JACK THE RIPPER TATTOO & BARBERSHOP
Interview with Ioannis from Jack The Ripper Tattoo & Barbershop in Stuttgart
Hello, Ioannis, we met shortly after the opening of your barber shop. We both knew, that such a shop was missing in Stuttgart. But step after step. Tell us something about your Barber shop and how it all started!
I’ve always dreamed of a shop for men, a shop where women have no access to, a place where men can be men, have men’s conversations, a whisky or a beer in their hands, and a cigar to blues music and the treatment is something by the way. In short, wellness for men! The way, we men like it. That’s how Jack The Ripper was born.
A barber shop with life music and a bar would have been called a mixed business in the past, how is that going today?
As far as the serving is concerned, as long as you don’t ask for money for the drinks, you don’t need a distribution license, so the drinks and cigars are part of out treatment.
You’ve set rigourous rules in your shop. Clear lines for your customers.
What kind of customers do you love, which do you send out right away?
Yes, respect is paramount to us. I’m not interested in who you are and what you have, everyone in my shop is the same and everyone is treated equally, no matter what are the social conditions, we are like a family. If you enter our shop and don’t greet, you can immediatly leave right away, because you don’t get any service here. I love customers who have focussed on the culture of barber and know what to expect when they enter our shop. Those who pay tribute to us and our craftsmanship are welcomed to the close circle of the family and are welcome guests.
Ioannis, in addition to your work in your barbershop, you are incredibly active at festivals, motorcycle and US car meetings and have even enough time to create the gentleman’s club: whisky and cigar tastings in your shop. How do you do all this? What drives you?
Yes, it’s not always easy and sometimes very exhausting, but the passion and love for what we do and the satisfaction of our customers inspires me and gives me the energy to reconcile everything. I’ve made my passion as my profession. Nothing better could have happen to me, and of course my team, without the boys, Jack The Ripper wouldn’t be where we are today!!!
As a barber, you’re always in the centre of everything, at all the events and of course at work. Your opinion… Where are you going with the man’s style and beard? What’s up, what will stay and what’s an absolute NO GO?
The beard is a way of life! That’s not just a trend. Anyone who loves and nurtures his beard, wont be able to past a barber. The same thing counts for those who want to miss a classic men’s haircut or a traditional wet shaving with everything that goes with it and just forget the present for a certain period of time and let themselves be dropped and pampered, according to traditional barber art! An absolute no-go, pluck eyebrows and masks. We are a traditional barbershop, not a beauty centre!
Thank you Ioannis, till the next interview!
Content by @saltyvoodoo