A Visit to the Barber

Running a business is very competitive so to get more customers, one has to be creative and offer something more than your rival.

A visit to the barber with my grandson Isaac proved this point.

This hair saloon targets children as well as the elderly.  The stylists offer haircuts without any hair wash but they do use some kind of equipment to blow your hair.

First a customer will have to pay for his haircut at the machine.  A haircut costs $12 but a senior citizen above 65 years of age is charged $10.  Once you have inserted your money, out comes a ticket.

You hold your ticket and queue up.  If there are many customers the waiting time can be more than half an hour.  When it is your turn, you just hand your ticket to the stylist who will then proceed to cut your hair.  She will drape you with a piece of cloth to protect your clothing before she begins to cut your hair. You can specify how you want your hair to be cut.

After the hair is cut, the stylist will use the equipment which looks like a vacuum cleaner and air blows the hair.  Then the cloth which is draped around you is removed and if you are a child, you are given two coins which you can insert into the machines for a free ride.

In this saloon, there was a Thomas the Train Engine and a Rugged Jeep.  My grandson had a ride in both. That is the highlight of the children’s trip to the barber.

Young children who love rides in these machines would definitely make return visits to have their hair cut and get free rides.

Isn’t this a creative gimmick to boost your business?

Another Year Bowing Out

Once again it is that time of the year when most people would be happily anticipating the new year which is just around the corner. 

Today is the second last day of 2015.  Many would be looking forward to ushering in the new year tomorrow night with a count down either at parties celebrated at home or outside of home.  In some cities there would be fireworks lighting up the skies to welcome the new year at the stroke of midnight.

For some it would have been a happy year, for others, a horrible one to be put behind.

To me, personally, it has been an annus horribilis.  Four friends departed this world for the other.  The news of their demise came as a shock, unexpected and most sobering because it drives home my own mortality.  When will my number be called, for these friends were my contemporaries.

Nevertheless, life has to move on and with the ending of this year, we hope for a better year that is waiting in the wings.

Wishing everyone of my friends a very Happy New Year as we welcome 2016.

Cheers!