CARLIE CARDLE
An Absolute Vibe BY COLLETTE SAUNDERS
Mama | Barber | Salon Director | Hair | Skin
Care | Educator |Travel Agent
“Ten years ago, I started my career. I had a fire in my belly and a point to be proven! If I could do it all again, I wouldn’t change a thing” When I first saw Carlie Cardle on Instagram in May of 2018, she was one of 8 special women who inspired me so much that I immediately opened and began a page which you all know as Australian Female Barbers. Carlie is a recognised and valued artist and educator in her own right, as well as being one of the worldwide recognised RUGER family. Based in the Uk, at her heart she is all about family and community in bringing hair and skin health, and mental health to the forefront through her business model and promotion of self-care. She inspires with her perfect visual presentations and happy vibe. Digging deeper you’ll find a driven, focused, and forward-thinking entrepreneurial side to this woman. Early in her career she saw a niche market for men’s skin care and services. She then positioned herself to make changes in her skillset and career path. She was not one to sit and remain unmotivated. In making those strategic moves, came change like she had never anticipated. She partnered with UK’s best known global brand RUGER in opening a shop in her hometown of Lytham UK. She has built a successful career, married the love of her life, and had a gorgeous daughter. More recently, noting that long term she would like another income stream, she signed up and studied once again. This time she has added the title Travel Agent, which she successfully integrates into her daily craft of barbering. Our shop floors are a place where we constantly enjoy conversations about holidays had or holidays planned. Perfect idea much? I’m almost thinking I’ll go off and study myself!! Travelling the world at 24, returning to the Spa environment and feeling unmotivated, she noticed that in a short 2-year span, there had been a shift in the numbers of men having services. More eyebrow shaping, wet shaves, skin care routines! Feeling there was a huge niche in the market for delivering these services, gave her a new lease of life … and in 2015, a pivotal moment. She did a shave course at a local barber nearby and loved straight away what a change in environment the barbershop was. They could wear what they wanted, have their own style and was so much more casual than the clinical spa environment she was used to. She was hooked. Transitioning from hairdressing to barbering she signed up at London School of Barbering with an intense short course and then stood 12 long hours a day at Pall Mall Barbers and WATCHED!! Back at home she landed a job with the multi award winning Joe Cartmel. Feeding her obsession, Joe stripped back all she had learned and taught her the classical techniques and attention to detail that she still uses to this day. He pushed her to do competitions and importantly… how to execute styling. I spoke to him recently and he remembers her as an amazing barber right from the onset. Continuing her training and 1-2-1 education with Alan and Reece Beak opened up an alliance, saw the soldering of a relationship and an opportunity of a lifetime. Not only would she become one of RUGER’s impeccably talented crew, but she would also become friend, associate, and business partner. She and Alan spent endless hours planning and creating what would soon become Ruger Lytham. A unique style of barbershop for her hometown Lytham and modelled on the Ruger Oldham salon. She has grown the Lytham business and structured it to operate allowing her to step back a little. This she has achieved through coaching and mentoring her own hand-picked team and delegating roles accordingly.
