144: Halsey Gonsalves
Matt Geraghty and Brian Rump have a conversation with one of the most interesting business personalities in The Kawarthas, stylist Halsey Gonsalves.
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SUMMARY KEYWORDS
hair, salon, haircut, work, business, years, good, moved, lindsay, people, clients, hairstylist, beautiful, clientele, yorkville, feel, person, ontario, friends, generally
SPEAKERS
Brian Rump, Matt Geraghty, Halsey Gonsalves
Brian Rump 00:00
Welcome to the Kawartha Small Business Podcast where we believe The Kawarthas can be the most thriving region in Canada for small business. So we created a podcast where we have million dollar conversations that help small business owners thrive. I'm Brian Rump from Profit Coach.
Matt Geraghty 00:16
And I'm Matt Geraghty from Matty G Digital.
Brian Rump 00:19
And we are recording from the Thrive podcast studio at Thrive co working community in downtown Lindsay, Ontario at at Kent Street West. And we have a very interesting guest today we have Halsey who's going to tell us all the versions of his name here in a moment. Maybe introduce yourself, tell us about you your business, and we'll go from there. Sure.
Halsey Gonsalves 00:44
Good morning, everybody. My name is house ache and solve this or Halsey or house the or all the various forms, depending on who you are and where you're from. I'm a hairstylist and been in the business for 23 years, and recently moved to Lindsay and just building back up. Yeah.
Brian Rump 01:07
Awesome. Yeah. Why Lindsay? Why did you move to Lindsay?
Halsey Gonsalves 01:10
Oh, boy. That's a open ended question. First of all, just in life in general, myself, and my wife wanted to slow down a bit as far as our living conditions with. I grew up in Toronto and out west in Calgary and Edmonton. lived across the Canada and Halifax and London, Ontario, in Vancouver and Victoria as well. And yeah, just the hustle and bustle of city life. Wasn't for us anymore. Although we hadn't realized that. What happened is the inlaws got older. And unfortunately, some purchase personal tragedy on my side with the loss of my brother and my daughter, you tend to shift things and just reevaluate, reorganize, restructure, however you want to look at it or put that so I'd actually retired from the Air don't take that the wrong way, rather than retired twice from here. Anyway, that's, that's a different story. Between that COVID Hitting hairstylist are the first ones to get locked out or on the frontline of getting locked out and some of the last to go back in that, you know, my my brother or my daughter had passed. And so I had gone back to work for a couple of weeks and then said, Okay, I need more me time. So I started working on a horticultural degree through Guelph online to keep busy signup, counseling. On the on the other side of being my wife side. She's the youngest of three. I am the eldest of two, what was two and so my mom's eight to 10 years younger than her parents. And and so we've noticed in that 10 years, things started happening health wise. I don't know if you guys still have your parents around, like, you know. I'm assuming I'm a couple of years older than you guys are by far older than you guys. And yeah, just the last kind of bit older, stepfather laws in early Alzheimer's, I think late diagnosis. Mom fell down the stairs a whole bunch of times and at the house, they were in for 40 years. And the father in law, I believe, legionnaires. So we moved him if you're from the area of the old McHale's bakery, okay. And then, of course, you know, the other two are with us, and we're doing the multi generational living thing. That's a big nutshell why we're in Linsey more bang for buck, quieter, that kind of thing.
Matt Geraghty 03:43
Do you know anybody up here?
Halsey Gonsalves 03:44
Nobody?
Brian Rump 03:46
Do you know everybody now? You know why it
Halsey Gonsalves 03:50
seems that way. Sometimes. And I'm blessed for that. I've, I've been introduced some really great people in the community, and they don't steer me the wrong way. As far as who they introduced me to, or as far as what, excuse me what local businesses to buy from or deal with who's you know, who's on who's on board with everybody kind of thing? And who, who treats the community well, and so on and so forth.
Matt Geraghty 04:17
And then you have wanted to, like not take a step back. But I'm curious about like, how did you get into hair? All those years ago? 23 years ago, you said
Halsey Gonsalves 04:25
it's 33 years ago? Okay, sorry? No, 23 years. Perfect. I'm in agreeance. With you, Matt. I did say 23 years ago, professionally fell into it. But before that, late 80s, early 90s. Me and my two best friends used to go to these Italian barber shops, and old school you sit there until it's your turn, you know,
Brian Rump 04:49
smoking.
