Monthly Archives:May 2016

“In England, America and all over the civilized world, the decline of the barber was a spectacle for all to see. Barber shops became hangouts, places where low characters assembled. Smutty stories, malicious scandal and gossip of all kinds, characterized barber shops. Until a few years ago, a barbershop was a place where men showed their lower instincts and where women dared not to enter.” So wrote Mr. A.B. Moler in 1911 introduction to his classic textbook The Barber’s Manuel, which remained in print for 30 years.

A. B. Moler began his apprenticeship in 1889 at the age of 21, under the tutelage of an older brother who had mastered the trade by the time-honored system of on-the-job training. Mr. Moler recounted that he spent the first three years of his apprenticeship engaged in floor-sweeping, neck-shaving and hot-towel dispensing; actual learning little about his chosen trade.

Over the next 10 years, Moler devised a method of training that led to the establishment of the “Moler System of Barber Colleges”. Beginning with the main branch which he founded in Chicago in 1893, the colleges spread to every major city in the United States and Canada.

NOW YOU KNOW THE REST OF THE STORY.

Grahams Barber College

Before Oprah Winfrey and Madame C. J. Walker there was Annie Turnbo Malone – an Africa American entrepreneur and philanthropist during the early 20th century. Malone is recorded as the U.S.’s first Black woman millionaire! This was based on reports of $14 million on assets held in 1920, from her beauty and cosmetic enterprises that were headquartered in St. Louis and Chicago.

Annie Turnbo attended school in Illinois, where she apprenticed with her sister as a hairdresser. By 1898, Malone had developed her own scalp and hair products that she demonstrated and sold from a buggy throughout Illinois.

In 1902, Malone’s business growth led her to St Louis, Missouri, which at the time held the 4th largest population of African Americans. St. Louis was where she copyrighted her Poro Beauty products. By 1917, Malone opened the doors of Poro College, a beauty college which was later attended by Madam C.J. Walker. The school reportedly graduated about 75,000 agents world-wide. During the Great Depression, she moved from Missouri to Chicago’s South Side.

NOW YOU KNOW THE REST OF THE STORY.

Grahams Barber College

Here are Four Steps to Turn a CHAIR HOPPER into a STEADY CLIENT!!!!!!!

Did you know that 80% of shop goers who visit the same barber regularly admit they have no problem being caught in the chair of another barber?

Have you ever had a client come to you sporadically only to have you fix someone else’s mistake?

Are you tired of these “SHOPPER HOPPERS” who you only see every six months? Have you often wondered how to retain and stop them from bouncing from one barber to the next?

1.LEARN WHY THEY’RE UNHAPPY
Sometimes they’re shopping price or just keep feeling with various aspects of the shop experiences. Try to learn from them the reasons they’re unhappy in different shops. This is a great source of information about what clients want and need.

2. DON’T BASH OTHER SHOPS!
Don’t get involved in knocking other barbers or shops. Find out why? Find out what was wrong, when fixing someone else’s work because it helps to understand that barber’s approach and not repeat it.

3. EXPLAIN THE BENEFITS OF LOYALTY
If a client leaves and returns to a shop at a later date, they risk a change in pricing. Then have a conversation about what happened, and that because of the CHAIR HOPPING they’re coming in as a “NEW CLIENT” under current prices and structure. In order to stay at that rate and avoid any other increases, it’s best for them to stay loyal.

4.RETAIN THE CLIENT
Don’t say anything negative about their SHOPPING HOPPING. Don’t repeat what the client tells you about being unhappy in other businesses. Explain what is going on at each step of the process and make sure they are OK with what is about to be done , keep in mind that the client may be nervous if they have had a bad experience, so treat them as you want to be treated. It is worth taking the extra time because there is no client more loyal than a client who has come to you after a bad experience, and comes away feeling that you took proper care of them!

Grahams Barber College
LIVE, LEARN AND PASS IT ON!
GO BULLDOGS

We’ve had it backward this whole time.

Shaving – shaving your face – is all about taking care of the skin underneath. So we’ve devised a No B.S., who cares-how-many-blades routine that will keep your baby face feeling as good as it looks.

1. Repeat: “Shaving is skin care. “
Don’t think of this as the act of slicing off facial hair- stubble is dead and feels nothing, Once you’ve accepted this as your guiding principle, your mission becomes clearer.

2. Slow Down
Yes mornings are a groggy hustle to get out the door but try not grab a razor the moment you wake up. Your face is puffy when you roll out of bed. Wait ten minutes.

3. Shaving Starts with a Shvitz
Dermatologist suggest shaving in the shower, where the steam helps open your pores and allows for a cleaner closer cut.

4. Oil Your Face
Try one of those newfangled pre-shave oils you might have heard about. It’ll soften your stubble and create a smoother landscape for your razor. A pre-shave oil fills in the valleys.

5. Try a More Loving Lather
Even after the shower and the shave oil, you still need to lather up, but steer clear of Dad’s trusty foam. It can dry out your skin.

6. Master the Angle of Attack
Hold the razor flush against your face, but no need to apply extra pressure- modern blades are so sharp that a feathery touch will do.

7. Study the Map of Your Face
Note the various direction that your beard hair grows if you’re unsure, let the stubble grow a few days to find out. Now shave with the grain once. Cheeks first, then neck, then lips – using your fingers to keep your skin taut. (Lather up again if needed.)

8. Alcohol
Alcohol is for drinking and not for After Shave. Splash a little cold water to help rehydrate your skin, then rub in a little moisturizer.

9. Admire your Beautiful Mug
Look at that! Beard gone, skin still there and healthier than ever!

Grahams Barber College
Go BULLDOGS
LIVE LEARN AND PASS IT ON