Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club®, an old-world style barbershop franchise, is announcing the launch of it’s new men’s hair care and shaving product line.

Orlando, Fla. – March 1, 2010 – Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club® , an old-world style barbershop franchise, has recently launched its new signature men’s grooming and hair care product line. All of the new Kennedy’s products are made of natural ingredients, and these include a Pre-Shave Oil, Shaving Cream and After-Shave Soother. The products are available in the Kennedy’s “Original Scent” and offer great soothing and calming properties good for all skin types.

The Kennedy’s Pre Shave Oil offers the first step to efficiently prepare your face for shaving. The oil protects the skin and coats the hair. It actually softens the whiskers, while relieving irritations and eliminating dryness. It’s made of a blend of natural oils, which give it a light consistency. It can also be used after shaving to relieve irritations if any occur, or on a short trimmed beard to moisturize skin underneath and give a nice glow to the face.

The Kennedy’s Shaving Cream hydrates and protects the skin to make it ready for a close shave, without any discomforts. The cream generates a rich and creamy lather to open the pores (combined with hot water), softens the whiskers, protects the skin and eliminates irritations.

Finally, the Kennedy’s After-Shave Soother is the pure, easy way to finish off the Perfect Shave. The Soother is non-greasy and lightweight, fast absorbing, leaving skin smooth and fresh. It has a long-lasting moisturizing effect for a smooth feeling skin. The After-Shave Soother can also be used as a daily moisturizer (face and body).

Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club® CEO, Chris Hurn, said, “We are very excited to launch our new product line, specifically made to cater to men and our grooming needs. We stand behind the quality and functionality of these new products, and we are certain that our members will be excited and satisfied as well.”

Kennedy’s offers an old-fashioned barbershop experience with modern amenities. Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club® is a membership-based barber club that is quickly becoming famous for its signature straight-razor shaves, as well as its luxurious accommodation for men who enjoy an exceptional grooming experience that is affordable.

Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club® is a member of the International Franchise Association (IFA) as well as VetFran. Along with offering franchises to the general public, VetFran allows Kennedy’s to give special financing opportunities to American Veterans who have been honorably discharged. Kennedy’s is also a part of the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) National Franchise Registry – where fewer than 30% of all franchise systems qualify for listing – offering expedited SBA loan processing. This means that the Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club® concept is approved for any type of U.S. Small Business Administration financing programs and part of an elite group of national franchises.

Learn more about the new Kennedy’s product line and Kennedy’s franchise opportunities by visiting http://www.KennedysBarberClub.com or contact:

Adam Wonus, Franchise Development, Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club® at 1-800-31-SHAVE or Adam.Wonus@KennedysBarberClub.com

About Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club®:

Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club® is a Franchise Concept for discerning gentlemen who are looking for an experience that is the polar opposite of your everyday haircut from the “big chains.” Like most gentlemen, the founders felt out of place at the salons frequented by their wives and the local strip-mall walk-in “chop shops,” so they decided to create a place where they would ENJOY getting the grooming services they need . . . rather than dreading it. While most hair salons cater to women and children, Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club® caters to discerning gentlemen looking for a fine grooming experience with the old-world charm of your father’s barbershop. Offering the finest in haircuts for men, the lost art of straight-razor shaves, and a modern selection of grooming products, Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club® is sure to be your favorite sanctuary to relax and enjoy The Best Haircut and Straight-Razor Shave You’ve Ever Had, or it’s Free™!

There are currently seven Kennedy’s Clubs open, with 152 more sold and to be developed over the next five years.

Learn more about Kennedy’s by visiting http://www.KennedysBarberClub.com

Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club®, an old-world style barbershop franchise, recently launched its Ultimate Groom’s Experience package for Grooms, and will promote the new package at the Perfect Wedding Guide Bridal Show in Orlando, Fl.

