Bar x Bar

My name is Anton Ferry, I am a 25-year-old living in Manly in the Northern Beaches of Sydney. I’ve lived in Manly my whole life, hence the reason I wanted to start my barber shop in the heart of Manly.

I have been cutting hair as a hobby since I was 14 years old, however I started professionally barbering at age 21 after I completed my final University assessment and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Communications Design. My assessment was to design the graphics and create a business plan for a start-up company. I chose the BAR x BAR concept which is a Barbershop and bar. The name itself is a little play on works as the shop is a Barbershop and bar, which serves you alcohol when you get your haircut.

I fell in-love with the idea of my Uni assessment so much so that I quit graphic design and started barbering to work towards one day opening my BAR X BAR store. In between the time of going to university and working as an employee in a barbershop, I took some time off to travel the world. This is my greatest hobby. I’m in love with exploring new countries, new cultures and meeting new people. So, coming home from these experiences and journeys taught me that you really do become and start living like the person you’ve always meant to be. Without getting too deep, this is where I gained most of my inspirations for what I’d imagined my barbershop to be like. Every country I’d go to I’d always try and find the coolest barbershop in town and get my haircut there, see how they do things and what makes them different to the barbershops in Australia.

What makes my barbershop stand out and be unique to others, was inspired by two of my favourite experiences in Paris, France and Hungary, Budapest. The barbershops I visited had a very warm welcome, genuine greetings and a convenient waiting system for clients.

BAR x BAR has a simplistic. modern style and feel to it. Natural wood tones and lots of plants make it feel warm and welcoming. Just like how we treat our clients. The team down at BAR x BAR are all super kind and love some banter. We have a large community here which creates an amazing atmosphere. We have music and sport playing on the TV. We also hand out beers and water for our customers while they wait. A concept we have implemented is our chalk board system. Clients can write their name and number on the board and go off and do their thing. We will then text or call to let them know we are ready for them. It means clients don’t have to wait in line if we are really busy.

The BAR X BAR has now been open for just over 1 year, we have 6 staff members who all share the same passion for cutting hair as I do. Things couldn’t be going better, and we are so excited to see how we grow as a shop and in the community in the future.

What role do your suppliers play in your vision and how do you choose who to partner with?

The role my suppliers play in my business is huge. Not only does the product we use need to be top shelf quality with ingredients and performance, the packaging, style and aesthetic needs to blend in with our style as well. I chose to partner with muk Haircare’s MR MUK range because the packaging is minimal, clean and masculine. It ties in well with the modern look of my barbershop. In addition there is wide range of products to suit any hair type and style and the quality is amazing.

Can you tell us what your favourite product in the Mr Muk range is and why?

In the MR MUK range, the Strong Hold Gritty Finish Paste is my favourite. It’s our best seller because it can be used on any hair length from long to short. It is easy to apply and gives an amazing matte finish and natural look for our clients.

Come down and show your face next time you visit Manly; we would love to meet you all!