Barber shop talk

geeko

Hi Guys,
Im a young irish barber
Opening my first barbershop soon.

Just looking for abit of feedback, apart from a good haircut what do you like about your own barbershop?

Grayditch

Give people literally what they ask for. Lots of times I've told them what I want and just got the same haircut as the last fella.

Rabies

I go to a nice place. They are a little more expensive than normal, but clean and tidy, remember my name, stuff we talk about and the cut I always get.

A mate of mine recommends another place, but they're $50 for a basic buzz cut. But you do get to drink a whiskey of your choice or beer while they cut

gammygils

Not Jeremy Kyle on the fukkin telly like I had last time. Fux sake

WE'RE NOT WOMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rabies

gammygils wrote: »

Not Jeremy Kyle on the fukkin telly like I had last time. Fux sake

WE'RE NOT WOMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My place has mini tv's built in to the mirror. Always has sport or international news on with just enough sound that you can hear the tv but also talk.

efb

Best of luck with your business.

Newspapers good. Know sports cars etc for chat with clients.

Dublinmackem

Defo make sure your cuts are what the person wants and not what you think it shud be, good decor, If there's anyway you could offer a drop of whiskey or something would be a great touch, oh and of course on Fridays a jar of "something for the weekend sir?"

Sofiztikated

Dublinmackem wrote: »

Defo make sure your cuts are what the person wants and not what you think it shud be, good decor, If there's anyway you could offer a drop of whiskey or something would be a great touch, oh and of course on Fridays a jar of "something for the weekend sir?"

While your first point is correct, it is also worth pointing out that some people ask for haircuts that will just not suit them/are not possible.

The best idea, like any business, know your market, know your competition, and get a feel for what people want. We can't do that for you on here, we can give you an idea, but where you plan on opening, and who is already there will dictate the type of shop.

Dublinmackem

Sofiztikated wrote: »

While your first point is correct, it is also worth pointing out that some people ask for haircuts that will just not suit them/are not possible.

That is true however if they presume the haircut will suit them in the first place and it is not given well then they will be unhappy to unknowingly have a cut that suits their shape and will still presume their idea of a cut would have been better, of course he can explain this but when consumers have something in their head; if they don't get it they tell/complain on average to 15 people, so for a trader who relies mainly on returned local buisiness, the customer is always right, throw in a little guidance but defo give him the cut he asks for and not what you feel would suit.
P.S. Best of luck with it.

visual

Employ men to cut hair.

All the local baber shops have women employed and they just miss the little things like shaving the back of your neck or locks.

eire-kp

Small things like useing the cutthroat razor (if thats the right term) to do the back of the neck. Taking the bit of extra time to do a great job. My local place is great it's a quality hair cut done the way I want and even though it's a euro or two dearer I allways wait t get my hair cut there even though I live in Dublin.

Best of luck with it!

Or you could go for the business model of the only barber in a small village I lived in New Zealand, a table full of dodgy porno mags, allways trying to turn the conversation to talking about chasing young women on nights out in the local "big" town. The guy was the definition of a creep complete with a manky leather waist coat and long greasy hair..:eek:

--Kaiser--

Have some good magazines/reading material for ****s sake and not the same ones from 4 years ago that you had lying around. MEN's stuff as well, you can shove your wife's Hello magazine up your hole.

Give the customer what they want, make suggestions and what not but don't be treating your customer like a guinea pig to be trying new styles out.

Some people go in for a cut and don't really want to talk, some want a good aul chat you should be able to sense this in either case. DO NOT stop cutting someone's hair to deliver the finer points of a story (as I've had one plank do - awful haircut as well) many people will be in a hurry.

First in, first out, DO NOT allow people you know to skip the queue (saw one barber do this and the practically the rest of the shop walked out).

Woodward

Keep kids in line when they are in your shop. My barber can feel like a creche sometimes when the Da comes in for a cut and the mother and 2 kids are taking up all the seats and running amok

Ilik Urgee

Give the time on every haircut. I know you're gonna get the lad that's in a mad hurry but by and large most fellas want a good job done these days.
Finish off the cut too by using a blade for the neck, burn the ear and trim the nose hairs and a dab of balm/aftershave on the shaved bits.
Replace the magazines regularly, clean the floor.


You probably know all this already OP but they're just my own ideas.
It's more outlay on your behalf but it will build a loyal customer base for you I'd imagine.
Seen it happen locally here where the old stalwart has been virtually shut down for failing to keep with the times.

Best of luck with the venture!

.jacksparrow.