Orlando, Fla. – February 25, 2010 – Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club® will be featuring their new “Ultimate Groom’s Experience” this weekend at the Perfect Wedding Guide Bridal Show in Orlando, Fla. The bridal show will take place on February 28th from 10:00am to 4:00pm at the Hilton Orlando Hotel. Kennedy’s will show how their new “Ultimate Groom’s Experience” package is a great way to pamper Grooms on their wedding day, as well as the groomsmen and father of the bride.

Several Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club® locations around Central Florida, and also in Rockville, Md., are offering packages that include a relaxing haircut, straight-razor shave, nose/ear/back waxing (where available,) complimentary beverages and customized Kennedy’s cigars for the groomsmen. This package is available to grooms with a minimum of three groomsmen. Kennedy’s is also offering the groom three complimentary months of their “Pursuit of Happiness®” Membership, if one of their groomsmen becomes a new Kennedy’s member during the Experience.

At the bridal show, Kennedy’s will be giving complimentary straight razor shaves to the grooms and fathers of the bride in attendance. Kennedy’s will also be offering door prizes including a 3-month “Pursuit of Happiness” Membership (a $180 value) and the Kennedy’s Signature Shaving Products Set (a $66 retail value.)

Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club® CEO, Chris Hurn, said, “The Ultimate Groom’s Experience at Kennedy’s is one of those win-win situations. The Groom and his Groomsmen, get a great way to pamper themselves (in a manly way,) and the Brides get cleanly-shaven, good-looking Grooms and Groomsmen on the big day.”

Kennedy’s offers an old-fashioned barbershop experience with modern amenities. Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club® is a membership-based barber club that is quickly becoming famous for its signature straight-razor shaves, as well as its luxurious accommodation for men who enjoy an exceptional grooming experience that is affordable.

Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club® is a member of the International Franchise Association (IFA) as well as VetFran. Along with offering franchises to the general public, VetFran allows Kennedy’s to give special financing opportunities to American Veterans who have been honorably discharged. Kennedy’s is also a part of the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) National Franchise Registry – where fewer than 30% of all franchise systems qualify for listing – offering expedited SBA loan processing. This means that the Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club® concept is approved for any type of U.S. Small Business Administration financing programs and part of an elite group of national franchises.

Learn more about The Ultimate Groom’s Experience and Kennedy’s franchise opportunities by visiting http://www.KennedysBarberClub.com or contact:

Adam Wonus, Franchise Development, Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club® at 1-800-31-SHAVE or Adam.Wonus@KennedysBarberClub.com

About Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club®:

Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club® is a Franchise Concept for discerning gentlemen who are looking for an experience that is the polar opposite of your everyday haircut from the “big chains.” Like most gentlemen, the founders felt out of place at the salons frequented by their wives and the local strip-mall walk-in “chop shops,” so they decided to create a place where they would ENJOY getting the grooming services they need . . . rather than dreading it. While most hair salons cater to women and children, Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club® caters to discerning gentlemen looking for a fine grooming experience with the old-world charm of your father’s barbershop. Offering the finest in haircuts for men, the lost art of straight-razor shaves, and a modern selection of grooming products, Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club® is sure to be your favorite sanctuary to relax and enjoy The Best Haircut and Straight-Razor Shave You’ve Ever Had, or it’s Free™!

There are currently seven Kennedy’s Clubs open, with 152 more sold and to be developed over the next five years.

Learn more about Kennedy’s by visiting http://www.KennedysBarberClub.com

When we blogged during the Super bowl a few weeks ago here at Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club, we blithely dismissed the Dodge Charger Man’s Last Stand commercial thusly:

Dodge Charger Man’s Last Stand? Funny commercial, but couldn’t we go for a Lamborghini?

Little did we know that this commercial was actually stirring up a massive battle-of-the-sexes.

