The British Master Barbers Magazine Issue 1

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The MAgAZINe Issue 1

Supporting and Improving the UK’s Barbering Community

MEET OUR MEMBERS | EDUCATION | INSPIRATION www.britishmasterbarbers.com



WeLCoMe

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ere at the British Master Barbers we’ve always done our very best to help support the Barbering community and after all these years we still stand by our commitment to the industry. British barbering has grown considerably over the previous years and we’ve always felt that nobody could represent barbers better than the barbers themselves thats why we have created the British Master Barbers. A true non profit organisation that tries to support its members along with offering advice and promotional platform for all skilled barbers.

With help from our friends at Barber Evo we have now created the first members magazine. Full of Tips, advice and the latest news from our members and affiliates. We hope you enjoy the first of our glossy pages. If you wish to get involved or have something you feel would be beneficial to the barbering community, we would love to help, simply contact us at info@britishmasterbarbers.com Kindest Regards, Anthony Copeland Co-Founder of the British Master Barbers Alliance

British Master Barbers Alliance The British Master Barbers Alliance is now the largest UK barbering support network with a social media reach of over 250,000 followers over all platforms. Known as the BMB we are a membership based organisation that offers discounts on barbering products and services along with opportunities to help self promotion and profile building. As more members join we gain the ability to increase our membership benefits which already include a free subscription the UK’s premier barbering magazine Barber Evo, huge savings on barbershop utility bills and free access to chair rental agreements. Because the BMB is run by real barbers we are always committed to supporting our members by getting them involved with industry competitions and live stage demonstrations at some of the largest uk shows we offer the every day barbers the chance to up their game and receive the recognition many of them deserve. For more details and to become part of the BMB family you can join today at Britishmasterbarbers.com.


The BMB Ambassadors Chris Moon, North East Ambassador, Kutz barbershops, Whitley bay & Northshields www.kutzbarbers.co.uk

Darryn Pitman, Welsh Ambassador, Captiva Spa, Caerphilly, Wales @thedarrynpitman

Sid Sottung, Midlands Ambassador, Sid Sottung Academy, Nottingham www.sidsottungacademy.com

Chris has been chopping and slicing fine haircuts for many years now but has been around the barbershop environment for as long as he can remember, with over 85 years of barbering heritage in his blood. Chris is an award winning shaving specialist and Artistic director for international hair grooming brand Hairbond.

Multi award winning Darryn is one of the UK’s most know platform artists and educational inspirations. Darryn travels the world as brand ambassador for Dear Barber hair grooming products.

USA born Sid is currently one of the greatest barbering educators and platform artists, Performing his educational seminars and showcasing his designer hair collections around the world. He continues to offer training courses at his own academy.

Alice Theobald South East Ambassador instagram WONDERLANDHAIRANDMAKEUP www.joygoodman.com/alicetheobald.html

Pat Barry Republic of Ireland Ambassador The Gentry Barbershop Limerick, Ireland

Alice is an established name in hair, makeup, men’s grooming and beauty. Her talent extends into advertising across many brands comprising; Graff, Calvin Klein, Bentley, HSBC, P&G and Moët & Chandon. Alice has written beauty features for Hello! Magazine online and regularly contributes for Hello! photo shoots and is currently the global brand Ambassador for Ark skincare.

Pat Barry is a second generation Irish Barber. He started working at the age of thirteen. Pat is now involved with many aspects of the industry including co-founder of the Irish Barber Alliance & the Lions barber collective.

Davie Walker Scottish Ambassador Davie the Barber Barbershop Paisley, Scotland www.daviethebarber.co.uk

Liam Hamilton South West Ambassador Hamiltons Barbershop Redruth, Cornwall

Sam Arthur Northern Ireland Ambassador Sam’s Barber Shop, Belfast Northern Ireland www.samsbarbershop.co.uk

Liam Hamilton started his career in Devon where he learned the basic skills of barbering. He then joined the Army (Coldstream Guards) and spent two decades honing his barbering skills on the fussiest clients on tap. Prior to leaving the forces he became a fully qualified barber and assessor. He now owns two successful barber shops in Cornwall and runs Amour to Barber.

Starting in the Industry back in 1986 At the age of 16, Sam opened his first shop 2 yrs later where he has worked for for the last 28yrs. Specialising in Mod Styling, Sam is currently the only Mod Barber in Ireland and fortunate to have a very large clientele from all over Europe.

Davie Started in the hair industry at the age of 17 developing his skills into a highly skilled platform artist. Appearing on behalf of some of the biggest UK brands, Davie is now Brand ambassador for Osmo Grooming products and Mattaki scissors.

Dieuwertje Prins Netherlands Ambassador Dieuwertje Started her career in “NB BARBERS” in Sluis (The Netherlands) when she was only 19 years old. During 2014 and 2015 Dieuwertje competed in a lot of competition work around Europe : Barberiasconecanto & nbsp- Coiffure Award, She also holds the prestigious title of “The Barber of The Year Europe 2015”


PROFESSIONAL ACCREDITATION The British Master Barbers Alliance has been designed to help promote established British Barbers and their Barbershops. Good Barbershops struggle to stand out amongst the new breed of unskilled, untalented, uninsured chop shops that are under cutting prices and lowering the credibility of quality, qualified & trained barbers. Customers never ask to see a barbers qualifications or proof of skill and this is why we have created the British Master Barbers Accreditation, Verification of a barbers talent in the form of a beautifully crafted metal plaque. A sign customers can trust and the barber can be proud of. Only fully subscribed members who complete our criteria can apply.

HOW DO I APPLY? We have 3 levels of accreditation available. Each level requires a set criteria of tasks to be completed for successful application. Applications can be made in the Members only area of this website.

British Professional Barber • Open to all members that either hold a full barbering qualification, or can prove a minimum of two years working experience in a Barbershop. • This status is awarded with a personalised metal plaque. Status is only valid with a current BMB membership and a one off fee of £100.

British Master Barber • Open to all members that are fully qualified & have a minimum of five years Barbering experience or have held British Professional status for over 3 years. • Proof of NVQ / SVQ or other recognised Barbering certificate will be required. • Proof of Barbering insurance certificate will be required. • We will be incorporating Direct Observation Assessments (distance assessments) asking you to upload a video or send a Youtube link of yourself working directly on a client to our highly qualified assessors who can judge your physical expertise & skills to achieve all your specific status tasks. • This status is awarded with a personalised metal plaque & Press release for your local newspaper

a clear sign that customers can trust. It confirms that you hold a minimum standard of skill that is expected at each of our accreditation levels. BMB accreditation also offers a simple way to promote your business to your local area through our media press release, sent out confirming your successful completion of Master Barber and Grand Master Barber levels

IS ACCREDITATION COMPULSARY?

• Status is only valid with a current BMB membership and a one off fee of £200.

British Grand Master Barber • Applicable only to barbering Academy owners, Teachers, Lecturers & Assessors of Barbering. These members must be fully qualified in teaching barbering & have a minimum of five years barbering experience. • Proof of Barbering / Teaching / Lecturing & Academy Qualifications will be required. • Proof of Barbering insurance certificate will be required. • We will be incorporating Direct Observation Assessments ( distance assessments ) asking you to upload a video or send a Youtube link of yourself working / teaching directly on a client to our highly qualified assessors who can judge your physical expertise & skills to achieve all your specific status tasks. • This status is awarded with a personalised metal plaque & a press release for your local newspaper. • Status is only valid with a current BMB membership and a one off fee of £300.

WHY SHOULD I APPLY FOR ACCREDITATION? The BMB accreditation is simply designed to be

Our accreditation service is by no means compulsory and is only recommended to barbers who understand the importance of keeping at the top of their game and continually chase goals to better themselves. This accreditation should be seen as a personal achievement that archives a high level of competence.

DOES IT MAKE ME A BETTER BARBER THAN EVERYONE ELSE? The simple answer is No. Everybody knows that you never stop learning and our accreditation is a confirmation of a minimum set level that provides a stepping stone to keep you enthused about the industry. Continuing your barbering journey to higher knowledge and skill set is a must at any level of competence and down to you to keep pushing the standard higher.

WHY DOES IT COST? As a non profit organisation The British Master Barbers make very little revenue to support the large costs involved with supporting the British barbering industry. Most of the costs are covered by the founders of BMB along with brand advertising, revenue made by our membership fees, product sales and accreditation. The BMB team is made up of long term full time working barbers and barbering lecturers who offer their time voluntarily and completely free of charge to asses the accreditation applications.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I FAIL MY APPLICATION? If you fail your application you will be notified why and advised on how to improve your skill set or which requirements need to be met. You will then be allowed to apply again or change to the correct level suited to you.


Andy’s Barber Shop One man’s journey to opening Oxfordshire’s only bespoke 10-chair barber shop

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hen the opportunity arose for Andy’s Barber Shop to move to bigger premises owner and Master Barber Andy Willis knew that this was his chance to create something really special. Andy’s Barber Shop in Bicester, Oxfordshire is now one of the country’s largest barber’s shop boasting a stunning bespoke interior, 10 cutting stations, a VIP area and a talented team of barbers – the majority of whom have Professional and Master Barber status. Having been barbering for over 25 years and owning his own shop for almost 10 years, Andy knew it was time to expand when his small, quirky shop in the town centre just couldn’t physically cope with the customer demand. So Andy moved his business literally around the corner to a space that has enabled the shop to be four times bigger than his previous location. When he took on the lease it was just an empty shell, but Andy had a vision and worked with a local shop fitting contractor, NJF Shop fittings, who managed the entire project from start to finish.