Halsey Gonsalves 04:51
There was still smoking at the pepper shiz
Brian Rump 04:53
me as a kid but it's my biggest memories sitting in the barbershop waiting and everyone's smoking. I had a I had a Portuguese lady that
Halsey Gonsalves 05:01
used to cut my hair. This is when we lived in Little Italy growing up. And she she never saw the Clippers going on my head. Yeah, right. So yeah. In the late 80s, early 90s, me and my two best friends we used to go get our haircut like it was saying at a time barbershops, and we're Hip Hop fiends. I still am to this day, I like to say if you look at me, I'm a preppy homeboy. And I looked like 12 to 50. Like, I'm still wearing the same stuff that I wore when I was 12 to 15. I think you kind of revert back to whatever your nostalgia or your comfortability factor is right? We would get them to cut our hair. And then eventually, as you know, Afro centric move was going on Afro jazz movement, jazz and hip hop was going on. And then haircuts started changing. So I'd say well, I want Nike on one side and one three stripes on my eyebrows and on one Africa on the other side, or what Bangladesh the outline of Bangladesh on one side, or whatever the case is. And they would say no, because they wouldn't want to wreck their haircuts. Got my hands up from parentheses, just in case you guys are listening. Yeah. So we started doing it ourselves. And interestingly enough, believe it or not, gentlemen, I had a full head of hair. Actually very more coarse, but very similar to Matt's hair. different lengths Mohawks, Tiger prints wood after Gordon is Asian persuasion. Gordon was from Hong Kong. Unfortunately, he's no longer with us that beautiful pin straight here, and my friend Graham, I believe from St. Kitts, and have Scottish and he had beautiful loose afro, all kinds of like different textures of hair. And so I kind of got good at putting designs in or just we started doing our own fades. And so I was a basement Barber. Oh, awesome. For for no better use of a word anyway, I don't know if that came up properly, but as a basement barber for about 10 years. And my dad, you know, it was a very different teenager, I was very extreme case teenager. And fortunately for my dad who raised me at that point. And he had said, Why don't you become a hairstylist at one point. And no offense to anybody I had ignorant in the real sense of the word preconceived notions about what a hairstylist male was first for generally, versus what a barber was. And I saw I said that I'm okay kind of thing. And he said, What does that have to do with hit kind of thing. And if I went to 10 years later, of course, when I decided to do this for a living, and I can get back to that, but I fell into it. He'll be just like, so you're a hairstylist now. All right. Got me got me. And while you know I'm surrounded by beautiful people at all times. Yeah, be that again, straight male, female, whatever, you're this beautiful spot. You deal with beauty. And that's a that's a blessing on both sides of the coin for me to make somebody appreciate what they have hopefully. And for a guy that peacock kind of the salon or for women to stretch their stuff out of the salon is a beautiful thing to be old. So anyway, that's kind of a short synopsis ish of how I got into it. To finish I was in between jobs. I had a two year old at the time I was driving forklift, I was making great money, hated every flipping moments of that work, but it was great benefits and stuff and you do what you got to do for your kids as you both know. I don't know but then I managed a record store again parenthesis because really I just partied a lot and ordered records and learn to DJ. That wasn't a job to me, that was joyfulness kind of thing and you know me now with my music, oddities and obsessions. Then the record store closed. And so I just needed a part time job it was fractured up Fanshawe College. Fanshawe College in London, Ontario is going to do environmental technologies work with my uncle who is now rich and retired. Did I take the right road I got a part time job at a salon literally sweeping floors and doing shampoos and after two months I never looked back I was this is what I want to do kind of things dealing with people you really do have to like people perhaps let yourself and that's that's a long synopsis of how I got into it
Matt Geraghty 09:50
was that the salon you ended up buying and owning?
Halsey Gonsalves 09:53
No that was years later. I started off my career in London, Ontario at a place called deja herend spot I was there for years and Years and years working for a lovely couple. I say working for both of my work for a net and her husband Norbert. They were both really great friends of mine yeah, I just Norbert would kind of teach me men's cuts because I knew how to use clippers but not scissors. So I kind of did all my stuff ass backwards. I mean backwards. I mean, I was cutting on the floor before I went to school doing collars and stuff like that. So I was doing that. Then I went to George Brown moved back to Toronto. That's with mom for a bit. I moved back to London. The Salon came years later, I ended up working at a couple of different salons in Yorkville. Yeah. And when I was at shag, I was doing color. Yes. It's called shag. That's a double entendre. And then I had the pleasure of working with somebody one of the owners years later on a place called bang, nother duck.
Matt Geraghty 11:03
This was intentional, isn't it?
Halsey Gonsalves 11:05
Apparently. So I ended up working at Furio I decided to go to this this wonderful salon in Yorkville called Furio, which is also a small franchise, well known in Canada. Well known to Toronto, definitely.