Most barbers nowadays keep cutting that little bit more to the point you leave butchered, and always go to high with the blade, I always have to ask to keep it low or else end up lookin like I'm in the army, best of luck with it.

Fukuyama

In the afternoons I don't mind a bit of chit chat. But if it's first thing in the morning I don't want to have to drag out a conversation...

Also don't have the radio on. Every Irish radio station is all about the XFACTOR or whatever other celebrity piece of crap is floating around at the time. Have a TV with Eurosport, BBC World News or something on. The BBC is good because there's no ads.

As for magazines, I'd say have everything from The Star to Forbes with a car magazine thrown in there too.

I've never been to a barber that offers a beer but I've heard of them. Might be a good idea for punters in the afternoon or straight after work. Not too sure about an 11am short back and sides though! :pac: (Serious question: do you need a licence to give alcohol??)

Use the straight razor on the neck. Much better job than just the little battery operated buzzer thing. Plus it's manly as all hell.

My barber has old framed Colgate and Gillette ads from the 1920s up. They're cool.

Have some good hair products to upsell - not cheap DAX or Lynx gel. My barber has Black & White pomade which they use as wax. By the till they have a few stacked up with a price tag on them (men like price tags). Good upsell as if it worked good in their hair when the barber put it in they might buy one. (I have).

What else. What else. What else...

A hello when I walk in the door would be nice. :rolleyes: Stopped going to my old barber purely because she was rude.

I also prefer getting my hair cut by men. Don't know why. I think I can explain what I want better.

Woodward

Dean0088 wrote: »

In the afternoons I don't mind a bit of chit chat. But if it's first thing in the morning I don't want to have to drag out a conversation...

Also don't have the radio on. Every Irish radio station is all about the XFACTOR or whatever other celebrity piece of crap is floating around at the time. Have a TV with Eurosport, BBC World News or something on. The BBC is good because there's no ads.

As for magazines, I'd say have everything from The Star to Forbes with a car magazine thrown in there too.

I've never been to a barber that offers a beer but I've heard of them. Might be a good idea for punters in the afternoon or straight after work. Not too sure about an 11am short back and sides though! :pac: (Serious question: do you need a licence to give alcohol??)

Use the straight razor on the neck. Much better job than just the little battery operated buzzer thing. Plus it's manly as all hell.

My barber has old framed Colgate and Gillette ads from the 1920s up. They're cool.

Have some good hair products to upsell - not cheap DAX or Lynx gel. My barber has Black & White pomade which they use as wax. By the till they have a few stacked up with a price tag on them (men like price tags). Good upsell as if it worked good in their hair when the barber put it in they might buy one. (I have).

What else. What else. What else...

A hello when I walk in the door would be nice. :rolleyes: Stopped going to my old barber purely because she was rude.

I also prefer getting my hair cut by men. Don't know why. I think I can explain what I want better.

The American Crew stuff is pretty good and it seems to sell well for the barber I go to. I agree with having male hairdressers too. Not just because they seem to give a better cut but for the atmosphere. A place I used to go to ended up as 80% female hairdressers who gave terrible 'stylish' cuts and also spent the whole time talking about celebs and stuff like that. Often they would talk among themselves while working rather than talking to the punter

RedXIV

This might not be a common one buy I'm not big on car mags or newspapers, but I miss my barber from college because he used to have a gaming mag every time I was there available.

Small touch but kept me going back again and again

OU812

Topless female barbers. Have that & you'll have a chain of stores within a year.

Seriously though, get a PS2 or Xbox with wireless controllers for your wait area.

Pj!

Be sure to brush or blow-dry the loose/cut hairs from the customers head before letting them leave. The amount of barbers/hairdressers who leave a load of it in there is shocking. It's very annoying.

Straight razor for the neck. Please disinfect it between customers and make it very visible to the customer that you are doing so.


Best of luck with it.

Fukuyama

RedXIV wrote: »

This might not be a common one buy I'm not big on car mags or newspapers, but I miss my barber from college because he used to have a gaming mag every time I was there available.

Small touch but kept me going back again and again

+1

I'd say a good thing to do would be to get subscriptions to:

Wired (UK Edition)
A gaming magazine
EMPIRE
Forbes
FHM and
a couple others.

Subscriptions can be up to 80% cheaper and come straight to the door.

For the price of one or two punters a month you could be having dozens coming back again and again just because they subconsciously like flicking through your awesome magazines.

baby and crumble

Dean0088 wrote: »

Have some good hair products to upsell - not cheap DAX or Lynx gel. My barber has Black & White pomade which they use as wax.

