Today we’d like to introduce you to Paul O’Brien.
Hi Paul, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My brothers Bill, Rob, and I opened our first Floyd’s 99 Barbershop location in 2001. Our background, however, is in the food service industry, where we started with a business that we still own today. While we’ve thrived in that market, we were introduced to the beauty and haircare sector when Bill attended a franchise conference. After visiting some discount shops, we were shocked by the lack of experience with the service and that people were settling for a haircut that felt no different than going to the dentist. We saw the industry had plenty of room for improvement. I was always the type of guy looking for the salon experience and connecting with my hairdresser, whereas Rob was the guy who would go to the discount shops settling for the simple haircut. Bill, on the other hand, was all about convenience – he wanted easy access and a great location, a place where he could get in and out without a hassle.
Bringing us all together in one concept was where we saw an opportunity in the haircare industry – somewhere in the middle, between the two ends of the consumer spectrum that wasn’t a salon, but not a budget cut either and that was always easy to get in and out of. The three of us created Floyd’s 99 Barbershop, providing an experience with a haircut, bringing a vibe and energy that makes it a great place to be. Not only do our clients enjoy coming to our shops, but so do our stylists. We pride ourselves on making this a fun place to work with a drama-free environment. And my brothers and I will work right alongside everyone, whether it’s helping in the front of the house to greet clients, or sweeping up the floor – just not actually cutting hair, we leave that to the trained professionals!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s been pretty smooth overall, especially when you consider us coming in as outsiders in the industry. About two years after we opened our first location in Denver, there was an historic blizzard and the roof of that flagship shop collapsed. Thankfully, no one was injured, but the building was condemned and we thought that was it for Floyd’s, we were done. We had two other shops open at the time, but they were still very new. However, that roof collapse garnered so much attention that our regular customers went to our other shops and kept our business alive. That’s when we knew we had something special. Eventually, we were able to rebuild our flagship shop and reopen it three years later. Another challenge we saw in the last 22 years, of course was COVID. It was tough getting through the pandemic; everyone kind of held their breath, but we’re coming out the other side of it now stronger than ever. We credit that to the wonderful people on our team, as well as the strength of the brand and our reputation of high customer satisfaction and loyalty.
As you know, we’re big fans of Floyd’s 99 Barbershop. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
When you walk into a Floyd’s 99 Barbershop, the first thing you notice is the high energy: you’ll be greeted by a receptionist stationed right up front, you’ll hear some upbeat music playing, maybe even from a local band, and the walls are plastered floor to ceiling with posters featuring musical greats from the decades. Floyd’s is open to walk-ins in addition to scheduled appointments for a full range of services, including haircuts, shaving, color, waxing, deep conditioning treatments, and styling, as well as its own retail line of grooming products. Floyd’s is known for its iconic barbershop straight-razor neck shave with hot lather and steamed towels and a complimentary shoulder massage after each service. Once you sit down with your stylist, they’ll begin a consultation so that they fully understand your expectations. Our stylists are creative and many even come from artistic backgrounds. They each go through a meticulous training process so they can provide consistent, quality haircuts. That means whether you’re the type of person who prefers the same stylist with every visit, or you would rather just go to whoever is available, you can rest assured that you’ll leave with the same great look you were hoping for every time.
Floyd’s 99 Barbershop is a place where anyone and everyone can get their hair cut; we don’t discriminate. Unlike maybe your traditional barbershops or salons, we cater to men, women, and kids. And our staff is just as diverse as our clientele – from moms to men who look like your old-school barber, and everyone in between. There’s no “one size fits all” type of staff, and there’s no dress code. We want everyone to be comfortable just being themselves.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
The future of the haircare industry is booming. As we look at TikTok, Instagram, and other social media platforms, we see our clients getting younger and younger. 20 years ago, moms would bring their kids into a discount shop just to get a simple cut and get out. But now, younger kids are caring so much more about their identity and how they look. Social media did that. Not only are they finding importance in their own identity but also in brand identity when deciding where they want to get their haircut. We also saw a bit of a resurgence after COVID shut everything down. What we’re doing now is just as relevant as it was 22 years ago.
Pricing:
- Floyd’s Cut (basic short cut) – Average price around $34.00
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.floydsbarbershop.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/floyds99barbershop/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/floyds99barbershop
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/floyd’s-99-barbershop/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Floyds99
- Youtube: https://www.tiktok.com/@floyds99barbershop
- Other: https://franchise.floydsbarbershop.com/
Image Credits
Credit: Floyd’s 99 Barbershop
