How I Run the BLO/OUT Conglomerate from My iPhone

BLO/OUT Blow Dry Bar is growing fast! So fast that I have to be everywhere at once and need access to every piece of information at my fingertips in order to make the right decision at a moment's notice. Whether as simple as an email or as serious as an employment contract, last month's numbers, or how many stylists / clients are at any given location at the moment, when I need it, I need it instantly!

Over the past year we've managed to build an unbelievable team of stylists, administrative staff and management to operate our locations, manage our corporate needs and work around the clock to foster our growth. I've grown up believing that you must lead by example and I truly believe I'm doing that every minute of every day with BLO/OUT.

I spend my days between locations, at meetings with management, stylists, investors, partners, working our social media, working our public relations, working with our human relations team, our trainers, our construction managers and anything else that requires my attention. I jump into front desk shifts whenever I can to continuously have my fingers on the pulse of the business and while organizing various events and promotions.

At the same time I'm working on our franchise operation which is about to go live, our upcoming sites which are currently under construction, and our new manufacturing operations through which we will distribute our very own brand of BLO/OUT products and tools. Given that I can't do all of that from a stationary office, my iPhone is my savior!

(my forehead is not that big!)

Let's take a random day as an example.

The day starts with a group text message from our Rittenhouse location's morning front desk staff informing everyone that she is running a bit late. Being that I'm a punctuality freak, this does not go over well. Since we use a group text app that includes all the staff at each particular location (GroupMe), I'm sure many people who were not expecting to wake up at 6:45am had a rude awakening!

GroupMe allows an entire location's team to communicate and coordinate without the need for a middle man. Need additional staff to come in and cover a sudden influx of clients? No problem. Want to switch a shift? No problem. Have a public service announcement for all? No problem!

After a few phone calls I check my email. I split my email between the default "Mail" app on the iPhone and the Gmail app. Priority emails go to my Mail app which I constantly check, while emails of less importance go to my Gmail app which I check periodically, based on my schedule.

I will then proceed to check in on our social networking portals which include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram...

I follow this up by taking a look at what's going on in our locations in real time through the use of my Samsung iPolis app through which I access our camera systems.

Once I'm comfortable with everything going on and have responded to all emails, social media notifications, and texts, I proceed to check in with my construction team via text for an update.

I receive an email requesting my review and approval of the graphic design for our new product line which I complete via email and save to my dropbox. I check in with our event coordinator and review the events calendar through the default Calendar app which I've synced with our BLO/OUT Events calendar. This allows me to stay on top of each and every wedding, group event, and on-location service which we've been booked to provide. 

I get a letter of intent from a realtor of ours for a new location I've been scouting. I review it, compare it with a recent LOI I've previously approved, save it in my Dropbox and confirm.

I access the app for BLO/OUT's booking and POS system and review the day's appointments, the previous day's financials, and our month-to-date operating results.

Another app which I often use is the Coin Flip app. Some decisions are just a coin flip away.

I open an email containing a franchise application from New Jersey, quickly review it and save it to the Google Drive folder we share with our franchise attorney for his review. 

Throughout the day I use the reminders app, the notes app and the Springpad app to prioritize through the digital memory tools which keep me focused on the tasks that need to be accomplished in the next few minutes or the next few months. 

And of course I always spend some time every few days to make sure that our proprietary BLO/OUT app is in good working order and is as user-friendly as possible. 

I've considered moving to an iPad but with my memory I'll just forget it somewhere. My phone is an extension of me and without it I'm naked! Just ask my fiance, she will tell you I can't go a minute without doing something on my iPhone!

So if you need me...

Yours,

Avi Shenkar

What a Year It's Been! BLO/OUT Turned One, I have Become a Grownup.

Earlier this month we celebrated our one year anniversary (actually March 4th)! This past year has been unreal, so much has been accomplished, learned, taught, and built. This past year has been both the best and worst year of my life. I'm still here, smiling.

