If you’re considering starting a barbershop or already own one and are looking to expand it, you will need to be very clear about who your target market is and why they should visit your barbershop rather than another one.
While most customers walking into a barbershop are there for a haircut there are others who are looking for services such as shaving, beard trims, and even straight razor shaves.
This article will discuss 7 different examples or segments of the target market for a barbershop and what each looks for when selecting a barber for their needs.
Let’s get started!
The Target Market for a Barbershop: Who Needs a Barber?
One of the best ways to understand the target market for a barber shop is to analyze the reasons why someone would want to go to a barber as opposed to cutting their hair themselves or even going to a hair salon which can offer far more services than a barbershop.
Based on this segmentation criterion, we can divide the market for barbershops into the following customer segments:
- People who simply want a regular haircut
- People looking for a custom hair design
- People who are looking for a shave
- People looking for beard or mustache trims
- People looking for eyebrow trimming and waxing
- People looking for hair coloring or other chemical services
- Parents who want to get a haircut for their child
Now, let’s dig deeper into each of these segments.
1. People who simply want a regular haircut
By far, the largest target market for a barbershop is people who want a regular haircut.
This will usually include men and boys who want to maintain a traditional hairstyle that is relatively easy to take care of.
For the most part, these customers are not looking for anything fancy or unique, they just want a barber who can give them a decent haircut at a reasonable price.
2. People looking for a custom hair design
While the majority of people who visit a barber shop just want a regular haircut, there is a significant portion of the target market for a barbershop who are looking for something more unique.
These customers are usually willing to pay a bit more for a barber who can give them a custom hair design that fits their personality and style.
Customers in this segment may also be looking for other services such as coloring or straight razor shaves.
3. People who are looking for a shave
Even though most men shave their own faces these days, there are still those who, from time to time, prefer to have a professional do it.
This could be because they want a closer shave than they can get at home, or because they enjoy the experience of being pampered in a barber shop.
For some men, just going to a barber shop for a shave can be seen as a luxurious treat.
4. People looking for beard or mustache trims
In recent years, beards have become extremely popular, and as a result, more and more people are visiting barbers for beard trims.
Some barbers have even specialized in beard care and offer a range of services such as beard oiling, washing, and styling.
Those with mustaches can also benefit from mustache waxing and trimming services to keep their facial hair looking sharp.
5. People looking for eyebrow trimming and waxing
While it is not something that is often thought of, barbers can also offer a range of services for the eyebrows.
This can include everything from simple trimming to more complex waxing services.
Eyebrow care is often seen as a feminine beauty service, but an increasing number of men are starting to see the benefits of keeping their eyebrows well-groomed and so are a growing segment of the target market for a barbershop.
6. People looking for hair coloring or other chemical services
Hair coloring is another service that is often associated with women’s hair salons, but an increasing number of men are starting to color their hair.
This can be anything from a simple gray coverage to a more complex coloring job.
Other chemical services such as straightening or perming are also becoming more popular among men and, as a result, barbers are starting to offer these services as well.
7. Parents who want to get a haircut for their child
Finally, another target market for a barbershop is parents who want to get a haircut for their child.
This is usually for boys, but there are some barbers who also specialize in cutting girls’ hair.
Parents often prefer to take their child to a barber rather than a hair salon because they feel it is more affordable and the environment is generally more relaxed.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are a number of different target markets for a barbershop each one looking for something different.
This market naturally includes those who simply want a haircut. This could be a regular haircut or a custom hair design.
People who are looking for a shave also visit barbershops from time to time as do those looking for beard or mustache trims.
And increasingly, barbershops offer eyebrow trimming and waxing as well as hair coloring or other chemical services making people interested in these services a target market for a barbershop.
And finally, parents who want to get a haircut for their child will often go to a barbershop.
