“Wouldn’t it be nice to own one of these?”

July and Luiz are the proud owners of BarberShopCo’s newest store. After joining the team in 2023, following the purchase of BarberShopCo Tauranga, the duo took the step to multi-store ownership with the recent opening of BarberShopCo Mt Maunganui. Talented and hard-working, with a plan for further expansion firmly in place, we caught up with July and Luiz to get the lowdown on their BarberShopCo journey. 

Backing BarberShopCo Tauranga

While it’s easy to assume that you need to be a barber to own a BarberShopCo, the reality could not be further from the truth. Something that does go a long way, however, is to be a fan. "I've been a customer of BarberShopCo since the beginning," says Luiz, "we used to live in Auckland, and I always got my hair cut at a BarberShopCo. It's just such a good vibe. I like the products and the services and one day I thought, 'Wouldn't it be nice to own one of these?" 

The thought stayed with Luiz when he and July moved their family to Tauranga almost seven years ago. The couple spent a few years toying with the idea of store ownership, before deciding to take the plunge and open their very own BarberShopCo. But as often happens in life, their plans took a turn when an opportunity arose to purchase the established Devonport Rd store. “Taking on BarberShopCo Tauranga was obviously a huge step for us, but it’s been amazing,” says Luiz, “and the response from existing customers was fantastic. In fact, we’ve had to employ three extra full time barbers plus casuals since we took over just to meet demand!”

But while the couple had a clear vision for BarberShopCo Tauranga, not everyone was a believer. “Downtown Tauranga had a bit of a bad name at the time,” says July, “but that didn’t deter us because we knew BarberShopCo Tauranga was a well performing business. There were empty shops and endless roadworks in the Tauranga CBD, and some people didn’t see that as evidence of a city in transformation. We really had to back ourselves! But there is so much that’s happened in Tauranga over the last 18 months and more to come - the future is bright.”  

Not only did the venture pay off for July and Luiz, but the decision to take over a BarberShopCo in downtown Tauranga might have been a flash of brilliance. "In just over six months," says July, "we will have the Tauranga City Council building opening across the road from us. That’s 1000 workers right across the road. Luiz agrees. "You have to look ahead when buying a business," he adds, "and you must look at a store’s potential. There are five competitors operating within a short walk from us, yet we've seen 26% growth [as of October 2024] in the last 12 months.”

Making it in the Mount

While July and Luiz have worked hard to ensure BarberShopCo Tauranga is a success, they didn’t rest on their laurels. Pushing forward with their plans for multi-store ownership, the couple decided to open another BarberShopCo in Mount Maunganui – this time from scratch!

So what made the couple choose the Mount? “We knew very early on that there was opportunity for us to grow the BarberShopCo brand in the Bay of Plenty,” says July, “we’d seen huge growth in our CBD store, so we were confident in our decision to forge ahead with location number two. We had a few ideas in mind for location, but always knew the Mount would be the best fit. It’s been a hugely challenging process, but also hugely rewarding.”

As always, the duo held tight to their vision – opening the Mt Maunganui store at a time when others might have shied away. “Opening in a very seasonal location, in the middle of winter, and during an economic downturn was a challenging process,” says July, “We had a myriad of challenges the first few months. Mindset is so important when you’re riding that wave, you need to be very conscious of the business environment and keep your focus on the things that matter. It took us nine months just to find a suitable site, a number of months for things to start flowing how we wanted them to - but we got there!”

And get there they did. Since its grand opening in July this year, BarberShopCo Mt Maunganui has become a favourite amongst locals – with a mountain of five-star reviews to boot. “We have loved getting to know the locals at the mount,” says July, “they’re a real mixed bag community. Lots of business owners have supported us too -  getting their hair cut with us and offering plenty of advice and a good chat!”

So how does running two world-class barber shop stores compare to running one? “The biggest hurdle would have been staffing,” says July, “but because we knew of our plans well before they came to fruition, we had a trained up team ready to go. Processes are exactly the same -  that’s been easy - and because the CBD store runs pretty smoothly, we don’t feel the pull or ‘need’ to be present at both locations all the time.”

Extra for Experts

Since we have couple with us, we couldn’t resist picking their brains on the basics. Why BarberShopCo? What about the day-to-day business of running of a store? And any advice for those considering BarberShopCo store ownership? Luckily, they are happy to answer our questions. 

“BarberShopCo has a commitment to exceptional service,” says July, “when a customer walks through the doors, it’s more than just a haircut or a beard trim. It’s the whole experience. A team of skilled, experienced, professional barbers who are passionate about their craft, a queuing system that sets us apart from competitors, and an authentic world-class barbershop experience that really sets the bar.”

When asked about day-to-day life as a BarberShopCo store owner, July is quick to point out the positives. "Owning BarberShopCo businesses means we are in the driver's seat. We are the change-makers. I get to decide how I work, when I work, and how it suits our family. It’s also a job that gives me a huge amount of purpose. We feel extremely fortunate to be in this position."

Luiz agrees, adding that another big driver in taking on BarberShopCo store ownership was the realisation that he and July would need to take some risks to see the rewards they were looking for. “The years leading up to owning the business, were already full of calculated risks,” says Luiz, "we moved to Tauranga, built a house without ever having lived in Tauranga, and then bought a business that we thought would do well." Expansion was also at the front of the couples mind when making the jump. “There's room for two, three, maybe even four BarberShopCo's in the Bay of Plenty,” says July, “so we knew we would have room to expand when we were ready."

So, now that the couple has almost two years of owning a BarberShopCo (or two!) under their belt, what would they say have been the most rewarding and challenging aspects of  business ownership? Surprisingly, Luiz and July say the answer to both questions is the same. "The best part of the job," says July, "is the people - our clients but mostly our team. I take my role really seriously, because I want the very best for our people. How to get the best out of our team and be the best boss. It's a part of the job we really like, but it's also challenging." Luiz agrees, adding that a lot of the nuance involved in managing people comes from the fact that 'people are people'. "Our team has ups and downs just like we do," Luiz says, "So we need to think, 'Are they okay today? Do they need support? How can we get the best out of them. How can we prioritise our team? Because everything else flows from there. We want to be good people to our barbers, but we also want to run a great business.”

And what advice would July and Luiz give to those considering BarberShopCo store ownership? "Do the research," says Luiz, "know what BarberShopCo is about, know the area you are looking to open in, know your team. Also, consider whether you, or the person you are going into business with, have transferable skills." Indeed. With a background in marketing (July) and finance (Luiz) the Tauranga and Mt Maunganui owners make a formidable team. "Also," adds Luiz, "come in with the view that this is not a hobby or something you'll do on the side. Be prepared for ups and downs. One day, you'll have 50 services, and the next, you'll have 20, and you'll have to figure out why. It's all part of store ownership".

Whether you live in the area or are just passing through, come and see July, Luiz, and their Team at 79 Devonport Road, Tauranga or 121 Mt Maunganui Road, Mt Maunganui! A huge thanks to Luiz and July for sharing their BarberShopCo story with us.