For men, getting a haircut is a sacred ritual guarded by the slogan, “I got a guy.” The loyalty between a man and his barber exceeds that of just another vendor, oftentimes your barber is also a friend, a confidant of sorts.
The barber profession is one of the oldest, dating back to at least 5000 BC – up until a little over 100 years ago, barbers were also responsible for jobs that are now held by surgeons and dentists.
While innovation moves quickly – the first computer was invented only 79 years ago- the ancient industry of barber shops has seen little change. Go to a kinyozi. Sit down. Get your hair cut. Pay and leave.
But what if it didn’t have to be just that?
That is one of the questions that drove Ian Njoroge, a tall Kenyatta University student, and his co-founders to establish the prolific Mancave Manmarket – the biggest disruption to Nairobi barber shops since scissors.
Mancave Manmarket isn’t just another barber shop trying to make men feel special with another ‘complimentary massage,’ it’s a space designed as a one-stop-shop for men looking to level up their lifestyle, confidence, and professionalism.
Mancave Manmarket’s inaugural location opened on April 1st, 2022 at the renowned Nairobi Street Kitchen in Westlands. Built out of a renovated shipping container, the location has grown, welcoming thousands of patrons each year since. It’s new locations at Mwanzi Market in Westlands and Danka Plaza in Kitengela offer an enhanced experience by featuring what Ian calls, “a one-stop shop for the modern gentlemen.”
While taking a class at KU as part of his Bachelor of Commerce course, Ian and his partners came up with the idea that is now Mancave Manmarket. As he dove head first into the ideation stage, he recruited two friends to help him run and build the business, focusing on bringing onboard people with varied backgrounds and skills to fill the expertise gaps that he responsibly knew he couldn’t fulfil to the same high-degree of success.
Ian grew up in Nairobi as the oldest son in a family of four boys. Being the oldest son, he recognized the importance of providing his siblings with a strong role model.
His entrepreneurial journey started young, from selling snacks in school to reading the stories of successful business leaders such as Ray Croc and Chris Kirubi, Ian quickly found a niche in sales where he gained the understanding that the best salespeople understand that relationships built on trust.
Considering personal experience, Ian recognized that many men are notorious for their shopping habits. Instead of buying new clothes and accessories only when needed, Mancave Manmarket patrons can explore their menswear section, specifically curated to give men options for creating high class looks at an affordable price.
Today, Mancave Manmarket has three profitable storefronts and is in discussion with numerous franchisees about opening new locations spanning from Limuru to South C and Thika Town as well as across the region with the vision of at least 100 locations across Africa.
Despite the growth, Ian’s vision for Mancave Manmarket isn’t exclusive to being known as a barber shop or menswear store – Ian aims to make Mancave Manmarket a lifestyle brand.
