However, keeping his chin up, Arvind saw this as an opportunity to venture into something new.
A resident of Mont Kiara, Arvind noticed the lack of barber shops in the area, especially those that were affordable. So, he did the next best thing and, with his brother Muhilan, opened a barber shop of his own.
But not just any barber shop. The two brothers opened Malaysia’s first ever barber bus. Called The Barber Bus, the business officially welcomed its first customer on May 8.
“The rental for a shop lot in the Mont Kiara area can be quite high so that’s when we got the idea of starting a barber shop on wheels,” Arvind says about the bus they outfitted to function as a barber shop. He adds that they only pay the rental for the parking lot which the bus occupies.
He tells FMT that the bus was earlier used for public transportation before being used to shuttle kids to school. “The Mercedes-Benz was formerly a pink Rapid KL bus back in the day before being transformed into a yellow school bus in the early 90s.”
Arvind explains that when nationwide lockdowns were imposed to stem the spread of the virus, schools were shut as students transitioned to online learning from home.
Many school busses previously used to shuttle kids to school were no longer in use and it was during this time that he bought the bus for his newfound business.
Getting down to work, Arvind and Muhilan remodelled the bus into a barber shop, paying special attention to create a vintage, classic vibe with a distinct Western feel. “When remodelling, we were going for an old American barber shop theme.”
The Barber Bus hopes to provide men of all ages with a ‘high-end’ relaxing experience at an affordable price.
From their fresh cuts, to fades and clean shaves, The Barber Bus also does the occasional facial accompanied by neck and shoulder massages.
“Most of our customers just walk over to our barber shop to get a cut and shave. It’s like a neighbourhood barber shop,” Arvind says, adding however that there are some customers who have travelled all the way from Seremban just to experience their services.
Arvind and Muhilan say that since so many Malaysians lost their jobs due to the pandemic, they made it a point to hire only locals.
However, just 10 days after the official launch, The Barber Bus was forced to shut until further notice due to the movement control order that was imposed in May.
“We were very lucky that the management of the building where our bus is parked at was very understanding and waved off the rental fee during the MCO period,” Arvind says.
Then, on Aug 22 the Barber Bus was able to resume business.
Arvind says business has been booming since but is quick to add just how grateful he is to the local community who have supported them.
Pumped by this success, Arvind and his brother plan on opening more outlets.
“We have received enquiries to expand our business and we plan on doing so. However, since this is my first business, I am still learning as I go along.”
As the bus can only accommodate two customers at any one time, you are advised to make an appointment to avoid having to wait outside.
“As we operate from the inside of the bus, the space is quite small and we also have to ensure that social distancing is adhered to.”
Fancy a new look? Head on over to The Barber Bus for a precision cut and a relaxing massage.
The Barber Bus
LG5 Lower Ground 5 Level Arcoris
Jalan Kiara 4, Mont Kiara
50480 Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours
11am-9pm (Tuesday-Friday)
10am-10pm (Saturday & Sunday)
Closed on Mondays
Follow The Barber Bus on Instagram or check out their website to find out more about their services.