If you haven’t yet seen the ad, it features a series of close-ups of guys articulating all the things they’ll do for their women. I will get up and walk the dog at 6:30 am…l’ll carry your lip balm,I’ll watch your vampire TV shows with you, etc. until we arrive at the kicker. And because I do this, I drive the car I want to drive. And we see the guy revving up the Charger and zooming down the road. Check it out here.

Well. This stirred up an instant response from the woman’s point-of-view. In one response ad that went viral on YouTube, a series of women in close-ups rattle off what they’ll do for their men: I will ignore your smelly loser friend who’s crashing on our couch,I will put my career on hold to raise your children, I will see “Paul Blart, Mall Cop” twice.

Ouch. We still haven’t seen Paul Blart, Mall Cop, once!

Anyway, you can check out that spot here.

To be honest, we thought the initial Dodge commercial was funny, mostly because it finally recognized that vampires are getting way too much airtime these days. Paul Blart, for all his apparent faults, doesn’t bite mall patrons on the neck as far as we know.
More seriously, women and men are very different people most of the time, who are often after very different things. That’s why we’ve tried to create at our Kennedy’s Barber Club locations a man-friendly sanctuary, in the spirit of the hair salons that are more female-friendly.

It doesn’t mean either men or women are superior it just means we should deal with our differences. And it doesn’t mean we should carry our partner’s lip balm as a part of a master plan to get the car we want to have. We should do that to be nice.

Perhaps the real problem with the initial Dodge commercial is the fact that the voiceover was done by Michael C. Hall, everyone’s favorite serial killer on the Showtime series, Dexter. I think if we put it to a vote to all the guys out there, someone best known as a clever murderer would not be our first pick as a representative.
Maybe Kevin James, instead. He’s a nice, friendly guy.

Feel free to continue the Dodge debate at any of our at Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club franchise locations. In the meantime, we’re going to go tell our smelly loser friend crashing on the couch to at least take a shower. We’re sorry, but we really can’t do much about the loser part.

Here at Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club, we make it a point to keep up with the latest barbershop developments all across the world. If we didn’t, what kind of Barber Club would we be? A sadly uninformed one and our Kennedy’s customers deserve more than that!

So, on February 19th, when a barbershop shattered a world record in Dublin, Ireland, we, of course, were privy to the exciting news. And, as our name is Kennedy’s – a proper Irish name – we felt, in some small part, related to the event. Okay, a very small part, since none of us actually is named “Kennedy.”

Nonetheless, our excitement was also tempered by a wee bit of horror.

You see, the record that was broken in at The Style Club on South William Street was that of shaving the most heads in an hour. To be more precise, 60 heads were shaved in under 60 minutes.

We strongly believe that shaving should not be a speed sport. It’s true that it sometimes comes out that way when we’ve hit the snooze button on the alarm too many times in the morning, and we suddenly find ourselves swiping frenetically at our face with our 6-bladed razor, hoping we don’t take off part of an ear in our desperate effort to get to work on time, but that’s inadvertent speed-shaving. In that Dublin barbershop, it was a planned event.

We shouldn’t carp too much. After all, it was a benefit for the Irish Cancer Society and no heads were actually injured in the chop-shop frenzy. But a barber coming at us with a razor with the intent to cut off as much as possible in as short a time as possible… well, feels like a Sweeney Todd moment to us.

No, we’d much prefer, on this side of the Atlantic, to have the Kennedy’s Barber Club go for the slowest shaving record. Especially with our Signature straight razor shave. Imagine, being able to sit back, feel the warm shaving cream on our face and have it slooooowly scraped off by the straight razor while it creates the smoothest face we’ve felt in weeks!

Oh, sorry. We blanked out there. We think we just got a quick glimpse of the afterlife…there was a blinding white light…coming from a barber pole…?

Anyway, a tip of the Kennedy’s hat to master barber John Galway and the 60 brave souls who risked life, limb and head to make a difference to a great charity. We’re inviting all of you to visit your nearby Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club™ to help us break the kind of record we think should be challenged – the world’s longest nap.