Just to say DAX might be cheap but they are really really good products. They have just launched a new line called "High Life Pomades" which they bought from an independent pomade brewer- really good stuff.

OP, there is a massive revival in traditional barbering. Look at places like The Waldorf in Dublin (full disclosure, I love these guys and never go anywhere else). They are specialists in the more traditional aspects of barbering like singeing, tonic massages, hot towel shaves etc. There's a reason that place is full more often than not. They take their time, work with the hair they have in front of them and with what the person wants when they come in. Places like Sams barbers stock a large amount of products you can't get many other places in Ireland like Sauvecito, Layrite, etc., so that's something to take into account too. Don't bother with American Crew. It's rubbish for the amount of money you pay for it and anyway all the barbers carry it, so it's not like it'll be unique to your shop. Check out a group (I'm a member) for hairstyling and traditional pomades and barbering on facebook called Addicted to Pomade. You'll see from reading comments and seeing pics of the kind of things I mean.

Look into some of the great independent barbers across the country and overseas;

The Waldorf (Dublin)
Mr. Ducktails (London)
The Iron Society (Brooklyn)
Chops Barber Shop (Harrisburg)

See what they do. See what elements you can take into your own place.

The reasons I now go into a barber rather than a salon (FYI I'm a girl) is that the cut I want is masculine, and I didn't want someone who had no idea what to do with it messing with my hair. I was treated like a regular customer when I went in- no weirdness that I was a girl, nothing. I get the exact same treatment, including tonic, straight razor on my neck (not that I need it but it feels so nice!!) and all that. Treat your customers the same, regardless of gender if they want a cut you can do and you'd be surprised. There is a huge market out there for a barber who will cut women's hair into masculine cuts. Obviously you don't have to specialise, but still. Just an FYI from me and my friends and acquaintances.

Oh, and lay off the pop music. Stick on a decent jazz/ acoustic playlist and your customers will thank you.

Schwiiing

On the rare occasion you have a customer who suffers from psoriasis please don't plough the shaver through the affected area as they will begin to bleed profusely nor should you make any discussion about the subject within earshot of other customers.

Tramps Like Us

Main thing I would say is to have polite, well trained barbers.... who understand and can speak english.

Last time I was in the barber (few years ago) she loudly keep going on about how I was very young to be going bald and seemed to think it was very funny. I don't care about it now but at the time I was sensitive about it and felt pretty humiliated, I still cut my own hair because of that lol

Schwiiing

Tramps Like Us wrote: »

Main thing I would say is to have polite, well trained barbers.... who understand and can speak english.

Nothing as bad as having to use sign language to get the haircut you want and then have to pay E12 for the privilege.

daniels.ducks

I need to find a decent barber like this!

veetwin

Ok my 2 cents.

1. Employ good barbers. Not important if male or female but they have to be good at their job. Speak to customers to get their opinion on their cuts (out of earshot of the barber)

2. Have today's Irish Times and Indo available.

3. Have good free wifi.

4. Offer tea or coffee (nespresso machine would be good)

IMHO people don't mind paying a bit extra if they get a quality service but the quality of the haircut is what will bring back customers. Never heard of the beer idea but it is interesting. No license needed as long as the beer is free. A bottle of Heineken can probably be got for less than a euro. Could be worth a try in the afternoons.

Ebbs

I love the suggestions so far, especially finding a unique selling point such as the supply of hair products and such.

Hard to offer detailed advice in terms of business targeting with no actual idea of placement and such. Traditional barber might not be the right aim if you're going to have one close by and want to complete for say, college students.

One point that would help nearly any target group is free wifi. Id suggest putting a portal on it though if possible with customers having to fill in a form maybe with suggestions or rating the appearance of the shop. You could also after a while ask them to enter an email address to log in. That way you could see what sort of customer retention you're getting etc.

Good luck in your new business. Id say it could be an excellent time to set up such a business.

Axe Rake

Pj! wrote: »

Be sure to brush or blow-dry the loose/cut hairs from the customers head before letting them leave. The amount of barbers/hairdressers who leave a load of it in there is shocking. It's very annoying.

Straight razor for the neck. Please disinfect it between customers and make it very visible to the customer that you are doing so.

This x100000

Jimmy Iovine

A big +1 for the straight razor on the neck. I've only had it a few times but it makes such a difference.

Make sure that the reading material is up-to-date and of a good quality. To me that means no tabloids or "Which Car" magazines from 5 years ago. They may suit other people but not me.

The workers in one place I used to go were notorious for having a chat between themselves during a cut. A simple haircut would take twice as long as it should if they were left at it. It gave the impression that they didn't give a **** about what they were doing and made them seem more unprofessional than they probably were.

