How MMG, the No. 1 barbershop chain in Slovakia, switched from Bookio to Booqme

When a barbershop grows from a single location to a network, the booking system stops being just a calendar. It starts to decide how fast it can grow, how much time is spent on administration, and how many customers will return. This is exactly where MMG Barbers was. Since 2015, they have grown from a single location in Bratislava to 13 branches across Slovakia. They put off changing the system for a long time, but finally, after careful consideration, they decided on Booqme.

How would you introduce MMG to someone who doesn't know you?

We started in 2015 on May 1st Square in Bratislava, when barbering in Slovakia was just starting out. From one operation, we gradually grew into the largest barbershop chain in Slovakia. Today, we have 13 operations in eight cities: Bratislava, Žilina, Trnava, Nitra, Banská Bystrica, Senica, Malacky and Šamorín. Our team has 84 people and we handle approximately 9,500 reservations per month.

What makes you different?

MMG does not stand on one person, but on the whole team. We are a group of people who help each other and move forward together. Our barbers are constantly improving and participating in barbering events. We organize some of them ourselves, for example SK/CZ Barber Battle or Barber of the Year. We want to not only monitor the barbering scene in Slovakia, but also actively create it.

Why did you decide to change the reservation system?

We used Bookio for about seven years. As we grew, our requirements grew and we needed a more individual approach and adjustments that could not be implemented there. We even considered our own system several times. In the end, we decided to focus on what we do best, namely barbering and clients, and find a partner who uses technology to its fullest. We did a lot of research, went through several systems, and it took us a long time to choose. The price was not the deciding factor. We looked at the product and the people behind it. And that's where Booqme won hands down.

What decided in favor of Booqme?

The team and the pace at which they move. Right from the start, they listened to what we needed and worked with us to find solutions. They didn't sell us a ready-made box. Every week, an update is released, and we are constantly getting new tools in our hands that help us grow faster as an operation and make decisions based on data, not feelings. Today, I can say that it was one of the best decisions we made for MMG.

"It wasn't the price that mattered. We looked at the product and the people behind it."

Were you worried about the transition?

Yes, that was our biggest concern. We were worried about whether all the data would transfer, whether bookings would work, and how the clients and team would cope. Honestly, it was much easier than we expected. The data transfer and launch went quickly and smoothly, and the barbers and reception staff adopted the system almost immediately. If we had known it would go this smoothly, we would have moved much sooner.

Which features help you the most?

The biggest difference is not one function, but the fact that we finally have the entire business under control. I manage all 13 operations from one administration and in real time I can see how each one is doing, how many new clients have arrived, where we are growing and where we need to work. We no longer make decisions based on feelings, but on data. At the same time, the system in the background itself reminds us of appointments and calls clients back, so we can focus on cutting and on people. Booqme is not just a booking system. It is the technological foundation on which the entire MMG stands today.

How does the system help you retain regular customers?

Booqme does the work for us that we would otherwise need an extra person to do. We see who is a new customer and how many new clients have arrived in a given month. The system itself will reach out to clients who have not been with us for a long time, for example 45 days, and remind them of their next visit. It works automatically in the background and many people return sooner as a result.

What has changed since the transition?

Only about 3% of clients now order by phone, the rest book online. Clients tell us that the system is clearer and they order faster. We save an estimated ten hours a week on phone calls and administration.

What would you say to a barbershop owner who is considering a change?

Don't put it off as long as we did. We were worried about how our clients and team would handle it, and in the end it was much easier than we expected. Today, a booking system is much more than a calendar, it determines how fast you can grow. I recommend Booqme to any barbershop that is serious about growth and working with data.

In one sentence: what is Booqme for you?

A technology partner that grows at the same pace as us and puts something in our hands every week that moves us forward.

The MMG story shows that changing a booking system doesn’t have to be a leap into the unknown. Even a network with 13 locations and almost 10,000 bookings per month went through it smoothly and without any problems, with the team adopting the system almost immediately. The reward is data about the entire business in one place, automatic customer outreach and hours of extra time every week.