Matt Geraghty 11:21
Is it the biggest hairstyle salon? What a chain when
Halsey Gonsalves 11:29
I say maybe at one, I think well until one of them. You know, I'm not going to name other names. But yeah, sure. They had 10 salons or nice ones and an academy at one point. So I've worked in Yorkville with them for 10 years. On and off. I say that because I moved back to London, Ontario, I wanted to spend more time with my daughters. That's where she lived at the time. And when I moved back, we had the option to buy one at the front, one of the locations. So myself and my ex wife, Daisy owned the Richmond Hill location for five years. And it was a good experience. It was tough. You live with the shortcomings are you know, during that time period, I was also a stage artist. As well as you know, the managers or owners would go in and teach once a month at least. Which I think was great. Because you, you get to pinpoint who you want to work for you later. Kind of thing, right? So yeah, that's that's how this one came about.
Matt Geraghty 12:26
Did you ever imagine yourself being a business owner? Yeah, really? Yeah.
Halsey Gonsalves 12:31
I didn't know what it was going to be when I was younger. Both my parents highly educated. Both worked for the UN at one point. In logistics, I mean, as a secretary, we moved to Canada, and then you know, they took off on their careers. Again, highly educated parents, and so they had dreams. Typical Bangladeshi East Indian parents, like, okay, educate your kids kind of thing. Yeah. So I didn't know what it was going to be. So I didn't have aspirations as to what what business it was going to be it kind of fell into my lap, but at some point, and when you're a stylist, generally speaking, you have dreams and aspirations of doing certain things, whether it's TV or editorial work, or movie sets, or owning a salon or whatever the case is, and then you get it. And you enjoy it. And it's hard, and it's tough. And there's other things involved managing people and as you well know, and that kind of thing. So yeah, that's, it was a dream, I achieved the dream. And now and then the dream change, because once you own, then you realize, wait a minute, I want to do what makes me happy again, after I've done whatever aspiring I wanted to aspire to. And now, my happiest moment is behind the chair one on one, I don't have to worry about paying the water biller whatever I pay my rent, and I deal with my clients one on one. Yeah. And that's, as far as business ownership goes. That's where I'm happiest.
Matt Geraghty 14:04
Yeah, you often don't think about stylists, as business owners or entrepreneurs really, cuz you're just like, Oh, they're cutting a hair and salon, but you guys are contractors or freelancers.
Halsey Gonsalves 14:16
That depends on how that goes. Right.
Brian Rump 14:20
There's some different models, I think, to me, it's one of those like age old trade businesses where everyone has hair, there's going to be different people have different preferences, price points, price points, what you specialize in.
Halsey Gonsalves 14:37
I will say as far as the business model aspect goes of it, yes. What you said to a certain degree, you're a contractor or you're freelance. But aside from that coming up, you make nothing, really for the first seven years. You're building clientele you're building Your skill and I'm not talking about your cutting skill that is going to get better. It's how are you dealing with people in your chair? And that's why we're saying you better like people kind of thing you have to kind of chameleon and make everybody feel comfortable. You make people
Matt Geraghty 15:17
feel more than comfortable or uncomfortable. No, no. And like, I'll tell you something Meg asked me a while ago. Sure. Like, do you think Halle actually likes us? Or is he just like that with everyone? I'm like, I think it's both. But it's just like you have such love and joy for life. Oh, and it's like so infectious. And I leave hanging out with you anytime. And I have like, a peacock. Like you said, I feel when I get my hair cut, I leave there, I feel better than I have aesthetically, in my entire life. Thank you, a lot of us because of my hair. And it's just like you are an infectious personality in the most positive way. Thank you just join us. And I think that's such a special, unique thing. And it's so easy to refer you or tell other people about you. Because it's like, it's not like, Okay, someone look for haircut, like, Yeah, whatever, you can get 1000 haircuts, but like, you gotta go, because you're gonna feel so good afterwards. And I think that's an incredibly unique, very positive thing about you.
Halsey Gonsalves 16:28
I will take that you in a sense? That's, that's the goal. Definitely. But you specifically for instance, yeah, you're gonna connect with certain people, more chairs, like I'll get back to this about feeling. Being a chameleon, sort of, for Matt, and I've said this to you and, and back. The highest compliment any stylists can get, as far as I'm concerned, is if you if you get your clients children, who are you letting around your kid with any kind of sharp implement? Nobody? The dentist, maybe at the doctor's office or the derma? Maybe. But that's, that's not a common thing. Back to the peacocking thing, and whether I'm friends with all my clients, no, I'm not friends with all of my clients, you are going to connect with genuine people. I'm just speaking from my point kind of thing. And to end that thought, what I used to say when I was instructing, I used to say you attract you to a certain degree to your chair, and you do, but that can go either way. Yeah. Right. And then it changed it. Working in certain areas in Toronto, being snooty or not snooty. Or take how Yeah, y'all out there and take that however you will. What I would say to my students is attract who you want in your chair? Yeah. I want a good energy. I don't want dour sour people. Yeah. On the flip side of that, I'm up for the challenge. I am you have to difficult client, you have the picky client, you have the client that's never happy. I'm the guy that will I'll try to rise to that challenge. Because somebody should have like, maybe they just haven't had that like that one off experience where it's like, holy moly, I really, they might look good, or I feel really great after that. Energy wise airways, whatever. On the flip side of what I just said, I just did fireclay might happen sometimes happens every so often. It's happened thrice in my whole career ever. Because like because like I said, I would rather work with somebody to make them really happy kind of thing. But it has to go both ways to
Matt Geraghty 19:01
Yes, yeah. When I first started my business, I would work with anyone, and I would take any type of scoreboard. Yeah, I remember someone one time was like we used to call calls for me. I was like, Yeah, business. If any paid me well, and I did it. Yeah. Like you just take whatever you can to get where you need to. But now I'm very much at the point where I'm I joke with people when I do like a discovery call. It's 15 minutes. And they think that it's an opportunity for them to see if they liked me. Yeah, joke with the ones where I have like a good relationship after 10 minutes. And I'm like, This wasn't about you like, like, do I want to work with Yeah, like, what do you like?
