Does Your Man Need A Trip To The Spa? Brenda Braxton’s BBRAXTON Is A Place For Men To Be Pampered

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MadameNoire: I watched the video available on the website (and above) — complete with your catwalk — and you seem to have brought your theatrical flair to BBRAXTON.

Brenda Braxton: Absolutely. That’s how I am, how I function. Theatrical!  (Laughs)

It makes BBRAXTON just  pop a little more. Customer service is very important to me. Being in theater, you are constantly around people, learning how to make people feel good, and I just take that into BBRAXTON.

MN: What made you launch BBRAXTON?

BB: Well, I found there was a need for it. Women have lots of hair salons and spas but there wasn’t anything like that for men — especially in Harlem — that spoke to that experience for men as an upscale kind of way. There are a lot of barber shops, but nothing that really treats gentlemen as gentlemen. A place that honored their time and needs.

MN: But were men put off by the concept — a parlor for gentlemen?

BB: It was kinda hard in the beginning. Especially in Harlem. They didn’t know it was owned by an African American. And they thought the pricing would be too high until they looked at the menu of services. But it’s worth it for them to be able to book a time and know their barber’s going to be there. Businessmen want to know they can come in and get services in 10 minutes. They can have a coffee or a cocktail; I also look at BBRAXTON as a networking venue. A lot of business networking is done on the golf course but African American and Latino men don’t get on the golf course that much. So they can come in and relax here and network.

MN: Harlem is changing. Is your clientele?

BB: My clientele is becoming more Caucasian and Asian as Harlem is changing. A lot of businesses are going up, a lot of people coming in and buying brownstones. They are finding that Harlem is wonderful area. Harlem is changing and we have to change with it. My barbers have always been able to work with various types of hair, so that has not been a problem.

MN: How did you fund the startup?

BB: Oh God! At the time I owned  brownstone and I refinanced my brownstone twice. When I went to financial institutions and explained the concept behind BBRAXTON, they would say it’s just a barber shop and I would say it’s not just a barber shop. I decked that it is my dream so I am going to put it all on the line.

Now, I am trying to find an investor. After being open for seven years (though I closed for a year in 2010), I am now looking to expand.

MN: What happened in 2010?

BB: I got divorced, I had to sell my house and just the economy was bad for everyone around 2009-2010 so I had to make that hard decision to close. But I knew I was going to reopen.

MN: Why did you decide to reopen rather than abandon the business?

BB: I knew it was something that was still needed. And I was looking at trends that were happening too and there were a lot of companies starting to focus on men’s grooming. I got another investment and was able to reopen in same spot. Now I need to have new a investor to go to next level. I have a product line to develop, I need repairs done to the shop. I have never had working capital so I would like an investor to infuse the business with another round of funding. You know, have a real business (laughs).

MN: How do you hope to attract an investor?

BB: I finally have a really good proposal and I am willing now to let go of 20 to 25 percent of the business and I think the numbers makes sense. I will also open a crowdfunding on Indiegogo. I am keeping the doors open. It’s really difficult when you have invested so much of your own funds but now it is time to get in investors who “get” what I am doing. I would love to have a BBRAXTON in Miami, Atlanta, California–a franchise business.

MN: Some business owners shy away from taking on investors for fear that the investors will try to change things.

BB: I think the key is knowing who that investor is and that the investor knows what your brand is about. I feel my brand is now out there and known. It is also important to get someone to take me to the next level. Getting your own product line is important, most salons make their revenue from selling retail. I would also love to get a celebrity face on board.

MN: What is the most valuable lesson you have learned in the seven years of your business?

BB: That you have to have some kind of spiritual grounding, I really believe in that. Number two, you can’t do it alone or by yourself; you must have people help you and allow them to help you. Be fair to people. You have to know your business inside and out and you have to stay true to your brand while you are growing. So many people urged me to make it unisex, but my dream was to have a men’s-only grooming parlor. You also have to learn to delegate and that was the biggest thing for me to learn. And to know when to let go of some of it. Like now I am seeking an investor.

MN: What were some of the difficulties?

BB: It was hard being a woman in this male-dominated business. There are very few women in the men’s-only grooming business. People were like, “You don’t know about being a barber.” But it is a business.. a service business. And if you are going to be in service you have to know how to deliver good service, regardless of the type of business. I know how to do that.

MN: What do you enjoy the most about what you do?

BB: The first time I sat at my reception desk — I couldn’t afford a receptionist at first — I would watch the men and come and go. They would look totally different when they left. It was nice seeing that men appreciated the service, whether it was hanging up their coat for them or getting them something to drink or giving them a great shave. That was great for me. I really like to be of service to people. Also I love employing people who enjoy what they do and my barbers love what they do.

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