Andy said: “I know how to cut hair, but I don’t know a thing about building so needed to work with an experienced company who could help guide me through the process and take away the stress.” The result is exceptional; a completely bespoke design including eight Oak curved inlaid privacy screens with workstations, solid surface worktops, framed large mirrors and back wash station to the ground floor and bespoke bench seating in the waiting area. A centre piece is the bespoke American white oak staircase from ground floor to the mezzanine where there’s an office and VIP area with two further cutting stations. Every aspect of the shop has been carefully thought through and planned out, resulting in stylish yet practical shop that customers enjoy visiting and the barbers enjoy working in. Now Andy’s Barber shop averages 230 cuts on a Saturday with eight barber’s working on the shop floor and two further barbers in the VIP room for those who want some privacy or have pre-booked a Pride and Groom package for their special day.


Andy explains: “I travelled the country to look at some of the best barber shops in the UK and don’t get me wrong - they’re impressive, but our new shop really is something special. I’m so proud of how far we’ve come and I know our customers really enjoy their experience here too. The British Master Barber accreditation was the icing on the cake - it isn’t easily gained, so it was a real honour but we’ve a very talented team who thoroughly deserve the highlyrespected status. He added; “In fact we broke three records; youngest barber, only Romanian and first from Banbury to ever receive the British Master Barber accreditation.” The move to his bespoke new shop was the culmination of years of hard work, dedication and a longstanding passion for barbering. Andy, who was born and raised in the Oxfordshire market town of Bicester has now brought a whole new level of Barber Shop to the town and is a testament to his ethos of treating the customer to a unique experience that can’t be found anywhere else. Andy has always been very aware that ladies went to the hairdressers to look and feel great, but men didn’t have anywhere to go for the same experience. Even in the early days of Andy’s first shop the emphasis was very much on making the customer feel like a ‘King.’ The opening of Andy’s new bigger shop enabled him to take his culture to a new level by creating a spacious environment where men can sit-down and have time for themselves in a welcoming, relaxed, spacious and modern environment that provides an element of privacy with individual cutting stations, a spacious waiting area that is beyond the main shop floor, so customers don’t feel like they’re being watched, air conditioning, HDTV and a complimentary drink. From its early days Andy’s Barber Shop has always led the way for others to follow - for

example at their previous location they become the only barbers in town to offer hot towel shaves, work late nights, have a HDTV, and have both male and female barbers. The new shop doesn’t just raise the standards – it sets them. Described as a traditional barber shop with a modern twist, Andy’s Barber Shop showcases exactly that, with male and female barbers all offering traditional hot towel shaves, as well as traditional cuts, the latest trends as well as perms and highlights. Heading up the team is shop floor manager and Master Barber Ryan, who has been with Andy since he opened his own shop in 2008. Reflecting on their early years together, Andy said: “When Ryan joined me there just weren’t so many courses available like there are today, nor did I have the funds available to pay for them, so Ryan was trained in-house and is now the most popular Barber in Bicester. If we have 10 customers waiting, I’d say eight would be waiting for Ryan.” Now Andy’s team of barbers have exposure to training with the very best in the UK with tried and tested results in both classic and contemporary barbering. Andy feels strongly that to keep up with what clients want it’s essential that all his barbers excel at all skills; from all over scissor cuts to hot towel shaves. He added: “Today you see a lot of barbers who can only do fades, but there’s more to barbering than that and it’s about what the customer wants. Some men would much prefer a scissor cut all over and come back every three weeks, rather than the clippers. “Men are wearing their styles longer and swept back, some want highlights, colouring and perms and we can offer them whatever they want, not to mention a reputation for the perfect hot towel shave. Perfection is what it’s all about and our customers expect nothing less than that.”

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Armour to Barber How barbers are helping our heroes

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ore than 14,000 people leave the Armed Forces each year. Yet they are twice as likely to be unemployed as civilians. Amid warnings the Army is being “hollowed out” through cuts to front line forces, Armour to Barber (A2B) was launched to help ex-service personnel to gain vital work experience in approved barbershops all over the UK. The organisation also provides detailed information on the charities that can offer essential funding and carefully advises which courses suit the needs of its prospects best. The A2B movement was founded by former serviceman Liam Hamilton. A barber since his early 20s, Liam served in the Coldstream Guards for 21-years before returning to a barbershop. Upon leaving the Guards, he faced an adversity that many members of the armed forces are confronted with – a lack of post-service opportunities. Thankfully, barbering gave him a platform to build his own business, learn a respected trade and enjoy a life of creativity. He explained: “At A2B our mission is to enable ex-service personnel to reinvent themselves in an exciting and rewarding industry. No matter how many years of service our prospects have given, we are here to help them transition smoothly into barbering with all the support they need.” Liam, the South West Ambassador for the British Master Barbers, now owns a busy barbershop in the Cornish town of Redruth, named Hamilton’s Barber Shop. The 46-year-old, a Master Craftsman with the Barber Council, says he wants to use his transition from the military to the barbershop to encourage more ex-service personnel to become barbers. He points to a recent survey his organisation commissioned with The Bluebeards Revenge that highlighted how the industry will continue to grow rapidly over the next five years.

Our research shows that 83% of those working in the industry think the barbering sector will continue to flourish. However, 63% of the 1,001 respondents believe the industry does not currently have enough quality barbers to cope with the rising demand from consumers. This is where he thinks ex-forces personnel could help to plug the skills gap. “Barbering is enjoying a renaissance that shows no signs of slowing down, which has created a shortage of high-quality barbers,” he explained. We believe that ex-service men and women have all the attributes to take the trade by storm: patience, people skills, an attention to detail and the ability to stand on their feet all day without a single complaint. The A2B organisation works closely with premium men’s grooming brand The Bluebeards Revenge to deliver its important services. The premium barbershop brand has a great appreciation for the armed forces, with its Managing Director David Hildrew having previously served as a Royal Marine’s Commando. He said: “We are proud to support A2B and offer comrades-in-arms a fantastic chance to retrain in a lucrative industry with plenty of opportunities. These highly-skilled individuals make fantastic barbers and deserve a chance to thrive outside of their military pasts. A2B has also signed up a number of other great

barbering brands to its roster, including barber booking software Booksy, high end scissor company Matakki and barber and salon cape manufacturer Neocape. Matakki Founder James Curd said he was looking forward to working with A2B to help the industry attract more ex forces personnel, a movement that is also very close to his heart. He explained: “As an ex service man this is a cause that I can whole heartedly support and believe in. As the youngest serving engineer in the Gulf war I can relate to the adjustment from military to civilian life and have many ex comrades who found this experience a difficult transition for a variety of reasons, often feeling lost and without direction.“ At Matakki we believe in providing opportunity and acknowledging ambition. I personally believe the mental strength to succeed exhibited by ex-force individuals is a commendable attribute. I look forward to being part of this movement and seeing the many opportunities it provides to those working under it. A2B has also developed a close relationship with the RFEA, who exist to provide life-long, life-changing support, jobs and training opportunities to service leavers and veterans. In total, more than 100 barbershops have now signed up to the programme to offer work experience placements, including heavyweight chains Mr Barbers and Headcase. However, A2B is keen to grow the programme still further. Experience is the best teacher, which is why every ex-service man or woman that wants to become a barber needs a stable work placement to help them on their journey,” Liam, who is also a NVQ Level 3 Assessor, said. It’s our aim to provide this to them with the help of the UK’s finest barbers and barbershops. If you’d like to offer your shop and knowledge to our cause then visit armourtobarber.uk and register your interest today.”


CoNsuLTATIoN - eAsy As ABC

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ver since gentlemen have been having their hair cut, beards trimmed and their chins shaved, there has been some form of consultation process. There used to be only one question ‘How short?’ But nowadays, the consultation is a complex process, and is probably the single most important part of the service. If you don’t get it right and understand fully your clients requirements, you will have a difficult job sending them out happy, with the style they envisaged when they walked in. The whole experience of getting your hair cut is an emotional one. First of all the client knows he needs to come to the barbershop, because either a) he looks scruffy b) he has an interview/wedding/party to attend c) his wife/girlfriend/mum or granny has told him to go So he already has an expectation in his mind, that generally, he has to look good for someone else. And if it all goes wrong, they won’t be happy. This is why our initial questions are so important. Asking open and emotional related questions like ‘How do you feel about your hair today?’ or ‘What is it you like about your hair’ I find that clients tend to be able to expand on their own likes and dislikes much easier, and are more open about their hair and problems they have with it, without too much prompting. Second, most men when asked what it is they require when sat in the barbers chair, are usually give the same response a) I’ll have the usual/same as last time/you remember how I have it.. b) Two back and sides and short on top c) I don’t know/ask my wife/girlfriend/granny... Or now becoming more popular is d) Can I have that!(client shows you a photo from Instagram/Facebook/Pintrest) The first three examples are where our skills in extracting information come in, in order to find out what it is they actually want, rather than what they have said. And the last example is where we use our talents to advise the client, that the image of the Razor Fade Pompadour, they have just shown you is achievable, but only with some effort, a hair-dryer, a brush product and hairspray....’all available to purchase here sir...’ If he does not have time of the inclination to do that then offer him an easy maintainable version of his photo. And have the confidence to tell him if it is just not possible, after all, you are the professional.

