Benicky and Sons: running a barbershop that’s a cut above the competition

With their founder Luke Benicky at the helm, Sydney-based barbershop Benicky and Sons has seen success after success over the last seven years. Having launched the business on his own, Luke’s journey is an inspiring one: today he runs a team of eight of Australia’s most skillful barbers across two venues (with a third venue on the way), and has a growing client base that keeps coming back for premium quality cuts. 

For Benicky and Sons, it all starts with trust

Luke knows that it takes a lot to trust someone with your hair, so building that connection with clients is his number one priority. “I want people to feel welcomed and to know that they’re in great hands, from the moment they walk in,” he explained. Clients are welcomed as soon as they show up, and made comfortable so they can enjoy the barbershop’s unique space while they get their cut, which strikes the perfect balance between stylish and traditional.

To keep up with his fast-growing client base and team, he needed a booking platform that would help him take control of their busy schedule and streamline their day-to-day tasks; especially when it came to taking payments and marketing the barbershop. Luke heard about Fresha through other beauty and wellness businesses in the area who vouched for the platform. 

“So many other businesses in the neighbourhood were using it, and they were really doing well. I could see that Fresha was much more than just booking software. It’s a platform for growth,” 
Luke recalled.

Streamlined payments: better for barbers, better 
for clients

For Luke, choosing Fresha was all about simplicity and ease-of-use. “We needed a simple payment solution that would make things easy for both our clients and our business,” he shared. “Fresha gives us exactly that.” 

“Since taking deposits with Fresha, we’ve gone from up to 15 no-shows per week to almost none.” 

Luke uses Fresha payments to pass on card fees, which helps his barbershop keep costs down. Plus, he and his team cash up by simply checking Benicky’s sales reports at the end of each day. “I don’t have to count cash at the till every day — all of our earnings for the day show up in our reports straight away. It’s a huge time saver,” he explained.

Best of all, using Fresha for their payments lets Benicky take upfront payments when clients book, which saves them roughly $50,000 AUS per year. “Since taking upfront payments with Fresha, we’ve gone from up to 15 no-shows per week to almost none,” Luke revealed. “Clients are much more responsible with their bookings now.

Effortless marketing that keeps their calendar full

Luke loves how much easier marketing is with Fresha. “Staying in touch with our clients takes much less effort now,” he said. “If we’ve got a quiet day coming up, we send out a blast marketing email or text message with a special offer, like 10% off haircuts; it fills our calendar every time.”

“The marketplace helps our business and each of our barbers get seen by local clients — with hardly any effort from us.”

And when it comes to social media, not only do they use a Fresha “Book Now” button on the barbershop’s profiles; they also make sure each barber on the team has a “Book Now” button on their personal profile — making each team member’s profile a new source of bookings. 

Plus, Luke uses the Fresha marketplace to showcase his business online and reach potential clients looking for a local barbershop. With quality photos of the Benicky and Sons space, reviews for each individual team member, and service prices that adapt to any promotions they run, their profile lets them start building trust with new clients before they even arrive. “The marketplace helps all of our barbers and business get seen by local clients — with hardly any effort from us,” Luke said.

Not just a booking app, but a growth partner

With seven years of success under his belt, Luke’s sights are set high. He’s building a top-notch team of the best barbers who share his passion for the craft, and creating a community of loyal clients that love what Benicky and Sons offers — and Fresha is helping him do it.

“Fresha has helped us take the barbershop to the next level. We don’t see it as just a booking app. It’s a partnership, where they want to see Benicky and Sons grow just as much as I do,” he said. “It’s helped my team and me take control of our schedules and given us a much better work-life balance. I would absolutely recommend Fresha to anyone in beauty and wellness, especially if you’re tired of seeing no-shows!”