Don't be afraid to add your own personal touch to the shop. I know of one place that is run by a soccer fan. He has adorned the walls with different memorabilia. He has probably overdone it in places but it still looks pretty cool. Of course that's not to everyone's taste but I did like looking at the things when I went in there.

elekid

I'd go out of my way to use a barber shop (or taxi service) that guaranteed no small talk unless the customer initiates it

MPB

Necessity from a cut point of view is to have attention to detail at 100%. So bloody hard to find a barbers that dont treat a customer as if they are on a factory line. Tend to find most barbers want you in and out as quickly as possible and some scalp a client in the process while others dont take enough off to even call its a trim. Personally I dont mind how long a cut takes as long as its done to perfection. KNow what the client wants and if your unsure ask. I know what Ive asked for a few times and what I got were miles different. Second last time he ahd finished the cut and takes asks "hows that? What you think?". My reply was simply "I think theres F*** all left and thats not what I asked for". Needless to say I aint been back and wont be.
From an entertainment point of view I aint too puched about a tv cause no matter how many you have in the waiting room the channel its on wont suit all and might even be very few it would suit which can create impatient clients and bad atmosphere. Image a few young lads who are gamers and wanting to watch something gamer related while a few ould boys would be rather be anywhere else than having to watch that. It really depends on the client base. Few decnt mags is a must and yeah not oldies as it gives the impression a bin has been robbed to have them there in the first place. I'm sure a lot of lads would be more than happy with porno mags but avoid as that can cause you other grief (visualise a kid going in and going home and saying somthing to his ma. Doubt his da would have an issue but you wouldnt wanna be dealing with his ma after that scenario) Keep the mags across the range of interests. Some hate car mags others love them. Some like gamer mags and vice versa. You dont need a library but try to cater for all the age ranges so that if there are a few sitting around while your working with a client they are entertained. I know I said I wouldnt be gone on the tv idea and given reasons why but radio is a viable alternative. Just be clever about the tunes/stations you tune into to.
To guarantee customer return deliver the quality service and have a bit of criac with the lads. You'll judge characters quick enough the talkers versus the mute clients. No ahrm in voicing your opinion on a cut that would suit someone either. No harm in a change. Mines changed a few times over the years. Just dont be pushy with suggestions and be able to explain and relate what your suggesting.
Anyway thats my 10 cents. Seems like a book I know but thats what I look for

geeko

Thanks everyone for there inputs everything is important. But I think as a barber there is to many badly run places. I would use a cutthroat on every cut and disinfect then replace with a new blade everytime with no exceptions!

7ofBrian

I love a place that does a neck and shoulder massage when getting a hot towel shave

visual

geeko wrote: »

Thanks everyone for there inputs everything is important. But I think as a barber there is to many badly run places. I would use a cutthroat on every cut and disinfect then replace with a new blade everytime with no exceptions!

Don't get caught up in all the magazines tv and booming radio. The only reason people are in a barbers is for the hair cut. The reason they will come back is for a good hair cut not the latest magazines or widescreen tv

Best of luck with your new venture

SHOVELLER

OP get a haircut in Dillons on Wellington Quay to see how a good barbers should be.

The barbers are eastern European women who do a great job which does include the razor on the neck.

No tv's, no stupid magazines, no wifi, no coffee, no fancy gels, no ****e talk etc. In other words no gimmicks just a very decent cut.

And all for a fiver.

geeko

SHOVELLER wrote: »

OP get a haircut in Dillons on Wellington Quay to see how a good barbers should be.

The barbers are eastern European women who do a great job which does include the razor on the neck.

No tv's, no stupid magazines, no wifi, no coffee, no fancy gels, no ****e talk etc. In other words no gimmicks just a very decent cut.

And all for a fiver.

Thanks for your input man,
But with all due respect €5 cuts do not come from a well run shop or qualified barbers.

Sulla Felix

Sofiztikated wrote: »

While your first point is correct, it is also worth pointing out that some people ask for haircuts that will just not suit them/are not possible.

True, but in that case it should be discussed with the client, not just go ahead and do something else that the barber thing would be better.

Sofiztikated

Sulla Felix wrote: »

True, but in that case it should be discussed with the client, not just go ahead and do something else that the barber thing would be better.

Absolutely.

jarvis_c82

I would recommend the Butcher Barber between Grafton St and Powerscourt Shopping Centre to have a look at what they offer to their clients.

The guys in there really know what they are doing. Only bookings are taken by text message and no messing about. You get a perfect haircut everytime as they take their time with every client.

