mens only beauty salon! Cork

ian254

Hey guys:D

I am thinking of opening up a mens only beauty salon in Cork. Doing all the same things as a women's salon except exclusive to men.
What do ye think of this idea? would the men of Cork be interested??


Ian

bigneacy

I don't think Ireland would be ready for something like this to be honest. I would imagine you would need a city of 3m or more for something like this to work well... Perhaps i'm wrong

Owen

Can't see it working either TBH.

ian254

ian254 wrote: »

Hey guys:D

I am thinking of opening up a mens only beauty salon in Cork. Doing all the same things as a women's salon except exclusive to men.
What do ye think of this idea? would the men of Cork be interested??


Ian

Find out what the gay population of the surrounding area, and you'll see if you have a market. The only thing I imagine straight Irishmen getting in a salon is a back wax or something like that.

Feelgood

If you offer happy endings you might get a good few customers.

I actually think its a great idea, there are loads of mens only salons in
Sydney and they do very well. I was in one recently getting a hair cut recently and they give you a free beer while you wait.

Personally if I was going to get waxing or anything like that I think I would rather a man doing it. Tis not as awkward as going into a salon full of chicks. I say go for it. I think it would do well.

Bellies

I think that this a great money spinner, and their would be a demand for it! Guys do look after themselves and would happily pay €x amount for a shave, hair cut, get the eye brows sorted and whatever other ideas your thinking of!

MagicMarker

Why exclude 95% of people who would actually want to use it?

ian254

The fact that it is men only is the whole point of it. There are a lot of salons for women, and if it was both men and womens , men wouldnt go as they would feel uncomfortable surrounded by women doing women things.
A modern day man, is very well groomed and probabily grooms himself alot at home, so why not give the modern day man a place wear he feels comfortable in getting these treatments done.

It will be as masculine as possible, giving the treatments masculine names.

Ian

mikemac

Deleted User wrote: »

Find out what the gay population of the surrounding area, and you'll see if you have a market. The only thing I imagine straight Irishmen getting in a salon is a back wax or something like that.

I can't agree with that.
It's something that all men would consider.
Sure look over in the Gentlemans Club forum and there are lots and lots of threads on grooming

And guys might be self conscious going to a salon for treatment and being surrounded by women

Good idea
Include the free beer as per post 5!

ian254

hey guys:)

Ya thats what we wer thinking!! we dont want to just aim at the gay men in cork we want all men to come into the salon and feel comfortable.

ian

staker

Male personal grooming could be a good earner.
A good,clean,bespoke premises would do a good trade,provided you could generate repeat business.
Post to let us know I'll go in for a mosey.:pac:

galwegians

how much for a number three all over and a shave.

suey71

Male grooming in Dublin.
http://www.thegroomingrooms.com/

gavney1

MagicMarker wrote: »

Why exclude 95% of people who would actually want to use it?

because there's probably already 100 salons that cater for that 95% in cork already.

I think it may be a good idea. You'd have to market it correctly though and think about which part of the male market you're aiming for.

I presume the idea is that there's lots of guys who'd like to get a wax but would feel like a girl going in, especially if it's 99% women in there already?

Would gay/very metrosexual men be bothered by going into a women's salon? I'm not sure they would. But if you want to get the "manly men" in, then you'd need to market it cleverly. Make it a health food store for men? Or have a barbers that also offers waxing?Also I think that is not a very densely populated area, so you'd maybe need to be selling something else, other than just salon stuff.

Personally, I think if it's purely marketed as a Mens Salon (with nothing else on offer for the men), it won't work. However, as I said, a barbers/ health shop also offering waxing etc.. may be better. I could be wrong of course

MagicMarker

gavney1 wrote: »

because there's probably already 100 salons that cater for that 95% in cork already.

