It’s not a hard day of work when you open the doors at Jimbo’s Barbershop and Board store and look 20 metres to where you often see frolicking dolphins in the beautiful Hastings River. Yes, this is the outlook for one of the best barbershops on the NSW North coast.
James Holder started Jimbo’s ten years ago, after moving his family north from Melbourne. The first store was a modest start with one chair in a quiet corner of a local surf shop. Jimbo quickly built a great relationship with the young grommets frequenting the surf business. He was soon not only cutting hair for them, but he picked up business from the dads and grandfathers through his vibrant personality and quick-witted humor.
Jimbo soon outgrew his corner and moved his business into the riverside location in the middle of the town’s café strip. Jimbo now has three chairs which are constantly full with a mixed crowd of blokes wanting some entertainment from the cool crew of male barbers and of course, the latest in men’s styling and shaves.
His trusted sidekick, Joshua Cutthroat Corkhil, is the shave master and at 19 years of age is just barely shaving himself – and yet, he has mastered the switchblade. As shaving trends change, Jimbo’s have ramped up the service and have created some great rum based aftershaves to refresh their clients.
Over the years the business has become very strong through keeping a quality approach to men’s barbershop customs. Jimbo’s recognised the need to keep ahead of the pack in focusing on new hairdressing techniques, combined with old fashioned customer service skills. The business is abuzz with laughter as men sit on the lounge and wait to get their turn in the chair. Lots of friendly banter comes from the team of young barbers. Most of the talk is pretty sacred, and silence falls when a lady walks in for a kiddy cut or looking for a husband.
The shop also has a big range of skateboards and accessories and is a magnet for young skaters. The shop sells a good range of local clothing and some hard to get brands from overseas.
It’s nice to see a regional town like Port Macquarie having a cool scene through good barbering, and the businesses around Jimbo’s are also thriving – a cool new street food café called “Carlos and Co” is getting a quarter of their business through Jimbo’s loyal crowd. It shows how good coffee and food fits into the model of a trendy barbershop.
Jimbo’s prices are very reasonable, and he looks after the many old timers who have retired in Port Macquarie; they love to come in and tell a few stories, which would put some of the young fellows’ antics to shame.
So, travelling north and need a trim and a great single estate coffee? Call in and see the boys at Jimbo’s … all welcome, even the wife and girlfriend; they can sit next door in the café.
Shop 2 – 72 Clarence Street, port macquarie, nsw 2444
0431 707 443
