Startup Spotlight: ShearShare

The First On-Demand Salon and Barbershop Space Rental App

Dr. Tye Caldwell is the Cofounder & CEO of ShearShare, the first on-demand salon and barbershop space rental app. Recognized as a tech visionary and industry pioneer, Dr. Caldwell has grown ShearShare to be the greatest engine of jobs and wealth creation for the beauty and barbering industry. By redesigning the B2B beauty industry and serving an underserved niche, Tye is enabling more than 1,000,000 licensed professionals to work on their terms and maximize their earnings potential, while salon and barbershop owners make money on unused space.

Prior to creating ShearShare, Tye owned and operated an award-winning salon in Dallas, Texas, which was the genesis behind ShearShare. He has worked in beauty for 26 years as a master barber-stylist, educator, and small business coach, offering his decades of industry knowledge as a proven roadmap.

Tye serves on the Advisory Boards for multiple beauty schools and is a frequent guest lecturer at barber colleges and hairstyling institutes around the globe. He coaches the next generation of salon and barbershop owners, and his #1 best-selling book, Mentored by Failure: A 5-Point Guide to Long-Term Success in the Beauty & Style Industry, is often used for continuing education curriculum.

ShearShare was the first Texas startup to win Google Demo Day 2018, Tech. Co’s Startup of the Year 2016, and was named a TechWeek100. Mr. Caldwell’s work has been featured in Fast Company, the New York Times, Black Enterprise, the Washington Post, Forbes, Modern Salon, and TechCrunch.

— In a single sentence, what does ShearShare do?

ShearShare is the first app that helps stylists quickly find affordable salon and barbershop space to rent by the day. No contract, no commission.

– How did ShearShare come to be? What was the problem you found and the ‘aha’ moment?

Empty salon space was our own problem to solve. As veteran award-winning salon and barbershop owners, we experienced this same issue back in 2012. It was then that a local stylist called us to ask if we would lease our empty suite for a couple of days. Fast forward, and ShearShare is in 600 cities and doing our part to keep our small businesses open!

— What sets ShearShare apart in the market?

This is the first time that stylists have had a chance to keep more of their hard-earned money when it comes to accessing professional space to work. With ShearShare, there is no long-term contract required or commission taken by the salon or barbershop owner. Stylists rent a suite or station where they want and at a time and price they want to pay.

— What are people most excited by when they first see ShearShare?

Stylists are most excited for the ability to work when they want, where they want while keeping more of their hard-earned money!

— Have you pursued funding and if so, what steps did you take?

Yes, lots of meetings. Startup accelerator programs. Warm introductions to investors.

— What KPIs are you tracking that you think will lead to revenue generation/growth?

• Number of ShearShare stays
• Average revenue per stylist
• Activation rate per host per city

— How do you build and develop talent?

We hire people to tell us what to do, not to tell them what to do. Our job is to instill knowledge about the industry and train them to establish relationships.

— What are the biggest challenges for the team?

As a startup, you’re always behind the user. Thankfully our industry is very vocal about what they expect on the app, and so we’re always working to play catchup.

— What’s been the biggest success for the team?

Hearing how we repeatedly help small businesses stay open — both the salon owner and the licensed pro.

— What milestone are you most proud of so far?

Supporting the growth of the best industry in the world and seeing how that changed behavior supports local businesses.

— What advice would you give to other founders?

Just start. And keep doing things that will help you learn fast from the market.