Pieter (20) opens his own hairdressing salon: 'Learned a lot at Summa'

Eindhoven has a brand-new barbershop: QP Society in Dommelstraat, in the heart of the city. Co-owner Pieter completed his hairdressing training at Summa. "If you work hard, you'll be rewarded."

Pieter and his partner Quinten, the 'Q' in the company name, are barely 20 years old. The two were colleagues at a barbershop in Strijp-S. "Our employer wanted to work with freelancers," says Pieter. "We did some serious calculations and concluded that it would be better for us to start our own business. So we took the plunge." It feels good, says Pieter. "We're more than just a barber, hence the 'Society' in the name. We offer ambiance and a great experience. We hang up your coat, give you a drink, and have a friendly chat. We build a bond with our clients. And, of course, we make sure they leave feeling tip-top."

Pieter learned his trade at Summa. There, he discovered he wanted to become a barber. "During my training, I cut both men's and women's hair. A men's salon suits me better: a sharp haircut, a perfect beard. Plus, you have different conversations with men." And men are also going to the barber more often these days. "I'm quite vain; I think it's important that my hair looks good. A fresh haircut makes me feel good and gives me confidence. I used to go to the barber every two weeks myself." More and more men are doing that, he says. "Sometimes even weekly. It's not surprising that Summa now also offers a special training program for men's hairdressers. I would definitely have chosen that back then."

Pieter didn't always have the confidence he now has in his own business. "At Summa, I occasionally got stuck. I didn't see any improvement. Fortunately, my instructors encouraged me to keep going. By practicing a lot and watching others, it comes naturally. Hard work pays off, that's what I've learned." In electives, he learned how to interact effectively with customers. "It's incredibly important that your customers feel comfortable, so they'll want to come back."

QP Society has been open for a few weeks now. Things are going great. "We were completely booked for the first two weeks," says Pieter proudly. "We even have a few PSV fans as regular customers already." The young entrepreneurs primarily use social media to attract customers. "We post videos on TikTok and Instagram with hairstyles and trends. It works." Pieter and Quinten hope to expand the business further in the future. "There's room for more seats here. And branches in other cities would be fantastic. But first, we need to make this a lasting success."