Tiger Business Services, a group of consulting teams that are part of a University class project, is helping one local barbershop make the cut.
K. Mark Weaver, Thomas H. Daigre Endowed Chair of Business Administration and instructor of Management 4100, said he began the project when he started working at the University four years ago.
Weaver said students in the class are put into groups and assigned to local businesses. They work with the businesses to develop business plans, improve and create websites, and introduce them to social media like Facebook and Twitter.
This year, one of the businesses is Hill Top Barbershop, located on East Washington Street.
Darian Cain, a Baton Rouge resident, worked at the shop for 13 years before buying it a year ago.
Cain said he discovered Tiger Business Services when he applied for a grant and the woman who assisted him with his application told him about it.
“I feel blessed,” Cain said. “I’m so grateful.”
Cain said his goal is to make the shop better for customers and employees and to draw in new clients.
Weaver said he wants the barbershop to become more of a community resource for its surrounding area.
Cain said he hopes working with students on this project will make his business more attractive to University students and give him a new customer base.
He said he doesn’t have any qualms about receiving help from students.
“I’ll take any advice I can get,” Cain said.
Matthew Leblanc, business management senior, is one of four students in the group assigned to Cain’s shop.
Leblanc said Cain is planning to create a Facebook page for the shop once he improves its physical appearance.
Leblanc said he has enjoyed working with Cain.
“His excitement makes me excited,” Leblanc said.
He’s not alone.
Business management senior Tyinna Jones said she’s eager to see the result of all the team’s hard work.
“I just want to see it done,” Jones said.
Weaver said his class works primarily with commercial ventures in the fall and mostly non-profit social enterprises in the spring.
Weaver said Tiger Business Services doesn’t usually advertise and receives most of its clients through referrals.
“They’re typically small and mid-size businesses that aren’t supported by some other unit at LSU,” he said.
Weaver said most businesses he has worked with have been receptive to students’ advice.
“We want people that are interested in getting our help,” Weaver said.
Other businesses working with Tiger Business Services include a photography company, a coffee shop and SCORE, an organization of retired business counselors who volunteer their services to fledgling businesses.
Weaver said SCORE has had difficulty attracting counselors to join the organization and was looking for a way to advertise itself better.
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Contact Rachel Warren at [email protected].