So your passion is barbering. Day in and day out, you strive to give your clients the cleanest cuts, trims, and styles you can deliver.
However, you find yourself thirsty for more, and ready to learn how to become a better barber and bring in more business to your shop.
Whether you already have a well-established career and simply want to increase traffic to your chair, or you’re just starting out and want to learn how to be an excellent barber, this article is for you.
Keep reading to learn the top 3 ways to improve your barbering services and get more clients in the door.
1. Always Put the Client First
Here’s a fact: Quality customer service is a must if you want to excel as a service provider and increase your revenue.
As a barber, you always want to showcase your creative talent and leave a good impression on your clients. After all, the more your clients love your cuts, the more likely they are to come back and even bring a friend.
In order to achieve this, you have to put the client first and ensure you are delivering the service they requested and expected.
Follow these simple tricks below to improve your customer service.
Be Consistent
When it comes to retaining clients, consistency is key.
The moment your clients step through the front door and sit down in that barber chair, they expect to see your smiling face, ready to give them the clean look they love.
No one wants to walk into a shop feeling worried that they might not get the hairstyle they came in for. They want to feel excited and empowered that you will make them look their best, 100% of the time!
The more you are consistent with your current clients, the more inclined they are to leave a review or tell their friends about your amazing services. (Not to mention they’re literally a walking advertisement of your work!)
Build Great Client Relationships
When you maintain a strong relationship with your clients, they are more likely to spread the word about your stellar services and excellent customer service on their own.
And here’s something we can all agree upon: You should never underestimate the power of word-of-mouth recommendations, testimonials, and reviews because positive and negative reviews can often make or break your business.
If you want to foster better relationships with your clients:
- Always serve your clients with a positive attitude
- Step up your shop’s marketing by offering exciting promos to returning clients
- Remember important client details, such as their name, preferred hairstyle/cut, the reason for their visit, etc. For instance, if they are getting a new haircut for a special occasion, be sure to ask them how the event went the next time you see them. If you use barber software, you may be able to specifically store these notes in your client cards.
- Put them into your management system or add them to your email list so you can keep them updated on any special offers, events, etc.
Last but not least, always check in with your clients to make sure they are fully satisfied with their experience before you send them out the door!
2. Stay On Top of Your Education
You already know how to work those clippers and even that old-fashioned straight razor in a way that keeps your clients looking fresh. But, are you staying on top of the latest styling trends and products that are popular these days?
If not, it’s a good idea to check out any current certifications, training courses, or other forms of education offered to professional barbers to step up your game, and here’s why.
Why You Should Continue Learning
It’s no secret that education is important. Many new clients will check to see if you are board-certified to cut their hair and trim their beards!
When you are able to display your diplomas or any certifications that you have received chair-side in clear view of your guests, those new clients will feel much more at ease and more willing to make you their go-to service provider — especially if you have experience executing the latest and greatest styles trending on social media.
This leads us to our next tip on how to become a better barber.
3. Stand Out from the Crowd
If you’re planning to go independent and open your own barbershop, then you’re not only a barber but also an entrepreneur. Even if you don’t have your very own shop just yet, you and your individual services are already a brand within themselves.
That’s right, YOU are the face of your business!
That being said, don’t be afraid to do things differently from other barbers, shops, and salons to stand out from the crowd. Step out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself to try new techniques. This will give you an edge over your competition.
Showcase Your Skills to Your Niche Market
Finding your niche market and highlighting your unique services to that specific group is the best way to attract the clientele you value most.
For instance, if you are an expert at sculpting the perfect flat-top haircut or the finest fade, be sure to showcase those services in all of your marketing campaigns, social media pages, and promos. This will attract more clients that desire those specific services and will help your artistic style stand out from the rest.
Bonus Tip: Invest in Management Software
Finally, if you really want to set yourself up for success and become a better barber, then take advantage of an internal management software system that will help you keep your entire business organized.
When you invest in the right management software for your barbershop, like Inspire by STX, it will give you the tools to:
- Offer 24/7 online booking
- Keep extensive client records
- Build customer loyalty with reward programs
- Create automated marketing campaigns
- Organize team and employee scheduling
- Accept all payment types and get paid fast
- Manage purchase orders and inventory
And of course, it will help you grow your business all in one easy-to-use platform!
Chicago barbershop owner Anthony Faraci has seen a huge boost in his team’s performance since switching to Inspire in his business, Father and Son Barber Shop.
“Inspire’s functionality and efficiency is what every barbershop needs in an operating system. The features are so user-friendly and make it incredibly simple to monitor and improve my daily operations and productivity both overall as a shop and individually from barber to barber. It’s an invaluable part of my shop’s success.”
Set Yourself Up for Success With Inspire by STX
In a nutshell, you can become a better barber and boost your sales by simply focusing on your client experience. Strive to build lasting relationships, always put their needs first, and stay on top of the latest barbering trends.
A trustworthy management software like Inspire by STX can help you manage your entire business and make scheduling a breeze for your clients! Built specifically for barbers like you, Inspire by STX is the perfect system to help you grow your shop and keep your clients coming back.
Contact us for a free demo to see how Inspire by STX can help you become a better barber and improve your business.