Good consultation leaves the door wide open for retail opportunities, often without the need to sell the product, as the client is already hooked, as they want to be able to achieve that look or style. I have set out an easy way to remember how to approach the consultation, and it is as easy as ABC. A – Approach Approach and greet your client with a firm handshake and a smile, and using their name. Leave the gown off your client at this point, so you can see their clothing/style and they are able to touch their hair without restriction. Stand in front of the client, not behind the chair, to establish direct eye contact, therefore establishing trust and relaxing the client. Ask you client if it is OK to touch their hair with your hands or comb before you start. B – Before Ask your client ‘How do you feel about your last haircut?’ and they will open up about their experience before, whether it be in your shop or another. Question them on their regime, what shampoo/product use/hair-dryer or straighteners? Discuss the required style, length, height of fade, styling and product requirements C – Confirm Recap on your consultation to confirm your clients requirements, and how they will be able to look after the haircut themselves and what products they may need. You are now ready to place the gown over your client and start your service.

07976964352 tony@esquirebarbershop.co.uk @esquirebarbershop


The Busiest Man in The Industry A lot of people ask me if I sleep…

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ith Mike Taylor Education, The Great British Barbering Academy, The Barbering Resource Book, a real-life training academy and 8 barbershops, sometimes I can see their point. But I do have a lot of help with all of this, there is no way I could do this on my own. Out of my 8 shops I don’t own any of them alone, I have business partners in all of them and these business partners have all worked for me in the barbershop at one stage. My business model is to start on 50%-50% split, then, when you have a clientele built up it changes to 55%-45% to the barber. The top money would be 60%-40% but for this money I would expect you to manage the shop. When a barber has been a manager for a long time, the day might come when they want their own shop, this is when I offer them to go into business with me. I find the premises and location, I help with my knowledge on how to start a barbershop, what décor, equipment, insurance & licenses etc. and they work and manage

their shop. This way they only have half of the start-up costs and have constant support from me. As I own my own training academy I also staff the shops with people who I have taught, this means I can build the perfect team that will work together well. I never had a business plan of doing this, it just organically developed over time and it is something I have always been proud of. The running of my academy is aided by a very good team of 5 barber trainer assessors and an IQA, who quality assures everything. I also have my wife on board who does all the admin, signs up my students and even teaches theory lessons and functional skills. So, let’s move on to the Great British Barbering Academy. This is made up of a team of 18 top class barber trainers that deliver training all over the UK. I have trainers all over the country, from Cornwall to Glasgow. With these guys it has become more like a club. We all share the same passion and we think the world of each other and

enjoy working together. When I started the BBA with Hannah Grigg and Graham Stachwell we soon got Chris Foster and Paul Evans on board, so we can make a bigger impact, I have always been a believer in sharing and working together towards one goal. So many people ask how I do it all as they are struggling to open their second shop. Again, it is simple, let other people have part of the pie then everyone is a winner. We all know that barbers are different species from the rest of the human race, so you are never going to be able to make them uniform… it’s best to work with them, as I see it. So, a typical week in the world of Mike Taylor is; Monday – teaching Tuesday - barbershop admin Wednesday - business development Thursday – teaching Friday - free day for shop cover Saturday - barbershop cutting Sunday - Admin or teaching Yes, I am on a seven-day operation, but I have to say I love what I do.

All I wanted to do with this feature was to give people an insight into what I do and what allows me to do it. My summary is the great team that I work with, allow me to do what I do. Some of the barbers have been with me for over a decade and I normally retain partners and that is because I do my best to make sure they are happy, and their life plan is in check as well as mine. As the saying goes “there is no I in team” and I am firm believer in working together, collaboratively, towards one goal.


The Apprentice Name: Louis Mclean Age: 16 Position: Apprentice Barber IG: @Barberlouisuk Barbershop: The Golden Scissors, Dorking, Surrey www.goldenscissors.co.uk

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ust over two years ago when i was still at school we had to organise our work experience placements. I had always enjoyed my visits to the Golden Scissors barbershop for my own haircut. There had always been a great atmosphere in the shop with non stop laughs and fun banter. I asked Tony Copeland the boss if he would allow me to visit his shop for a week to gain experience of what working in the barbershop was like. Thankfully he accepted. On my first day i was expecting to sit about watching and maybe sweep up occasionally but working with such an amazing team i wasn’t really surprised to be thrown in the deep end practising shampoo’s and head massaging techniques. By the end of the week i had even done a full crop using very basic skills and over watched by Tony. That week confirmed that this was going to be my future career. Last year i was talking with Tony who said he could help with my college application as he was previously the barbering lecturer at Central Sussex College where i was planing to attend. I was soon signed up and ready to get going. I think because i showed so much enthusiasm for the trade Tony offered me an apprenticeship at his shop and I’m so pleased he did. The Golden Scissors team are all very passionate about the industry and have lots of experience with education, photo shoots, barbering shows and live demonstrations so i was clearly in the best place to learn.

In less than a year I’ve learnt life skills, many cutting & shaving skills and to top it off I’ve met some of the UK’s greatest inspirational barbers like Sid Sottung, Mike Taylor and MK who have all given me amazing tips and great career advice. I’m almost qualified now and really proud of where i am and what I’ve achieved but still know I’ve got a way to go. As so many people have said to me you never stop learning. I have Just completed my first photo shoot with help from my friends who volunteered to be my models and the Golden Scissors team with support, guidance and the photography its Part of the trade i’d never thought about but really enjoyed every minute. Although its through the college that I’m getting qualified i really see the importance of

shop experience. It has filled all the gaps that unfortunately cant be achieved in a college setting, like real consultations, working with the disabled and how to conduct myself around celebrity clients. Working in a really busy barbershop has given me the best start to my career and I’m so thankful to everyone that has taken the time and helped push me in the right direction. Im not sure yet what the future has planed for me as I’ve done more in the last 10 months then i could ever have imagined but every day I’m building my industry profile as well as a decent client base. I know I’ve made the right choice of career and would suggest to anyone in my position make sure you get qualified, find the best shop you can to gain the right experience. Louis


APPoINTMeNT BookINgs Are They For you?

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pportunist clients enjoy the freedom of the walk-in barbershop but do modern men really have time to wait for a decent haircut? We’re going to take a look at how booking and business management apps such as Booksy are transforming the barbering world and creating revenue that is often missed by exclusively walk-in barbers. For as long as we can remember, walk-ins have been the way of the barber and it works on a basic level. Walk-ins are definitely great for new customers, there’s no doubt about it but you want that new customer to stay with you and that is where booking systems like Booksy come into their own. There are many objections, the most common being “walk-ins work for me” and fear of the unknown may prevent many from taking those steps to further financial gain despite there being so many barbers that have taken the leap of faith and never looked back. Normally with walk-ins, once a client has left the chair, there’s no way to contact them again or know why they haven’t returned in a long time.

Booking and business management systems, such as Booksy, provide more than just an online calendar- they hold the key to loyalty. Walk-ins are available alongside appointments and are always welcome but it’s that customer in your chair that is part of your unbridled database that you need to harness in order to monetise by turning them into a regular client. “When a walk-in sits down in the chair’, says Greg Mac, Booksy UK’s Online Consultant Manager, “our merchants get them to download the app and book in their next appointment there and then so that you’ve already guaranteed the next service. From there, you can market to them and automate discounts including to those ‘slipping away’ that haven’t visited in a while.” You can turn your customers into loyal clients with Booksy and reduce cancellations and no-shows. Booksy sends automatic appointment reminders to the client 24 hours before, encourages them to reschedule if they go to cancel and allows you to charge cancellation fees if they leave it too late or don’t show up.

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As a result, users report 30% more recurring bookings! Not only do clients prefer the improved service of their barber’s undivided attention when they’re not racing through the queues or to answer the phone, they also love the ability to book 24/7 whenever wherever and as a result, 60% of bookings are made outside of opening hours. On the other side of that, Booksy staff users report that they feel their day is more organised, they’re less stressed and their love for the craft returns. Our view is that with the option of work/life balance being restored, consistently increasing profits and still keeping walk-ins, systems like Booksy seem too good to be true. But if you don’t believe us then download your free trial now using booksy.info/bmb and get 25% off your first 3 months when you join! We know you’ll love it, as will your clients, and you’ll wonder why you didn’t use it sooner.


