With barbershops opening on every high street, how to you set yourself apart and stand out amongst all the noise?
There was a time when all you needed was four chairs, a barber pole and an instagram account and you had a decent chance of making a living, even with a limited skill set, but those days are long gone. The modern customer is demanding more and with the rise of social media, grooming and fashion blogs men now have the information and the inspiration at their fingertips and they are not afraid to voice their demands, put simply if you’re not constantly moving with the times, you WILL be left behind.
Education and educators have never been easier to access but how to you choose what’s the right type of education for you and your brand/shop/studio?
Points to consider…
1. Who is your customer? If you cater to everyone you actually cater to no one! Your style and taste level will attract the customer you want and allow you to do the work that inspires you so this is the most import factor in choosing the right type of education, choose the style of the educator that reflects your work the most.
2. What is your current skill level? Being honest with yourself and your current ability is an essential part of your barbering journey, progress is the perfect ingredient for growth so small consistent steps will benefit you far more in the long term than than trying advanced education straight away, all of your favourite barbers have developed their talent over years of dedication. There are some amazing educators out there who cater to all skill sets.
3. Be realistic about the kind of client you have, if you have a traditional clientele opt for traditional education focusing on classic barbering techniques and basic clipper and scissor work with easy to follow section patterns. If you have a primarily young and urban clientele focus on fading courses designed to increase speed and efficiency when fading. If you’re looking to expand your portfolio and would like to work more creatively, find an educator that appeals to your own personal taste level and stick with them, study them and try to take as many classes with them as you can, I would recommend staying with and studying one well rounded educator for at least 12 months with regular check ins and progress analysis, this way you will get both value for money and mentorship, a true educator will want to see you win!
4. Probably the most important thing to consider, education is an investment in both yourself and your business, it should be factored in to your monthly budget and treated as important as paying your rent or vat. When clients see you constantly raising and maintaining your standards, you will attract a higher quality of customer, one that appreciates what you do and will be willing to pay for it and you will eliminate the “how much for a skin fade mate” price shopper, remember always treat your business like a business or in the long run it will cost you like a hobby.
