Currently, both small local businesses how large companies and franchises coexist on the same terrain and fight to conquer the serve the same clientele. There are, however, some pressures that these traditional establishments cannot support, causing their final closure.
Unfortunately, Manolo Jaka is getting closer to this terrible situation. Owner of the Manolo Jaka Hair Salon in the 45 Bayonne Avenuein the district of Saint Johnyou have to transfer your business after so many years of cutting hair.
This hair salon is surrounded by many other businesses we visited in this local business section as The Beer Garden, with its incredible terraceeither Brooklyn Fitboxing gym.
Manolo Jaka He started hair care in his hometown, Etxarri-Aranatz. His father was a barber in the city and Jaka learned the trade. thanks to himAt 17, he left alone for Barcelona working in a larger scale hair salon. “That’s where I got my start, but shortly after that I took a big step forward and I went to CaracasVenezuela, to work for two years,” he explains.
“They had already hired me before I left and they paid for my trip and everything. The contract was for two years, but those two years translated into in 32 years. During this stay in Caracas I became independent and founded hair salons alone. My two children were also born there. But because of the Chavista revolution, we had to sell everything and we settled in Pamplona“, continues the owner.
Since then, Manolo Jaka was on Bayona Avenue for 17 years. He had another hairdressing salon in Pamplona, but he transferred it to one of his former employees. “The first 4 or 5 years here they were amazing. This led me to open my second hair salon in Esquiroz Street. But over time, problems began to arise. coronavirus or with real estate“, account I’m sorry.
After so many years dedicated to hairdressing, I’m sorry is close to end your business. “It was a great work effortevery day and the profit is not very big because you have to pay the rent, the staff, the electricity, the water,” he explains.
“If it were up to me, I would continue to work. I love doing this, it’s what I’ve always done and I love it. I have clients who come since i started and some workers wonderful. But it’s very complicated. It happens not only to my company, but to many other small businesses as well. they experience the same thing” he adds.
The hairdresser is independent and highlights the big difficulties what workers like him have over others franchise: “It makes me feel like you can’t start a business anymore. Everything is getting very expensive and, as if that weren’t enough, the younger ones They are hesitant to become independentThe government does not particularly help these types of workers, but rather seems to put them more obstacles“.
I’m sorry A few months ago, he posted several ads announcing that he was moving his business. “Some people have called me, but nothing is finalized yet. I’ve already put a deadline to the transfer. I’ll leave it to others to continue. new generations“revealed I’m sorry.
“My children, who are now adults, they are not interested to continue this activity. I gave them the freedom to study and learn what they wanted, and now one is in Prague and the other in Germany. They only come to Pamplona cut hair and the best part is that they also bring me their friends,” he concludes. Manolo Jaka laughing.