The MAsTer BArBer LIVe shoW

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he Master barber Live show is the BMBs annual event showcasing a high standard of education and our members talent, along with opportunities to network and meet the faces behind the everyday barbering brands you regularly use. With education at the forefront of the Master Barber Live show we are always lucky to see demonstrations by some of the UK’s finest barbering educators. During last years event British Master Barbers Ambassadors Darryn Pitman, Davie Walker, Sam Arthur and Sid Sottung took to the main stage showing off an array of talent whilst Andis Educators Kevin Vorley and MK gave fine displays of business, Artistic and Tool Knowledge. Mk as always creating an artistic masterpiece, this time pulling off a beautiful Floyd Mayweather portrait. Sam Arthur and Will Ward battled in the Mods vs Rockers challenge to recreate two very different styles from the most prominent subcultures that have paved the way for modern styles within todays British fashion and James Williams from the Autism Barbers assemble enlightened the show by bringing on his amazing guest model Duncan who is on the Autistic spectrum. Every year we aim to provide as much education for free to all show attendees and we find the best way is our special seminar rooms catering to shaving and modern cutting demonstrations throughout the day. Shaving education is always in high supply with thanks to Mike Taylor,

Bluebeards Revenge and Salon Services new Barbering section called Basin St. Everything from line ups, full traditional shaves and head shaves are always on the menu. The amazing Sid Sottung displayed his modern cutting techniques in the Sid Sottung Academy room. Be warned that the popularity of his legendary demonstrations can cause a standing room only. To see Sid and his highly skilled team at work is nothing short of inspiring and his academy is now recognised as an official BMB Barbering training centre of excellence. With over 25 various trade exhibition stands around the the show there is a mixture of consumables and the chance to meet the faces behind the brands you regularly use. With products from these exhibitors everybody can leave with the latest tools, barbering products and of course the latest copy of the UK’s premier barbering magazine Barber Evo. The BMB Barber of the year competition final is also held in the Battle room and works similar to an American barber battle, starting out with a photo entry leading onto a live final at the show. This competition is only open to fully signed up BMB members and offers the opportunity to build your industry profile along with the chance to gain the title of British Master Barber of the year. A show not to be missed. For the latest details of our next show and the chance to enter the barber of they year please visit Masterbarberlive.com


Scissor Maintenance The whys and hows of a good routine

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hen you purchase a pair of scissors, you need them to cut at their best for as long as possible. How you treat your scissors is a key factor in their performance and life expectancy. At Spencer Scissors we are passionate about scissor education: explaining why you should take the time needed to properly care and maintain your scissors is an important part of this. Cleaning • Wiping hair and products off your blades after every haircut is crucial – for hygiene and the health of your scissors. • Wet hair left on the blades creates an ideal environment for rust to form. Rust kills scissors, so taking preventative measures. • Hair products can damage blades by: - acting as an adhesive to hold water and hair on the blade enabling rust to get a hold - the ingredients being corrosive to metals - the stickiness of some products can give scissors a gritty feel when cutting, which can result in mechanical damage to the scissors • We recommend using an old piece of chamois or alternative to clean your blades. Using a chamois or alternative Many scissors are supplied with a small, thin piece of cloth, it’s understandable why many think it’s for keeping the metal shiny. However, used correctly, it keeps scissors sharper for longer by pushing any burrs created by cutting away from the edge. Do this as often as possible – after every haircut would be ideal. This makes such a massive difference to scissors: if this isn’t part of your scissor care routine yet, you really must try it, and here’s how… you can thank us later! • After cleaning your scissors, use a large piece of cloth folded double or more, and place over the edge of the blade. • Hold in place firmly, taking care to ensure your palm or fingers are nowhere close to the cutting edge. • Apply some downward pressure, and very slowly move down the blade, from base to tip. Repeat this several times for each blade. For thinning (tapering) and texturising scissors, use the above steps for the solid blade, and the following steps for the toothed one: • Place a large, folded cloth in the palm of one hand. • Hold the scissors firmly open, and with some pressure, drag the toothed blade across the cloth. Oiling Another inexpensive item to have in your kit, and needs to be used on your scissors at least once a day, as it protects them from rust and keeps them cutting smoothly. Only use proper scissor oil on your scissors – please don’t be tempted to use clipper oil as they work differently.

How to use • Hold scissors open as fully as possible • Place one drop of oil at the base of the finger blade, and tilt the scissors downwards to allow the oil to move into the centre screw. • Wipe off any hairs that have dislodged • Add a drop of oil along the blade length – if this is at the end of the working day, or break, leave the scissors oily, and carefully wrap them. • Slowly open and close the scissors a few times, and wipe off remaining oil from the blade. NB: If you feel your scissors are too tight, oil them before adjusting the tension – most times, this is your scissors crying out for oil! Tensioning – for scissors in sett For many, the tension of their scissors is down to personal preference, but for scissors with any sort of internal working this is simply not true, and damages your scissors and potentially you as well. For scissors that are in sett (both blades have the correct sett curvature) it is vital that they are not ‘run loose’, as this will cause edge roll (the cutting edge of both blades but especially the finger blade will be constantly worn off) and often, nicks in the blade. Too loose tension means that you are having to pressure cut - and this is the number one cause of pain experienced by barbers and stylists alike: the effort needed to force both blades together means that the thumb is applying horizontal pressure, going against the way the thumb should work. When using sharp, in sett scissors, light vertical pressure from the thumb is all that’s needed to make them cut perfectly. To check the tension of in sett scissors, follow the guidelines below: • Hold scissors in a vertical position with tips upper most. • With other hand, move the finger blade to a horizontal position, then let go. • With correct tension, the blade will move slightly ( between 9 to 10 o’clock with the thumb blade being at 12) • If the tension is too loose, the blade will close, and the tension must be tightened for optimal performance. With thinning (tapering) and texturising scissors, the tension must be slightly tighter. Servicing Book your scissors in for a service as soon as you notice that your scissors cut below par or within a year of purchase – this will lessen any damage and detect/ prevent problems. Remember: Scissor storage – never store your scissors point down in a container, or loose in a drawer or bag. Scissors must be protected properly along the length of the blade and tips. Drops – book a service as soon as possible after dropping your scissors to prevent further damage caused by them being knocked out of alignment Rust kills scissors by continuously eating the metal – good maintenance is the only prevention. If you have any questions, please see our website www.spencerscissors.co.uk

Barber Chair Maintenance Looking after your Barber chairs properly can give you years of hassle free barbering and reduce huge costs in repairs and re-upholstery. The team at Custom Belmont have provided the BMB with this basic guide to looking after your reclining best friend. Cleaning Your Barber Chair Regular cleaning is essential for a barber chair’s long life. This is so important that it should already be part of your everyday shop cleaning routine. Blowing loose hair away using a hair dryer is a simple method to force hair out of all the nooks and crannies where build up often occurs. A soft brush can easily be used for the stubborn gatherings of hair. Using soapy warm water wipe over all the upholstery to remove any dirt. Do not use any chemical cleaners as these often dry out leathers or vinyls and can promote cracking and breakdown of the materials. Don’t be afraid to pump up your chair to get underneath. Just because you don’t see it, doesn’t mean its not there! Clean away any left over hair that maybe resting on the pump housing. Hair can damage the pump seals if left to work their way down. To bring back a great shine on any chrome work, a simple polish with regularly available metal polish can get your chairs looking good as new. Regular Maintenance A regular check of all the chair bolts and fixings, making sure everything is tightened should prevent any premature wear or damage. Oil residue is a sign of leaking hydraulic pump seals. An annual chair service can usually locate any potential problems like this and give you the opportunity to have them repaired at low cost before they result in complete failure and cost you big money that you don’t need to spend. For Professional Servicing Restoration & Refurbishment of all original barbers chairs specialising in the world famous Belmont Brand. Call Custom Belmonts on: 07411 621751 or email: Custombelmont@hotmail.co.uk


We want you!!! (So does everyone else)

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n a world full of barbershops it seems that we have a shortage of barbers. The amount of shops looking for staff is ever increasing. I often look on job pages on Facebook, adverts on gumtree, linked in and indeed. All of the adverts are quite similar “Unlock your potential” “great rewards for the right person” “Take your career to the next level”. I often look at other industries in order to see what works and what does not and compare this to barbering. The one I often use is football. I am always trying to create the Real Madrid of barbering. Like them or hate them there is no denying they are one of the most decorated and entertaining teams in the world. Now how do they attract players? It seems everyone wants to play for them. They scout the land for talent that can make a massive impact and have a training academy where they develop their own players. I consider the advertising process of looking for barbers much like dabbling in the transfer market and the applicants be advertising themselves much like an agent would advertise a player on the transfer list. The applicants applying will either be salon hopers (barbers that seem to change shop ever 4 months), barbers relocating, people that have fallen out with their old shop (Ballotelli), Barbers wanting more (Top 4 move).

Each has its pros and cons. I find the best applicants I have had are ones that have got in touch after they have done their research regarding the shop and the standards. Due to a team effort we have mirrored the success of real madrid in barbering terms and this now makes us an attractive prospect for people to get in touch and go on our potential barber database. This happens from when barbers leave collage to deep into their barber career and many of those people are with me now earning and developing more and more each week. As a summery I would say stop following the crowd on how you recruit look outside the box. How do you make yourself the best shop to work in? Looking after barbers well and ensuring customers return through developing skills and offering the highest level of service. I look through a lot of industry magazines and it seems we are more focused on the lifestyle of the barber than the needs of our clients. Yes you should advertise for barbers but think about what is going to make their career with you different to any other shop. I am going to be at master barber live in September and am available for anyone who wants to discuss how they can improve themselves as barbers, managers and business owners. Dan Davies, Lions Barber collective.