A Saturday like today exactly a year ago I ran into BLO/OUT Huntingdon Valley and asked the stylists to run the shop. That morning I unexpectedly lost my best friend, my biggest fan, my biggest motivator, my toughest client, my mother. My mother was the coolest person I knew and the reason I am who I am today.

The following weeks were the most difficult times of my life and the BLO/OUT staff helped save me. People that only knew me for a few weeks took care of my business while I was unable to do so, they showed up to the funeral, they ran the shop and they forced me to deal with my personal life while they took care of BLO/OUT. I am forever grateful for their help, support and care.

Three days short of a month after that morning I met the love of my life and the person that helped save me from becoming a complete mess. She is the best in "best year of my life". If it wasn't for her, BLO/OUT, my father, my sisters and my close friends I have no idea who I would be today.

Over the past year I was lucky enough to immerse myself in my business, my relationship and my social life and thankfully all have been beautiful. My business with the support of my love, my team, my investors, supporters, clients, and my family has grown and prospered beyond any expectations.

Where are we today?

Today we have two locations with our flagship Rittenhouse location servicing thousands of Philadelphia's beautiful ladies every month while our Huntingdon Valley location has grown, evolved and matured. We have three locations in development and opening within the next 60 - 90 days. We have accepted hundreds of franchise applications from all over the country and are preparing to open the franchise operation of BLO/OUT to the public. This past week we received approval for a deal with one of the largest real estate developers in the country that will help take us nationwide and make us a household name.

We have gotten local and national attention from the likes of CNN, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Examiner and many more. We have built a strong team that will lead us into the future and a client fan base that can't go without their weekly BLO/OUTs. We have brought on great investors that are as concerned with the business and it's development as I am.

We have made great friends, developed awesome partnerships and built a business and a team with a solid foundation. We've booked weddings near and far and have hosted events for the likes of Univesity of Pennsylvania's Women's Law Association.

This past week I turned down an offer that would have solidified our seven figure valuation, yeah that was a tough one. I think its too early, Im not ready to make drastic changes to our foundation. We've secured two locations that are going to be huge for the company and we've begun manufacturing our own products, tools and custom brushes that will be available to the public very soon. We've secured awesome investors to be a part of our future growth and awesome clients to motivate that growth.

This past year was just the beginning. I can't wait to get another year, two or ten under our belt and show the world what BLO/OUT is about.

Thank you everyone that has given us a chance, continues to frequent our establishments, supports us, invests in us both financialy and emotionally, my team, my family, our friends, and my best friend and love.

Yours,

Avi

The Most Exciting & Busiest Day in BLO/OUT Blow Dry Bar History!

Last Monday was New Years Eve. 2012 was disappearing and 2013 was about to hit. All the preperation, the anxiety, the fear was coming to a head, a beautifully BLO/n head!

BLO/OUT Huntingdon Valley was completely booked from morning to closing. BLO/OUT Rittenhouse was completely booked between noon and closing. Approximately 25 BLO/Litas were preparing for the craziest day they have ever experienced. 

That's exactly what they got!

Both location served hundreds of BLO/OUTs in one day... and everything went smoothly!

No technical difficulties, barely any crazy waits (a few clients waited more than I would ever like anyone to wait, but they totally understood and still loved their BLO/OUTs). Tons of BLO/Me Mosas were drunk, much of it ending up on the floor as well. Beautiful excited ladies all over the place getting ready to party the night away.

It was honestly one of the most awesome days I have ever experienced. So much great feedback, so many smiles, so much beautiful hair. We made it!

We could not have asked for a better welcoming party to Rittenhouse! Our team was awesome! Everyone worked their butts off pulling 12 hour shifts without a break! I could not be more proud of the BLO/OUT BLO/Litas and what we've built! 

It's a new year, let's make this a BLO/OUT year full of beautiful hair, happy clients and top notch customer service! 

Yours,

Avi & The BLO/OUT Family 

Even Philly's Most Hated Deserve a Beautiful BLO/OUT!

They are more hated than the Giants, more hated than taxes; they are the Philadelphia Parking Authority! The BLO/Litas at BLO/OUT Blow Dry Bar believe that everyone deserves some love and a beautiful BLO/OUT!