Halsey Gonsalves 19:41
Or what do you have to offer? It has to go both ways? Yeah, yeah. You want to be able to be able to
Brian Rump 19:47
do the thing that you're good at. So and I like what you said about being up for the challenge because sometimes it is that challenge or that. You know, people come in with masks of all sorts on where they just haven't Maybe found that bright person yet, but then that, you know, that only goes so far where you bridge them through that insecurity or you know, what you want to embrace the challenge to do the hard work. But yeah, if they're not good to work with, then they become the person that you know, fire and don't work with. But there it is, yeah, you're gonna find people that you enjoy working with, working with.
Halsey Gonsalves 20:25
And that goes, you know, staff and clientele kind of moving. So I've walked into a very beautiful situation kind of thing. And again, it has to go back. I'm very fond of saying this, you've heard me say this, Lindsey has been a balm to our souls, be a LM people. Really a salve, it's been healing for us.
Matt Geraghty 20:51
I think people,
Halsey Gonsalves 20:53
this goes across the board in any smaller to medium sized community outside of a major metropolitan post COVID. We got to work from home, right? The whole world is also going through PTSD, when your kids come out, you just can't go without a mask. You're wondering why a mask, whatever. There's a new influx of energies in these communities. And so I'm glad that Lindsey, I'm seeing I'm on part of it, but I'm also seeing it happen kind of thing. That's been a beautiful thing to witness. You know, back to the community thing, what, what, what you can bring to it? Yeah.
Brian Rump 21:37
That's awesome. What else you want to talk about?
Halsey Gonsalves 21:45
Weak, be bold, you have any more questions?
Brian Rump 21:50
You're like, you're here, because you're super interesting. And there's a business fundamental, that's great. So we've kind of covered a lot of those so far, which I think is cool without like, asking specific questions about it. Because I think you're, you add that value to people, you make them feel good. You're in my business where people pay for, you know, they're not paying for the labor, of cutting their hair, they're paying for the art and the connection and they're, you're paying to feel good.
Halsey Gonsalves 22:22
And to say that you can go kind of get your hair cut anywhere you want. You want the five minute or 10 minute Erica do it, because that's what people have time for. And that's what people want. On the other hand, if you want the experience to do that, yeah, there's options for it within the industry. Actually, let me get back to that. When you start you kind of veered off as usual. When you start you're making nothing for a good several years and there's a burnout rate after that. Back to being work all the time. I don't generally go anywhere still 23 years later without my business cards. I don't know who I'm gonna run into. And the guy that will say you have awesome hair here's my card I would love to work with you kind of thing. I'm also the guy that will say if you're in love with your hairstylist stay with them we we work really hard to keep you guys in our chairs. Yeah, and I will say kudos to your hairstylist whatever the case is. That first seven years is really hard. You're burnt out you're doing the the events you're going to the hair shows you're doing fashion shows you're doing hopefully editorial work or learning or being an assistant or then there comes a point we were talking about structure and pay structure and stuff like that right and how it works. where let's say you're making an hourly wage, right? What generally I think a good role a good model business wise because you're making an error really whatever that is plus your tips then a good way to do it and how I used to do it is okay now you're on commission after a year. So you've built up a little bit of a clientele as a junior stylist or colorist or middle let's say you do both. So if your Commission's higher that's what you get if your hourly is higher that's what you get. You got a year for that. So that's now you're in year two after your first seven years or after you have somewhat of a clientele or if you fall into a good situation. Like me moving to Lindsay replied, telecoms quick and fast. That's great, too. Then you go on straight commission. And that leads to thoughts of, well, I want that other 50% that that the franchise is getting, plus your service fee plus your taxes. What do you make 35 40% of Let's see your charge. I've saved $100 as a number. Oh boy, you're making 35 bucks off of that. Putting it a lot of work for that. For that one hour. So you start wondering, well, do I have enough clientele to rent a chair? Does a salon offer that? Do I take my clientele and move somewhere and say, Well, I want a 6040 split. I'm bringing my clientele but you have the facility. So I've been in all kinds of those situations. And for me what works for me it was a little scary coming here because I had zero clientele so how I did it here was to April's ago it's been over a year that I've been at the salon their big ups to therapy beauty bar and wonderful Lindsay, Ontario, Canada. I