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INsurANCe sPoTLIghT Insure - really?

British Master Barbers Collaboration Just Barber Insurance has been appointed as the recommended insurance provider to members of the BMB with immediate effect.

Anthony Copeland commented…..

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hatever your personal circumstance, shop owner of self-Employed barber, the need to insure against loss, injury and/ or damage must be a priority. Yeah yeah, I hear you say as you begrudgingly purchased that policy that in your mind fails to deliver on their promise to pay claims. That is simply not the case, on the basis you keep on the right side of your policy the insurance policy makes the difference on whether you continue to trade or close the doors for good. The constant rise of money comparison sites promising to save money is a false economy. Time is money and you simply don’t have that time or rather you don’t put aside time to review what cover is needed. We experience regular referrals to our website for quotes late at night in which the infamous enter button is under constant pressure to skip and accept to reach that end result - the quote. Human nature dictates that we simply click before reviewing what we are agreeing to. We find a common problem with the hair sector (not barber specific) to downgrade the values to ensure a cheap premium!

‘the collaboration is a meeting of minds enhancing the support network to British Barbers - #lets work together. Just Barber provides insurance solutions for Barbershops & Individual Barbers’.

Contact Info: 01923 894360 justbarberinsurance.co.uk

Professional Barbers need Professional Liability protection.

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BE HONEST It pays to be honest, when prompted with questions on your business

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INSURE FOR FULL VALUE Insure for less & likelihood is that any property claim will be prejudiced

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ASK QUESTIONS Check that all your services/ treatments are covered

Let’s face it, unless your talking to a barber insurance specialist the Insurer is unlikely to differentiate from a pompadour to a flat top. If that is the case, make ensure you inform them of likely scenarios, some examples shown below:

Work Away from Shop

Treatments

Events

Training

standard shop policies automatically exclude any manual work away from the premises.

Are you offering Cut Throat shaving, Ear singeing amongst others? Most Insurers will exclude these due to use of sharps and heat.

Hiring out your premises or providing a speakeasy or acoustic set? The standard shop policy does not cater for these situations.

The barbershop and/ or barber policy you purchase will cover barbering solely. Training is an automatic referral.

Alcohol

Managers

Products

Overseas

If you supply alcohol, a Premises Licence will be required. Check with your local Council of the requirements to comply.

Engaging self-Employed personnel to manage your shop equates to a Master & servant relationship. Thus they become your employees!

Own Branded Products - check with the manufacturer that they accept full responsibility for the product and any subsequent liability.

Overseas work (Barbershop or Platform Artist) - policies will note standard limits (shop based for shops/ Uk for individual barber cover). Check that cover can be extended and includes Treatment Risk!

Colour Services

Shop Location

The rise of colour in the shop requires a vigilant eye to ensure whether a ‘skin test’ is a requirement - the product and/ or packaging will confirm directions/instructions on how to use. Products containing PPD will determine a ‘skin test’, failure to adhere to the manufacturer instructions or variant on your Insurer policy will lead to a refusal to defend any potential reaction to colour.

Where you are based is as important as what you offer to your client. non-standard construction (e.g., flat roof -timber on felt) or premises is deemed Listed determines additional risk factors. Water ingress from flat roofs thru to fire/ water damage to listed buildings increases the likelihood of larger claims. non-compliance with the statement of Fact may lead to a claim being refused or at worst the policy cancelled from inception following the nondisclosure of this key information.


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BArBershoP heALTh & sAFeTy

very Barber is responsible for the health and safety of a barbershop not just the owner. All customers and in fact all that enter your premises should be in a safe environment throughout their visit. Basic health and safety protocol can prevent injury, illness and costs to your business. Your shops reputation is at risk if you don’t keep up with sanitisation of equipment, chairs and work stations. Regular cleaning of all equipment can prevent cross contamination between customers or staff. There are many infections that can be easily spread by contaminated tools chairs, gowns, towels and worktops. Clean your work station regularly using disinfectants, wash towels and gowns regularly and change all blades between clients. Dispose of these carefully using a sharps box. Using products like Barbicide, Clippercide and Medic spray can aid sanitisation of scissors, combs and brushes. Cross infection between customers or staff can give your shop a bad reputation in a very short time. Safety in the work place is also very important to your business. If a member of staff or customer becomes injured as a result of poor health and safety procedures it could leave you under staffed or cause loss of custom. In the USA Barbering governing bodies offer large fines for poor health and safety standards. They can enter a barbershop at any time and submit on the spot checks to make sure a high level of sanitisation is met. Why does this not happen in the UK? Due to a lack of Regulation in the UK, it is left completely to the barbershop owner and staff to maintain a standard. So what should we be doing? Basic Health and safety is simple, Barbicide is one of the best sanitisation products on the market. You can sanitise almost any non electrical barber tool by submersing into a Barbicide solution for a minimum of 10 mins. A link to the free Barbicide course can be found on the British Master Barbers Website under Health and Safety. On completion you will receive a personalised certificate to frame and put in your shop. Clippercide is a perfect product for sanitising clipper blades. Simply remove all hair from the clippers and spray blades to guarantee clean sanitised clippers. A Sharps container is very important. This is a safe place to dispose of all used blades, razors and any other sharp implements. A sharps container should always be kept out of reach of customers or children and must be disposed of in the correct manor. Disposal of a sharps container can be made by contacting one of the many sharps disposal specialists around the country, who will collect and dispose for a small fee. Storing new blades is just as important so should be kept out of the reach of customers and children in a suitable dry storage container. Trailing Leads Make sure clipper, hair dryer and all other electrical leads are not causing a trip hazard, hang all leads tidily off the floor and away from all wet areas.

Electrical failures Incorrectly maintained and serviced electrical items can cause electric shocks, Regular PAT testing (Portable appliance testing) can confirm and resolve all issues regarding electrical malfunction Working posture A barber spends a lot of time standing so over time poor working posture can cause a range of issues including back injuries, muscle spasms and various other pains. This can be prevented by using anti fatigue mats, wearing comfortable shoes and standing straight at all times. Most barber chairs have hydraulic pumps to raise the customer to the correct height make sure you use it. Towels Use a clean towel for every client, place dirty towels in a covered bin & launder regularly. Manual handling Move stock safely, take care lifting & unpacking, get help if needed, work at the correct height to prevent injury to your back & legs. Sweep the floor Hair cuttings left on the floor can become a trip hazard especially when wet, make sure you sweep them up. Dermatitis Up to 70 percent of barbers and hairdressers suffer from skin complaints such as dermatitis this can be easily prevented by wearing disposable non latex gloves when shampooing, shaving etc. Make sure your hands are thoroughly dried and moisturised after washing. Gloves must be changed between clients to prevent cross contamination. Gloves It has become quite controversial over the last few years about using gloves when offering shaves. The pros of using gloves far out way the cons when it comes to health and safety. A lack of feel is undeniable so it is recommend to use gloves one size smaller for more sensation. First Aid A suitably stocked first aid box must be provided and all staff should be made clear of the first aid box position and be adequately trained in first aid procedures. The minimum items a basic first aid box should contain are: • Sterile disposable gloves • Individually wrapped sterile adhesive dressings of various sizes • Eye pads • Various size wound dressings and bandages • Medical tape • Antiseptic cream • First aid guidance leafl ets


LookINg AFTer your heALTh ANd WeLLNess Look after your feet and they will look after you!

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or most of us in the industry if we don’t work we don’t earn money. This being the case we need to keep fit and well. In this article we are looking in to how you can optimise your health and wellness by focusing in on those areas of physical stress, that particularly affect barbers in the workplace. Looking after you’re the health and wellness is one of our founder members of the BMB, Robert Dunsdon BA, BSc, MMCA, Senior Associate Royal Society of Medicine. One of the most common factors that affects a barber health and ‘one of our industry’s most painful conditions is foot and heel pain and this is because us barbers spend a lot of time on them and don’t care enough for them, if not looked after they can be a real source of discomfort, pain and ultimately the cause of major loss of earnings. Standing on a hard floor for long periods puts a lot of stress on your feet but thankfully your feet are designed with that in mind. Your feet have a central arch making them incredibly strong and this element has been used by engineers through the ages to build bridges that need to take heavy loads. When we stand on our feet we are compressing the structures of the foot this helps give the foot stability but if you do not support the arch of the foot it flattens out because your weight acts to put more tension (stretch) on the foot reducing It’s natural arch. The single most important thing you can do to prevent heel and foot pain is to wear the correct shoes with a good insole that supports the arch of the foot. During the day wearing these will give you support and minimise arch problems. At the British Master Barbers we’ve always recommend the use of anti-fatigue mats to add some needed cushion to your feet.

