It is obvious Pat Bakeman loves his job.

Equally obvious is the fact that he is committed to the city he grew up in.

This week, the barber was able to see his dedication to his passion and the community pay off as his business, Bakeman Barbers, celebrated a decade of service.

Plenty of businesses come and go in downtowns all over America. When pitted against large chains who are able to offer more affordable services because of bulk-buying, lower pay wages, etc., it is often difficult for downtown businesses to compete.

It seems the common elements of the winning formula for success in downtown business are those Bakeman possesses: commitment to community and passion for his profession.

It goes without saying that positive attitudes benefit every aspect of life. When you like what you do and are happy to go to work each day, you produce a better product or provide a better service.

Bakeman took his passion for cutting hair one step further when he decided to return to Dowagiac to open his business. Often when business owners return to their hometowns to open shop, they have the added benefit of already knowing their clientele.

When business owners know the community they serve, the benefits are two-fold: first, they have a built-in potential customer base. Friends and supporters are likely to frequent a business when the know the person who operates in. Second, when business owners have an understanding of the community they serve (as Bakeman seems to), they are able to provide better business models because they know what their customers want.

Business owners and those aspiring to open a business in any downtown area can learn a lot from the Bakemans, and should take their keys to success into consideration.

We wish Bakeman Barbers a  hearty congratulations, thank them for their commitment to the Grand Old City and wish them many more decades of success.

 

Opinions expressed are those of the editorial board consisting of Publisher Michael Caldwell and editors Ambrosia Neldon, Craig Haupert, Ted Yoakum and Scott Novak.