I recently moved into town and I was in need of a fresh haircut and cleanup. After a long week, I really didn't want to drive 40-50 minutes back towards the city to get a haircut where we moved from.
Over the last few weeks, I did a little research and made a short list of possible places to try out. I made the list based on a few criteria that are important to me.
1. Positive Reviews (Number and quality)
2. Distance
3. Menu of services offered
4. Web presentation and presence
5. The story they were telling me
I was assuming it would take a few tries to find a place I would feel comfortable with to call my new place but the first place I started with was a place called The King's Den. I'm in tech so part of what I bring to any table I sit at is the story telling.
The name of their place, The King's Den, was like the title of a good book, it made me want to hear more. Their iconography of choice was a lion wearing a crown, can't get more powerful than that. When a woman goes into a salon, they want to walk out feeling more beautiful than they did when they went in. They want to be noticed and to feel like a million bucks. Men also look for that feeling, a sense of pride and feeling refreshed, to be on top of the proverbial world. This occasional feeling is essential for men to successfully navigate through all the obstacles and challenges we face everyday in life.
There are so many places out there that offer a cut and a shave. You know the place, usually a red/ white/ and blue striped barberpole in their signage, fluorescent lights like in an old hospital, and the smell of old stale barbersol shaving cream. Surprisingly, they are literally all over the place.
When I walked into the King's Den, I was immediately greeted by the owner, Mark Angelo, who invited me in to take a seat on one of their comfortable looking leather couches. He offered me a beverage but I was a few minutes early so I wanted to walk around to check out the place.
If you are in the mood, they had cold drinks, seltzers, soda, water, even Capri Suns for the little ones because Dads are often the forgotten Kings, right? If you prefer something hot, they had coffee, espressos, and I'm sure a latte or cappuccino if I preferred.
I walked around and the place and the first thing I noticed was the energy in the den. Lots of happy clients, smiles on their faces, all being greeted by their first names like they were old friends. I was greeted by many, if not all of the other employees too - which goes a long way since it shows the importance of the experience they are trying to deliver to their clients. The mirrors were streakless, floors were swept, lights were ambient and pleasant to the eyes, and walls were meticulously lined with Lion's Den branded products, no dust, nothing out of place. I walked to the back and all the stations were pristinely tidy which is on brand when you are marketing a place that delivers an experience to Kings who are looking to take care of themselves from the place that is helping them to evoke that unique feeling that every King deserves. Even the scent of the air seemed like an intentional part of the Den's brand. The subtle scent of the air reminded me of the air they pump through the vents of a trendy nightclub or the lobby of a hip non-chain hotel where people visit for pre-dinner drinks or after dinner night caps with a couple of close friends. You know the place, where everyone looks like they dressed for a runway and the plush carpets look like they have always been just vacuumed.
I booked a session with Ernesto and he was promptly ready at 1PM, the time of my appointment. He spent a few minutes asking me what I was looking for and made sure he knew down to the smallest style detail, fade number, length of sideburns, line requirements, part type, etc. His attention to detail was not only appreciated but very impressive. He was focused the entire time and his cut strokes were intentional and extremely confident, something you want your temporary personal brand ambassador to have when he is making multiple cuts per second with his sharp shears. 25 minutes later, I felt like a new man. Every few minutes he cleaned the hair off my face and body and made sure his tools were equally as clean. It's a small but important touch.
I thought it would take a few tries for me to find a place I would settle down with but I got lucky and found my new place of choice on the first try. Thanks for giving me a great experience on the first round. I'll be sure to check out a couple of the other services and will grab a coffee on my next visit. read more