Tommy Gun’s Original Barbershop celebrates long-awaited opening in Brandon

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This article was published 31/03/2018 (2993 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Catering and formatted to best suit the needs of men, Tommy Gun’s Original Barbershop opened at Shoppers Mall last week.

It’s a business more than four years in the making, which owner Chad Cumming said has helped make the long-awaited opening all that sweeter.

Specializing in real estate, Cumming said he was looking for something of his own, “something different.”

A friend mentioned Tommy’s Gun Original Barbershop, and while he thought about it for a while, he let the thought escape his mind.

Then, another friend brought it up, pushing Cumming to do some online research, which led him to the conclusion that it might be a viable option for Brandon.

After meeting with the owner in Red Deer, Alta., and some subsequent due diligence, Cumming bought the franchise. Then, four years passed before he found an ideal location.

In an exasperated tone, he said, “It’s been a long process.”

Without any barbershop experience himself, Cumming linked up with Angie Hall-Lovie — a longtimer in the industry — to serve as manager, which he said filled a gap in the local franchise’s expertise.

After two months of construction and the hiring of approximately 10 staff members, they were good to go, and opened on March 23.

In a city already sprinkled with salons and barbershops, Cumming said Tommy Gun’s sticks out for its “five-star grooming service.”

Everything, from the music played on the overhead speakers to the straightforward setup of its merchandise and one-stop stations, has been catered to meet the needs of men.

Their prices are all laid out clearly in a service menu, and with men less likely to book in advance, all of their services are walk-in only.

Even so, people don’t have to sign in in-person, and can either sign in by phone or online.

For those who don’t want to wait, a staff member can contact the client 10 minutes in advance of their spot coming up.

Each station is unique, and as Hall-Lovie described, they’re all “adapted to be equipped with everything you need, so the client doesn’t have to move from station to station.”

Chairs can swivel around and dip backward into a nearby sink to allow clients to have their hair rinsed following a haircut without them having to move.

The products are organized by their use rather than brand name, since Hall-Lovie said men are more likely to search by use.

Cumming said Tommy Gun’s Original Barbershop seems to be resonating in Brandon, with a steady stream of people popping by despite their hosting only a soft opening with minimal advertising.

He said this is in keeping with a growing interest in the franchise. While there were only a couple of dozen locations when he originally secured a franchise four years ago, by the time the Brandon location finally opened, they were listed as No. 64 in the nation.

» tclarke@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB