MADISON – Master Barber Krista Nixon and her husband, Army veteran Corey Nixon, founders of Tactical Grooming, celebrated their move into a larger location in downtown Madison with a ribbon-cutting hosted by Mayor Paul Finley and the Madison Chamber of Commerce.
Located on Church Street, a block-and-a-half off Madison’s downtown square, Tactical Grooming is a veteran-owned barbershop specializing in straight razor military cuts.
The shop also carries private label men’s vegan, all natural grooming products, fragrances, and locally hand-made leather products.
Corey said the thing that sets Tactical Grooming apart from other barber shops is their commitment to military and veteran causes.
“Tactical Grooming is very tailored to the military, providing a 20% discount to military and community heroes, any veteran, military service member, law enforcement, fire and emergency first responders,” said Nixon. “Twenty percent of proceeds go to a veterans organization every year.
“We donated it recently to a company that trains veterans service dogs for free.”
He said they also want to support other local businesses by selling their products.
“We have several vendors who are also customers that sell their products through our store,” said Corey. “We are always trying to grow our connections with other veteran-owned small businesses.”
And the Nixons walk the talk.
They work with a local manufacturer of all-natural oils, butters and soaps to sell their products on consignment, donating a portion of those profits to wildlife preservation. Their saddle leather products are made locally by JMA.
“First of all, much appreciation for your investment in our community and obviously, thank you for your service to our country and your continued support for our veterans,” said Finley. “Your location downtown, if not on the square, is very much a part of our growing downtown area. I believe you will make lots of connections working with other downtown businesses on street festivals and all the activities we have downtown throughout the year.
“It should be huge for you guys.”
Over the years, barbershops often evolve into social gathering spots, and that is the Nixon’s intent for Tactical Grooming with their move downtown.
“We needed to find somewhere where we can expand and grow,” said Corey, who refers to his role with the barbershop as the “business guy” or “IT guy”. “We needed a place where we can add additional barbers as our customer base grows.”
Krista and Ellen Pylka have gone through more than a decade of training each, Ellen first as a cosmetologist, and then as a barber.
Corey is strategizing how to best fit in a third chair.
“We want to provide high quality and a ‘customer first’ mentality,” he said. “That is priority right now so that means we want a quality barber and the right person to fill a third chair.
“I make sure our barbers know I’ll take care of them, if they take care of our customers.”
The Nixon’s envision Tactical Grooming becoming a place for men to pamper themselves, the place where your young son makes memories as he gets his first haircut, or even where you can get your picture taken with Santa Claus like they did for the Polar Express Street festival in December.
“And we take female clients too, if you are not afraid to go to a barber,” Krista laughs.
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