Barber shop turned into mini-market to meet expenses
ARVIN Kumar has turned one of his two barber shops on Fenton St in Lami into a mini-market in order to meet his expenses.
The owner had turned to sell vegetables which he bought from Suva in order to pay for expenses such as rent.
Mr Kumar said he had opened his first shop called Arvind Barber Shop and Investment in 2016.
“I have seen the potential in barber shops because there are a few barber shops in Lami,” he said.
“Before COVID the business was much better and even after that, it was OK.
“However, since the second wave came, we got all scattered.”
Mr Kumar said he had opened a second shop in January and had run it for two months when he had to lock up because of the second wave of COVID-19 in the country.
He said since the landlord needed the rent, he had to diversify into selling vegetables.
“I had no option, since I had a background of this before, selling vegetables and all that, so I changed my mind and my family supported me.
“My wife is a schoolteacher, and I got one son, it’s a small family, but we have to do this, there is no other choice.
“Actually, I saw people selling on the streets making money, and even though I am not making any profit here but it’s enough for me to pay the rent and secure the location.
“It’s a very good location and I don’t want to lose it.
“I even have contacted my landlords and they said I have to pay, however they have given me a little bit of time.
“But even then there are no rebates on rent so you have to pay up.”
He added his operation cost is $80 per day.
Mr Kumar said he had 13 barbers employed however now he just employs three as they had to abide by the 50 per cent capacity requirement.
“I have five chairs operational and I have only three barbers working at the moment.
“Some of the staff are in lockdown, some of them are scared they don’t want to come and cut the hair because it’s risky and some of the barbers are now operating from home.
“They said it’s better to cut from home rather than paying them for their contracts and coming here, wasting their fare.”
Mr Kumar said he also runs Reliable Freight And Logistics business for the past ten years.
“I got my agents in overseas I do import, exports, Customs clearance, I got my dedicated clients.”
He said business was on hold at the moment as the freight business was down by 95 per cent during the second wave.