    Its not that we want something to do whilst we wait, we just don't want to have to wait at all.

    How long you have to wait (not what you can do whilst you wait) is a significant factor when choosing a baber.

    I should add, for context, that we are both well dressed, smart individuals who take pride in how we look.
     
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    MOIC

    MOIC

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  • #24
    Points to consider:

    Cleanliness is paramount, this includes towels, capes, the accessories, chair AND floor (sweep after every haircut.

    Give a shampoo wash that is part of the experience and includes a head massage from a competent person (not a 16 year old that is on the first rung of the ladder)

    Offer a tea, coffee or cold drink.

    Have a video offering on each "pod"

    Use top notch shampoo & conditioner.

    Pre book the next appointment and follow up with a reminder.

    Offer for sale the shampoos & conditioners you use.

    Have a promotional evening for OAP's, and Students.

    Have a website to show your business in a good light with online bookings to save waiting.

    Prices do not have to be cheap, there's enough of those about.
     
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    C

    Chris34

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    Feb 3, 2009
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  • #25
    The waiting is what would put me off. I'm very happy with my barber, have used him for just over 2 years now and is by far the best I have ever used. Cost is £12 but this is very cheap for the level of quality with the cut. I have found that going on a Wednesday between 14:00 to 15:00 is a good time to go, I rarely have to wait more than 10 mins. It's after dinner time so most employees are working, it's before the schools finish and it's right in the middle of the week so those that are skint have to wait till payday on Friday. I never go when the kids are off school as it's hammered.

    In terms of having a 'gimmick' aspect. You wouldn't go far wrong in getting a few of those virtual reality headsets that are coming out next year. That would be worth waiting for a haircut having a go of one of those.


    Chris.
     
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    14Steve14

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  • #26
    My local barber has a day where people can book appointments. It works most weeks, but he does have to let others in sometimes just to ensure that he and his staff are busy. Otherwise its a waste of time.

    On other days you can see many people stick their heads in the shop, see who is waiting then usually walk away. Keep the waiting times down and people will wait.
     
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    N

    NewGardenStyle

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    Jun 26, 2014
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  • #27
    I think that the absolute priority is getting a decent haircut. Everything else is secondary. As I'm sure you know, if you give a chap a haircut he is happy with he will reward you with years of loyalty. I like the sound of your proposal though, save the pinball machine. I could think of nothing more annoying than having to listen to somebody pulling the pin and flapping the flappers!
     
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    PDRD

    PDRD

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    Sep 13, 2012
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  • #28
    Just ensure you have plenty of seating, I don't mind waiting 15/20 mins if I have a seat but I never go in if there are only 3 seats and all are taken but I will get cut in 5mins if I stand in the corner.

    Used to use one that had a playstation set up with fifa. Was ideal when going in after school with kids as they didn't get fed up waiting so we didn't mind there being 8 people in front of us.
     
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    S

    sirearl

  • #30
    MY OFFICE IN CHINA said:
    Points to consider:

    Cleanliness is paramount, this includes towels, capes, the accessories, chair AND floor (sweep after every haircut.

    Give a shampoo wash that is part of the experience and includes a head massage from a competent person (not a 16 year old that is on the first rung of the ladder)

    Offer a tea, coffee or cold drink.

    Have a video offering on each "pod"

    Use top notch shampoo & conditioner.

    Pre book the next appointment and follow up with a reminder.

    Offer for sale the shampoos & conditioners you use.

    Have a promotional evening for OAP's, and Students.

    Have a website to show your business in a good light with online bookings to save waiting.

    Prices do not have to be cheap, there's enough of those about.
    Click to expand...

    Stuff that lot ,just stick a pole dancer in the corner.;)
     
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    Ra5ax

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  • #37
    Hi,

    Have you been into Teds Grooming rooms in London? They are a chain of very high end modern Barbers that are part owned by Ted Baker. I used to be involved in a lot of the fitout of the stores and the one thing that was very apparent was the service level given determined the cost. Teds grooming rooms run independent Cocktail bars and staff trained in cocktail making, They treat the whole haircut as an experience and believe me it really is. They are well worth popping into to take a look at and understand how they work as they are doing very well within there market.
     
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    namesweb

    namesweb

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  • #39
    ^^ Definitely agree with Teds Grooming room; was given the top package worth about £45 as a birthday present last year and it was well worth it! It's not rushed, and I got the best haircut I've ever had!

    OP if not checked out yet, definitely pop in!
     
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