went in had a chat with them. Like I said, I was working on a horticultural degree as well, which I'm doing very slowly. And in my own damn time. I took a job with ILS, nurseries and florist in Tanzania, because there is nobody better to work with and for them to hills, horticultural wise especially. So I was there Monday through Friday, and I decided to work at the salon on Saturdays. Now I went on commission for that. They got a they got an email, I got an email, because I had no, I actually had no leverage. And I was okay with that. Because I'm new to you. You know, maybe I had six regular clients because I worked somewhere else for a millisecond. And those people found me actually because I kind of just, that was the 10 Minute haircut versus the experience. And no offense for that again. So I worked Saturdays for six months, and I built up a small clientele. And the deal with them was that once I came on, I say full time, but my full time is four days a week these days. Once I came on four days a week, then I would be paying right for my chair. So I my own business within that business, like you said, a contractor. Getting back to that took a long time to get for me that that business model worked well. Because, again, in a smaller community, maybe the options for a great person doing something that you connect with are a little bit more limited versus what was the number. I think when I first worked in Yorkville, in that four city block area, there was 250 salons. That's bonkers. And that's options. And that's great for business because there's competition down for the competition. So that business model worked for me, because they're very busy. They share clientele, they'll suggest you know, if you're booked up a couple of months, you don't want your clients to wait for that haircut if you're doing their color. So as a suggestion, maybe you should see that house that you got. And that's how it went over here. And it's been it's been really great. I've kind of got a foolish clientele already. I've been on on the floor for six months. And again, right timing post COVID. Yeah. Lindsay, the people you're meeting the people you're working for. It all comes into play, as we all know,
Matt Geraghty 28:14
it's a challenging business to scale. Because you can only how many haircuts? Can you do in a day? 10 I can do lots more than 10. But like, what would you want to do in a day?
Halsey Gonsalves 28:26
Really? I just want to eventually what I'd like to get I don't think this will happen but one hour one client that's it one hour on clocking but other people don't want that. They want to be in and out she kind of like you make notes in your files or whatever of who's doing what
Matt Geraghty 28:45
that's so complicated. I hate it to me like my the way my brain works like I hate it though.
Halsey Gonsalves 28:52
Like for instance with you guys. I used to book an hour format for the first couple of haircuts. We've done what five, maybe six haircuts now. Yeah, baby Sure. For the first two to three I booked a full hour with you because I trim his beard and I shoot stuff with him and shoot the breeze with him. And I cut his hair and On a sidenote people think short haircuts are like zip zip and get out. Now if you go to a time in a place, maybe it is it takes me way longer to do a short haircut that along with our cut and I'm just talking about the cutting part of it. It's picky work. Yeah. Beard work. You screw up a beard. You screwed up good and you screw up the short haircut. You screwed up good. So it's way pickier. Like now i know i just need 45 minutes with him because I'm used to his hair and I know how it grows out. And I'm used to doing what I do with his beard and whatever the case is.
Matt Geraghty 29:43
And we're chatting though to make sure we could Yeah, yeah.
Halsey Gonsalves 29:48
But like I could probably finish Matt's hair and beard half an hour. But again, it's that experience thing and I don't want to feel rushed doing it sooner and I never want to feel rushed. Like I'm getting in and out. Okay, so what I charge moneymaker for what I charge there it is,
Matt Geraghty 30:04
it is true. And like, I don't know if you are kidding or not, but
Brian Rump 30:08
I'm serious. When we look at your marketing, you know, you get recognized from the podcast a lot, because people like, oh, like, you have a distinctive look that people recognize. It's like marketing. What I'm really saying is, whenever you're paying isn't enough, the price should really be
Halsey Gonsalves 30:30
like how already gotten just me.
Matt Geraghty 30:34
I didn't know if you're kidding. Because I completely agree. I go out almost every time as public speaking, it's a marketing opportunity. It is a horrible, maybe way to think about it. But I dress a certain way. I always just dress like this jeans and a T shirt. I don't dress up. But this is just how I am. If I'm at the market on Saturday, getting my hair done and groceries working. I have a massive client pitch. I'm wearing this, this is just who I am. And hair to me is so important. It to me is the thing that people see. I think almost first, it's one of
Halsey Gonsalves 31:11
the things that definitely and for you, it might be beard. That's true. Yeah, we're looking at pretty papers again.
