Hakim’s Aalim (Hyderabad) haircut review – Two thumbs down
And that’s the lowest rating on my scale.
This hair and tattoo salon was opened in Hyderabad sometime in April 2008 amidst much publicity. After all it has given some of the Bollywood stars their defining locks. They claim- Everyone in the film industry right from Ajay Devgan, Sanjay Dutt, Suniel Shetty, Vivek Oberoi and Salman Khan, Adnan Sami, Kajol, Saif Ali Khan, Sunny Deol, Tanushree Datta and Anil Kapoor, have got a snip from Aalims magic scissors. I hope that they meant that literally because more than a snip and the bollywood stars would be reeling with bad hair days and a sure shot dive in their film careers.
With prices as high as this you would expect a brilliant haircut or atleast a superb experience, but do you get that? Nope, not even close.
My experience:
I called up the Hakim’s Aalim salon on 24th of May to fix an appointment for my friend and me, at 6 p.m on the same day. All went as expected, the lady fixed the appointment and told me she would give a call at 5:30 p.m to confirm the appointment.
I received a call at 5:30 p.m from Hakim’s Aalim to confirm the appointment. Nothing .. till then, could be questioned about the brand.
Why not to visit Hakim’s Aalim Salon, Hyderabad Reason 1:
After a few minutes of waiting on arrival one of the staff tells me that the stylist that I wanted is unavailable, however a senior stylist is free. This despite my appointment.
Why not to visit Hakim’s Aalim Salon, Hyderabad Reason 2:
The fact that I was not informed about the stylists (top, senior etc.) at any point during my call or on arrival. ( The details on the prices and stylists were known to me because I like researching the brands that I use and found out about this from their website, and from a friend who had visited the salon a week ago.)
Why not to visit Hakim’s Aalim Salon, Hyderabad Reason 3:
When I informed him that the appointment was with a top stylist, he looked slightly taken aback and mumbled “Yes yes, she is also the top stylist.”
Why not to visit Hakim’s Aalim Salon, Hyderabad Reason 4:
All this while they completely forgot that the appointment was for two people - WE had to remind them. Then the arrangements were made for my friend’s haircut!!!!
Why not to visit Hakim’s Aalim Salon, Hyderabad Reason 5:
Their so called “Top-Stylist” could only suggest a ‘step-cut’ – The reason given I had curly hair and her imagination couldn’t think beyond a step-cut.
Lady, if I wanted a step-cut I could have gone to Habib’s (which by the way is any day better) or Latitudes , or for that matter any neigbourhood parlour. Why claim yourself to be top-stylist if you offer exactly what the street parlour offers?? I mean what the hell are you the top-stylist for?
Why not to visit Hakim’s Aalim Salon, Hyderabad Reason 6:
I still had hope, thinking the execution may be better .. you know the final touches, removal of frizz , magical removal of split ends .. something!!
Why not to visit Hakim’s Aalim Salon, Hyderabad Reason 7:
You get a very ordinary haircut for a price that could ensure just the same or even a better haircut and money left for one more haircut!! My super normal haircut cost me a very unjustified Rs. 975/- and my friends cost Rs. 575/- .
Why not to visit Hakim’s Aalim Salon, Hyderabad Reason 8:
Better and more professional outlets available, with less hype and talk and more satisfactory results. Where you ask? Well you could try this , this or even the likes of this ( The first two recommended are from my personal experience, the third does come recommended – just not from me!).
Based on better experience, better hair and all that at a lesser price.
One plus point about the visit : I would have otherwise not known how crappy the place is.
June 15, 2009: The day I revisited Hakim’s Aalim after much thought, did this visit change the way I feel about this place? Read here.
Hakims Aalim Revisited
June 15, 2009
Clue in the Cart..
Inside shopping carts lie clues: clues that can give an insight on the success or failure of a product/brand and the extent of it.
