Interview with Filip Lazarčík from Beyond Barber Lounge

Klaudia Horvathova · 07.08.2024

Filip Lazarčík from Beyond Barber Lounge: Without Booqme. we would no longer be able to function

Like a famous barber, Booqme services help. and what does he appreciate most about this reservation system?

In which segment and since when do you do business?

Beyond Barber Lounge - a men's barber shop has been operating in Nitra since 2022.

What led you to move towards barbering? Was it your long-term goal?

I spent most of my life abroad and when I returned to Slovakia, I received an offer to learn this trade. I was caught by the vision of doing what I started to enjoy and I could stay at home in Slovakia. Over time, it crystallized that I could run my own business and be successful. So I went for it.

Do you remember the beginnings? What were they like? Was it easy or was it a difficult time?

The beginnings were complicated. I had to sell the apartment and raise the funds to set up the salon. It was difficult and stressful. One never knows if one's plans will work out. But with the passage of time, when you put 120% into it, success will surely come.

It was a huge risk because of the business to sell an apartment and put everything into it... There were times when you wanted it even give up or Did you always know that this is what you want to do and it simply has to go?

I think that in any segment, when a person puts 120% into work and never says to himself that it is already good, the results will definitely come and the business will continue to improve. There are still some plans, there is still something to work on and there is no need to slack off.

You have a great attitude - you constantly set yourself new, bigger goals, and that drives you forward.

Exactly, even in previous jobs in the world I always did my best. However, it was not always evaluated. Now I project it into my own and I know that it will have the desired effect.

If you were to compare doing business abroad with Slovakia?

I have never done barbering in the world, but when I compare the salons outside with the Slovak ones, we have a high level. Acquaintances from Texas, Canada or Belgium will always say that our operations, cuts and sense of detail are on another level. They don't deal with it so much abroad. They don't create the atmosphere in the salon, they take it like a belt, in the style: "Next one please."

Do you think doing business nowadays is easier thanks to various technologies and possibilities? Have you always wanted to do business on your own axis?

I always wanted to have something of my own, I just didn't know what I would enjoy all my life. Someone already knows at fifteen that they want to have their own garage and repair cars. It's always easier when you have a goal. I tried several jobs, but I didn't know what I would do specifically. However, I always wanted to have something of my own. Nothing grabbed me for a long time, but then came cutting... It seemed to me like a safe business, because when a person tries and is good, he gives those people a little more than they are used to, those people return to him. Work is basically always guaranteed in this segment. Barbering is different – it's safe, just don't slack off.

How do you think Beyond Barber Lounge differs from other barbershops? Why should a person visit you?

When I started, I analyzed the situation - what I would like. I'm a pretty big detailer and I wanted customers to have every advantage. The first thing was that I wanted to have a big nice space. Clean, hygienic and luxurious at the same time. We have our own parking spaces, which I think is a big plus. Customer comfort is important. They praise the cleanliness of the salon, the good atmosphere. We have a good team, it's fun here. Of course, we place a lot of emphasis on haircuts, attention to detail, so that you don't have to get your hair cut at home. We also make sure that the customer gets the same high-quality haircut every time and we do not slack off on repeated visits. Those are the aspects when people say "WOW". We do not let up on the standard, which is also reflected in our reviews, which we already have over 800. We were also helped by your reservation system, which people praise very much.

Speaking of Booqme, what package are you currently using?

Business package, from the beginning.

Which of the Booqme reservation system services. do you appreciate the most?

Probably the fact that people reserve the date themselves. We taught them to do that. Almost no one calls me anymore because of deadlines. We told the customers that we work with Booqme., which is a comfortable booking system for their convenience. Many people at first thought that they did not know how to do it, but they learned and today they are satisfied. It takes them one minute to make a reservation.

How has the Booqme booking system changed your business?

It is simply impossible without him. We are on Booqme. completely connected, we would not be able to function without him. We want to be as efficient as possible, we can set everything according to our needs. We also wrote for the possibility of modifying the reservation, which helped us a lot.

Is there something you miss about Booqme, or would you improve something?

When I was looking for a suitable booking system, I tried every single one. Except for Booqme. nothing appealed to me. It has a nice design and a good interface. You have implemented almost everything we needed and now the system is top notch. There is nothing more to fine-tune. I noticed that even in Nitra, more salons were inspired and decided on Booqme. For them, it is a ready-made reservation system in which nothing is missing and they have everything they need in it. For example, payments in advance, that is already something unreal.

Why should Ste Booqme. recommended to friends?

Booqme. I would recommend within services to relieve personal time. It is a system that saves people from complications, from calling on weekends, arguing. In this way, they have everything in one place, they can see available dates. In this way, a person has more time for business, for private life, for family. It's simply comfort for both the customer and the company. Many people praise Booqme because they see, in addition to dates, workers they can choose for themselves. At the same time, the fact that it is easy to control. We as employees are also satisfied, because we have everything essential in it. It's just overworked. That's why Booqme. I also recommend it to everyone.