What Men’s Health Left Out

Recently, Men’s Health magazine listed the “12 Smart Things Every Father Should Teach His Son.” These included everything from such no-brainers as which way to twist a jar top to get it off (we usually just slam the jar top against the kitchen counter like a bar fighter cracking off the neck of a beer bottle) to what to do if you’re stopped by a cop (apparently, Dad thinks Junior’s life ambition is to knock over a liquor store).

We at Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club™ believe this list is far from comprehensive and omits some very crucial advice. With this in mind, we’d like to go ahead and add to the list. Not only that, we’re going to provide 14 Smart Things Every Father Should Teach His Son – because we believe in over-achievement in everything we do.
Please feel free to paste this article up on your boy’s bedroom wall, or write the list backwards on his forehead while he’s asleep so he’ll see it in the bathroom mirror in the morning.

Now, without further ado, 14 Smart Things Every Father Should Teach His Son:

1) Don’t leave your girlfriend alone with Charlie Sheen. She may get a reality show out of it, but there’s not much in it for you.

2) Learn Spanish.

3) When you’re having a hectic day, make time for a relaxing Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club™ Signature Haircut and Straight Razor Shave, instead of heading to a Starbucks like everybody else. Caffeine makes you jittery – haircuts make you feel warm and loved.

4) Acne is God’s way of telling you you’re way too good-looking.

5) If you’re looking for a successful franchise investment opportunity, consider Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club™. Our innovative membership pricing model means value for your customer and recurring income for you as owner. That’s why it’s one of the hottest new franchises out there today, son.

6) Don’t shave in the dark.

7) Seriously. Kennedy’s. Think about it, boy.

8 ) Lacrosse, soccer, football and rugby are all basically the same thing – a bunch of guys running from the one end of the field to the other. Basketball is different. It has a floor.

9) A dog is man’s best friend. Don’t tell your future wife.

10) Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club™ is releasing its own private-label grooming products. Buy them all, kiddo.

11) Prepare mentally for the day when there will be no more hair on your head, but plenty on your ears.

12) Even though your cable system now carries 400 channels, there is still nothing on.

13) When you’re on the first date with a girl you really like, avoid using the term “boogers.”

14) Remember, having a regular weekly appointment at Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club™ may extend life expectancy of men by up to five years. This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA.

Of course, this list is still not complete – we haven’t even dealt with golf, barbequing or why it’s inappropriate to wear a polo shirt to your sister’s wedding – but we think it will suffice for now.

Please remember to stop by www.kennedysbarberclub.com for more regular words of wisdom. Well, at least some words at the very least.

We’re watching the Super Bowl like most of America. Watch along with us…

Queen Latifah singing “America the Beautiful.” I thought we were beyond the concept of royalty in this country.

Idea for a sequel to the 70’s classic, “Black Sunday” – the Goodyear, MetLife and Direct TV blimps all crash into each other.

Peyton Manning still sounds to us like the name of a car dealership.

Saints – sentimental favorites. They need a little more than sentiment after the first quarter.

A Simpsons commercial – without a Homer “Doh!”???

Bud Light commercial: a house made out of beer cans. Don’t drink and build. Oh, and get a designated drywaller.

“Super Vision” on instant slo-mo replays. If it’s really Super Vision, shouldn’t we be able to see the players’ underwear?

We’re noticing a lot of sub-par haircuts in the stands. People really need to get to a Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club ASAP.

Phil Simms has “Phil-osophy.” He’s right on the bookshelves between Descartes and Vince Lombardi.

Jay Leno helping David Letterman advertise his show? Does this mean Peyton will start passing directly to the Saints?

Another Bud Light commercial: the “Lost” cast prefers some brewskis to actually getting off the island. They have a point. The show might make more sense if you’re drunk.

Dodge Charger – A Man’s Last Stand? Funny commercial, but couldn’t we go for a Lamborghini?

