{"id":4658,"date":"2020-07-07T08:51:12","date_gmt":"2020-07-07T00:51:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/business\/?p=4658"},"modified":"2021-03-16T17:02:37","modified_gmt":"2021-03-16T09:02:37","slug":"siti-rafidah-woman-behind-limpeh-barbershop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/business\/siti-rafidah-woman-behind-limpeh-barbershop\/","title":{"rendered":"Breaking Barriers In Business: We Speak To Siti Rafidah, The Woman Behind Limpeh Barbershop"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Editor’s Note<\/em><\/strong>: Images used in this article were archival photos taken before COVID-19 and safe distancing measures.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Running her hand through her hair, Siti Rafidah, affectionately known as Fidd, chuckled when we asked the million-dollar question – which individual\u2019s hair is she most afraid to cut?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m not afraid to cut the hair of new customers,\u201d says the female barber. \u201cI feel the most pressure when I\u2019m cutting the hair of someone I\u2019m familiar with, like a friend or relative as I\u2019m particularly mindful of what they think. But the individual\u2019s hair that I\u2019m most afraid to cut is my mentor\u2019s – I\u2019ve yet to do so and I don\u2019t think I ever will,\u201d Fidd laughs. \u201cThe pressure is real.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Fidd, owner of Limpeh Barbershop<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Not only is a female barber a rarity in the industry, but 28-year-old Fidd is also the owner of\u00a0Limpeh Barbershop<\/a>. The graphic design graduate picked up the craft during her final year in polytechnic and started out with giving free haircuts at her mentor\u2019s barbershop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The iconic logo that Fidd designed as part of her final year project<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

As part of her final year project, Fidd was exploring the art of barbering when she was offered the chance to try her hand at the craft. \u201cI was interviewing a barber on the art of men\u2019s grooming and was intrigued by how detailed the processes are,\u201d Fidd recalls. \u201cI saw barbering as an interest and a challenge, and my interviewee eventually became my mentor.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, we sit down with Fid to find out how she rose up to become a cut above the rest and the entrepreneurial lessons from her journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#1 Don\u2019t Be Afraid To Break Stereotypes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Translating to \u201cyour father\u201d in Hokkien, the intent of the shop\u2019s colloquial name, Fidd explains, was in line with her belief in never judging a book by its cover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a lesson I\u2019ve always carried with me and something I hope to impart. From the shop\u2019s name, one may assume a Chinese man to be helming the shop. Instead, they find a Malay lady,\u201d Fidd laughs. \u201cI guess it\u2019s my way of breaking the stereotype.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

On being a female barber, Fidd has also refused to let the stereotype define her. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter what others think or say. I let my haircuts do the talking.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#2 Take The Plunge<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

What started out as a hobby became a serious business when word about Fidd\u2019s barbering service began to spread. \u201cI was working as a graphic designer while offering haircut services from home. I was cutting the hair of my customers along the common corridor and never really gave it much thought. It was only when the requests from both new and returning customers increased did I consider pursuing barbering full-time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Fidd took the next step by renting a small space within a shophouse that doubled as a warehouse, and was later offered the chance to take over the space. \u201cThere were a lot of considerations and uncertainties. I was only 23 and I wasn\u2019t confident about becoming a business owner. But my parents were really supportive and I love what I do, so I decided to take the plunge. I never looked back since,\u201d Fidd beams. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

#3 Have Grit<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t have much and I made the best of what was given,\u201d Fidd smiles wistfully when thinking of the early days of her business. \u201cFor instance, we didn\u2019t have the current shampooing area and we barely renovated the shop. We even used the shop\u2019s existing mirrors up until the renovation.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Limpeh Barbershop prior its renovation<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

For two years, Fidd was the boss and sole worker at Limpeh Barbershop after the shop was founded in 2015. \u201cIt was difficult, having to do all the work alone – I was the barber, business developer and marketer. I was working every day of the week!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, Limpeh Barbershop welcomed its second barber. Today, the shop is helmed by four barbers. \u201cI\u2019m really thankful to have my barbers,\u201d Fidd admits. \u201cNow that they\u2019re helping out with the barbering, I have the time to grow the business.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, even with the weekends off, Fidd barely uses her break for rest. \u201cWeekends aren\u2019t really off days,\u201d Fidd laughs. \u201cI may not be at the shop, but I\u2019m constantly thinking of growing the business. As a business owner, this is my responsibility. I have to think of the business, the team, and the customers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#4 Groom Your Employees<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Fidd is also mindful to balance between her barbering commitments and allowing her barbers to shine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn addition to growing the business, the reason behind taking weekdays off is so that the rest of the barbers can build on their skills without me interfering. I want them to build their own base of regular customers and have the opportunity to grow.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#5 Understand Your Audience\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

With customers ranging from as young as a month-old boy to an elderly man in his \u201880s, Fidd stresses on the importance of understanding one\u2019s target audience. \u201cKnow who your target audience is and what they\u2019re looking for. In addition to keeping up with barbering trends, I\u2019ve to be able to connect with my customers. From the latest Netflix cartoons to political news, I try to keep myself updated,\u201d she laughs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

#6 Mastering Trends<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
JUST AS FIDD INTENDED, THE INTERIORS OF THE BARBERSHOP ARE BRIGHT AND QUIRKY<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

With the ever-evolving digital marketing trends, Fidd explains how she\u2019s been keeping up. \u201cIn addition to photos, we also post videos of our haircuts, featuring the barber behind the haircut. Nowadays, videos seem to be the preferred mode of visual. Plus, customers will also get a better idea of the cut and when they come in, they can simply refer the video to us instead of having to describe their desired haircut, which can be challenging for the customers and the barbers,\u201d Fidd laughs.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#7 Plan For The Next Step<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

So what\u2019s next for Limpeh Barbershop? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to providing men\u2019s grooming services, the shop is in the midst of preparing its own merchandise for sale. \u201cWe want to be more than just a barbershop that people visit only when they require grooming services,\u201d Fidd explains. \u201cWith merchandise such as shirts and gift cards, we\u2019re hoping to add a different experience that caters to a larger audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While being an entrepreneur is challenging, the journey has its moments. \u201cMy barbers and customers keep me going,\u201d says Fidd. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhenever I feel like giving up, all it takes is for my customers to ask, \u2018but if you\u2019re not here, who\u2019s going to cut my hair?\u2019 and I\u2019ll get back up on my feet. \u201c<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Here’s what it takes to be a cut above the rest.\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":4669,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[94],"tags":[107,315,869,316],"yoast_head":"\nBreaking Barriers In Business: We Speak To Siti Rafidah, The Woman Behind Limpeh Barbershop | DollarsAndSense Business<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Here are some valuable business advice from Siti Rafidah, who started a local barbershop business by following her passions.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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