Comments on: Experience Files: The Chop Shoppe

By: Raised Air Bed

Raised Air Bed — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:28:05 +0000

I’ve been to MLT, but they recently changed the name and Nikol doesn’t seem to be there any more : (

By: Leigh Duncan

Leigh Duncan — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 05:05:40 +0000

Hi Clare.
I do run spell check but often make last minute edits that evade the spell checker. Thanks for pointing out the errors as well as for your compliments.
Leigh

By: clare

clare — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 14:55:25 +0000

I greatly enjoyed your article and your writing style. The link was provided by my niece, Michelle. Thanks for the great affirmation of her work.
Do you have spell check with your writing program? I suppose most readers aren’t interested in that detail; for me it would be the next best touch for your sparkly and engaging writing.
equivilent
fascials
All tolled
Very Best Wishes, Clare

By: Leigh Duncan

Leigh Duncan — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 04:11:22 +0000

I just read through this again and am somewhat speechless. I checked out the web site for Major League Cuts. I have not been there, but I’m sure the women there are skilled and wonderful. However, as a woman visiting the web site, the presentation did make me think “Hmmm…Hooters meets Haircuts!”
I asked Brent to check it out and all he had to say was “Leigh, men don’t go to Hooters for the wings.”
Whatever the case, I agree with Mack Collier’s comments, and I don’t think they’re alone in using sex to sell product.
But SHIFTING the subject a bit, I thought i’d provide a few links to OTHER male grooming salons I’ve found since writing this article:
THE SERVICE STATION BARBER & BODY:
It’s a stylized sort of vintage garage. No – it’s it’s a male focused day spa. You’ll be greeted by (yet again) attractive “Pit Crew” members, wearing chest hugging tank tops that say “Serviced.” This barber offers a comprehensive set of offerings for men, including haircuts, hot shaves, waxes, skin care, massage and other services.
THE GROOMING LOUNGE
Think Ivy League Men’s Club meets Elizabeth Arden… only with Playboy on the coffee tables. The grooming lounge is a long established business in the DC area, with two salons in Washington and Tysons Coerner. In addition to offering a wide array of hair, face and body grooming services, the Grooming Lounge has a small catalog business and offers a comprehensive array of men’s products and gifts.

By: Ann Handley

Ann Handley — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 01:05:58 +0000

No judgment…Crystal, Nikol and Paul. I was just pointing out that the Chop Shoppe goes in one direction; your shop in another.
Regardless, the women are gorgeous, your shop is a success, and I’m just an editorial dweeb. So what’s the worry?
Thanks for writing.

By: crystal

crystal — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 21:13:25 +0000

Mark,
I dont disagree with the fact that the stylists are Attractive or that it IS a draw. I was offended for the ladies at the porn reference that Ann used. My reason being that it felt like a sideways slap at the stylists abilities.
As to your knowing men that will return to a hot hair stylist even if the cut is mediocre – men I know in LA wouldn’t. This town is very vain and the men Are most definetly included in that little fact.
Anyways, let us graduate from this banter for i dont see it accomplishing anything.

By: Mack Collier

Mack Collier — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 16:43:38 +0000

“Lets face facts. If the hair cuts were not amazing the men wouldn’t return regardless of how attractive the ladies are.”
I dunno if I agree with this. While women are pretty strict about their stylists, many men I know pick their stylist based on convenience. IOW, they aren’t as loyal to stylists as women are. The haircut doesn’t have to be amazing, as long as it is ‘good enough’, and done by a hot babe, that would be plenty good enough for most men, IMO.
As for Nikol/Paul/Crystal, what is ‘junior high’ is to totally twist what Ann said. She never said the stylists there were ‘porn stars’, she said they LOOK like porn stars. And the presumed attractiveness of the women stylists is OBVIOUSLY what the shop is using as their main marketing point, otherwise we wouldn’t have a ‘gallery’ for each stylist.
The bottom line is, if you are going to create a site for your shop, and have a ‘gallery’ where you have half-naked ’stylists’ hanging all over motorcycles, you are going to catch some heat for trying to use sex to sell haircuts, because that’s obviously what you are trying to do.

By: crystal

crystal — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 15:32:37 +0000

What I find ridiculous is that here are two great ideas and all this talk is about the appearance of the ladies at Major League Trim. My husband has his hair cut at Major League Trim and has raved about the salon. His compliments by the way have NOTHING to so with the way the ladies look.
However since it has been addressed and I have been to the salon with him, I would like to set the record straight. The ladies who work there are amazing. Their personalities are always upbeat and their services are impeccable and PROFESSIONAL and THAT is what keeps the men coming back. Lets face facts. If the hair cuts were not amazing the men wouldn’t return regardless of how attractive the ladies are.
Congratulations to The Chop Shoppe and Major League Trim. I wish you both much success.

By: paul l

paul l — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 07:46:01 +0000

I would like to respond to Anns’ comments. I have been to Major league trim and have gotten to know the women at the salon. I am a male and it offends me that you feel the need to label another woman a “porn star” as you put it, because they are attractive. If you have a problem with the services at the salon I would recommend you go into the salon and see for yourself, they have a considerable amount of female clientele as well. It just seems very “junior high” like of you to make a remark about there looks, with no regard to their competence at their careers( which in my opinion they are very skilled at hair styling).

By: Mack Collier

Mack Collier — Sat, 10 Jun 2006 20:18:35 +0000

BTW Nikol I checked your bio and it says you are into laughing and dancing.
Those are great hobbies!

By: nikol reback

nikol reback — Sat, 10 Jun 2006 19:44:40 +0000

I also think it is a genious idea, however Ann Handley’s remark about the L.A. shop seems to be a little harsh (considering she has not come into the shop to see for herself). It is unfortunate in a society that has come so far can be so narrow minded.
Congratulations to the Chop Shoppe. I wish them much success.

By: Ann Handley

Ann Handley — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 15:39:42 +0000

As I told Leigh, it’s a business whose time has come. Reminds me of a similar shop in Los Angeles, Major League Trim. http://www.majorleaguetrim.com/
Of course, a huge difference is that the “stylists” at the LA shop look like porn stars, which is obviously part of the…uh…”experience.”

By: Claire Ratushny

Claire Ratushny — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 13:11:07 +0000

Hi Leigh,
Good article. Michelle Flanagan is onto something here. Talk about creating a unique brand! While lots of men have gotten used to getting hair cuts at unisex salons, this very male environment and experience has got to have a much higher comfort level for most guys.