Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club cuts, snips and shaves through recession…

A recession-proof business is great in theory, but is it really possible? We think so. While Kennedy’s certainly isn’t a perfect business and we’re not impervious to every economic situation, we’ve worked very hard to keep pushing forward despite the poor economy we’ve all faced in the last few years. In a recent issue, the Orlando Business Journal talked to Chris about how Kennedy’s has been able to grow and what lies ahead for the brand. Read on to see if you can glean an idea or two for your business (or to see if becoming a Kennedy’s Franchisee is right for you)…

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By Shawn Bower

Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club has done more than just survive in poor economic conditions. This upscale, gentlemen’s barber club has grown, including the addition of three locations in 2011 and three to five planned for 2013.

Chris Hurn, co-founder of Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club and owner of the Lake Mary location, said he wants Kennedy’s to be a place where men can go and relax between work and home. That’s why Kennedy’s offers more than your average barbershop. Here, plush barber chairs, flat-screen TVs and soothing music make for a comfortable environment to get away.

After buying the Carrs franchise of barbershops, Hurn wanted to make it an all-American club. To that end, the club memberships available at Kennedy’s are called “Basic Gentleman,” “Life,” “Liberty” and “The Pursuit of Happiness.”

Monthly membership prices start at $40, with each offering more than the previous. Each membership includes unlimited haircuts and a complimentary beer, soft drink or other beverage when customers walk in. Other membership levels feature Kennedy’s signature straight-razor shave, during which Hurn said 60-70 percent of men take a nap.

What it is: Kennedy’s is an upscale barber club for men that provides an authentic barbershop experience with a modern twist. We have approximately 3,300 total members and another 1,500 regulars in our 12 locations in Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, and New Jersey.

What makes Kennedy’s different: In addition to having our own products, we provide signature haircuts and a 30-step straight-razor shave.  We also have different levels of membership so that customers can choose the best option for them.

Why I bought and rebranded the Carrs chain: I liked the idea of Carrs and wanted to turn it into the all-American barbershop. With the name Carrs representing the English-style barbershop, I wanted to change it to fit our all-American idea.

How I got started: My partner, Tony Zara, and I didn’t get much help. We started the company right before the economic collapse, so we pretty much had to do it ourselves.

How I financed the company: The launch was financed through outside capital.

Future plans: We opened our 13th location Dec. 15, so we are still growing. Also, we would like to open a Kennedy’s barber college as well as come out with more products than we have now.

Target demographic: Kennedy’s generally attracts entrepreneurs, corporate executives, aspiring professionals and retirees.

CUSTOMER TESTIMONIALS:

“Jeremy makes really good hair cuts! He is very talented and I highly recommend him here. For the quality of the hair cuts, the price is great. They also give you drinks and have 3 TV’s. They also offer shaving here, which is nice, and they do a good job at it. Go here!”

- Moshe H. • Longwood, FL