Business & Tech

Lava Salon Owner Pushing Mobile Barber Shop Bill

Imagine if your barber came to you, a bill currently stalled in the SC House of Representatives would allow stylists to set up shop on wheels

Food trucks have skyrocketed in popularity in recent years, and Lava Salon owner Geoff Richardson is hoping to apply the same concept to his own business, but legislators in Columbia will have to remove a few legal barriers first.

A bill that would allow for mobile barbering is currently working through the General Assembly, but according to Richardson it is being held up by Rep. Leon Howard in the Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee.

Richardson has been working on plans to launch a barber truck for a while now and supports the bill (H. 3456). Seeing it being held up for what he describes as a shortsighted reason, Richardson created a petition on Change.org to push lawmakers to pass the law.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

"This is my first petition I've ever created," Richardson wrote on his Facebook Timeline Thursday. "As an entrepreneur and someone looking for opportunities to expand my business, it's important to me. I hope you consider signing."

The bill would amend the state code of laws to allow the State Board of Barber Examiners to regulate and issue permits for mobile barber shops.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

Richardson describes his petition as follows:

This amendment is currently being held up in committee.  Chairman & State Rep. Leon Howard is saying the state does not have the resources to regulate. The current argument is that the additional regulation would be an added expense and burden on an already overloaded system.  But new brick and mortar barber shops open ALL the time.  By that logic, does this mean they will start denying brick and mortar barber businesses for the same reason?  Of course not.    

So the only reason the amendment is being denied is the "mobile" factor which is based on the assumption that they would have to use time and resources to "chase" these mobile units around to inspect them.  This seems awfully shortsighted to deny the creation of new jobs by this logic.  In fact, creating job opportunities through mobile businesses generates all kinds of additional revenue through licensing, fees, and taxes - which are specifically designed to justify the cost of regulation.  The only difference is one business moves around and one doesn't.  If SC's system is so overloaded, maybe they should be concentrating on fixing that problem but it doesn't come from denying the state new job creations in an already regulated industry.

The reality is mobile businesses are no longer a trend.  In fact they are an inventive business model response to the new economy we all live in.  By allowing  businesses to be mobile, properly licensed barbers can "go to where the public is" rather than making the public come to the barber.  This actually has a positive economic and environmental impact.  Less wasted fuel, time and energy for the masses driving to one spot when the one spot can come to the masses.  Corporate businesses will be able to provide important services as a convenience to their employees, Nursing homes can contract businesses to arrive on site without their need to maintain certain in-house facilities, lowering everyone's overhead and more.  

The WHOLE purpose of this amendment is to address solutions on how to control the additional regulation with a few requirements and guidelines set forth.   FACT:  SC DHEC regulates food trucks by making them report to DHEC for inspection and requiring them to post locations and a schedule to be accessible for onsite inspections at anytime.  I'm sure, with a little research of what other states are already doing as well as DHEC's current inspection process, we can ensure the safety and well being of the public as well as create new jobs at the same time with little to no additional impact on the already overburdened system.   

Please consider signing this petition and sending letters or emails requesting another hearing so the people can at least have a chance to attend and have our voices heard.

 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Charleston