Matt Geraghty 31:20
But like to me, that's why when my hair is like, it's I go for weeks, it's too long for me, and I get uncomfortable. And I think that being uncomfortable affects my mood, attitude, and how I'm presenting myself versus when I get a haircut for those first two to three weeks. If you said peacocking all around. I'm just like, full of myself. Well as always, because like I'm always a positive energy and I can't get my head through doorframes like I love it. It just makes me more confident business wise. I didn't realize like this was gonna come up but it's so true, but like, looking good and having great hair. Like it
Brian Rump 32:03
makes it hard to tell you feel to Oh yeah, I know for me, I don't have a lot of hair but like, people will joke if it gets a bit too long. Like I don't feel very good. It's also not easy to like you know, you go to the super cheap place and they you screw it up like
Halsey Gonsalves 32:21
is this long for you?
Brian Rump 32:23
No, no, this is got hair cut last week. See this is long for
Halsey Gonsalves 32:27
me. Yeah, I'm on once a week. I try once a week or if you see me in hats all the time. It's because I haven't cut my hair. It is a very personal thing as to how neat or not eat you feel. And then kind of on the flip side of what you guys were just saying as a hairstylist in the beauty industry you better not look like a Schleper Yeah. I pick one day out of the week to be really fancy Yeah. And that Saturdays I used to say to my staff that's generally or should be the busiest day of any day on a cell Absalon you surely can't people are free. Right? So what you're going to come in get your hair done with somebody looks like they just rolled out of bed. Yeah, that doesn't make any sense to me whatsoever. You're relying on that person for your look. And like you said that it's one of the first things you're gonna look at outwardly right hair, eyes clothes, whatever. So look the part be the part act the part I know that's cheesy but I really feel that way.
Matt Geraghty 33:35
It's true like people think marketing is creative and pretty things and they see me and my hair is just under control and I got a stain on my shirt. They're gonna start to thinking like is this guy going to be paying attention to my marketing to the details the details and I tell people everyone that I work with like all the contractors like we are and detail factory. Like we're not even doing marketing we just have to get all the details right we can't spell things wrong. Lights have to be in the perfect spot like it's just details everything else is doesn't even really matter. It's just the details. Yeah, and I think that
Halsey Gonsalves 34:11
everything else falls into place if the details are there right sorry go ahead.
Matt Geraghty 34:14
No like yeah exactly like it's just that's if we're having people second guess like something if they're seeing again that stain Shergar here that's a mess that like you don't even want to create that doubt in their mind is the same way with you as like a stylist like Louie if I will be just at a pizza Stevan yourself and looked like That's awful. I remember years ago, I was like a teenager in my 20s. We had like we went to this fancy restaurant with a handful of our friends on New Year's Day, where it was no trial, blah. And it was like a Japanese restaurant. Really nice. really fancy was New Year's Day because the waiter got there. And it was like, Hey, I'm so and so I'm so hungover from last night. got it right. And I like it. Yeah, like I just my head. I was like, why would you introduce yourself that way? Like immediately now I'm like, he's if he drops the drink or does this and that and like this,
Halsey Gonsalves 35:11
you're an edge.
Matt Geraghty 35:12
I'm like wondering like, what happened to this guy and it's just a bad little thing or like seem to play in people's minds? Yeah,
Brian Rump 35:23
that's a good bridge of showing up being who you want to be. You know, it's about more than just the labor getting your,
Halsey Gonsalves 35:33
your haircut. Again, the experience part of it. is unreasonable to me for anybody to look sloppy of a salon. Yeah. I think
Brian Rump 35:47
when people say the word, the experience, do you think sometimes people getting into that business may be overthink it and think they have to maybe create an experience with some sort of preconceived notions versus just creating the experience that's like, or naturally them?
Halsey Gonsalves 36:07
Sometimes, but I think that's a learning that's a learning curve. You know, when we first have this one, we ran it a certain way. And then after six months or a year, it's like, okay, let's change this to support like, with any other business, right? Yeah, figure out what works for you and your clientele. Or you figure out what works for you. This is what I have to offer. Yeah. Does your clientele like that? Or that for you cater to find the client dramatically is
Brian Rump 36:36
the beauty of like the hair industry and why? Why to vary when I study business. And even if you look at those like a downtown revitalization study for I think there's one for a Mimi Lindsay fenlon, Bob cage, and part of that study is like demographics and types of business. And there's always a you know, this many people live here, and this is how many haircut chairs you need to service that population
Halsey Gonsalves 37:03
walk by Is there a blah, blah, blah. But within
Brian Rump 37:06
that, you need the whole spectrum of choice at right. So you need to me, I would encourage people to like, you know, be your personality set up the place you want to be at because yeah, I could walk by the beach, like, you know, I don't have much hair, but I don't go to the big chain, places that are inexpensive, where you just feel like it's a factory like it, you know, for 10 minutes, I'm there five, like, I want at least to be an enjoyable experience. So you want to have those. So if you're listening to this thinking about getting in and overthinking all these details. It's like i The person you are and
Halsey Gonsalves 37:45
I'll answer for me. Over the course of the years, I think a hair salon should look like a jewelry box. Meaning you open it up and you can see everything. So when you look at the salon that I work at looks through the front window, guess what you can see all the way through the back through to the back, rather. You can tell I've been to salons where it's closed off in the front and you can really have you can't like what's going on back there. Show your people it's I can lick the floors. They're so clean. The baseboards are clean.
