Earlier this month we attended the Rockets Man launch. The invitation that preceded the event stirred our interest as we couldn’t quite make out what Rockets Man was and what they were launching. We finally settled on the possibility of Rockets Man being a cigar lounge and were pleasantly surprised to discover at the launch that Rockets Man is a barber shop.
Male grooming has been on the rise for many years now. Euro monitor international reported that in 2016 over half a billion US dollars were contributed to the South African cosmetic industry with the purchase of male grooming products alone, and there’s been an estimated 8% annual growth rate in this sector. Alongside South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria are spearing ahead in creating channels that expand on the services, products and spaces for the male grooming trend.
It’s smart business that the Rockets brand has branched into the male grooming space. It’s not lost on us that the founder’s surname is “Barber”, but more than just a surname, the success of Rockets Man lies on the vision of a passionate entrepreneur who is creating a Rockets lifestyle brand that we’re definitely signing up for.
Starting out as a CA, Sean Barber took the entrepreneurial jump in 2007 to start the Rockets restaurant. He describes restaurateuring as: “the most creative form of business or art that you can get. It appeals to all five of your senses at all time.”
Rockets Man may be the latest addition to the Rockets lifestyle portfolio, however, it certainly won’t be the last. Sean Barber gave us some insight into where he’s taking the brand and trust me you want to keep your eye out on Rockets for some beautiful developments that are coming soon.
We were highly impressed by the Rockets Man signature store in the Sandton City Mall (opposite the iStore). The attention to detail with the interior was on point and the high end yet affordable bespoke experience was the cherry on top.
We sent two of our Moziak gents for a grooming experience at Rockets Man to give you an insight to what you can expect. See the video below.
Look out for Rockets Man opening in Rosebank and Fourways in Johannesburg soon.