Okay, the Will. i. am remix of The Who’s “My Generation” and accompanying visuals are awesome.

The Saints stop the Colts and get another field goal before the half. Sentiment is getting more powerful.

“The Who” halftime show. Okay, the boys are old, but they still rock.

Oh, the Colts scored. Hey, wait. This is actually a good game.

The Saints score. They get the 2 point conversion on a challenge. This is a REALLY good game.

Re the earlier comment about Peyton passing directly to the Saints. Oops. It just happened. 31-17 with 3 minutes left.

Two minute warning. If only we had one of those in real life…

The Saints win!

Congrats to a team that deserved it and a city that definitely needed the lift. We’d like to cordially extend a free Kennedy’s haircut and straight razor shave offer to all the members of the New Orleans Saints – you guys can find the nearest Kennedy’s location near you at http://www.KennedysBarberClub.com.

Oh, and Jay and Dave? You guys are welcome too, as long as Conan can come along.

Has it been a while since you’ve changed your look? Do you even understand what the words “change your look” actually mean? Well guys, it’s a new decade, which we at Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club® see as a perfect opportunity for change. It’s time to modernize your wardrobe or finally ditch that mullet and join the 21st century – even if you’re a decade too late. That’s why we tackled this delicate subject in our recent article, “The Kennedy’s Barber Club Guide to The Manly Makeover.”

But then we realized that we only told you what to do and left out what not to do. And a manly makeover can be pretty scary – if certain rules are not followed. So before you embark on your New Look for a New Decade, here are three makeover no-no’s to keep in mind.

1. Makeup is for women. Period. It is not 1982. You are not Billie Joe from Green Day or Adam Lambert. So leave the mascara, the eyeliner and the glitter in your wife’s (or girlfriend’s, or sister’s) drawer where it belongs.

2. Respect the hair you have on your head. Why? Because it looks like you. Different hair = a different guy. We’re not saying cutting it, shaping it and even shaving it all off is a no-no. But changing its color or (horror of horrors) curling it is. Ever seen a guy sitting under a hair dryer with his head covered with pieces of foil or little pink rollers? We rest our case.

3. Dress your age. That tight t-shirt with the hip slogan and men’s capris may look ever so slammin’ on the 16-year-old kid in the photo (although, in our humble opinion, no one really looks good in men’s capris). But you’re 40, and you’re the guy who has to wear it in public. So think before you buy.

Let’s face it – trying a new look can be a risky proposition. At least when it comes to your hair, you can count on Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club®. We’ll give you “The Best Haircut and Straight Razor Shave You’ve Ever Had or It’s Free”™, and a style that will get you noticed…in a good way.

So look for the nearest Kennedy’s location near you – and find out about our awesome franchise opportunities – at http://www.kennedysbarberclub.com. We promise, we don’t even own any hair dryers.

The Style Update You Might Not Know You Need

You brush and floss. You use antiperspirant. You make sure you’re wearing a clean shirt, and chances are it maybe actually matches your pants. You shave every day and visit the barbershop when your hair starts to resemble a small, furry animal. Maybe you even work out. But beyond those very basic basics, you probably don’t give all that much thought to your appearance. And why should you? You’ve got bigger things to worry about. Like your job. And golf.

We understand your predicament. You’re a guy. We’re guys too.

But that’s the whole problem. Because you’re a guy – because you probably don’t obsess over every little detail of your appearance at each and every moment of the day — your look might be stuck in a rut.

Seriously. You could be in one right now and not even know it.

So how do you find out? Well, for starters, take a good look in the mirror. And ask yourself these Very Important Questions.

#1. Are you sporting the same ‘do that worked wonders with the ladies back in high school? Even if you graduated in 1988?

#2. Are you wearing the exact same style of shirt you’ve favored for the past…say…15 years? And we hate to have to ask, but does it go beyond being the same style? Have you actually been wearing the same shirt for 15 years???

