Subscription-free software Fresha is helping Cardiff-based barbershop Gents of Brooklyn maximise their business potential and motivate their team using online bookings, reviews and tips.
With three thriving barbershops and their GB Academy based in the cosmopolitan city of Cardiff, the team behind Gents of Brooklyn’s passion for the profession is paying off. Owner Lewis Welsh is enthusiastic about promoting being a barber as a rewarding career that is “sociable, creative, flexible and progressive”. Lewis nurtures talent to not only produce great barbers – many of whom will go on to work in his shops – but to inspire in his protégés with the same pride, passion and belief that has guided him, and Gents of Brooklyn, to great success.
Setting new standards
Gents of Brooklyn opened the doors to their first barbershop five years ago and they have been setting standards in Cardiff ever since. They have a self-trained team of full and part-time barbers, with each barber bringing a different angle and depth to the brand’s unique image. “We train all our staff, so we have a signature standard that’s worked into every cut. But we also have a lot of unique touches by bringing out the barber’s individual personality and strengths into their haircuts.”
With a broad age range both among their team and client base, Gents of Brooklyn is inclusive all-round. While they treat each client to their exceptional services and cutting experience, Fresha plays a key role in driving new appointments and keeping their team motivated.
Fresha – making life simpler
“Fresha makes everything a lot easier, and it keeps everything flowing,” says Lewis. “Clients love booking appointments in their own time via the app, and our team knows how many clients they’re seeing each day. Clients know what time they’re coming in and leaving, so they can plan their day if they have a train to catch or need to arrive here at a certain time, for example. This avoids lots of people waiting to be served. Clients can even book an appointment when they’re on holiday for when they get back. It’s very convenient.”
When it comes to tips, Fresha’s appointment scheduling software is also making Lewis’s life simpler. “Before we used Fresha it was hard to know where tips were coming from,” he explains. “Clients can leave a tip when they pay via Fresha, so it’s a much better way for the team to get their tips. You don’t work for tips but they’re big in barbering and it keeps the team motivated.”
Boosting business with reviews and social media
In addition to their growing reputation and word of mouth drawing in new clients, Lewis has noted how Fresha’s reviews have been effective in helping them gain popularity in the area. “All our reviews are four or five stars and they’re so important, as new clients know what to expect before they come in,” says Lewis.
With social media and the Internet dominating how people like to find and book barber appointments, the simplicity of Fresha’s salon software and its social media integrations are essential features for Lewis. “Fresha is really simple to use. Clients just pick the barber, the service and the time they want, and then book it. While a lot of younger clients use the Book Now button on Instagram, we also get a lot of bookings via Facebook and Google.”
With Cardiff’s large student community expanding their clientele, business is booming at Gents of Brooklyn. Fresha comes highly recommended by Lewis and the team, as anyone new to the area can easily find Gents of Brooklyn on Google and book appointments online: “I’d recommend Fresha to other businesses. I use it in my shops and the training academy, and it works perfectly in all of them.”
Find out how Fresha can reduce no-shows and late cancellations here.
Boost your barbering business today by joining Fresha for free at https://www.fresha.com/for-business