That’s why on SUNDAY, JANUARY 13^th, 2013, PPA employees get FREE BLO/OUTs!

Being hated sucks! Walking around in the cold giving out tickets definitely sucks! BLO/OUT Blow Dry Bar will help you be hated in style!

BLO/OUT Blow Dry Bar introduces the newest concept in heat-sculpted styles to Rittenhouse. Sans cut, sans color, BLO/OUT offers a wash, blow dry and hot style in a beautiful, chic, inviting atmosphere. From straight sleek to bouffant curl, BLO/OUT Blow Dry Bar offers numerous styles, including up-do’s and glamorous braids. Their signature BLO/OUTs can be had at a low flat price of $35, making it an affordable luxury, and leaving women with no excuse for a bad hair day. 

Located at 1804 Chestnut Street 2^nd Floor, across from Continental Mid-Town, BLO/OUT offers 3 floors of beautifying services along with champagne, margaritas, iPads, jewelry, spray tanning, private rooms, a roof top deck and Philadelphia’s best stylists! Open 7 days a week as early as 7am and as late as 9pm, you can throw away that shampoo and treat yourself to a wash/BLO/style anytime you like!

Contact: Avi Shenkar / Avi@BloOut.com / @BloOutBar / 215.305.8245

FINALLY!! BLO/OUT Rittenhouse is Open! I Need a Vacation!!

It's been months since I had a chance to sit down for a minute and update everyone on what's been going on, sorry!

This morning at 7am our Rittenhouse location opened its doors and let the hordes of BLO/OUT deprived ladies come in and bask in all of its glory! :-)

 
After months of hard labor, stress, physical, mental and emotional breakdowns, it's open! With its large open spaces, super high ceilings, wainscoting, chandelier overload, iPads, BLO/Me Mosas, BLO/Me Ritas, Champagne, Doggie treats, tufted leather, the most awesome reception furniture ever, sky lights, and the coolest feature: the BLO/OUT Roof Top Deck, this place is unreal.

With the backing and support of some affluent Philadelphia investors including Raymond & Megan Giroux BLO/OUT is well on its way to taking over the Philadelphia area! Rittenhouse is open, we're negotiating Washington Square & University City all the while bringing on some of the Philadelphia's finest salon talent!

The past few months have been unreal! I have been working from early morning to early morning every day. I did however get to perfect my painting, caulking, and trim cutting abilities. I love construction and I helped the guys out as much as possible.

The stress of dealing with the current BLO/OUT location, staff (which thankfully has been pretty good due to my assistant manager and team!) , budgets, landlords, licenses, inspections, bills, bills, contractors, plumbers, bills, investors, etc… has been weighing down on me. Thankfully I love what I do, I love who I do it with, and I very much love those who support and motivate me.

So... last night we celebrated Christmas the only way we could, Chinese food, tequila, good friends and family. I had a great buzz going and it was an awesome time. 5am this morning I awoke, spent a few minutes cuddling with the love of my life, then a few more with my other love (my dog Cash), got dressed, walked the dog and headed down to Rittenhouse to open up to the public for the first time. 

The stylists came in early just as I was putting some finishing touches to the door, the music went on, the chatter began and we waited. About 3 hours into our day the phone started ringing, the door opened up and some lovely ladies came in, although they didn't get BLO/n they scheduled some future BLO/OUTs. Then a beautiful young lady came in and became our first Rittenhouse BLO/OUT! Upon completion she purchased a 20 BLO/OUT package! Yup, we're doing something right! 

Friends stopped by bearing gifts, clients called, appointments were made, tweaks and touch ups were done and we're all still working. I have to admit, all the hard work, long days, short nights and pain was worth it. What I built is beautiful to the eye and even more beautiful to the hair. 

Now on to more tweaks more fix ups more touch ups, our next locations and a huge deal in the works that will BLO this industry OUT of the water! 

Stop by when you get a chance and see what I'm talking about!

Yours,

Avi.