SLC26-W4 | Street Business Diaries: Service-based professions

Me: How is business going in a town like this where there is competition? How do you scale through despite the competition?

Barber: I have been in this business for 4 years, and this is my first time coming around here. We have different shops, and there is a high level of competition. We make observations by visiting other barbers so that an improvement could be applied to our barber shop, and with this, we learn to do things perfectly well. If a customer comes and I can't barb him well, he may not come back. Our strategy is to do things well.

My observation: in a competitive environment like this, this barber's strategy to attract more customers is to invest his time and money in this shop, making it look very classical among others in this street and also adding other sections to attract both male and female, reminding me of the law in physics that unlike poles attract.

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Me: How is customer service going on today? Have customers really patronised you?

Barber: Actually customers patronise, like I said. I have been here for four years, and I have connected with people for a long time.

My Observation: From this vicinity to Nwaniba and Oron Road, he mentioned it is not trekkable. From this year of experience, he has built connections which patronage is dependent on. He doesn't joke with his customers, and he sacks any worker here that doesn't give the business a look that attracts customers in terms of consistency, punctuality and neatness.

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Me: From my observation, I know that this business was started somewhere; it did not just grow in the twinkle of an eye to this position, so, sir, if I should start up looking at the present economy, how should I start up? What are the necessary items and costs?

Barber: Starting depends on your finances; if you can get a mirror, a chair, a clipper, a brush, a generator, a coupling cloth, a steriliser and a dryer, you can start up, because those are the important things. As time goes on, as business thrives, you upgrade to a more classical salon.

My observation: a street barbering salon is a competitive business, and starting up truly depends on your pocket. A clipper costs 20-24 thousand naira, which is about, and a fan to blow off hair and for proper conditioning and ventilation costs about 40,000 naira, and another may cost 75,000 naira; a seat costs 25-30,000 naira, starting up a good Barbing saloon will cost atleast N250,000, plus a rental fee.

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Me; I really appreciate your time, sir, and I am lucky that on arrival I didn't see you working on a customer's hair. I am very happy that you have time for this review; I would have been a distraction. If I want to cut my hair, how much will it cost me?

Barber: Barbing will cost you N1000; barbing with a generator is N1500; barbing with dye is N2000, but with a generator it is N2500.

My observation: this street has almost a constant supply of electricity, so on getting there no generator was used, so I had to pay 1k for barbering. This is my first time barbering this high, and content creators and students love patronising this shop because their services are classical.

What types of service-based occupations are most in demand in your area? (Barber, mechanic, watch/glasses repairer, van ice cream vendor, etc.)

Equipments here for quality service

	conditioners
	combs
	brushes
	Fans
	Sterilizers
	Hair fresheners
	Shampoo

In this student area, there are many businesses, but among them are very prolific and lucrative ones; the barber shop is one of them. This conclusive comparison is because, from my observation, I have a watch, but it may take over 6 months to go for repairs. I don't have a bicycle for trekking or paying my way down. My destination has been part of me since we left in a city, a busy one at that, and seeing your colleague trekking, you will join them unless you are extremely stressed out.

Have you ever used these services yourself or purchased anything? Show pictures + videos and show their prices.

I hadn't patronised this place until this visit. My hair was a bit unkempt, and I thought of whether to make a friction or barb. Later I decided to barb. I asked for the price, and I was told N1000, and to friction is N500, and to friction and dye will cost N1500.

	Clippers sold here

There is a stylist section in this mini classical street salon, but unfortunately they have been sacked; the story above explains more.

Barbing is just one of the services this place offers, since they train workers who barb as well, and they are connected to other barbers. They sell clippers too, and the least price of a clipper is 20k, but they sell the ones which cost 25k.

Were you satisfied at the end of the work or were you ever disappointed?

A new look

I decided to patronise this place, and truly speaking, the comfort, conditioning and the tools they used are really satiable. I can't wait to patronise this place or tell the world about this. My video on YouTube is set to public; I am sure it will get more views.

Do people appreciate the work of the shopkeeper? If you have personal experience, please tell us.

Yes, people appreciate the barber; some people appreciate them by coming with their male and female friends. Business places need referrals.

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BARBERS' STORIES THAT SHOCK YOU

He made mention of perfection in business, and while barbering my hair, he told me a story and the reason behind his skin haircut. He said he was still at the beginning stage of learning how to barber. He decided to tint his hair (i.e., change the colour to a golden colour). He did it by himself, and when that was done, it burnt his front hair, and that led to him losing his hair. Even though the other part grows, this part doesn't grow perfectly; that's why he keeps it skinny and low.

Google Map Link	https://goo.gl/maps/vfzFDVzujm7bkYmN9
Steem Atlas Location	//:# (!steematlas 5.0513031 lat 7.920584 long Unique touch, Unisex salon, No 2, Nung Ayan Street, Uyo d3scr)