Il Mulino soon found a following and today there are four – soon to be five – additional Il Mulino locations.
An expanding need launches The Academy
As the business flourished, hiring professionals who met White’s standards for Il Mulino began to prove challenging.
Currently, most educational opportunities for barbers focus on clipper work, White explains. But to execute the full range of men’s hairstyles today, a variety of abilities is required, including scissor work. Then there’s learning to use a straight razor for beard grooming and hot shaves, as well as mastering any number of the salon’s other services, which evolve with trends and technology.
There’s a lot to know, and White says the current training and licensing available in the area just doesn’t meet the level of knowledge and skill someone needs to perform at a shop like Il Mulino. He adds that most barbering or cosmetology programs don’t teach interpersonal communication skills or the confidence fundamental to an operator’s success.
Il Mulino addressed this challenge by launching a training program called The Academy. Currently identified by the State as an apprenticeship, the company’s counsel is pursuing legal accreditation.
