Tag: barber college

Here at Graham’s Barber College, not a week passes that a potential student does not call and ask the sixty-four-thousand-dollar question:

What is the difference in cosmetology and barbering?

There many answers to this question, and too many to expound on in one article, but here is one difference: The way barbers train and learn to cut and style hair is the opposite from how cosmetologists learn.

To put it simply, cosmetologists remove weight, barbers keep it and position it in certain areas.

This program we teach here at Graham’s Barber College allows cosmetologists and barbers to use what they know and are comfortable with, and fuse it with some “out of the box” thinking on how to approach the head.

For barbers, it is becoming as masterful with their shears as they are with their clippers – to utilize the shears in different ways of cutting, using the bone structure and approaching the ” top of the head’ with as much care and time as they do their fades, tapers, and outlines.

For cosmetologists, it is different: learning to leave some bulk in the hair – on the head, and in the right place, and to create the right silhouette form for each individual.

A barber learns that not everything is round – but learns to make a square or angle (or other) form that will work for your client and the shape of their head, and the drama of the cut.  We teach to not just to know the apex, occipital bone, and nape – but to know the “zones,” and how to approach it with as much detail as they do their styling and finishing techniques.

This is just ONE of many differences in cosmetology and barbering.

We would love to have you as a student, so you can become as skilled as possible in your career! Come visit. Free orientation is help every day, by appointment.

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The following lesson comes from a conversation with Alexander Parker 81, Barber Shop Owner. “You know, I could teach these young boys a thing or two about cuttin’ heads, about making money cuttin’ heads.” I’ve had my license for 64 years and still can’t teach them nothin’. They know it all. Well there’s such a thing as being “over learned.

My first barber job was in Davidson, North Carolina, a small college town in a rural county. The shop was owned by Ralph Johnson. He was black but he look white. All his customers were white: farmers, professors, students. Back in those days you couldn’t cut white heads and black head in the same shop. You had to choose. Ralph and I couldn’t even give each other a cut during business hours. Ralph said a man made a better livin’ with “CW” on his permit, so that’s what I chose. “CW” meant colored cuttin’ white folks hair. “CC” meant colored folks hair.

I learned a lot from Ralph and I try to pass it down, but these boys won’t listen. Some barbers want to make money and some barbers want to make noise. The young guys get too friendly with the customers, talkin’ all the time. You should have a new head in your chair every fifteen minutes. Four and thirty-two. That’s the formula. Four heads and hour, thirty-two heads a day-forty on Saturday. In my day I was a workhorse. But these young guys don’t want to work that hard. And they always want to run have their “social experience” with the girls. Keep it zipped up and you’ll keep somethin’ in your pocket.”

~Alexander Parker licensed since 1952.

The Arthur Anderson Barber Shop in Mattoon, Illinois, which only served white customers circa 1920 (image credit: http://www.eiu.edu/~afriamer/pages/colescounty/index.htm)

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Walk-ins can be a good source of revenue. There are very few shops that do not need new clientele.

Walk-ins should always be welcomed enthusiastically because they are new customers that have chosen to pay for services at your shop. Most shops should be trying to attract walk-ins so that they can stay busy throughout the work week. We must consider many guys find it convenient to get their hair cut impulsively and never consider making an appointment.

Since walk-ins are often strangers they are not likely to demand the owner or the a barber that is already busy. This makes them the perfect client for any barber that does not have a clientele and is trying to build a following.

After the barber is introduced to the client every effort should be made to get the client in the chair and serviced. Often the reason that they are there is because someone (another barber) kept them waiting too long!

The barber is obligated to exercise strict professional service since walk-ins can easily become a life long client. Make sure they are given a business card they may have a friend or relative that may be willing to refer if their experience is pleasant. Let them know you appreciate the business and will make every effort to provide good service.

Make the next appointment before they leave the shop. You might want to make a reminder call before the appointment. Many people appreciate your thoughtfulness and obvious desire to service them.

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TIPS FOR GUY COLOR

TALK IT UP
Guys of every age are interested in color, but may be shy about broaching the topic. That’s DANGEROUS, because if they are not aware of what is available they may be tempted to those “MAN DYES” at the drugstore, which often result in peculiar shades of greenish black or garish orange. It is better to work color into the conversation and keep them away from Kool-Aid colors.

KEEP IT SIMPLE
When coloring men it’s got to be quick and easy. Forget about full head of highlights or multi-dimensional techniques. You have to get men in and out quickly. They cannot feel as if their color is a lot of work.

ROOT AWAKENINGS
Nothing will turn a man against color quicker than visible regrowth, he is not going to take time to retouch every couple or weeks. So opt for strategies like lowlights or semi-permanent stains which fade naturally and unnoticeably.

MAKE A DEAL
Hair color can be a particularly hard sell especially if the hair is cut short. In that case consider creating a flat price for a years worth of color. Get him on schedule, get the money up front, and then he doesn’t have to think about it again for 12 months.

REMEMBER You make your money with your mouth ~ even if the work is done with your hands.

Consultation! Consultation! Consultation!

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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!

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At Graham’s Barber College, we teach practical and advanced barbering skills ~ but we also teach our students everyday business skills that are needed to be a successful barber and profitable business. These include what are called soft-skills like customer service and communication, and also salesmanship and marketing.

Our students often think of themselves as technicians, but that is an incomplete understanding of the barber and stylist professions. We teach our students they are salesmen and saleswomen ~ and so they also must learn sales skills to succeed.

As a business person, we all must learn to sell our products and services.

In this vein, i would like to share these 5 Compelling Sales Words:

1. FREE
2. GUARANTEED
3. LIMITED TIME
4. SUPERIOR
5. BENEFIT

Using these words in ads, print materials, and when speaking with customers, will reinforce the idea that your business is the right place to be. Let’s take a look at the power and attraction of each word.

FREE
Everyone wants something for nothing. We all like to feel we have beaten system. Whenever possible, list items together and offer one for free. The customer feels they have received an added benefit. For products, you might try: Buy two full -size and get a travel size for free.

GUARANTEED
A guarantee offers a peace of mind. Very few people will actually take you up on fulfilling a guarantee, yet it is a powerfully
attractive word to bring in business.

LIMITED TIME
So many of us use coupons that we are all well aware that offers don’t stick around forever. If you want the benefit of the offer, we have act now. A limited time offer is a great way to boost sales during slow times.

SUPERIOR
Americans are particularly attracted to the idea of being or having the best. If products you offer are superior, than say so. If you have won awards or attended more training each year, say so. “LOOKS LIKE A MILLION DOLLARS” implies they have experienced superior service.

BENEFIT
A benefit answers the customers question “Why should I do {purchase} this? Looking younger is a benefit. Spending less money is a benefit Using less product is benefit The fact your business is close is a benefit. Less time getting ready in the morning is benefit. Virtually any aspect of your business can be spun so that it is seen as a benefit.

These five words are universally appealing to consumers. Now that they have been pointed out you will undoubted begin to see them everywhere. Start inserting one {or more} into your existing messages and see what a difference they make.

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