Today, when I went to the hair salon for a wash, cut, and blow dry, I saw the boss hiring someone to sharpen the scissors. I am a regular customer here, and the boss asked me to wait, saying that the scissors would cut more smoothly after they were sharpened. I was interested in this, so I started chatting with the boss.
The Guy Who Sharpens Knives#
This knife sharpener's business is only for hair salons. He has great skills and a good reputation. The boss's scissors cost 50 yuan, and if they are used continuously, they need to be replaced after a year. However, after the knife sharpener works on them, they can be used for another year. Although they may not feel as good as new ones, they can still be used.
The boss said that he has been buying new scissors on Taobao. He buys them in sets, and one set costs over 300 yuan. If business is good, he needs to replace them every 10 months, which is quite expensive. Many of the boss's peers buy high-end products, and one pair of scissors costs two or three hundred yuan. But their shops are big, with many staff members, and only the managers or hair designers use them. However, their prices are high, and in the end, the cost is transferred to the customers.
The boss's shop is very small, with only one storefront. There are many residential areas nearby, so the customer base is stable. Many other shops around have closed down one after another, but this hair salon has always been open. The boss said the most unfortunate one is the restaurant across the street. It opened at the end of 2019 and closed in early 2022. When it was being transferred, the opening banner was still hanging.
The Hairdresser's Social Circle#
There are many reasons why I like coming to this hair salon, such as the cheap prices, the proximity to my home, and no pushy salespeople. The boss is a talkative person and often complains about his peers while cutting hair.
In the hairdresser's circle, there are often advertisements for "study tours." The well-known craftsman Tony will take the participants (usually shop managers) to Japan or South Korea to learn advanced concepts in the industry, such as how to receive guests and how to plan the shop.
Of course, language is not a problem. There will be dedicated translators to facilitate communication. They will stay there for three days, including meals, accommodation, and round-trip tickets. However, there will be an assessment at the end. If they pass, they can take a photo with industry experts and receive an honorary certificate. These things can be displayed in the shop to increase customers' trust. During the study tour, there will also be people selling local hairdressing tools, which are not easy to buy in China, so they are relatively expensive.
Another Beauty Salon#
The boss said that he is not good at packaging and marketing. His own hair salon has a single business, so the business has always been lukewarm. On the other hand, the beauty salon next to his shop has renovated its storefront over and over again, and it can't get any newer. Women's money is easier to earn. He said he is also considering adding a beauty business.
I haven't been to that beauty salon, but I often pass by. The boss is a middle-aged woman, and you can tell that she takes good care of herself, so she looks young. Because the boss herself is a great advertisement, there are also many customers. Whenever a couple comes, the woman goes to the beauty salon, and the man goes to the hair salon next door. These two shops bring each other customers, which can be considered as mutually beneficial.