Your product is a sure hit if you see customers stocking up on it for no evident reason. Some examples of such products that I can recollect from my own experience: Maggi, Lacto calamine, Dabur Gulabari. Neither of these brands show signs of weakening, nor are they emergency requirements, yet the consumer wants to have them handy. The fear of running out of these products is reason enough to stock up.
The reasons could be many – brilliant product, ease of use, great service.
Bottom-line: If you have your customers buying the product in bulk for no apparent reason, you have done something very right .
Music
When my eyes begin to open
A nights dream fulfilled
Your thoughts and the magic you wove
Keep me warm and dreaming still
Sometimes dawn carries with it the knifes edge
Wounds of what’s been said
It’s afterall love my darling
Whose demands are steep and high
There are days when I trip and fall
,The journey through these fort walls,
Believing in the whisper of the wind
For it carries with it the music you make
This flame that keeps me awake
Guiding me through the clouds of delight
Stirring my soul and this human me
All of me is the music you make
You call it destiny
I call it my everything
No clue how it came it be
Love is more than it’s claimed to be
Sums it all up ?
‘The only kingdom that runs on righteousness is the kingdom of heaven. The kingdoms of earth run on oil. The Arabs have oil.’
‘Walk the Line’
Been listening to this all day:
I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
Because you’re mine, I walk the line
I find it very, very easy to be true
I find myself alone when each day is through
Yes, I’ll admit that I’m a fool for you
Because you’re mine, I walk the line
As sure as night is dark and day is light
I keep you on my mind both day and night
And happiness I’ve known proves that it’s right
Because you’re mine, I walk the line
You’ve got a way to keep me on your side
You give me cause for love that I can’t hide
For you I know I’d even try to turn the tide
Because you’re mine, I walk the line
I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
Because you’re mine, I walk the line
– Johnny Cash
Welcome Back!! 
Fortune lost at the bottom of the organisation pyramid
That is one of the tragedies of owning a business empire…and then overlooking the staff’s induction as part of the organisation.
Despite the principles of customer delight that govern the operations of the brand, big names in the service industry are losing money, customer confidence and loyalty to their competitors.
Some of the reasons for this – Poor point of sale service, inability of the front end employees to grasp the real meaning of the brands guidelines and their underestimation of the competitor’s .. well .. competitiveness.
Employees higher up may be working towards wealth creation, while cases of fortune lost through the bottom of the organisation pyramid go unnoticed. Where then, is the difference in the customers experience while shopping at the countries leading retail chain or at a local kirana store?
The cases of this happening may be few and far, but thats no reason to stop its occurance entirely.
Child friendly homes.
Almost every brand has a child artist in its ad- campaign. A child’s inherent cuteness and the parents/guardians vulnerability is leveraged to its maximum. Organizations are increasingly banking on this tried and tested formula to sell.
In such a scenario, a statement like ‘Child friendly home’ appearing on a real estate firms Billboard advertisement seems like another sales gimmick.Probe further and you would be surprised (pleasantly) at what you discover. I asked the realtors what exactly a ‘child friendly home’ meant, and here’s what they had to say:
1. Low seating options, for the child to climb on to at different places of the home (Living room, bedrooms)
2. No sharp edges in the furniture and counters provided
3. Anti-slip tiles in the child’s room
4. Playground within apartment premises
Loved the whole idea, here are a few points I would add:
1. Slip resistant tiles in all areas of the house where water is used frequently (Kitchens and washrooms)
2. Facility to accommodate a small safety gate at all staircases.
3. All electrical fixtures should be child safe and away from the child’s reach
Also, if the home is made ‘Child Friendly’ why not make it ‘Elderly friendly’ as well? – this would mean additions like grab bars ( of this kind and this kind) in the washrooms, easy to clean and maintain surfaces, easy to use security/alarm systems etc. .
My take – It is very refreshing to know that local players in the real estate market are paying attention. A little more detail and insight would do wonders to ensure that the buyers don’t have to keep shelling out for home improvements.