Business: Beardsley’s Barber Shop
Address: 1224 W. Ogden Ave., Naperville
Phone/website: 630-460-3505; www.beardsleysbarbershop.com
Owner: Tony Reynolds, 29, of Warrenville
Years in business: Four
What does your business do? “We service all ages, all demographics. Haircuts and facial trimmings,” Reynolds said.
Men only? “We’d never deny a woman if she wanted a style. But if it’s coming in and wanting to look like a model, we don’t do the layers and all that stuff. If she came in and wanted a haircut like yours, we’d service her.”
What’s the business name mean? “It’s a family name. The family I’m good friends with. They’re in the same church as I am, the Apostolic Church of Bartlett. I got introduced to this by a nephew of one of the uncles. … I went to school. Learned the craft. … He gave me a job at his shop (in St. Charles). Once I got to the shop, learned how to cut hair. … They offered (this shop) to me. I took over in 2021.”
Any other locations? “We are up to 10 in Illinois. They’re in Alabama, Missouri as well.”
What do you like about your job? “I don’t bring home work with me unless a little bit of hair trails my shoes. Work stays at work. Other than that, being able to interact with people.”
How do you get new clients? “We trust word of mouth, to be honest. We don’t do a lot of advertising.”
What happens when someone walks in? “I ask what they’re looking to do. Everybody has a quirk with their hair, something they don’t like. … I try to get them communicating. One of the worst things is when someone sits down and they’re telling you all the things they don’t want. …. When they ask me, ‘What do you think?’ that’s when I feel I can give a suggestion. I don’t try to lead their first time. If you do not love it, you’ll never come back to the shop.”
Any memorable stories? “One client, he always wants to push the shorter. We’ve been down that road before. I cut it short and he hated it. …. Unless you can look me in the eye and tell me you want it as short as last time, I’m not doing it.”
“One guy, the third time I was cutting his hair, he somehow picked up that I couldn’t remember his name. I remembered what he did for work, how many kids he had, all the conversations we had. He got offended that I didn’t remember his name. I never saw him again.”
How do you remember what style a client likes? “That comes down to quite a few things. Their personality, their aura, we can tether the haircut ID to that.”
How do you deal with thin or thick hair? “It can be a challenge. In this industry. Less is more. With thinner hair, you have a smaller margin of error. … Blond hair and thicker hair are more forgiving. … It comes down to being very diligent. You can always take more off than put it back on. Only time will fix that.”
How many people work here? “Six barbers including myself and one student.”
How are they paid? “Their salaries are based on commission. Every person they service, they get a percentage. The tip goes all to them.”
What does a haircut cost? “We have varying prices because we have different levels of experience. I’m one of the cheaper cuts. I just raised my price to $30. One guy charges $45 a cut. He’s put in the time.”
Do you offer shaves with a straight edge razor? “We do. It can be (your best shave ever). It costs $35.”
Is this a good location? “Visibility is not great.”
What about competition? “We’re able to adapt and take on any demographic. … Every barber here can cut any style or texture of hair.”
Any future plans? “I don’t plan anything. … I try to stay sharp, stay prepared.”
What does a barber say? “I love working here because I talk to new people every day. Great clients. Being around a great group of guys,” Cam Beada, 23, of Naperville, said.
What does a customer say? “I come here every three weeks. I like my haircut. One thing that brings me back is that Cam challenges a lot of the styles I’ve tried in the past,” Jhon Cudiamat, 32, of Naperville, said.
What’s your advice for someone starting a business? “Learn from anyone and everyone in that same industry, as much as you can, before you jump out there. … There are going to be things you never account for,” Reynolds said.
Steve Metsch is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun. If you know of a business you’d like to see profiled in Down to Business, contact him at metschmsfl@yahoo.com.