Once you have worked on these I’m sure you won’t want to go back to a hard floor. Hair Splinters, as barbers we are all too familiar with these getting into places you wouldn’t believe, particularly after a long day of short cutting and fading. If they weren’t bad enough sticking in your hands and fingers please do everything you can to prevent these from getting anywhere near your feet. Always wear closed shoes and i recommend you always wear socks if possible. No matter how good we are at looking after ourselves we can still get conditions that affect our feet and cause a lot of pain. The most common cause is plantar fasciitis which causes a pain under the heel and is sometimes referred to as policeman’s heel. It usually goes away with time but various treatments may help. If you have been diagnosed with this then try the following: • Make sure you are always wearing good supportive shoes and even in the evenings after work don’t walk around barefoot but keep some trainers on. • Heel pads and insoles work well with a lot of people and are fairly inexpensive. • Another basic treatment you can do at home is to get a tennis ball and roll this under your foot, with gentle pressure, for 10 minutes a day. This helps to loosen the tendons under your foot and helps give pain relief. • By regularly seeing a podiatrist, Chiropodist or foot health practitioner they can offer treatment and further advise on any feet ailments you may suffer from. You maybe amazed at how good your feet will feel and how less tired you and your legs feel at the end of the day. Keep healthy and see you next time. Doc Rob


Meet the members Haider Alsohaini

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y names Haider Alsohaini commonly known as H or the butch. I have always been fascinated and passionate about old school Male Grooming techniques and cutting hair . I myself have been barbering for over 16 years now, having competed many qualifications and achievements such as, degrees in art and interior design, nvqs in hairdressing and barbering as well as working all over Uk and Europe. I established BELLA BARBA gentlemen’s grooming salon 10 years ago, in Redditch, Worcestershire. Over the years I have entered many shows, cutting exhibitions and gained many accreditation’s which helped me to develop myself and gain more knowledge, experience and motivation, as I was always taught that knowledge has no limits. One of my recent achievements and accreditation’s was BRITISH MASTER BARBER, which helped me and my business to stand out amongst those who do not put as much love and passion into this industry. I have been a member of British master barbers association for years now as well as other bodies such as hair council. It builds a trust between myself and my customers once they see my qualifications and accreditation’s as they know that time and effort, passion and love have been put into this industry and my business and I would highly recommend to those barbers who care about their business and self development to register with the body which will boost their confidence and clientele as well as make them stand out from those who are trying to bring down this industry. 'Our mission' at Bella Barba was always to restore some good old traditional grooming values back to the community, we also wanted to create an establishment with an environment where men can come and feel special, get pampered, enjoy quality surroundings, as well as feeling totally relaxed and comfortable at the same time. Sadly, in this day and age, it is increasingly hard to find Barbers that concentrate on services to the extent of male grooming. They tend to concentrate on turnover and consequently that personal touch has disappeared from our suburban high street Barbers shops.

Lina Bonsor

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have been a hairdresser for 15 years working and managing various salons across Coventry and Warwickshire. It was during 2010 that I decided to take the leap into men’s hair by approaching an experienced Coventry barber, Martin Grant. I quickly developed a love for barbering after being terrified of cutting mens hair for many years, and the passion for running my own salon grew until the opportunity to renovate a grade 2 listed ex-florists near to home came up. After months of solicitors and council paperwork, on the 17th December 2016, B Salon in Coventry was born. My father in law (Frank) and oldest son (Aidan, 11) have been avid supporters of the Coventry Bears Rugby League team and we saw an opportunity to work with them. In early 2017 after discussions with current owner Alan Robinson, I became the “Bears Barber”, cutting the hair of large muscular men, some of which with international honours to their credit. The boys being in the salon certainly brings a sparkle to the other customers eyes!!! I has become a well known face amongst the Bears players and supporters and can regularly be seen cheering the boys on at the Butts Arena. I have even had a double page article feature in the Rugby League World Magazine, a rarity among the hustle and bustle of the Super League news. My determination to develop my skill and stay on top, do emerging trends has been

rewarded with the statuses of British Master Barber via the British Master Barbers Alliance. Since receiving my award we have had many new customers join the salon many of them travel from outside the Warwickshire area to see me. I have also had offers to work with other companies and have been invited to represent other companies at industry events in the future. My profile has grown massively with the help of the BMB. On a more personal level its wonderful to know there is always someone to help, no matter how silly or insignificant my query is. I speak to Tony Copeland on a regular basis and its like having someone watching over my shoulder and pat me on the back when I do well. Ive met many wonderful people through the BMB and life long friends. Within the Barbering industry, I has worked tirelessly to build my profile, cutting for FAB, Neocape, Nearcut, Armour to Barbers and recently representing the British Master Barbers on stage at the NEC in support of CHECT (Children’s Eye Cancer Trust) which was a real highlight of my career. I am now being asked for photos to be taken with me and it’s still unbelievable. I was also the inspirational barber for the Facebook page “The Barbers Post” in March 2018. Plans for the future involve further increasing the success of B Salon, building relationships with brands and furthering my profile with the creation of my own portfolio work.


Emily LeMay Anderson Boyce

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y name is Anderson Boyce and I am a State Registered Senior Barber from London. I have been a professional barber for seventeen years and have a huge love for cutting hair until this very day. My very first professional barber role came about when I was seventeen years old in a small barbershop in East London. For the next 8 years I worked in three or four barber shops in the East London area, homing in on my skill set, clientele base, drive, customer service and professionalism. After a few years bouncing from barbershop to barber shop I found an establishment that I felt was right for me and my intended progress. I stayed grounded at this particular salon for a six year period which allowed me to build a healthy clientele base, enter various competitions and create a ‘buzz’ in an industry I was fairly new in at the same time. Throughout my time in the industry I have been fortunate enough to establish my own barbering brand, salons and training academy; Hairforce 1. It wasn’t until February 2009 that Hairforce 1 was born; this was my very first barbering business and at the age of 26 I felt I had a lot to learn. The project was a huge success, so much so that I decided to open a second location 2 years later. Since then Hairforce 1 has gone from strength to strength, making the transition from Barber Shop to Barber Brand. We have various community projects in place in an attempt to help those less fortunate through the art of barbering. Such projects include our ‘Career Cuts’ scheme whereby job seekers who have successfully secured a pending interview are eligible for a free haircut and some interview coaching. We have also teamed up with various charities including Centre Point to help the homeless by raising funds and providing free haircut services. With the birth of Hairforce 1 Training Academy in 2016, we felt this was a great opportunity to give something back to the community, something that could potentially change lives forever by giving people from all backgrounds a skill for life. I believe quite strongly that barbering changed my life, I believe it has given me purpose, determination, confidence, business goals and above all else a life skill that nobody can take away. The ethos of Hairforce 1 Training Academy is simple; “if I can do it, you can too”. If the art of barbering can change the life of me then it can change the life of anybody with a genuine thirst for learning. In early 2016 Hairforce 1 had the honour of becoming acquainted with The British Master Barbers; a super bunch of Barbers who created a platform for barbers from all walks of life, all shapes and sizes to come together to share, discuss, network and showcase their work among a community of likeminded people. It truly is a one of a kind platform, one of which I had never seen before within the barbering industry. The British Master Barbers are more than just an alliance, they are a family1.

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i everyone. Please allow me to introduce myself, my name is Emily LeMay. I am an accredited British Master Barber and proud member of the alliance since 2015. I have been a barber for 16 years now, starting my career at the age of 17, I signed up to a hairdressing NVQ at my local college but quickly realised whilst working on models my passion lay in the men’s hairdressing/ barbering side of the course. Whilst I continued to gain my full hairdressing qualification, I joined a local barbershop and continued my education, practicing the things I had observed from my colleagues on any willing. Over the next 7 years I worked in a few barbershops starting as a junior/new barber, progressing to a senior barber and then promoted to a shop manager but I knew I always wanted more. In 2013 I opened my own Barbershop. Even though it was exciting, it was hard work, lots of late nights and long days. I made mistakes but I always learned. I worked hard and my business grew. During my time owning my shop I discovered the brilliance of trade

shows, I had not realised just how much fun spending a weekend with people who share your passion could be. Over the years I have been to Barber UK, Barber Connect and British Master Barbers Live and I have been very fortunate to have been asked to represent a Barber Company in Madrid at a congress event. I have made some wonderful friends who I probably would have never met had I not got involved with the British Master Barbers. In 2017 some life changing events happened, meaning I had to give up my business and in a knock-on-effect move. Through the family & friends I had made via the British Master Barbers I had true support, advice and offers of employment, within a matter of weeks I had gone from rock bottom to a new life and a fresh start. I now work for Gould Barbers in Kings Lynn and although it feels a million miles away from where I started out 16 years ago I am entering this new stage in my career with excitement and looking forward to sharing my future exploits with my friends in the BMB.

Robert Grosvenor

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was privileged to be awarded the grand master barber award earlier this year live on the stage at Barber UK where I had been helping the BMB with a important demonstration. The BMB were supporting CHECT a charity for fighting eye cancer in children after finding out Mike Taylor’s Daughter had been suffering with this terrible condition. I’ve now been barbering over 36 years and still have a huge passion for the craft! I’ve really seen how the industry has grown over the last 5 years, with social media having a huge impact on barbering. Its important for a barber to invest in a good quality camera, decent lighting and a fresh, white backdrop make the images you upload look far more professional. Your images are advertising your skill. A cheap phone or camera may not show a high quality haircut to its best potential. Long gone have the quick short back and sides. It’s all about male grooming. Offering those extra services such as nose and ear waxing, traditional shaves, face masks and enhancing the hair with colour. I have started to offer educational workshop sessions to other barbers so I can share my knowledge and passion. Unfortunately Barbering is yet to be governed and regulated in the UK. The importance of correct hygiene and following health and safety protocol is always a concern to me. Evidently putting a structure in the barbershop will ensure all standards are met. A lot of fellow barbers have approached me with concerns of too many barbershop opening without the relevant, insurance training, health & safety and only charging ridiculously low prices for a haircut. My advice to this would be don’t worry about what others are doing, focus on your own clientele and barbershop. From day one in my career I have always applied 100% in everything I do. I apply 3 key words to every cut I do, sharp, polished and finished. In my barbershop we have now started to offer a annual membership package offering unlimited haircuts for one fee. I think this is a brilliant concept that creates customer loyalty. I always one for trying new things as they say you never stop learning. Stay humble and true to yourself.


