The One About Squire the Barbershop App

STARTUP STORIES

The Evolution of Squire: From Concept to Reality

Discover how Songe LaRon and Dave Salvant revolutionized the barbershop industry with Squire, the innovative platform transforming barbershop management. Finding a void or improving a process is key to finding a great business idea.

A Humble Beginning

Songe LaRon and Dave Salvant, both New York City natives, have fond memories of frequent visits to barbershops since they were six years old. Despite their successful careers in banking and law, they found themselves drawn to entrepreneurship. The unchanged barbershop experience sparked their curiosity. As Dave Salvant recalls, “The process hasn’t changed since I was a little boy... You go to the barbershop, call or text your barber, sit down in the barbershop for hours waiting for your name to be called, and then have to pay with cash. And this is the same time where you can get rideshare from your phone. I was like, ‘Why hasn't this changed?’”

Spotting an Opportunity

LaRon and Salvant saw a gap in the market and decided to create a customer-facing app for booking barber appointments, envisioning it as the “Uber of barbers.” They noticed a blind spot that investors and entrepreneurs had overlooked. Confident in their deep understanding of the barbershop industry, they believed they had a unique advantage. This led to the inception of Squire, a barbershop point-of-sales and management system.

The Road to Validation

The duo set out to validate their idea by gathering feedback directly from barbers. However, they faced challenges as most barbers were too busy to engage in detailed discussions. Their persistence paid off when they pitched their idea to a group of executives at a WeWork. One executive believed in their vision and provided seed funding, enabling them to hire a developer and build the app’s first iteration.

Learning by Doing

To refine their product, LaRon and Salvant set up a pop-up barbershop in their WeWork space. This hands-on experience highlighted that while their app addressed customer needs like scheduling and payment, it failed to cater to barbers’ requirements. Realizing this, they made a bold move in 2016 by purchasing a barbershop. This decision, which Salvant describes as a “bet-the-company” move, allowed them to gain firsthand insights into the operational challenges of running a barbershop.

Pivoting for Success

Their immersion in the barbershop business led to a crucial pivot. They shifted their focus from a B2C (business-to-consumer) model to a B2B (business-to-business) model, targeting barbershop owners instead of end consumers. This strategic shift involved developing a SaaS (software as a service) platform tailored to meet barbershop owners’ needs.

The Fruits of Perseverance

This pivot proved to be a turning point. Today, Squire is available in multiple countries and has raised $165 million in funding.

Their story underscores the importance of understanding customer needs and adapting your business model accordingly.

Key Takeaways

1. Identify Gaps in the Market:

• Recognize areas where traditional processes haven’t evolved.

• Innovate by leveraging modern technology to fill these gaps.

2. Validate Your Idea:

• Gather feedback directly from potential users.

• Be prepared to iterate based on this feedback.

3. Learn by Doing:

• Immerse yourself in the industry to understand operational challenges.

• Use firsthand experience to refine your product.

4. Be Ready to Pivot:

• Adapt your business model based on customer needs and market dynamics.

• A pivot can lead to greater alignment with market demands and success.

5. Perseverance Pays Off:

• Stay committed to your vision even when faced with challenges.

• Success often comes from persistent efforts and strategic adjustments.

Take Away

Songe LaRon and Dave Salvant’s journey with Squire highlights the power of innovation and adaptability. Their ability to recognize a stagnant process, validate their idea, and pivot their business model has led to the creation of a revolutionary platform that is transforming the barbershop industry. By understanding and addressing the real needs of barbershop owners, they have set a new standard for barbershop management, proving that the key to success lies in relentless dedication and a willingness to evolve.

That's it for today's dose of leadership insights!

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Until next time,

Johnny B.