SAM THE MAN

By Rikki Moir - UK

In the ever-evolving world of barbering, Sam Campagna stands out in more ways than one. Not only can he craft the perfect cut, but he’s a guy who knows how to nurture the next generation.

With over 25 years of experience, Sam has served as the lead educator for Wahl UK, VTCT and Matakki, among others, and has owned a number of outstanding barber shops in the UK. Now, he’s elevating the barbering industry through a passion for mentorship, instilling pride, exceptional skill, and good business acumen in those coming up.

So, how does he do it? We met with Sam to find out…

Sam begins by telling us about his early days in the industry, showing a true appreciation for where it all started. He joined Toni&Guy in 1998 as an apprentice, learning hairdressing, but quickly found his calling as a barber. “I moved on to a unisex salon where I focused on the barbering side of the industry and really honed my skills at that place and have been working in barber shops ever since,” he explains.

Opening his own barber shop in 2010 was a pivotal moment and spurred him on to develop his training formula for success. “I built the business based on taking someone on initially and teaching them exactly how I like things to work. As I repeated this process, we grew and grew. I used this style of training in four shops and with 25 members of staff. It worked every time.”

Sam’s vision extended beyond the chair and technical excellence. He was keen to build a pathway for people to understand the business of barbering and follow in his footsteps if they so desired. Believing in mentorship and nurturing talent, Sam didn’t just see his team as staff; he saw them as individuals full of potential.

“Something I’ve always believed in and been very passionate about is building up a team by creating as much of a bias towards them as possible. In an industry that requires a lot of dedication from everyone involved, you need to give yourselves to them as much as they give themselves to you.

By doing this, you essentially create a structure which didn’t exist in my early career. It allows people to progress from being a salon junior to management and potential ownership. That type of full support is 100 per cent necessary to foster growth. I always had the idea that this was the way forward for my business.”

These strong leadership qualities didn’t go unnoticed. Wahl recognized Sam’s unique capabilities and he became their lead educator. “I was extremely lucky to be identified in 2016 by Simon Shaw at Wahl,” Sam says. “I quickly developed into the role of lead educator, and it was a fantastic collaboration.

It was great to work at such a high corporate level in the industry and I learned a lot. I honed my teaching and presentation skills, as well as developed my stage work. My man management also levelled up. Working at that calibre gave me a huge insight into the various aspects of education and learning across the barbering industry.”

“I’ve also been very fortunate to work with Matakki scissors,” he adds. “And they’ve always supported me. I’ve taken an unofficial role there, giving feedback on tools and I’ve helped them out at shows. It’s just a very kind of friendly, mutually beneficial collaboration. They’ve always sponsored my salons, which they continue to do today, and we lean on each other’s expertise.”

Now, you’ll find Sam working on his latest project: Barbone. This barber shop has a nostalgic vibe, with its Italian-inspired green marble and terrazzo finishings and expert craftsmanship, giving a firm nod to Sam’s heritage. Plus, there’s the name…

“Being of Italian origin, this one’s quite cool because it was my gamer tag years ago. I chose it because in Italy it’s slang, meaning “Big Beard” and I’ve had a beard ever since I was 18. Yet, the true connection lies deeper—the word “barbering” traces its roots to “barbone”. We really couldn’t go by any other name!” Sam smiles.

With big beards and even bigger hearts, Barbone is set on investing in its team and creating a structure for progression. “With the new brand Barone, we’re focusing on how to mentor and support individuals in creating their own journey and success. This can come in the form of owning a salon of their own with us, so we can really support and guide them in their process. Hopefully, they can then take it on themselves and grow in the same way.”

So, what else can we expect from the Barbone brand? From the client’s point of view, Barbone offers an inviting setting for clients to relax and unwind while they get a great cut. “We also have our own products,” Sam says, “which really gives us a point of difference. It allows our clients another great way to connect with the brand.”

From the barber’s perspective, Sam is focusing on being a unique voice in the industry and setting the record straight, not only for those he works with, but for barbers everywhere. “I want to help people navigate the industry noise and glean the most important pieces of information. A lot of information is out there to help, but I think we’ve got to question things further in an industry that, in the UK at least, has no regulations.

Sam plans to create a series of questions and guidance where he simply sticks to the facts. “Hopefully that will help people level up in the barbering industry and benefit personally at the same time,” he explains.

Ultimately, Sam plans to distil facts from opinions, creating an in-depth mentorship and business package that empowers barbers and helps to shape the industry as a whole. The Barbone brand isn’t just about hair; it’s about building the next generation. Quite simply, good guys really do give back.

@gorgeousprhair

www.gorgeouspr.co.uk