It's pricey but if you really want a decent haircut, it would be the place I would highly recommend.

elfy4eva

I've always been curious about "Hot towel shaves" a lot of barbers offer them but what exactly do they involve. Is it like face pampering for a man or what!

Boom_Bap

What I like about mine:

- Quality barbers, never walk out with a bad haircut no matter who cuts your hair.

- Nice range of branded products, and suggestions of which product would suit the cut I'm getting done

- A diverse range of mags/papers to read

- A TV with something going, Sky Sports News or live music DVD's

- Clean

What I would improve is the Q'ing system, when the call for 'who's next' rings out, 3 or 4 people would stand up, have a mini debate and 3 would sit down deflated.
Try something unique like a ticketing system like you get at the motor tax office.

Dont go for bland furnishings either, be creative with the space.

Boom_Bap

elfy4eva wrote: »

I've always been curious about "Hot towel shaves" a lot of barbers offer them but what exactly do they involve. Is it like face pampering for a man or what!

Pretty much pampering, hot towels to open the face pours, close shave with a cutthroat razor.

thebullkf

geeko wrote: »

Thanks for your input man,
But with all due respect €5 cuts do not come from a well run shop or qualified barbers.

don't understand this mentality - you are implying a 30e haircut comes from a better run shop and a "more qualified" barber than a 20e haircut. It reads very snobbish tbh.

Premium pricing doesn't guarantee quality.

Grayditch

thebullkf wrote: »

don't understand this mentality - you are implying a 30e haircut comes from a better run shop and a "more qualified" barber than a 20e haircut. It reads very snobbish tbh.

Premium pricing doesn't guarantee quality.

Well, I for one am going to stick with that philosophy, because in practice, it's almost always a good indication of quality.

The difference between people willing to pay 30 and the ones willing to pay 5-10, is the difference between people who get the standard "tidy up" haircut, and those who go for a certain style which takes more time and effort.

If you can find a barber who gives various styles and great cuts for a fiver, he's most definitely... cutting himself short. :cool:

Boom_Bap

I'd agree with Grayditch, the better barbers (unless self employed) will be working in the better shops. So the qaulity of thier work from being a better barber will reflect in thier work.
Also, unlike the '5 euro' places, you wouldnt generally find them using the best products for washing your hair or for styling afterwards.

Jimmy Iovine

Boom_Bap wrote: »

What I would improve is the Q'ing system, when the call for 'who's next' rings out, 3 or 4 people would stand up, have a mini debate and 3 would sit down deflated.
Try something unique like a ticketing system like you get at the motor tax office.

A genius idea.

Do this OP.

I haven't had a cut in a barbers in a long time but the queuing was always a nightmare when I did go. I started going at odd times to avoid queues.

When I was younger we'd frequently run into queues in the barbers and forget who was going next.

Get that ticket system rolling and you're onto a winner. Keep it simple though.

Pj!

I'd imagine that if he's setting up on his own he's not going to have a huge customer base from the get go. I'd guess he won't be hiring a lot of cutters immediately either.

I'd guess he'll do fine without the ticketing system just yet.

Dublinmackem

[What I would improve is the Q'ing system, when the call for 'who's next' rings out, 3 or 4 people would stand up, have a mini debate and 3 would sit down deflated]


Classic stuff, seeing and doing this my whole life, the oul partial squat up "is it meself or yourself?" looking up and down the line of heads like you're waiting to cross a road, thinking to yourself "your mans hair is quite short, I'd say he's just waiting on his mate, I hope anyway" ah the oul physcology of the barbers waiting area, could do a book on it

Boom_Bap

Dublinmackem wrote: »

[What I would improve is the Q'ing system, when the call for 'who's next' rings out, 3 or 4 people would stand up, have a mini debate and 3 would sit down deflated]


Classic stuff, seeing and doing this my whole life, the oul partial squat up "is it meself or yourself?" looking up and down the line of heads like you're waiting to cross a road, thinking to yourself "your mans hair is quite short, I'd say he's just waiting on his mate, I hope anyway" ah the oul physcology of the barbers waiting area, could do a book on it

The place I go to, I would be on quite good terms with most of the barbers, so when I come in to a packed waiting area and start shooting the breeze with the guys who are working, the q gets quite tense because they reckon I might be given priority boarding so to speak.
But part of getting the 'fro cut is all about the wait.

Galwayguy35

visual wrote: »

Employ men to cut hair.

All the local baber shops have women employed and they just miss the little things like shaving the back of your neck or locks.

Have to disagree there, the barbers I go to employ mostly women and they are very thorough.