Thread: Hmmm... It's a Thought

Pro gamblers looking for refreshment between games

Originally Posted by wvbias

In the area where I live a barber who would attempt
to charge $25.00 for a haircut would end up starving
to death waiting on customers. Most charge around
$8.00. I"m MAY stand a chance in Charleston, the
state capital. But with a population of 50,000 people
and most of them are not affulent, I doubt that it would
make it there. So I would definately cross West Virginia
off the list. But I do love the place, don't ask me why
though.

Terry

I think John Denver summed it up pretty good!

RT

This sounds like a definite great idea. The barber shop i go to charges $12 for a regular cut, $8 for a crewcut and $15 for a shave, and he does use a regular straight razor. Also you could add in a fee for being taught how to shave with a straight razor if people inquire. Heck, if my barber had charged $60 for teaching me how to shave with one i would have gone for it.


Jim

Jim,

Where is this wonderful place that you mention?

Ed

Its in Thornton Colorado, which is in the Denver Metro area. It is called Melody's Barber shop, probably because its on Melody Drive as I have never seen a woman (other than one waiting on her husband occasionally) in there.


Jim

Thanks. If I ever get to Denver, I'll to there for a shave.

I say go for it Bill, I can send hand rolled (by old cuban rollers) cigars, I have a few over here in miami. I get them in bundles (no box). you dont want to get to expensive at first. I rememmber I went to Jorge Padron's wedding several years ago, and he gave out " The Padrón 1964 Anniversary Series"
I grabed a whole box for myself
which I have loved ever since, but at about $25 a smoke its a once in a while
for me now. there are places like J.R. describes here in Miami as well, some even have small private wood lockers for members to keep cigars,conac and maybe a straight razor? I believe places like this should exsit everywhere it all depends on the demographics and location (space and $$$).
the Art of Shave is in Bal harbor which is like saying Rodeo Drive of miami.
they only have Two chairs and thier overhead must be huge (but they find the clients) all my friends that have gone are either because their wives gave them a gift certificate or they are getting married that day.

These are a bunch of really solid responses. I appreciate the time you took to say something about it. It is helping me to formulate my thoughts...


More... more...

Some good ideas and responses but one thing must be forefront, that is unless you wanna give money away.
You will need a steady supply of customers. Most restaurants fail because their friends say they will visit, go once or twice and bingo, no more customers. So whilst it's nice and a great idea, someone has to pay the bills. Small towns really can't support such a niche business like this, I live near a city of 350,000 and I'm sure it would fly, just. We have several mens only hair-dressers in town and they certainly do more haircuts than shaves. Only one of them is anything like the old style barbers though. They don't sell straights, don't use strops (replaceable blades) and no smoking of anything.
They only have a minimal range of smelly items that we would want etc..The best one is run by women so you can't even have a good discussion on rugby.
Christchurch is quite a conservative old money town and there is a slight demand for traditional things. You would have to check out your local demographic to see who spends where and on what.
Just a few more ideas or things to consider. I would probably sell fountain pens and writing stuff as well from a corner niche with leather chairs and writing desks. Shave, write a letter or two, coffee, glass of cognac and a cigar. I'd be a regular at least once a week.
Gary

It's Catch-22 time. Just my random thoughts. I used to drive past 5 gas stations to buy gas at a station owned by someone I knew and liked. He wasn't always the cheapest, but it was his personality. I think the same thing applies here...the neighborhood barbershop. A place where friends gathered to "shoot the shi*". I now live in a town with numerous high schools. But I grew up in a town with one high school. Granted, it was Texas, where high school football rules supreme, but guys gathered to discuss football, basketball, weather, etc. And, they knew each other. Throw out cigars, most places have banned smoking. What will make a place like this work is the barber, or barbers. And a neighborhood of people willing to support it. Novelty is one thing. Survival is another. Times have changed and in today's world, people will drive out of their way to save a dollar on a tank of gas. Loyalty has evaporated. A barbershpop around the corner from me has just changed hands. The owner retired. So I called about a straight shave. He doesn't do ANY shaves. Unfortunately, we live in a very different world than we did 20-30 years ago. Sad to say, it is our loss.

RT