Rubbles set salon standards
Two years ago, an incident spurned the owners of Rubbles Hair Salon to conceptualize a different kind of a barber shop/ salon. Motivated to professionalise and open new doors for those in this profession, Rubbles is living up to its name, ‘ rubbling’ the local industry.
Located at the Molapo Piazza, the business which is two years in existence is something else. Clean and with some of the friendliest staff, a walk through the doors of Rubbles Hair Salon is a must for anyone who wants to get the best service. Lesego Mogoga and his hard working team have a formula here that leaves one marveling at the product that they are offering.
Walking into the premises on a very hot Friday afternoon, you are immediately welcomed with smiles from the amazing staff, adorned in what appears to be a uniform. Clean and dressed to impress, and to serve all who walk through the doors, Mogoga has achieved one of his goals of professionalising this industry. Inside, the staff speak with humility. You instantly pick how they are very respectful to their clientele.
With the assistance from Zenzele Hirschfeld, a notable promoter whose signature hairstyle is a haircut, you are guaranteed a service worth every thebe. Zen, the face of the salon, has for weeks
Rubbles is offering something unique in the market
been teasing and sharing one after the other of some of the trendiest and beautiful hairstyles, designed by none other than Prince Jankome. Her many posts on social media, and how she and other clients speak highly of the salon, almost tempts one to try one of her many hairstyles under the talented hands of Jankome. Offering clients with a one stop shop, other clients can still get an array of hairstyles in the more feminine part of the salon. Here Nyasha Manyame, another incredibly talented staff member will surpass your expectations. Kind, and mastering different hairstyles, he is very hands on and wants all of his clients to walk away with a smile. Jankome and Nyasha are a true representation of everyone who works here and form part of 18 staff members; to those tasked with keeping the place spotless, without any trace of hair on the floor, to the gifted washers at the top floor who will reward you with a head and shoulder massage. Besides the hair business, clients can also get pampered at the beauty spa of the salon, and get their nails done, a beauty treatment or a massage. In short, they are a one stop shop.
Sharing the journey of how it all started, Mogoga explains that it all started after his usual barber could not honour an appointment. He had a scheduled meeting on the day, and had to find a replacement and that replacement happened to be someone who would later become his business partner.
It was during those moments when they started talking about the industry and some of the problems affecting the industry. He explains that what is disheartening is how some of the people who work in salons do not even have bank accounts. “We had a passion for changing the industry and that is how it all started,” he explains.
He shares that they wanted to offer clients with a professional set- up, where employees can report for work on time and knock off on time.
“We wanted to do things differently. Our focus is on engaging the youth. Ninety percent of them are the youth, and seventy percent of them are women,” he tells this publication, adding that they have a professional set- up in place with division of labour. He shares that while a client is getting a haircut in the barbershop, there is someone who is taking care of the hair waste. Once done, a client will then move to the washroom/ washing station where the shampooist will wash them. At a time, there will be, say three people who will attend to a client. “We believe in hygiene especially during these times of Covid- 19,” says Mogoga.
He further notes that for them they are learning new tricks of the trade every day from other setups particularly outside the country in platforms such as Salon Direct.
“We are still not there. You have to learn and know more about the industry every day,” he explains, adding that they are also on turning the industry around, making it a career for those in the industry
He further highlights that they give clients a service that will leave them always looking forward to coming back.
Beyond the prestige cuts, they also have a speciality in scalp treatment. He highlights that the scalp especially for men is exposed to the sun, might have in- grown hair, hence the need for a scalp treatment at least twice a month.
To keep up with the standards, every Wednesday, they have training for all of the staff, touching on issues such as customer service and other industry standards. On top of these, they also have regular motivational sessions where pastors and other experts advice and talk to them about various issues. Mogoga further shares that this year they had plans to expand to Palapye and Maun, but Covid- 19 temporarily put a hold on those plans. His partner, Reuben also left the business. Something that other clients in the city can look forward to is a small branch in an area such as Riverwalk and Airport Junction where they will have two employees Manning it, and catering to clients from the areas.
Jankome explains how he started in the industry in 2012, learning tricks of the trade at various salons in town. He explains that the reason why he is a cut above the rest is how he does his job. After taking a break from the industry and trying his hand at the insurance industry, which he has a qualification in, he itched for an industry that he knows very well. It was then that he joined Rubbles as an ordinary barber, but within a period of six months he was promoted to Barbershop Manager, after being crowned the top performer in less than three months.
“I really appreciate my interaction with my clients as they pushed me to excel, and proved that I could lead,” he explains. He further says that, with him, the customer always comes first, and that he always wants to give them quality service; this is something that he also imparts on his team mates. “It is important to retain the same customers and gain new ones,” he notes. Jankome is very good at retaining clients.
There was a time when he left the industry for three years, and on his return, his old customers returned in three months after he started at Rubbles.
He specializes in short hair- cuts with details, colours, and fades. He can also impeccably do a ‘ chiskop’ with a razor, a trick only mastered by a few barbers.
“It is not done by many Barbershops,” he says.