Matt Geraghty 38:23
Details math, right? Oh, yeah,
Halsey Gonsalves 38:25
look around, kind of thing. The mirrors are clean, guess what? The bathrooms clean. So on and so forth. This person is getting color, that person is getting a blowout, this person is getting a shampoo, whatever the case is that person getting her nails done, or he is getting their nails done, where they are getting their nails done. However, you know, you should be able to, in my opinion, look through the front window or walk through the door and see everything that's going on. There shouldn't be anything hidden. Because it's a very personal thing. People touching you breathing, whatever, like washing your hair, so on and so forth. So, I mean, I guess I'm agreeing with you kind of thing. Yeah,
Brian Rump 39:05
I think that's definitely important. And as you say that I was thinking about just places I've walked by where it's like, I have no idea what is going on in there. Like is this a cool spot? This semester, I teach at Fleming and some students get like their projects class and they're learning about different businesses had to pick businesses they liked and I don't know if you've been by Henry's barbershop in Peterborough. No, it's on Hunter Street
Halsey Gonsalves 39:32
and oh, that's one of the main streets I'm still learning guys. Sorry. It's
Brian Rump 39:35
a little cafe district. It's great but they have a it's like a vibrant like nightlife type of barbershop where it's like, you go like Friday night and you can't get a spot and you know, I remember the one. Students just like awesome, awesome. They're like there's good music plan and just like, just love the vibe and it was so neat to watch. These young kids sort of get excited ended about that because like, you're 20 years ago in Peterborough like it was all old guy, BB I love I love that you just shit in us. But yeah, just such a cool.
Halsey Gonsalves 40:11
Again they found their niche kind of thing. On that note Yeah, when I first started in London, Ontario at the driver and spa Wednesdays, this loan kind of closer in three or four, but then there'd be three or four stylists there. And the clients coming in on Wednesday, from four o'clock to eight o'clock knew we'd have a DJ in there, we'd have guest DJs come in. Yeah, we That's the day like fun. Let me rephrase that. That's the day people would come in with funkier hair generally speaking, generally, it was generally a younger crowd, like you were saying the students got excited about seeing Henry's doing so well. Yeah, just the vibe, that's there kind of thing. So we created this different vibe. Sometimes we'd have more d'oeuvres kind of thing, or champagne and hors d'oeuvres or something, it was just a different kind of flow. And that helped me gain clientele really quick in the university segment, kind of thing when I was in London. So that's, I think that's a great. That's a great flip of an old school barber shop. We've seen a lot of that, right?
Brian Rump 41:22
Do you think personality is coming back and are existing better? I think of the older generations, and I go to a family reunion. Now there's some, you know, it's all retired people. But if I start looking at people's hair, there's pops of color everywhere. People aren't afraid of like, the pink or the purple streak. Whereas, you know, in the 90s, every haircut was kind of the same was like, right when hairspray. Yeah, Rachel. And now it's like, I mean, I love it. I think it's just the art. And I don't know if it's a product if people want it or if just there's hair stylists out now who are, you know, just experimenting and people that were in
Halsey Gonsalves 42:03
there? Here's one way to look at it. There was the people that were in there, because we're seeing a lot of like 60 to 80 year olds do that. Right? Yeah. And that scared to do that. Whereas before it was like you'd see old school Anglo American, you
Brian Rump 42:16
can't do that in the office.
Halsey Gonsalves 42:18
No. Yeah. So business has changed that way. But those people that are now 60 To add during the 40s and 50s, then maybe pushing 60 Yeah, so the mindset is different. And they're open to light. I'm a Leafs fan and I got white hair, you know, what's the playoffs? Let's go. Yeah, we both know that's not happening, then there's are these guys? Anyway? Yeah, I love seeing I love seeing whether somebody likes it. Whether you like looking at it, you mean, the fact that people are doing it and have the gumption or want the confidence. The change in attitude, like what you were saying is, I think that's beautiful bu bu however that is you might be the most demure little thing. Right? And you take your hat off, and it's Royal Bengal tiger print, whatever. I liked that we're seeing that. Yeah, I think it's a lot more open mindedness.
