Thread: Opening a proper shave shop

Be business savvy. First offer the service and use basic barber grade products and as folks come in they will tell you what they want and you can gauge interest by asking. No use buying all kinds of expensive stuff just to have it sit there. Remember, the folks coming in for a shave pretty much just want a shave and a pleasant experience. They aren't shave nuts like us.

Be business savvy by all means,bring products in on a consignment bases,they sell, take your cut.
I do this this all the time with my brushes,couple local Barber shops,even an AOS store in sillycone valley.
They do not sell,send them back.

Have some nice items on had & give them a different experience than your typical shave & run.
Think out of the Shave Box,,,,,

Originally Posted by edhewitt

I like the idea of "evening classes", and also if you have sample pucks/ pots/ bottles of the various products you sell then offering the customer a choice of which soap and aftershave they would like, that way people can try out a product before they buy it - assuming they pay for a shave.
It could become quite a nice social thing once a week or whenever.

I have been thinking along these same lines, a shave club. A place for men to get a proper shave without all the restrictions that are imposed.by the government such as not using a SR but instead having to use a shavette. Common sense dictates using all available precautions for health reasons. What I would like to see is a place that promotes and educates men about these older shaving methods that have been lost to progress.

Originally Posted by cudarunner

I think that your idea is absolutely Outstanding!

I would agree to keep costs down that consignment would be the way to start out! You can always go a different route.

A fellow member just sent me a 4oz container of custom made shaving soap that's made in MO perhaps they would be interested.

Free sessions for those that want to learn to shave with a straight would be helpful for them but perhaps not financially useful to you unless you didn't carry hones and only offered honing services.

I for one would donate a beginners level razor to help you get going on this endeavor just let me know!

That is beyond a NICE gesture! Thank you

Great advice. There are some nuts out there BUT most just dabble. I will keep that in mind. I'll also try to convert all I can into shave nuts ! lol

Originally Posted by ariwhiteboy

My biggest thing I would like to see in a shop would be "sets" for beginners of varying budgets. That and offering "clinics" for new users to come in and learn how to strop, lather, and shave. I think that would help reduce some of the indimidation that leaves many "used once" razors gathering dust in a drawer.


P.S. I'm looking forward to stopping by your shop when I make my way up north.

Let me know when your coming! I have done a couple of little clinics but I think it would be a great thing to do regularly because if guys have that first DE or straight shave and its a bad experience it could be their last. Oh hey,," Child Psychologist" ,I have a BA in Psychology so we will have alot to talk about !

Originally Posted by Hirlau

Have some nice items on had & give them a different experience than your typical shave & run.
Think out of the Shave Box,,,,,

Great advice! I'll just take it slow and try to build as I go. You guys can check our shop out at www.facebook.com/RobandAndy its nothing fancy but has potential. We have a third chair in the back that isnt being used,,,perfect for shaves. Thanks for all the feedback guys!

I can see the marquee now. Blinking lights " CAN OF SHAVE NUTS " Always open. Come in and join us !!! Sorry I just trade marked that one , come up with your own :<0) It sounds like a great idea to me. I would get as many of Pixel's brushes as I could and some nice razors. It sounds like you got the soap on it's way. Don't forget strops !!! The classes will pull it all together.

You can have all the right bait, but you still have to get them to bite(buy). You need a little "relaxing area" as they wait for the chair or after they are finished, set up with coffee(always available), ice coffee for the afternoons, cheap snacks. Have the bait(merchandise) in the relax area. Push the DE razors as much as possible,,,, Exploit the "You can save money,,," theme,,, just don't tell them about the H.A.D.'s & R.A.D.'s,,,,, I've learned from the Latin Ladies down here that the way to to a man's wallet, is through his stomach.