Las Vegas here we come!

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eing fairly new to the industry I never could have expected what opportunities were possible and laid ahead for me! It first started off at the Master Barber Live show back in 2016 where I met Anthony & Tony Copeland the founders of the British Master Barbers. After chatting i soon became a BMB member and ever since maintained an good relationship with the pair. They first allowed me to get involved with 2018 BMB calendar photo shoot where i met some amazingly talented barbers who were also BMB members. This all built up to the day that Anthony put me forward to Dan Davies the manager of Pall Mall Barbers London about a barbering event they had organised in Las Vegas! Pall Mall Barbers is a well established barbershop located around London and soon to be a name recognised around the world. The point of the trip was to have a 8 barbers working in a pop up barber shop at a huge business convention located under the Venetian hotel allowing Pall Mall Barbers to represent and demonstrate the best of British barbering along with network with some of the bosses of the worlds largest companies including Walmart and Google.


This was an overwhelming opportunity that I knew I had to take up. The highlight of this trip involved meeting and working alongside some very talented and inspirational barbers. Tom Chapman, Connor Evans, Jay Burns, Sareet, Dan Wild, Stacey, Carlie Firth and the admin Olivia blew me away with the high level of skill and confidence working on such a large platform in front of such high end business figures.

All this being led by the owner of Pall Mall Barbers Richard. Not having met or spoken to any of these guys before and being the youngest member of the team i knew i had to keep my standards as high as possible constantly checking every bit of my work. I really put every bit of knowledge i learnt together and loved the support from all the genuinely open hearted professional team. After two days of hard work at the exhibition we

were aloud to let our hair down and see the sights and sound the amazing Las Vegas offered. It was an amazing team who left as great friends. That’s the true meaning of Barber love! Through the British Master Barbers network I have gained so much experience and met some wonderful people. I look forward to the next stage of my career whatever or wherever it maybe. Thank you so much for the opportunity.

Adam Isbill


Turkish Barbering

British Master Barbers member and Turkish Barber Yucel Olmezkaya tells us about real Turkish barbering and his thoughts surrounding the UK barbers opinions of Turkish Barbers Turkish barbers in every town For the last few years barbering has become very popular and shops have opened everywhere and this has brought a mass of competition between barbershops. Unfortunately for some a short period of training given in house has given new starters the idea to open a shop for more potential earnings. Some of the real Turkish barbers with many years’ experience also decided to extend their business’s by opening other shops in different areas where they regularly put newly trained staff in charge and with this has brought a lack of skilled service. Are they Turkish? However the biggest issue is that most of the new shops that have been opened around the UK are more from non-Turkish nationals whom called themselves Turkish barbers. Amongst these non Turkish i have seen some amazing talent however many seem uneducated and give us real Turkish barbers a bad name. My experience of deliberate misbranding and how other nationalities pretend to be Turkish to gain customers does damage to this industry and the Turkish barbering reputation?

Because shaving is a very popular service in Turkey many holiday makers try this service when on holiday. They enjoy the experience of the Turkish hot towel shave so much it attracts a lot of customers when they get home. They want to experience it here in the UK. Many barbers use that to their advantage because they can shave and attract more business. They name their shop after popular resort names or they put on their sign “Turkish hot towel shaves” this of course is affecting the overall industry as they seem to cut the prices. All this could be prevented if our industry was regulated and had set standards like other countries. Lopping off crowns - a criticism unfairly given to Turkish barbers I totally disagree with this labelling. A well-trained barber won’t do that. I’ve worked with many barbers including the British who also like to cut crowns off. I believe that cutting crowns off is a sign of laziness and is clearly a lack of education. I have noticed many of these only work using certain techniques, mainly clipper over comb and regularly remove the crown.


I did question some of these and they said that’s how they have been trained? With a lot of effort, I managed to help them change their styles and leave the crowns alone. But unfortunately this is only few barbers and there are hundreds all around the UK. Maybe with a bit of education this issue could be solved? I learned barbering as part of the tradition like any other young man who has been encouraged by their families. I love barbering in the UK, for me it’s a passion not a job, I like to share my knowledge and passion with

those who would like to extend their knowledge. This is what we need to develop amongst other Turkish barbers. There doesn’t seam to be any passion in their development for the industry as their mindset is only to focus on cutting hair in the styles they have learned from their masters. I believe that because of this the Turkish reputation has been severely damaged. They themselves should get more involved with the trade shows and regular training events. Education is the key to success for all of us.

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The Best place to be a Barber in the UK

At the beginning of 2018 the British Master Barbers conducted an online survey on price comparisons around the UK We were very interested in how the barbers earnings compared to the cost of living and if barbering prices really did vary much around the UK. We asked a set of questions to ten barbers in each area to gain realistic results in our findings. If not for anything else we found out where we could get the cheapest pint. The questions we asked : 1. What is your geographical area. 2. Cost of an average Gents haircut in your area. 3. Cost of an average 3 bed house in your area. 4. Cost of a pint of beer in your area.

SCOTLAND Haircut: £12 3 Bed House: £200k - £300 Cost of a Pint: £2 - £3

NORTH EAST Haircut: £9 3 Bed House: £100k - £200k Cost of a Pint: £2 - £3

NORTHERN IRELAND Haircut: £7 3 Bed House: £100k - £200k Cost of a Pint: £3 - £4

NORTH WEST Haircut: £10 3 Bed House: £200k Cost of a Pint: £3 - £4

WEST MIDLANDS Haircut: £12 3 Bed House: £300k - £400k Cost of a Pint: £2 - £3 Throughout all our findings we found that on average a gents haircut around the UK sits at a grand total of £11 with the cheapest cuts being found in Northern Ireland and the most expensive, probably as expected in London. House prices sit reasonably comfortable between £100k & £200k in the North East, Northern Ireland, Wales and the South West while the South East and London are almost double the cost. Now the best bit: If after a hard days graft your needing to wind down with a glass or two of Britain’s finest we suggest you head up to the North of our fairest land. Thankyou to everybody who took part on this survey. Please keep an eye out for future BMB surveys as we would love for you to get involved. All prices stated are averaged out from the data we have received across the UK in march 2018 :

EAST MIDLANDS Haircut: £11 3 Bed House: £200k Cost of a Pint: £3 - £4

WALES Haircut: £10 3 Bed House: £100k - £200k Cost of a Pint: £3 - £4 LONDON Haircut: £19 3 Bed House: £400k - £500k Cost of a Pint: £5 - £6

SOUTH WEST Haircut: £11 3 Bed House: £100k - £200k Cost of a Pint: £4 - £5

SOUTH EAST Haircut: £14 3 Bed House: £300k - £400k Cost of a Pint: £4 - £5


Social Media Marketing Social Media can promote your business or Brand at a very low cost, Here’s our guide to help you.... Using Social Media for Marketing We’ve put together this guide on using social media for marketing to help you understand the best area for you to promote your Business or Brand. First of all we would always recommend a barbershop or brand to have its own website, this would always be regarded as the digital shop advert (HUB) that all your social media pages would link to. This would contain the important information like your contact details, a map of your location, your prices, and maybe a little about your staff? For relatively low cost and time you can produce fantastic social media platforms for displaying your work, promoting your products and generally interacting with existing and potentially new customers. We will be looking at the main 4 Social Media pages to get you started. Firstly creating your Brand When starting out in the Social media world the first thing to think about is your brand. You need a recognisable name and logo that you can use on every social media page. Using the same name on every social media site will allow the world to easily find you. Before creating any social media page make sure the name you require is available on every platform. If your like us and the name your known by is to long for creating social media names, you may have to adjust it to fit the required character numbers. For example on all our social media pages we can be found using @BritishMasterBarbers although on Twitter we had to use @ UKMasterBarbers. Be professional with your images With phone cameras being so accessible its far to easy to take very average looking snaps. For relatively low cost you can by a Dslr camera with a decent lens. This will give your images a crisp more professional look, often with a slightly blurred background offering more focus on the haircut. A nice back drop makes all the difference. no one is really interested in seeing a messy workstation in the background. Get your model to stand up. Snaps of them in the chair with the gown undone hanging off and covered in hair really doesn‘t promote you very well. FACEBOOK Facebook is casual environment that starts very locally geographically. At first you select friends and already known acquaintances to like your business page and recognition flows out from them. Facebook requires regular active social media marketing to keep your followers entertained. Do not keep posting adverts of your business over and over as this will cause people to ignore your campaigns. Keep it fresh, regularly update your page with new quality pictures and interesting features that followers will LIKE & SHARE as this will spread your page to further onlookers. TWITTER Twitter is used by many brands for networking, This is a great platform for any barbershop to keep up to date with latest industry news and connect with others. Twitter is a great way to reach the masses although not usually on a local level but world wide. Tweeting about what your doing, selling, giving away etc can be re-tweeted by others to spread your brand further. Again do not repost the same content over and over as followers will get bored and likely un-follow you. INSTAGRAM Instagram seems to be the Barbers favourite social media platform, it consists of the user uploading pictures which are liked by others, most barbers post pictures of their haircuts opening themselves to be judged by others. Good quality work and images can often be plugged (re-gramed) by other users which aid promotion of your brand. This is done by Tagging other users in your