Brian Rump 43:32
I think it's also just you know, as I think aloud, like, you know, you are kind of the you store, right, you're not the place you slip into to get your haircut. It's like, it's the place you go to buy buy you. What is the right way to put it? You know, the you store?
Halsey Gonsalves 43:48
How can you front it, show you more? Go see how say, Yeah, whatever the case is, right?
Matt Geraghty 43:59
Three people walked in to thrive yesterday. Sounds like a joke, but it's not creepy walking to thrive. In all seriousness, two of them had like bright colored hair, like reddish, almost more red than pink. And then the other one was purple and green. And then the other person just had, quote, regular hair. I'm like, Why do you look like you're the one that's out of place? But I wonder what that shift was like when people are more comfortable displaying their personalities just
Brian Rump 44:31
I think it was. To me, it's like one of those rules that maybe was never a rule because everyone's like, Oh, you can't do that. You can't do that. But I'm a pretty boring vanilla looking guy. I prefer hanging out with like, if I see someone with like, colorful hair or different things like I like that's where I'm going to gravitate to like those interesting people and I want to go yeah, look at you. You're awesome. Versus like, like, I never like oh, that person died there. Hey, character might be
Halsey Gonsalves 45:01
again at the risk of sounding morbid. That really overly conservative generation as far as looks go, yeah. The gun. Yeah, sure. So guess what be you. You don't have to be constrained. You can have fun here and go to work doesn't have to be like this. It can be like this kind of thing. You could have a beard at work. Oh, my God, did you? Did you grow your beard out and you work at the bank? Or, like, I just, it's not for me, I'm dealing with the person. This, this is bonus for me. I've seen your I've seen your personality. And it gives me a clue as to what I'm going to do with your work.
Brian Rump 45:44
This is quick last story, someone who had worked at the bank and there was all these rules that maybe weren't rules. And I worked with somebody who has, you know, past due for retirement, but like staying around who was heavily tattooed. And one day, she was just like, you know, my whole career. Everyone's like, Oh, you'll get fired if people see your tattoos. So she always wore like, long sleeves and like law of color stuff because she had some, you know, I think like Betty Boop butter. And then like one day she just started like, you know, Ram what she wanted to wear and like everyone loves it
Halsey Gonsalves 46:16
here before the package cave. Oh, yeah. Well, do they even exist anymore?
Brian Rump 46:21
She kind of she was hoping for the package. She was kind of challenging the package but yeah, it was just a neat thing. It's like yeah, bu and then all of a sudden everyone's like, excited by businesses like because
Halsey Gonsalves 46:37
somebody's being them. Whoever heard comfortable you say you're conservative whatever. First thing I noticed. I was like look at the socks and shoes on this guy coming in today, so I also your frames are just amazing. Oh, shut them to
Brian Rump 46:51
eyecare center for those
Halsey Gonsalves 46:54
I care center. Where's that? Kind of over
Brian Rump 46:56
near giant Tiger?
Halsey Gonsalves 47:00
Right here baby. Rudy guy? Yeah. Cassie, what up big carrot at the desk. And Dr. Egg is probably the best optometrist I've ever had in my life. So shaving is amazing. Master personality personality.
Brian Rump 47:17
I Cassie ordered these special for me. I was like, she is amazing. She's a second pair of glasses. That's got some personality and she's
Halsey Gonsalves 47:25
got a good eye now lady. I've had nothing. It's nervous going to need it's nerve wracking. Going to new people. You know whether it's hair or whatever kind of thing and they made me feel they made me feel so special. They made me feel absolutely comfortable. Jim in chameleon, talk to me like you would like oh boy. Yeah, because he's an old school homeboy. So go blind. What he looks like kind of thing. He just absolutely absolutely made me feel so at ease and that you're getting drops in your eyes. Things like your head, whatever. Watch the lights. Yeah, just many agree. It's
Brian Rump 48:07
a great spot. Great spot. All right. What? We're where can people find you?
Halsey Gonsalves 48:14
I am at three kids. On the quarter of Lindsay and Kent Street in beautiful downtown Lindsay, Ontario at therapy Beauty Bar. Awesome. Matt. One thing you
Brian Rump 48:27
want people to know about you and where they find you.
Matt Geraghty 48:31
None of people know that your business exists. I can help you get found on Google in less than 60 days. Go to my website and book a call at Matty g digital.com. All right, and
Brian Rump 48:42
I'm Brian and I want to be known as the business coach and teacher that helps your business get money with grants, increase sales and streamline in your business for revenue and profit. You can find me at profit coach.ca Matt and I collaborate to help you start grow or recharge your business and we want to work with you. If you want to discuss working with us or be a guest on the podcast. Send us an email to
setitup@kawarthasmallbusinesspodcast.ca
And remember, we believe The Kawarthas can be the most thriving region in Canada for small businesses.