Creative Capital: This man runs 'Singapore's best and coolest barber shop'
I am incredibly biased, just I am going to say that the best and coolest men's hairdresser shop in Singapore is The Golden Rule located on Race Form Road.
I've been a customer in that location e'er since they kickoff opened in 2014. My 10-yr-quondam son has also been going there for his haircuts over the last four or five years.
The team there has always impressed me. Not only are they skilled, they're genuinely all really cool, generous and passionate people. I've always been very impressed by how prissy they've been to my eldest. At the height of the Pokemon Go craze, ii of the barbers actually sabbatum down and gave him a tutorial, explaining all the tricks and tips to levelling upwards in the game – none of which this not-game-playing dad knew.
At the captain of The Golden Rule is Aryan Siswanto Kamsani, who prefers to become past Yanto. Yanto founded the shop with fellow hairdresser Mohamed Jay Anudin (Jay).
The store itself is as cool as the barber's, with electric guitars and custom bicycles adorning the walls. Yanto has even expanded from their original shop, taking over an additional unit of measurement, which is used every bit both a salon and a retail brand for products that he loves and does collaborations with.
A lot of it – given a newfound honey for cycling – is cycling-related.
When I reached out to chat with Yanto for this column, I discovered he was as well in the midst of a songwriting competition. This 38-year-former entrepreneur is too an experienced musician and music producer, and is currently one of the 12 finalists in Projek Lagu, a competition on Suria.
HI YANTO, WHEN AND HOW DID Yous GET INTO BARBERING?
I started hairstyling in 2002 before I ventured into barbering in 2010. I plant my calling in barbering when I started to style my bandmates' hair when I was doing music and realised I'g very fascinated with men'due south hairstyles and how I can experiment with information technology.
IS Information technology A DIFFICULT SKILL TO MASTER?
Yes! Information technology's definitely a difficult skill to master as it take years to understand different types of hair and caput shapes – and which head shapes may or may not adjust a sure hairstyles.
WHAT GAVE Yous THE IMPETUS TO OPEN THE Aureate RULE?
Apart from sharing my craft in barbering, the biggest push to open The Gilded Rule was my family. I besides wanted to have the freedom of sharing my creativity and concept in the grade of a brand.
WHY RACE COURSE Road?
The nearest "hype" place at that time was Arab Street and we realised that nosotros didn't desire to be in a place surrounded by a lot of other barbershops and salons. And so nosotros looked into Race Form Route, a place total of cultural identity and a touristy place no less. Plus, let'due south not forget near all the adept food around the area! But we are actually glad that ever since we opened, there have been a few hipster cafes that have as well opened upward effectually the area.
WERE Yous ALREADY BUDDIES WITH JAY? DID YOU WORRY THAT OWNING A BUSINESS TOGETHER WOULD Alter YOUR FRIENDSHIP?
I knew Jay when he was a colleague in an some other barbershop before I started The Golden Rule. In fact, Jay was an apprentice at that fourth dimension. I helped in guiding him throughout his apprenticeship there and realised we shared a lot of things in common. Our vision, our music choices and lot of things seems to be aligned. Of course, I won't deny initially there'south some questions that arose like what if things happen and might affect the friendship, only seven years down the road, our trust and bail have never been stronger. Sometimes, you only have to trust the process!
I LOVE THE Camaraderie Inside YOUR TEAM. WHAT DO Y'all DO TO KEEP EVERYONE TOGETHER AND MAKE SURE EVERYONE GETS Along?
I endeavor to run the company similar a family unit of measurement. Less corporate regimens and less stressful protocols to follow. Like how you are at home. Like, if yous are going to be tardily for dinner, then yous inform your family via WhatsApp. Same thing with TGR, I allow everyone to experience like a family creating a mutual understanding and respect with ane another. Naturally, the bonding helps to create shine relationships between them.
ARE ALL OF YOUR BARBERS ALREADY TRAINED WHEN THEY Come up TO YOU OR Do YOU Do A LOT OF TRAINING?
Ninety per cent of my barbers started off as apprentices 7 years ago and were trained by usa.
WHAT WAS THE HARDEST Function OF ESTABLISHING THE BUSINESS?
Sustaining good service provided by the barbers. They take to be consistently excellent. And retaining clients. Making sure they become loyal and finding ways to ensure that they continue coming back to your barbershop.
TO DATE, WHAT Have BEEN THE All-time THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED TO You BECAUSE OF IT?
Being the only Singaporean hairdresser to exist selected for SEA Wahl artistic team. Wahl being an international brand and to be selected to be part of the team, I'yard honoured to be recognised on an international level for what I have accomplished in my barbering career.
WHAT IS I Affair YOU KNOW NOW THAT You WISHED Y'all KNEW WHEN YOU STARTED THE BUSINESS?
The importance to diversify and think ahead. Competition is everywhere. When we first started vii years ago, at that place was non much competition. During that fourth dimension, I should have thought alee on what can make the states stand up out from the rest of the barbershops. We should have already been planning towards creating the brand as a lifestyle make, concentrating on retail or other business areas which we can leveraged on to diversify and abound the business.
MEN'Southward BARBERING BECAME Actually TRENDY A FEW YEARS Back. Do You lot THINK THIS TREND IS WANING OR JUST CONTINUING TO Grow?
From my personal stance, I feel that this industry will go on growing. At this point of time, what I run across is that all barbershops are still working to stay on trend. A lot of barbers are posting actually interesting content on their social media feeds and this is helping to proceed what nosotros do relevant.
HOW MUCH ARTISTRY AND CREATIVITY GOES INTO A Great Cut?
A haircut itself is a form of fine art. Sometimes, a client can be unpredictable, and then it is important to instil your art and inventiveness to ensure the cut is aligned to what the client wants. The final product has to reverberate not simply what you have envisioned for the customer merely has to also satisfy him and meet his own expectations. So I would say information technology takes a lot of artistry, creativity and expertise to ensure a corking cutting.
HOW CONNECTED ARE THE CITY'S Top BARBERS? FROM AN OUTSIDER'Southward PERSPECTIVE, It LOOKS LIKE THERE IS A Real Community. IS THIS Right?
Actually, I would say that at that place isn't really a community yet because the barbering manufacture in Singapore is notwithstanding new and small. However, I do hope information technology will emerge and so that the barbering industry volition have some kind of support and nosotros can assistance i another in the form of better training, marketing or fifty-fifty human resource.
TELL ME Virtually YOUR LOVE FOR MUSIC AND MAKING MUSIC.
Music has ever been my commencement love. Everything that I practice in my work still revolves around my love for music and popular civilization. Even the proper name The Golden Dominion was adopted from a vocal by an alternative rock band from Scotland, Biffy Clyro. Music and making music is how I destress. When I write songs, it feels like I am working within a medium in which I can truly be myself.
SHOULD I ASSUME BICYCLES IS A SIMILAR PASSION OR IS THAT MORE Contempo?
Bike is a new hobby that I introduced to the barbers then we can cycle together – it's all part of our corporate bonding. With the COVID-19 situation now, cycling has also allowed usa to spend time together and create a healthy lifestyle. Killing two birds with 1 stone, and then why non?
HOW HAS THE PANDEMIC AFFECTED THE BUSINESS?
We did see a reduction in our bookings due to the pandemic. Less tourists, more people working from home thus they didn't encounter the need to maintain their hair. Too, some people are just worried to be in public places and therefore might avoid places similar barbershops and salons for now.
FINALLY, WHAT IS THE VISION FOR THE GOLDEN Dominion?
To make The Golden Rule the leading men's preparation empire in town.
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