Ahmed Ismail is the owner of Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids at La Costa Town Square in Carlsbad. Ahmed’s soon-to-open location is positioned perfectly in a bustling shopping area where kids and parents frequent—after school, on the weekends, and throughout the holiday season.
Opening day for the new kids’ salon will be Saturday, December 14. I had a chance to chat with Ahmed to get him to share some of the details for the grand opening and his expectations for Sharkey’s in the months ahead.
Also, be sure to visit our Holiday Celebration & Gift Guide for details about Sharkey’s special first-weekend deals!
- What made Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids an exciting opportunity for you?
- We have always wanted to do a business related to kids. We spent some time looking around, and when we saw the concept, we immediately knew this was what we wanted to do.
- What do you hope to offer the Carlsbad community with your new location at La Costa Town Square?
- We want to offer an exciting/fun/safe experience for each kid getting a hair cut. At the same time, we want to give them the best hair cut possible. We also want to ensure that the process for their parents is as easy as possible.
- Why did you choose the La Costa location in Carlsbad to launch this awesome, new kid-centric business?
- When were choosing the location in Carlsbad we were focused on the experience for the parents. [We focused on making] it easy to get to and easy to park. Having multiple things in the same location that they could do in the same visit, [was a definite plus]!
- What ages does Sharkey’s cater to?
- Ages 0-14
- Please share what you expect kids’ reactions will be when they walk through the door for the first time?
- The intention is to get them engaged and entertained from the minute they walk in.
- How does the Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids’ experience make kids feel special?
- Everything is designed in Sharkey’s with [a focus on] the kids’ experience, front and center. We offer differently shaped hair-cutting stations to attract younger kids. While seated in the chair, they will have their own TV playing their favorite show or cartoon. In our tween lounge, we’ll have Xbox stations to cater to older kids; additionally, the music played in the store will be at all the kids’ stations.
- Why do parents like bringing their kids to Sharkey’s?
- The amazing hair cuts that come with a wonderful experience for the kids!
- Tell us about the grand opening on December 14th.
- We open our doors for the first time on December 14th at 9 am. We’ll be hosting a few activities throughout the day on both the 14th and the 15th.
- On the 14th:
- Balloon artist for 4 hours
- Pictures with Santa for 2 hours
- Have your after-hair-cut picture transformed into a cartoon caricature!
- On the 15th:
- Face painting and music
- Do you have a rewards program that gives families an incentive to return for subsequent visits?
- Yes, we do offer two types of programs:
- Loyalty program: With every visit customers get loyalty points that they can spend towards services or products.
- Membership program: Free hair cuts for the entire year with discounts on products, as well,
- What do you like most about North County from a business perspective and as a North County resident?
- We love the fact that North County is very kid-centric with amazing school districts and hundreds of businesses that are focused on kids.
- Please share any additional details about your new location that may be important or interesting for the community to know.
- We’re happy to have two amazing stylists who specialize in kids with special needs. We can advise families on times to book for kids to experience the best visit possible.
- We will be hosting birthday/glamour parties for up to 10-12 kids. They can get their hair styled and nails manicured and then create a fashion show. 😀
For more from our local marketing partners on The North County Moms:
TNCM 2024 Holiday Celebration & Gift Guide
