Thread: filling out my Barber college application

After 14 years in the Electrical trade I have had enough. I was laid off in March and will not return to work for over a year, so I'm calling it quits. Right now the State of Michigan is offering $5000 a year for the reeducation of displaced workers and I plan to take full advantage of that and whatever funding I can get from Pell grants.

My classes will start in January and I couldn't be more excited, and since I am going to be able to go to school I should finish in 14 months. I am thrilled that for once in my life I am going to do what I want to do. Eventually I plan to open my own shop and offer cuts shaves, as well as carrying a full line of wet shaving goods. I also want to set up a locker system where people would have their own locker where they can keep their razor, brushes, soap, etc. for a annual fee.

I plan to go at this 100%, I just thank God that I have such an awesome supportive wife.

What do you guys think? If you could have a Barber shop that offered everything you could ever dream of what would it it be like?

Congrats on using bad news as a positive starting point!

Are you going to do the "old style" shop? Barber pole, white 'lab coat'-ish thing, the whole deal?

Originally Posted by Hillie

Are you going to do the "old style" shop? Barber pole, white 'lab coat'-ish thing, the whole deal?

I believe that will be the only way for such a shop to succeed. Otherwise you won't be able to charge what you'd need to in order to keep in business based on the shave-time/shave-cost. I expect the shop and services would have to be advertised in the novelty and luxury categories. Am I out of line on this? Is this kind of think more normal that I've experienced?

Originally Posted by detroyt

After 14 years in the Electrical trade I have had enough. I was laid off in March and will not return to work for over a year, so I'm calling it quits. Right now the State of Michigan is offering $5000 a year for the reeducation of displaced workers and I plan to take full advantage of that and whatever funding I can get from Pell grants.

My classes will start in January and I couldn't be more excited, and since I am going to be able to go to school I should finish in 14 months. I am thrilled that for once in my life I am going to do what I want to do. Eventually I plan to open my own shop and offer cuts shaves, as well as carrying a full line of wet shaving goods. I also want to set up a locker system where people would have their own locker where they can keep their razor, brushes, soap, etc. for a annual fee.

I plan to go at this 100%, I just thank God that I have such an awesome supportive wife.


What do you guys think? If you could have a Barber shop that offered everything you could ever dream of what would it it be like?

Just check with state ordinances if you can use a brush and actual straights even if they belong to the individual customer.

Good Luck.

I personally love the idea, and I say follow your dreams.

I wish you the best of luck in your new adventure.



nate

Originally Posted by Hillie

Congrats on using bad news as a positive starting point!

Are you going to do the "old style" shop? Barber pole, white 'lab coat'-ish thing, the whole deal?

You got it. A traditional Barber shop with a modern taste.

As far as using and storing peoples personal equipment I also plan to have an autoclave on the premises and go above and beyond the states requirements for professionalism and cleanliness. I want my Barber shop to be a place where men can be comfortable, feel safe and know that they are getting the best possible service that I can offer.

Originally Posted by aragornelessar86

I believe that will be the only way for such a shop to succeed. Otherwise you won't be able to charge what you'd need to in order to keep in business based on the shave-time/shave-cost. I expect the shop and services would have to be advertised in the novelty and luxury categories. Am I out of line on this? Is this kind of think more normal that I've experienced?

I have an acquaintance who owns several salons and charges $65 dollars for mens haircuts, It seems extravagant (I dont think most men would ever admit to spending that kind of money). His reasoning is that for men its as close to going to a spa as they will ever get. Some men are looking for more than just a haircut they want somebody to tell them the best products to use for their hair and scalp and basically take care of all the things that would make them feel less than masculin. His business does very well.

And no I would never dream of charging that much for a haircut.

I like your business model. It sounds to me like you're eventually looking to have a store like Classic Shaving's brick and morter.

A second model you may want to think about between finishing school and opening a full shop is an intermediate step of having just a kiosk in the middle of the mall and offer shaves for $20. Most malls offer kiosk locations in 10x10 blocks for a couple hundred dollars/month lease. If you don't think it would work, look at those Chinese massage places set up in the kiosk locations of your mall (at least we have them at every location here in CA). However, unlike the massage places where it is a little taboo to watch someone getting a massage, you would draw a crowd of onlookers while you gave your shave...that's where you have someone working PT taking order and setting up a que for you.

In the early '90's I did this with airbrushing shirts. Airbrushing, like shaving, would be somewhat of a spectator sport. The stop and watch what's happening and end up ordering. This is how I got through college was to set up an airbrush booth. I don't see why shaving would be any different.

Sounds really cool. Even the "old time" barber shops around here don't do straight shaves. Basically say they can't charge enough to make it worth the time it takes.
I'd love to find a place that would do it, even if it did cost quite a lot. I wouldn't do it every day, or even every week, but would be fun on occasion. There is an Art of Shaving place in a big mall about an hour from here (King of Prussia) that charges somewhere between $50-60 for a shave. I just don't feel like going an hour+ to get a shave!

Also I think it would be really cool if you worked out some connections with other men's places, like a tailor, and/or hatter.