And unless they're female only they also cater for the other 5%.

gavney1

ian254 wrote: »

hey guys:)

Ya thats what we wer thinking!! we dont want to just aim at the gay men in cork we want all men to come into the salon and feel comfortable.

ian

i agree with that.

as i said above - gay men probably aren't that bothered by going into a female dominated salon anyway?

bigneacy

suey71 wrote: »

Male grooming in Dublin.
http://www.thegroomingrooms.com/

Now, thats one classy looking joint. But - In the final picture (obviously a more recent image) in the Gallery, they have updated the window signage to include 'Eve' a womens salon.

This is a clear indication that, despite the fact that this place ticked all the boxes; had a fantastic looking & comfortable premises, presumably a good service, a nice website and a catchment area of in excess of 2million (bigger than Cork's), they still had to go back and try to get the female clientele.

This only reinforces my initial point that a business of this sort - i.e. Men Only Salon (if you include a womens service then you're a unisex salon and both your niche and USP are gone), well Ireland ain't ready or ain't big enough.

Tombones

I shave once a week and cut my own hair twice a year. Wouldn't mind gettin the ol balls waxed though:p

gavney1

MagicMarker wrote: »

And unless they're female only they also cater for the other 5%.

no, they don't. The whole point is that the 5% the OP is targeting is Men who are embarrassed to go into a Salon where most of the customers are women and where the emphasis is on women.

MagicMarker

gavney1 wrote: »

no, they don't. The whole point is that the 5% the OP is targeting is Men who are embarrassed to go into a Salon where most of the customers are women and where the emphasis is on women.

You're assuming that they are embarrassed. Show me the market research that says they are embarrassed.

gavney1

MagicMarker wrote: »

You're assuming that they are embarrassed. Show me the market research that says they are embarrassed.

Yes I am assuming lots of men are. Not all, but plenty.

Part of the point of this thread IS to do some market research, and to get some ideas.

Personally, getting my legs waxed would be embarrassing. A large portion of that embarrassment, I would attribute to an association with it being a very feminine thing. Going into a girly-salon wouldn't help that.

BOND747

Im not from cork but i have used a salon in cork a couple of times because i didn't want to be seen going to one in my home town, i think a men's salon is a great idea. If you decide to go ahead with it i wish you all the best with it

DubTony

Here's another one. This is Ranelagh.

http://www.gmale.ie/

Godawful website needs a kick in the arse, but I don't suppose that has anything to do with anything.

bigneacy

DubTony wrote: »

Here's another one. This is Ranelagh.

http://www.gmale.ie/

Godawful website needs a kick in the arse, but I don't suppose that has anything to do with anything.

Jaysus, i'd agree with you there Tony... website is awful!

ian254, All this help we're giving you with the market research - can we all expect a complimentary B,S&C when ye open?

ssbob

I think this is a great idea, I am a man form Cork and am too embarrassed to go into the usual Aqua Spa etc for a massage because I am a bit embarrassed by bodily hair.

I get my hair cut every 3-4 weeks, get a shave(hot towel) on occassions and think it would be great to get advice about hair removal etc.

Advice: Not on the northside, Douglas or Bishopstown would be the place to go, perhaps Ballincollig.

(Not gay just metrosexual btw)
Keep us updated

the_syco

ian254 wrote: »

I am thinking of opening up a mens only beauty salon in Cork. Doing all the same things as a women's salon except exclusive to men.
What do ye think of this idea? would the men of Cork be interested??

If catering to men, you cannot use the word "beauty".

Instead of going the "metrosexual" route, look into going the "ye olde" looking barber shop approach which has a few extra options?

Nuttzz

I'd suggest a Men only day rather than just been exclusively for men

chillywilly

ssbob wrote: »

I think this is a great idea, I am a man form Cork and am too embarrassed to go into the usual Aqua Spa etc for a massage because I am a bit embarrassed by bodily hair.

I get my hair cut every 3-4 weeks, get a shave(hot towel) on occassions and think it would be great to get advice about hair removal etc.

Advice: Not on the northside, Douglas or Bishopstown would be the place to go, perhaps Ballincollig.

(Not gay just metrosexual btw)
Keep us updated

:pac:

ian254

hey guys

Thank you for the comments they are greatley appreciated!!