#3. Do you resemble, in any way, shape or form, Kenny Powers from “Eastbound and Down?”

If you answered “yes” – or even “maybe” – to any of those questions, we have some sobering news for you, friend.

You need a makeover.

Now before you lock yourself in the TV room with the Steelers and a case of beer, hear us out. A makeover doesn’t have to be some frou frou Tyra Banks thing with mud masks and eyebrow shaping. A guy’s makeover can be very…well…manly. Provided you go about the makeover process in the right way.

First, and this is very important – DO NOT ask any of the women in your life to make you over. You want to look like you, only updated. Not someone who was just visited by the team from “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.”

Second – consult some reputable men’s style magazines for a few ideas, or just check out websites like www.menshealth.com/style or www.gq.com/. Remember, the idea is not to completely duplicate the looks you see, but to get an idea of what might work for you. A style of jacket, or a new t-shirt cut. Nothing drastic. Just more modern, stylish versions of the kind of stuff you like anyway.

Lastly and most importantly, talk to a barber – we, of course, recommend a Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club™ pro – and let him or her know you want to update your look. An experienced barber will know what will and will not work with your face shape, with your hair texture and with your general look. He (or she) will know how to keep you looking like you. Only in this decade. Not the one where Guns ‘n Roses was popular.

For the ultimate male makeover, drop by your local Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club™ – where they guarantee “The Best Haircut and Straight Razor Shave You’ve Ever Had or It’s Free”™. Visit their website at http://www.kennedysbarberclub.com to find the nearest Kennedy’s location near you – and if you’re in a moneymaking frame of mind, check out the great franchise opportunities available.

Oh, and if you’re not an “Eastbound and Down” viewer…this is Kenny Powers…

If you’re getting married – or if you know someone who’s getting married – we invite you to review our article, “Grooming the Groom”, which contains some useful tips to help any groom look his best.

All of us at Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club® want whoever’s “taking the plunge” (isn’t there something vaguely threatening about that phrase?) to look like a million bucks on their wedding day. Of course, you’d prefer to just have that million bucks – that would make for quite the honeymoon – but we all do what we can.

And what Kennedy’s can do for you is offer you “The Ultimate Groom’s Experience,” our new special package for grooms, and, more importantly, their groomsmen.
It’s a delicate subject – what the men who will be standing up with you look like. After all, they’re your buds. Your pals. If you were in Australia, they’d be your mates. You can’t insult them.

But at the same time, you don’t want to have a bunch of guys that look too unruly for ZZ Top standing next to you as your beautiful bride approaches. You could end up guilty of being Unkempt by Association.

The answer? Drag them into the barbershop with you. Because “The Ultimate Groom’s Experience” includes a relaxing haircut, straight-razor shave, nose/ear and back waxing where available, complimentary beverages and, best of all, customized Kennedy’s cigars for all the groomsmen. Imagine all of you, puffing away on our luxury stogies, as the ceremony commences.

Also imagine all of you getting slapped in one single round like the Three Stooges. You don’t smoke cigars while you’re getting married! That went out in the 1930’s!
The “Experience” package is available to all grooms with a minimum of three groomsmen. Kennedy’s is also offering the groom three free months of membership, if one of his groomsmen becomes a new Kennedy’s member.

What better place for male bonding pre-wedding than a Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club® location? If you said, “Well, there are bars,” we would have to reply, “Yes, and wasted grooms are so appreciated at weddings.” Plus, they’re usually the ones smoking cigars when they’re trying to repeat their vows.

Find out more about this special offer at http://www.kennedysbarberclub.com/news/barbershop-franchise-kennedys-all-american-barber-club-now-offering-the-ultimate-grooms-experience.php . Because, gentlemen, and please don’t repeat this to any women, but you and your buds’ time at Kennedy’s just might be the best part of your wedding day!