Running a busy barbershop has always been about more than just giving a great haircut.
For Ryan Conlon, owner of Blackguard Barbers in Tividale, the shop has built its identity around a relaxed atmosphere, a strong local following and giving customers the flexibility of both walk-ins and appointments.
But managing those appointments was becoming an unnecessary distraction.
With bookings kept in a diary at the shop, Ryan couldn't always tell customers what availability he had without physically being there to check. That meant calls and messages could come at any time of the day — even late at night.
Bewkd offered a much simpler way to handle it.
"I was getting calls at 11pm asking when the shop was open or whether we had any space. With everything in the diary at the shop, I'd have to wait until I was back in before I could even tell someone what was available."
— Ryan Conlon, Owner of Blackguard Barbers
The Challenge: Taking Bookings While Cutting Hair
For a busy barber, answering the phone isn't always as simple as it sounds.
When you're halfway through a haircut, every call means either stopping what you're doing or trying to talk to someone while continuing to work.
Then there was the diary itself.
If Ryan wasn't at Blackguard when somebody called or messaged asking for an appointment, he couldn't immediately see which slots were available.
A straightforward booking could mean taking the enquiry, waiting until he was next in the shop, checking the diary and then getting back in touch with the customer.
It worked, but it created unnecessary admin for something that should be simple.
The Switch: Putting the Diary Online
Blackguard introduced Bewkd to give customers a simple way to see availability and book an appointment themselves.
Instead of calling Ryan to ask when he's free, customers can see the available slots online and choose one that suits them.
And unlike the old diary, the booking system isn't sitting on a counter in the shop.
Ryan can access his schedule wherever he is, while customers can book whether Blackguard is open or closed.
With Bewkd, customers can:
- View live appointment availability
- Choose the service they need
- Select a suitable date and time
- Book without having to call the shop
- Receive an immediate booking confirmation
- Manage their booking online
For Ryan, everything is kept together in one clear schedule.
The Results: Fewer Phone Calls, More Time for Customers
No More Late-Night Availability Calls
Customers don't need to wait until Blackguard opens to find out whether there's space.
Whether they're thinking about booking at 2pm or 11pm, they can open the booking page, see what's available and secure an appointment.
Ryan doesn't need to be involved at all.
Fewer Interruptions Behind the Chair
This has been one of the biggest changes for Ryan.
"It's stopped all the phone calls while I'm cutting hair, so I can actually concentrate on the customer in the chair instead of constantly multitasking. Bewkd's made running the shop so much easier - I'd genuinely recommend it to any barber who's still managing their bookings through calls, messages or a diary."
— Ryan Conlon, Owner of Blackguard Barbers
For a hands-on business, removing those interruptions makes a genuine difference.
The customer in the chair gets Ryan's attention, while the person looking for their next appointment can sort it themselves.
The Diary Is Always Available
Moving from a physical diary to Bewkd also means Ryan no longer needs to be at Blackguard to know what his day looks like.
Appointments are kept in one place and availability updates as bookings are made.
That gives Ryan a clear view of:
- Who is booked in
- What service they've selected
- What time they're arriving
- Where availability remains
- What the rest of the day or week looks like
Appointments Can Still Work Alongside Walk-Ins
Moving bookings online doesn't mean changing the character of the shop.
Blackguard can continue to welcome walk-ins while giving customers who prefer the certainty of an appointment an easy way to reserve a time.
It gives customers both options without making either one difficult for the team to manage.
A Booking Experience That Matches the Brand
Blackguard is more than simply somewhere to get a haircut.
Ryan has developed Blackguard across barbering, clothing, creative production and music, creating a recognisable brand with its own identity.
The booking experience should feel like part of that business too.
Bewkd gives Blackguard a professional online booking experience that works alongside the way Ryan already runs the shop rather than forcing him to change it.
From "Any Space Today?" to Booked
The biggest change isn't complicated.
Previously, a customer wanting a haircut might have had to call Ryan, ask what was available and potentially wait for him to get to the shop and check the diary.
Now they can simply look.
They choose an available slot, make the booking and it's immediately added to Ryan's schedule.
- No phone call
- No checking the physical diary
- No calling the customer back
- No interrupting a haircut to answer another availability question
Why Bewkd Works for Barbershops
Barbering is exactly the type of business where simple booking software can make a noticeable difference.
The person taking the bookings is often the same person delivering the service. Every phone call, message and diary check therefore takes them away from a paying customer.
Bewkd brings everything together with:
- 24/7 online booking
- Live appointment availability
- Individual staff schedules
- Custom services and durations
- Automated booking confirmations
- Customer reminders
- Easy rescheduling and cancellations
- A clear daily calendar
- A branded customer booking experience
It means the booking system can keep taking appointments even when the barber can't answer the phone.
About Blackguard Barbers
Blackguard Barbers is an independent barbershop based in Tividale, Oldbury.
Owned by Ryan Conlon, Blackguard forms part of a wider creative brand spanning barbering, clothing, production and music.
The barbershop offers both walk-in and appointment-based services, giving local customers the choice of dropping in or securing a time in advance.
How Bewkd Helps Blackguard
- Replaces reliance on a physical appointment diary
- Lets customers check live availability themselves
- Allows customers to book 24/7
- Reduces phone calls and availability enquiries
- Stops booking calls interrupting haircuts
- Gives Ryan access to his schedule away from the shop
- Keeps appointments organised in one place
- Allows appointments and walk-ins to work alongside each other
For Blackguard, moving bookings online wasn't about completely changing how the shop operates.
It was about removing a frustration.
Customers no longer need to call Ryan to ask when he's free. Ryan no longer needs to be standing next to the diary to answer them.
And, most importantly, when there's someone in the chair, he can concentrate on them.
