Rusty's Barbers Durham

[Rustythebarber]

Hi Geordies, Mackems, pit yackers and the like.

My name is James and I have just got the keys to my first barbershop in reform place, Durham city centre. I'm looking forward to chatting to everyone on here but first, a brief mission statement and what we are about!

Here at Rusty's what I will be offering is a warm welcome and a cold beverage, there will be Xbox with FIFA and Forza and COD. I am also installing a cinema room that allows films to be shown thanks to the people at FilmBank.co.uk.

I really want this to be a place where you don't just endure a haircut, but where you experience community and a positive transformation! I want to build relationships with customers and know all about the ups and downs of what's going on once a month.

I'm really looking to build/join a community of great business owners where we can all help and support each other.

Would be great to get advice from more seasoned business owners or barbershops where I can learn from them.

My weakness is admin, so any advice on things I should be doing like looking for rate relief, registering for NI, how to pay tax any advice on those things would be amazing!

Thanks again,

Peas, love and happy haircuts.

Rusty.

 

[Newchodge]

Hi Rusty

Welcome.

Are you intending to employ staff? If so, the first thing you need to do is register with HMRC as an employer and sort out a payroll system.

Are you going to offer student discounts? I spent many happy years as an under and post-graduate student in Durham, and love the place.

Cyndy

 

[JDX_John]

Hi Rusty, a friend just told me about you via FB and searching for your website this thread was near the top so I thought as a fellow UKBF member I'd say hi.

Hope to pop in soon. Based on your location and aims, have you already met the guys at Jumping Bean cafe? And on the other side of town, the Old Cinema Launderette?

 

[Rustythebarber]

Sorry for the slow response.

Didn't realise getting opened and registered would be so time consuming......well I did really, just trout I'd get more chance to do this type of thing. Yeah I have met one of the lads from jumping bean cafe, really nice guys with a good vision for the cafe. So where is it that you work? What's your business? Nice to meet local people on a national forum. Could do with getting together with as many local businesses as possible. Is there a meeting of sorts once a month or anything where everyone gets together?

Thanks for the warm welcome again and hope to hear from you soon.

Regards,

Rusty.

 

[Rustythebarber]

Hi Cyndy,

Yes I am definitely offering student discounts, I can't wait for the students to get back in October, Durham is so quiet without them and I love the hustle and bustle of the student atmosphere! I taught the university Breakdance class for a few years and a lot of the students attend our church (held in the DSU!) during term time. So I have quite a few connections with the students and they are my primary audience.

I won't be hiring staff to start off with to keep my overheads as low as possible and I can manage 30 haircuts a day by myself so until I get more than that I will be waiting until the students get back and taking it from there.

Thanks for the welcome too!

 

[Berry220]

Hi Rusty,

I live at Langley Park, and I just joined this forum a few days ago. You mention that you are looking to 'build or join a community of great business owners', well I am not sure if you know, but Cafe Rouge just started having a monthly breakfast get-together for businesses within Durham to get to know each other. I remember reading it in one of the papers (possibly the freebie advertiser), I think it was linked to the Luminiere Festival, but it's worth having a looksie as it's so close to where you're based, although I can't remember what businesses attended, I think it was their first ever meeting a few weeks ago, so it may be good getting involved from the start, as you won't feel like the newbie, and you could encourage more unique businesses to join, that are offering something more extra special rather than the norm.

Deb

 

[JDX_John]

@Deb that's interesting to know. There are organisations like 4N who do breakfast meetings (they have one in Durham) but that's a paid membership, so a more informal get-together sounds quite attractive.

@Rusty nice to meet you the other day... I do all kinds of software stuff but work as a "virtual company" i.e. we all work from our own locations like home office, etc.


I popped into Rusty's last week and would recommend it. Nice, interesting guy offering a decent service at a very good price - I'll see you again in a few weeks!

 

[Rustythebarber]

Thanks for all the kind responses. Now that I am getting more settled I am going to try and get on here more often. I now have Internet in the shop which means I don't have to wait until I get home to get all my emails and Facebook stuff sorted..... Also means my wife doesn't get as annoyed with me "ignoring" her.

On another note, just thought I'd give the lads from the Jumping bean cafe a shout, popped in there for a coffee, they've got a good selection of hot and cold drinks as well as a thoughtful selection of food, they cater well for vegans (not that I am one!) but if that's your diet it's great!

I think I am going to try and get along to the small business meeting in cafe rouge too.

Looking forward to the students getting back now!

Peace out,

Rusty.

 

[JDX_John]

If you make it to Cafe Rouge, would you mind reporting how it went? Or I'll just ask you next time I need a haircut... maybe I need to get in before the students arrive!

 

[Rustythebarber]

Hi all.

So the business meeting is at cafe rougé this Tuesday morning.... at 7.30am! Eek! I hope I can concentrate that early in the morning, I'm not really a morning person, but hey, the thing we do to make our businesses work! For those interested its through the Durham BID. If you want more information on it just google Durham bid and all there contact info is on there. It's for Durham city centre based businesses between claypath, the cathedral and north road. They seem like really nice people slim looking forward to going along. Except for the early morning part! :-S well it's pretty late now and I'm pretty tired so have a great weekend and hopefully see some of you guys in the shop for a haircut!

Peace and love,

Rusty.

 

[HorseLatitudes]

I originally joined here for professional reasons but it seems my first post is going to be for my own personal benefit.

How are you with beard grooming?

I'm absolutely crying out for someone to neaten it up for me, my beard is my pride and joy and I've never found anyone I trust enough to let them near it.

Hope the buisness venture is still coming along nicely. I'm not a business owner but have been around enough to know what a demanding task it can be.

 

[Rustythebarber]

I originally joined here for professional reasons but it seems my first post is going to be for my own personal benefit.

How are you with beard grooming?

I'm absolutely crying out for someone to neaten it up for me, my beard is my pride and joy and I've never found anyone I trust enough to let them near it.

Hope the buisness venture is still coming along nicely. I'm not a business owner but have been around enough to know what a demanding task it can be.

Hi Horse.

A warm welcome to the forum and a warm (cyber) welcome to Rusty's.

Sure I can have a look at your beard. Why not pop in when you are free, I will make you a tea or a coffee and we can chat about your beard and aftercare. Best thing I can suggest is that when you choose a barber stick with one and each time you visit give feedback on how it was done previously and what you would like done differently or if the barber got it spot on tell them! the perfect beard shape is personally subjective, so what looks awesome to one person may not be to another.

What I will do is listen to what you want, gain agreement on what we are going to do and start out while consistently checking throughout the service that you are happy with the way it is looking. If you get home, shower and find that it's not short enough or it's not exactly what you want just come back in and we can tweak it. And I wouldn't charge again for this! I would rather we got your beard spot on in a couple of visit as it means once we have the perfect shape it is easy to follow in future visits.

I've also got a bit of OCD about outlines so I will only be happy once I know you are happy. ;-)

Hope this is helpful.

Have a great week.

Rusty the barber.

 

[HorseLatitudes]

Rusty, you're an absolute diamond.

I'm fairly busy over the next few days but you can expect me to drop by at the turn of the month.

In the mean time, take care and have a bloody good day

 

[Rustythebarber]

No worries at all. Glad I could be of service!

Incase you fancy it, we hold a games night in the 2nd of November and the last Saturday of the month every month after that. If you can, pop down for an hour to meet a few of the other regulars and their WAGs if you like. All the info is on the Facebook page. Facebookdotcom/rustysbarbers.

All the best.

Rusty.