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Shop News

The End of Walken Wednesdays

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Ho, Gaardians!

This shop has changed its operations a few times since we opened, all to accommodate our clients’ booking needs. First we took both appointments and walk-ins as available, then it was all booked all the time, so we added Walken Wednesdays. Folks still wanted more walk-in availability, and as soon as we had some extra barbers, we gave it to them, all day every day.

Because we can now handle walk-ins every day of the week, Walken Wednesday has outlived its use, and people are again clamoring for more appointment spots. So once again, we’re giving it to them!

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And so, beginning in November 2016, Walken Wednesday will be no more. You can still walk-in on Wednesdays, or any other day (that we’re open), and get a dang haircut. That also means we have new swaths of appointment availability open on Wednesdays 11/2 through the end of December.

Help us spread the word to your fellow Gaardians, friends! Because people don’t read things (UPDATE: To illustrate that point, it’s now mid-2022 and people STILL ask us regularly if we’re still doing Walken Wednesdays). Except you, of course, because you’re obviously reading this. And that’s why we like you so much.

 

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Two Years, We’re Toddlers!

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Dearest Frands,

Today marks the two-year anniversary of the opening of Beardsgaard Barbers. Those who have been with us since the beginning know that despite the press and employees who will soon number in the double digits, we opened this place on scraps of cash, a partially successful Indiegogo campaign, a few credit cards and a sacrifice to the All Father.

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thanks doods

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Testee Makes An Appointment {Video}

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In business, they say that if you’re for everyone, you’re for no one. That’s why some shops are walk-ins only, some are appointment only, and some take appointments, with walk-ins when there is room.

We are well aware that because we cater to exclusively folks who a) want some combination of masculine haircuts, beardwork and straight razor shaves; b) live near or are willing to travel to this wee little town over an hour from Chicago, c) are kind of twisted/weird/nerdy, our slice of “target audience,” as it were, is limited.

Testee Client Card

That’s why we go so far above and beyond most in the hair industry (certainly the barber industry) when it comes to options for getting in for barber services. These days, whether you plan out your next six months of appointments in advance, only know your work schedule a week ahead of time, or only think to get a haircut the day you’re actually getting married or something wtf, we have an option for you here.

And because we have written about this before and been told that “reading about it is too much work,” we thought we would make a video that should hold any length of attention span. Because we make pure nightmare fuel here, friends. Enjoy, and take heed of all the ways there are for you to get into the chair.

And read more about how this thing came to life right here.

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Scott the Squire No More

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We have news, Gaardians! It sounds bad on the surface, but we promise you, it’s all good things.

Scott the Squire has been slain, and we no longer have any apprentice barbers in this shop. Because Scott, the youthful literal grandpa of the shop, now takes his true title as Scott the Old Kid.

We are proud to say that he is officially a full staff barber and will begin taking appointments for the following week, opened up each Saturday (Jesus will be taking all walk-ins for a time).

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Closed for the 9/14 Walken Wednesday (for Scummy Reasons!)

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*Walken Wednesdays are no more as of November 2016, because we now have daily walk-ins!

Ho, Gaardians!

We’re going to be closed this upcoming Walken Wednesday (9/14) for a pretty exciting reason. The entire crew will be taking part in a hands-on cutting class as part of the Reuzel Quest for Clipper Carnage tour.

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Blademaiden recently got to partake in 5 days of training with the Reuzel and Schorem crew as part of her training to become one of the first Scumbassadors, and is beyond thrilled to drag the entire Beardsgaard team to learn from Leen and Bertus themselves at this training.

There will be hugs.

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Big Changes Afoot

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Ho, Gaardians!

We have some big plans afoot, and with it some big news. Beardsgaard is about to get a lot bigger. The more the merrier of course, but better than that, this embiggening is going to make all of your lives a whole lot easier.

A NOBLE SPIRIT EMBIGGENS THE SMALLEST MAN The Simpsons

(Note: this post has been updated as of October 2016, because things always be changin’ – that’s life, folks)

By early next year we’re going to be up to 6 barbers, 2 front deskers and a one-lady corporate office, with 63 opening hours per week. Hold on to your butts and keep reading for all the details.

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Calling for Scumbags With Hair

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As a Scumbassador-led barbershop, Beardsgaard is serious about education.

Leen and Bertus of Schorem Haarsnijder En Barbier and Reuzel Pomade are going to be making the rounds in the states in September putting on the Quest for Clipper Carnage educational tour, and you had better believe we’re going to be there.

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They will be spending two days spreading the lard’s gospel in Chicago, September 13th and 14th, and we’re going to be there both days. The 13th is an evening demo, but for the 14th, we’re going to need some heads, because your barbers are going to be cutting and learning from the masters at the same time.

If you want a free haircut, overseen by some of the best damn barbers in the world, we need you – or four of you, as the case may be. But there are some serious criteria to fulfill.

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The Heroes United and It Was Good {Video}

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Our Heroes for Mason event is over, and we are proud to announce that we raised over $1,500 toward Mason’s medical costs, and even more was contributed to the family’s Go Fund Me page (which you can still do!)

Heroes for Mason Fundraising Event Beardsgaard Barbers Batavia-027

some of them even brought plastic fire hats

Between the food and games, raffle tickets, and a lot of money raised to see one of our employees get a pie to the face (read to the end of the post to see which one), it was amazing to see the whole town come out to help.

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Come on Down to the Heroes for Mason Fundraiser!

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When you donate to charities, those charities take money to run and advertise for further funding. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, they do a ton of good because they get the word out.

But if you want to make a difference for one single person, one kid in a direct and powerful way, a fundraiser like this is the way to do it, because all proceeds are going directly to the medical care of a local 8-year-old with DIPG, name of Mason.

And it all starts with some haircuts. And proceeds to superheroes and prizes and so much more. And it’s happening at Beardsgaard today from 12-3 pm.

Heroes for Mason

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Heroes Unite for Mason

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Professions that require physical contact between practitioner and client have a habit of bringing people together. Some of our regular, long-time clients can affirm that if they miss an appointment and we call them to check in, it’s not because we’re miffed, it’s to check in and make sure everything is okay. Because there have been a few occasions where they haven’t been, and we worry. Mom and Pop barbershops are like that.

One day, a client was in our chair, getting a haircut before a family photo. Totally normal occurrence. But this one was different, because his son had recently been diagnosed with DIPG, a rare childhood cancer. We’ll let the family tell you in their own words what that means below, but needless to say it was an emotional day.

Mason

This kid is so Beardsgaard, cracking jokes all over the place. Hysterical little dude, this one.

So, before we even brought it to the Ward family’s attention, we began to formulate a plan to do a small something that it was within our power to do.

Gaardians, we humbly request you assemble.

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