AN OLD school barbershop that embraces modern day manhood.
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With a cut throat finish after the haircut.
A games room complete with air hockey table and a Nintendo Switch.
And a plan to be licensed so that the barbers can sell alcohol and eventually have the occasional Scotch tasting.
Best Barbers is Jon James’ second hairdressing business in Mount Isa. The other is Shut Up and Cut, which remains in the suburb of Pioneer.
Mr James’ belief has been confirmed that he would get customers he has not had before since Best Barbers opened last Monday in an arcade in Miles Street.
He has noticed many changes in the hairdressing industry, especially in Townsville, where there has been an increased number of boutique barbershops.
And he wanted to do the same thing but with a style that would suit Mount Isa.
“Men will always get a haircut,” Mr James said. “There’s always men in this town.”
He intended for the cut throat skin fade to be the barber shop’s signature style. “We’re going to make that famous,” he said.
The staff including manager Shania Dunkley and employee Chloe Clair received additional barber training in Townsville. “I just wanted them to actually have the training, then you’ve got the confidence,” Mr James said.
The games room was a way to encourage men to enjoy waiting for their haircut. Mr James noticed on social media when a customer blasted the waiting time to receive takeaway food from a local business during its opening.
It was a similiar expectation for hairdressers where men walked to walk in for a haircut rather than coming in for a booked appointment, Mr James said.
“But then they (hairdressers) get an influx of people. That sucks. What do you do? You want to create some way to entertain.
“If they are doing something then they are happy to wait.”
The activities in the games room was chosen strategically. They had to be easy to put down as soon as the barber was ready for the customer.
Mr James made it clear the games room was a place to wait for a haircut, and not a place to return to afterwards.
Manager Shania Dunkley said the barbers opened last Monday, but that its official launch opening was at the Maxim modelling competition at the Rish Nightclub on Saturday night. The barbers sponsored the event.