I’ve often said the secret to a great business should have something do with either food or haircuts – the two things people need, over and over. And again and again.
Today as I’m sitting in the hair chair of Johnny K (“my” hair guy), here’s what I (Carol here) witnessed:
Two year old named Nissa (I know because I was aggressively eavesdropping) sitting on a booster getting her curly blonde locks clipped. Her dad strolls happily around the salon with Nissa’s baby sister Gretchen (again, good over-listening pays off). “Mom” keeps Nissa occupied by holding up books, squirting ‘good-smellin’ stuff in the air and introduces an occasional funny-face contest in the mirror. Squirm. Wiggle. Nissa is done. Now it’s mom’s turn. Dad’s turn – as more auditory spying reveals – was completed before I arrived. Dad now sits happily in adjacent seat, rocking sweet Gretchen back and forth. She coos. “Mom” and Nissa chat. Dad returns from next-door coffee shop with milk, cookies and something hot and frothy for “mom.”
I finally can’t take it any more: “Hi!” I say to little Nissa. She is shy but engages me with her big lashes. I promptly get to my real goal, a comment to the happy couple: “I can’t imagine my husband ever coming to the salon with me on a Saturday afternoon, and actually appearing as if he’s enjoying it!”
“Mom” and dad smile. She briefs me on their story. I knew there must be a story! What happy couple spends two hours juggling kids, water, electricity, scissors, babies, toddlers and conversation with multiple adults on a Saturday afternoon … and concludes the outing with a smile?
A couple with a ritual, that’s who.
Pre-kids and newly married, this happy couple began many a “date night” at this same salon: cuts, styles, then “out on the town” looking fabulous. Now – while Nissa sweeps and blow dries most of the salon and baby Gretchen begins a hungry howl – this young couple forges on with their date, making it a family outing. “It’s just what we do.”
Ah … ritual. It doesn’t have to make sense to anyone else.
Cheers to you, the happy couple with the new haircuts .. whoever you are!?