image description ie: @BritishMasterBarbers or #BritishMasterBarbers can help promote your work and further your reach. More tags equals more reach but make sure your tagging reflects your image and is aimed at third party’s that have an interest in your product. YOUTUBE Not everyone wants to be a film star but getting your brand on YouTube can only help it to grow. Many Video editing Apps are available cheaply for use on phones and tablets. You can create blogs, how to’s, or even just a simple photo sequence showing your work can be beneficial. Make sure the sound quality is of a good standard. Even the best videos can be ruined by poor sound and low quality imagery. How to Use #Hashtags Using a hashtag in a social post is as simple as adding the ‘#’ sign before a single word or phrase without a space. Don’t string too many words together with a single hashtag. If you post with a hashtag on a public account, anyone who does a search for that hashtag may find your tweet. Don’t #spam #with #hashtags. Don’t over-tag a single post. Use hashtags only on posts relevant to the topic. So now you have the basics Remember your online post reach further than just your mate down the road. Keep professional at all times as its there forever. Don’t forget to follow the British Master Barbers pages. We love to see what your all up to. #BMB

Are you serving alcohol in Your Barbershop? SERVING ALCOHOL IN YOUR BARBERSHOP CAN BE A MINEFIELD OF LEGALITIES. THE BRITISH MASTER BARBERS HAVE CREATED A GUIDE TO KEEP YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE LAW.

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any barbershops offer clients an alcoholic beverage but without knowing the legal implications. Without a license, you could be committing an offence under your local licensing laws and could be heavily fined. This applies to both giving away alcoholic drinks or selling them connected to a sale within your barbershop. You will require two licences to sell alcohol within your barbershop as stated by the Licensing Act. The first is a Premises Licence and licensed premises need a designated premises supervisor with a Personal Licence. Barbershop owners often get caught out by the fact that you need a licence to give drinks away to your customers as part of the service. Even if you’re not charging your customer directly for the drinks you have provided, it is seen by many local authorities as being connected with the sale of the haircut or service provided. If anybody that enters your barbershop is offered a free drink without having a paid service you could argue that the drink is not directly linked to a sale on your premises and that you don’t need a licence. Again, we highly recommend that you check this with your local authority before giving away any alcoholic drinks. For non-regular, one off events including photo shoots, shop openings or gatherings you don’t require a licence to provide alcohol as long as the attendees are not paying for any service provided by or located within the barbershop. For more regular events you may need a temporary event licence. The British Master Barbers recommend that before providing any alcohol within your barbershop that you contact your local authorities to make sure you fall within the legalities required as rules differ between. For further information about licensing laws visit www.direct.gov.uk


Talkin bout our GENERATION Sam Arthur is commonly known as the Mod barber and with over 30 years in the barbering industry he’s seen some of the uk’s most definitive fashions. The Mod culture is becoming one that’s re hitting the spot light but for sam it never went away.

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y introduction to the Mod culture was when I was a mere 14 year olds. Completely obsessed with this wonderful machine known as a motor scooter. This Italian built machine had an enclosed engines which allowed the riders the option to wear sharp suits and overcoats without getting covered in oil or grease. The Scooter riders were always looking very smart and always gathered jealous looks wherever they travelled. I started to follow the Mod Culture back in the early 80s, in those days being part of a group or subculture was the done thing for teenagers. Weather it be Mod, Skinhead, Punk, Rocker or New Romantic for a lot of kids it was a way of fitting in with society. Usually most your friends were into the same things as yourself like Music, Fashion, Scooters and Haircuts. For me it was and still is away of life regularly meeting up with friends for ride outs, Mod gatherings and events. The Mod style has always appealed to me with the great looking suits, the hair styles and the casual wear also not forgetting the must have accessories that compliment the look. Music played big part of the Mod scene. Groups like The Jam, The Who and of course Northern Soul were always pioneers of the Mod fashion and pushed the look into the main stream. Everybody wanted the look of their favourite artists.

When I was very young Mod I always admired the older lads who travelled around on their beautiful scooters I couldn’t wait to have one myself when I was old enough. Now I’m a bit older I’m in the quite fortunate position to own a very large and extensive collection of both Vespas and Lambretta’s. Hairstyles have always been a vital part of the Mod look. I get my inspiration by looking back to the 50s and 60s, The clean cuts and well groomed gents. The style of haircut was very different to the regular short back and sides that was favoured at the time. It was called a French style or French line, with an off centre parting with a bouffant look to the back of the head. Because I’ve always been a Mod myself I love creating the look for every other Mod that comes into my Barbershop I take great pleasure in being the only Mod Barbershop in both Northern Ireland and Ireland for over 32 years and I have Mods traveling from all over Europe to get the authentic look. I got to show off my interpretation of this look on my genuine mod model Adrian Tincknell when the BMB guys asked me to demonstrate on the master barber live show main stage last year. Its great to see the styles becoming popular again but for me they never left.


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Please contact us on: trade@bluebeards-revenge.co.uk OR +44 (0) 1752 898191


The shoP

Welcome to the official BMB shop. High quality products to keep you and your barbershop looking professional. All our items available on our website britishmasterbarbers.com with free UK delivery. The Beenie Available now in Light Grey, Dark Grey and Black. One size fits all. £21.99 inc free UK delivery

The Lapel Badge Show the world you’re part of the greatest barbering network with these beautifull lapel badges. Constructed from Nickel with a strong pin clasp. £4.99 inc free UK delivery The Polo BMB logo on left chest Available in Black & White Sizes: S, M, L, XL £19.99 inc free UK delivery

BMB NeoCape Featuring a special neoprene seal that prevents hair or water going down the neck. Made of a lightweight fabric it is extremely comfortable to wear. Black, White or Stripy White One size fits all £29.99 inc free UK delivery

The Snap Back The official BMB Snap backs are now available in Black with white BMB logo on front, Black peak Black with white BMB logo on front, forest camo peak Black with white BMB logo on front, urban camo peak Adjustable sizing on rear £22.99 inc free UK delivery

The Hoodie Available in Black only BMB logo on left chest and large rear Sizes: S, M, L, XL £24.99 inc free UK delivery

The Bag Black with White logo Large and small Available Small £24.99 inc free UK delivery Large £29.99 inc free UK delivery

The Apron Black material with white BMB logo in centre chest sizes available: one size fits all £24.99 inc free UK delivery

The Work Station Mat Border - 12mm Black Rubber Border Size - 234mm x 434mm Machine washable £19.99 inc free UK delivery

The T Shirt BMB logo on chest Available in Black & White Sizes: S, M, L, XL £16.99 inc free UK delivery


Associates Barbering Organisations

Barbering supplies

British Master Barbers www.britishmasterbarbers.com

Salon services www.salon-services.com

Barber Council www.haircouncil.org.uk

Barber Blades www.barberblades.co.uk

City and Guilds www.cityandguilds.com

Beard and Shaving supplies

Booking software Booksy www.booksy.com

Website and Mobile app creation App Monkeys www.appmonkeys.co.uk

Design and printing Progression Design www.progressionsignage.co.uk

Charity Barbering Armour to barber www.armourtobarber.uk Autism Barbers assemble www.autismbarbersassemble.nearcut.com Lions barber Collective www.thelionsbarbercollective.com

Barbershops

Blue Beards Revenge www.bluebeards-revenge.co.uk Mariner Jack www.marinerjack.co.uk Tabac www.tabac-original.com

Scissor Suppliers Spencer Scissors www.spencerscissors.co.uk Matakki Scissors www.matakki.com

Gowns and Towels Neo cape www.neocape.co.uk Scrummi www.scrummi.com

Insurance Just Barber insurance www.justbarberinsurance.co.uk

Andys barbershop www.andysbarbers.biz

Education

Pall mall barbershop www.pallmallbarbers.com

Mike taylor education www.miketayloreducation.com

Barbers Magazines Barber Evo Magazine www.barberevo.co.uk

Grooming products Squire www.squirehair.co.uk Morgans pomade www.morganspomade.co.uk

Sid Sottung academy www.sidsottungacademy.com

Barbering Tools Andis www.andis.com Wahl www.wahlglobal.com Clipper Stickers www.clipperstickers.com

Barber Pro www.barberpro.com

Sanitising products

Fab Hair www.fabhairandbeauty.com

Saloncide solutions www.saloncidesolutions.co.uk

Barber Chairs & Renovation

Utility suppliers

Custom Belmont www.custombelmont.co.uk

EES Energy solutions www.ee-s.co.uk


CORDLESS DETAILER

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CORDLESS

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