A LEADING FORCE

As Lead Educator he launched the 1st National Education Team in 2023 for BaBylissPRO and over his 19 years in the industry as a qualified Barber & Hairdresser, Fraser has developed a unique style of education which demonstrates his love and passion for Barbering and business. His accolades include 2021 AMBA Australia’s Best Men’s educator and as if that wasn’t enough he has also been recently appointed as General Manager of the HMB Group.

From a family of 9 kids raised by a single Mum and growing up on the northside of Brisbane, life wasn’t what you would call easy for Fraser Forsey and from a young age he always felt a little different to his brothers and friends.

“I couldn’t quite put my finger on it,” says Fraser, “but in later years, realised it was all about the care I had for my appearance and the confidence it gave me when I styled my hair or borrowed (stole) my brothers newest shirt or shoes!”

With 6 brothers by the time he entered high school he had no hope with the teachers. “My brothers had already helped create a name for our surname, so I always felt like I had a target on my back.

Grade 8 was adventurous for me but also a huge struggle and when I was ‘expectedly’ expelled, I got straight on a bus to my local barbershop “The Barbers Den” and begged my barber, Rory Marheine, for an apprenticeship.

Amazingly he took me on at 13 years old! Finishing my apprenticeship in Redcliffe and then qualifying as a Cert 3 Barber & Cert 3 Hairdresser by the age of 17 I had thankfully started to build a name for myself in the industry at a very young age. I received a call from Culture Kings in Brisbane City, which led to me taking on a role of National Manager for Culture Kings for the next 4 years opening 9 stores and managing over 100 barbers.”

Nothing could keep this young entrepreneur down and at the ripe old age of 21, Fraser opened his first barbershop. Newly married with a 6-month-old son, life was kicking off and full steam ahead. He was extremely successful with the shop managing to take it to a multimillion dollar turnover. Fast forward another 4 years, now divorced, he packed up his then 2 shops and headed back to Culture Kings under contract through his new education opening more shops and managing even more staff.

Fraser was then approached by Tommy Guns Australia (TGA), to fulfil the role of National Barber Educator for the group and did so for 6 years, learning about franchise models and continued to deliver education all over Australia and internationally.

“A highlight of my Education journey,” says Fraser, “was taking out the win in the 2021 Australian Modern Barber Awards as Best Men’s Educator in Australia, being up against some pretty big players in the industry. This was pretty overwhelming for me but felt incredible as it had taken 10 years of hard work to get there.”

“Education has always been key to my development and when Covid 19 hit, I was scared shitless that education would be gone forever. I love educating so much, the hustle, the journey, the love, the passion, the networking, the development, and of course the business acronym.

I started brainstorming on the problems Covid had on our industry and the businesses I was a part of and the one issue that kept coming up was NO STAFF. Many international barbers and hairdressers had started returning home, a lot of barbers and hairdressers started freelancing or cutting from home, and many barbershops that I worked with were struggling to stay afloat outside of lockdowns.”

Fraser then came looked into how he could help these businesses survive with a Bootcamp and intense training plan that enabled him to take 5-10 individuals who had absolutely no experience in the hair game and in 10-15 days, turn them into a fully-fledged barber, or at least one that could perform all services required in a barbershop at a quality rate of 70% at the absolute minimum.

“The plan then was to follow up with a further 5-10 intense days training and in this process and from 2020-2023 we trained and signed off about 100 barbers. We simplified the practical aspects of the Cert 3 Barbering and the 26 modules and assessments and ensured they were confident, competent and able to be signed on as an apprentice within these businesses. The success of this enabled Barber Education Australia to grow and continue growing through a tough time that we all faced.”

And now, a new initiative is on the horizon, recently launched to the industry in the name of 4BARBERS Education & Supply. “2023 and beyond will bring the most renowned education, this country has seen,” says Fraser, “with a team of leading educators from all walks of the industry, partnered with some of the World’s biggest tool and product companies Australia has on offer. Credibility is what we are all about in everything we do, from education to apprenticeships and supply. It’s all FOR BARBERS or what we like to call @4barbersau.”

4BARBERS has been created, to ensure the standard, value and credibility of the craft, is continuously uplifted through empowering education as well as giving access to the best educators, tools and products.

4BARBERS has secured partnerships with multiple brands in the industry such as Dateline, BaBylissPRO , Stylecraft, Silver Bullet, JRL, HairCo, Norris Australia, Modern Pirate and The Bearded Chap and has already held shows and workshops for countless brands, wholesalers, barber shops and salons across Australia and New Zealand. “I’m excited for the future of 4BARBERS working with individauls and Barbershops who see the value and importance of continued education, development and investment into their businesses.”

In 2017, Fraser opened HMB for the Owner and good friend Theo Osakwe and has continued over the last 7 years to deliver education to all of his stores and apprentices. The focus has been on apprentice boot camps, retail education, business development plans and career progression pathways. “Theo and I have a great professional and personal relationship and have always ensured each other thrives as much as possible.

Theo had always wanted me to return to HMB for the long term and so, we finally both decided it was for the best interest of one another as well as HMB and 4BARBERS for me to take on the General Manager role overseeing all 15 shops and 80 staff. We have plenty of amazing things in the works for our customers, staff and the industry with the main focus being growing our staff and investing back into them and not treating them like a number, coaching them on the value that we have as a hair artists or creative individuals.

Through his many roles, Fraser is supported by a behind the scenes team of twelve, which reads like a who’s who of talent covering roles including Operations and Event Co-Ordination, Finance, Design and Marketing, Education, Training and Assessing, RTO liaison and Web Development.

The 4BARBERS Website for all Education and product/tool supply has just gone live and stay tuned for the announcement of Australia’s largest Barber expo APRIL 2024!

For more information contact: fraser@4barbers.com.au

All education enquiries: education@4barbers.com.au

Sales & Accounts: supply@4barbers.com.au

Instagram: @4barbersau

Website: www.4barbers.com.au