Support Local Barbershops

There is a balance that a business owner needs to have in moments of adversity. This balance needs a healthy mix of public composure, situational awareness, as well as the vernacular to translate decisions.

When it comes to situational awareness, we were one of the first barbershops in the Treasure Valley to voluntarily close shop when we saw the tidal wave off on the horizon. We were very aware of the risk that barbers and barbershops hold to the public, so we moved into self-isolation on 3/17.

One week later, the Boise mayor, Lauren McLean, issued a mandatory social-distancing order that required barbershops and hair salons to close due to being unable to keep a 6 ft distance. While this was the right decision for her to make, I wish it would have been more aggressively pursued, because within 48 hours there were reports of COVID-19 in Ada County. With community outbreak in a second county, Idaho Governor issued a 30 day Shelter in Place order for the entire state that will last until 4/15. The federal government has also extended their voluntary stay at home guidelines to 30 days.

This is a long time to not work, much longer than what I was expecting when I asked the team to give up 14 days. Now we are potentially looking at being closed from 3/17 - 4/25, and that’s assuming everyone gets on board with flattening the curve by self-isolating at the recommendations of all global health experts.

Let’s cut the fluff. That’s what I feel is being incredibly generous with my assumptions, so let’s get down to brass tacks. The Barber Story needs your help.

Intuit, who is known throughout the country as being the company almost EVERYBODY uses to file their taxes at home, is also the company that many small businesses use for record keeping. When one of the shop’s clients reached out to us on behalf of Intuit, it was to let us know that Intuit is taking a serious approach to helping small businesses in their community.

I was personally against setting up a fundraiser in the beginning, but a lot of that was my personal pride and ego, but then clients started shifting my focus to the team. Chase, Jimbo, Liz; they will all need a place to keep working when all of this is over, and that can’t happen if our doors get shut down in the interim. To give our clients the opportunity to help, we have worked with Intuit to set up a GoFundMe page to cover the cost of shop expenses while we are unable to work.

If you are in the same boat that we are in. If you have lost your job because of COVID-19. If you are struggling in a real way, please feel no obligation to help. We are all going through a difficult situation together, and I would never ask someone to suffer more so we can stress less. However, if you are fortunate enough to have a career that moved you into a home office, any help would be great, even if it’s just a share of this post.

All of us want to get back to work, and I appreciate your patience while the hair industry collectively figures out what our next steps are. If you cannot help financially, here are practical ways that you can show your support.

• Grow your hair out

  • A grown out style from a good stylist will always look better than a home botch job

  • Give yourself an opportunity to try a completely different style

• Don’t cheat on your stylist

  • This isn’t about loyalty, this is about health

  • Barbers cannot practice social distancing, and the service goes against all recommendations from the CDC and WHO

  • You risk your health and your family’s health by allowing a barber into your home for “Home Cuts on the Down Low”

  • Illegal practices in an industry regulated for public health are a continued risk to public health

• Send your stylist text messages

  • We don’t work for chains, we work for you by working for ourselves. We have actual relationships with you because we don’t want to be considered a simple human commodity.

  • We have free time. We’re stressed. We could use a smile.

• Shelter in Place

  • Self-Isolation until the country has a hold on this pandemic is the single greatest thing you can do to support your community.

  • Limit your trips to truly essential needs, like picking up groceries or medicine.

  • If you do need to go out into places that could be considered hot zones, use common sense.

    • Minimize family members going on grocery trips

    • Wear disposable gloves and a mask to reduce the risk of passing viruses to one another.

    • Only touch groceries you plan on purchasing.

    • Limit time in stores (Purchase in advance and pick up if available)

The world is uncertain, but that doesn’t mean it will defeat us, certainly not if we have anything to say about it.

-Chris