Industry Leaders Join Forces Through Sortis Holdings to Elevate, Empower, and Expand the Barbering Workforce

Fellow Barber, a New York-born chain of elevated barbershops, today announced an agreement with Sortis Holdings, Inc. (OTC: SOHI) (“Sortis”) that will merge the grooming company with Seattle’s iconic Rudy’s Barbershop (“Rudy’s”). This merger will elevate the barbering industry and empower its combined workforce. It also aligns Fellow Barber with original lifestyle brands with purpose and impact. The Sortis team is building a platform that enables sustainable growth, cultural equity, and scalable innovations for brands with things to say. The goal is to unite consumer brands with a strong point-of-view and unique brand identities, a passionate customer base and a deep commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG).

With the market for upscale men’s grooming growing across the country, the merger with Rudy’s is a natural fit. Behind Rudy’s is Sortis Holdings, a Portland, Oregon-based platform company enabling highly scalable, experiential lifestyle brands to accelerate growth and impact. Sortis acquired Rudy’s out of bankruptcy in 2020, bringing back the brands co-founders to return the DNA that makes the Rudy’s experience so unique. Despite being forced to close its doors during the onset of COVID-19, Fellow Barber prevailed and both brands are now uniquely positioned for growth as they remain largely unaffected by the residual effects of the pandemic such as supply chain delays, inflation, and employee retention.

“Rudy’s Barbershops has always been an inspiration to me,” said Sam Buffa, CEO & Founder of Fellow Barber. “We recently had an opportunity to purchase a few of the former Rudy’s locations in LA, which was a dream. Now, we will be able to operate side-by-side for a common goal – bettering the industry for our skilled barbers and spreading the barbershop culture to even more excited clientele, especially as the men’s grooming market continues to grow rapidly.”

As part of the merger, Buffa will lead both Fellow Barber and Rudy’s Barbershops. His 15-plus years of experience in the industry has been spent finding solutions to better the barbering industry and bring back the esteem it once held by way of a barber-first approach. Those experiences position him well to partner with Ryan Suddendorf, who will become the VP and COO of Barbershops, to guide both brands through their next stage of growth.

“This merger was a natural fit for two iconic brands,” said Paul Brenneke, Executive Chairman of Sortis. “The opportunity for growth in this industry will be driven by these brands’ consumer and barber-first approach. We are well positioned to leverage capabilities, specifically digital, to expand consumer reach and bring new barbers into the industry.”

“When Alex, David, and I founded Rudy’s, we worked to build an inclusive space that focused on connection, care and community,” said co-founder Wade Weigel. “That simple mission is at the core of barbershops, and we’ve long admired Fellow Barber for taking this charge to heart. We’re excited to build on these shared values as we continue to grow under a united sense of purpose.”

While Fellow Barber and Rudy’s will continue operating as separate brands, the merger provides a common infrastructure that provides access to capital, real estate strategy expertise, creative and operational talent, and cutting-edge digital capabilities. Education is also a primary focus for Fellow Barber and Rudy’s, which plans to expand its existing apprenticeship program with the launch of a barbering academy that brings hands-on education to licensed, professional stylists and barbers from all over the country.

Both Fellow Barber and Rudy’s will continue to explore expansion opportunities in their respective regions with Fellow opening three new locations in New York City this year, which includes their recently opened flagship in Hudson Yards. Similarly, after the recent opening of their Downtown Beaverton, OR location in June, Rudy’s also is set to launch two additional locations in 2022 and early 2023 in Totem Lake, WA and Cedar Hills Crossing in Oregon.

About Fellow Barber
Founded by Sam Buffa and William Tigertt in 2006, Fellow Barber is committed to elevating the craft of barbering. Often credited for the revival of the time-honored barbershop traditions, Fellow Barber’s expertly trained barbers provide classic cuts and straight razor shaves to a discerning clientele who seek a hassle-free, yet high-quality experience without the pretensions of a salon. By leading the barbershop renaissance, Fellow Barber has spawned a new barbering subculture, raised the overall barbering wage nationwide, and created new jobs.

Since opening its first shop in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, Fellow Barber has independently expanded to 11 locations throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, Los Angeles and San Francisco – all of which have a unique aesthetic inspired by the diversity of the neighborhood and clientele. The brand also developed its own line of expertly crafted, professional quality grooming products, which is carried in select barbershops and retailers, and online at FellowBarber.com, SAKS.com, Amazon.com, and Nordstrom.com.

About Rudy’s Barbershops
Since its founding in 1993, Rudy’s Barbershop has been the authority on effortless style, combining self-care with culture. They pioneered the modern barbershop movement and redefined a new generation of beauty and grooming, starting with one location in the grungy heart of Seattle and expanding down to PDX, NYC, ATL and PHX. Rudy’s now operates 31 locations in five states and has a line of grooming products sold at Rudy’s, online and through select retailers nationwide.

About Sortis Holdings, Inc.
Sortis Holdings, Inc. (OTC: SOHI) is a collection of brands that combine creative vision with business acumen. Sortis intends to power its brands across hotel & lodging, coffee, food & beverage, and beauty & wellness to drive culture forward, uniting purpose and profit to thoughtfully scale its companies and offer exceptional experiences to its customers. To learn more about Sortis, please visit sortisholdings.com.

With people being the greatest strength and resource, John Paul Mitchell Systems® (JPMS) is pleased to announce the appointment of globally renowned professional educator Stephen Moody as Artistic Director.

In his new role, Stephen joins fellow Artistic Directors Robert Cromeans, Colin Caruso, Paula Peralta, John Mosley, and Editorial Director Noogie Thai in developing seasonal trend reports and crafting hairdressing curricula. He will lead the development of innovative education programming for a new Paul Mitchell Professional Academy in Santa Monica, CA. 

“With our company’s commitment to education, I am thrilled to welcome Stephen to John Paul Mitchell Systems. As one of the world’s most accomplished educators, Stephen will help our salon partners to further elevate their craft and success as salon professionals,” says Angus Mitchell, JPMS Co-owner and Artistic Director of Education.

As the exclusive distributor of Paul Mitchell in the UK, Salon Success share their excitement on the news:

“Education has always been at the heart of Sally Salon Services supporting our hairdressing community. As  the sole distributor for Paul Mitchell in the UK,  Stephen Moody joining Paul Mitchell as Artistic Director is such exciting news for us all. Stephen’s illustrious career has been focused on educating hairdressers globally and we look forward to working closely with him in the future.” Jeremy Inns, Senior Director, Full Service Sales – Sally Europe

A 30-plus-year veteran of the Sassoon organization, Stephen has developed and managed the Sassoon Academies throughout the world. His role included leading the Vidal Sassoon artistic team, supporting product development, hosting virtual and live education, training educators, and developing seasonal trends for photo and video shoots.

For the past nine years, Stephen has served as Global Education Dean for a leading professional brand. He has developed revolutionary education to arm salon professionals with the intellectual and creative tools to increase their earning potential. During the pandemic, Stephen pivoted to the digital and virtual space, and hosted 200+ hands-on seminars throughout the world.

Stephen holds many titles and awards, including 2021 NAHA Haircutter of the Year. He was also a finalist for NAHA 2021 Educator of the Year, and he will soon receive the coveted Intercoiffure Mondial Knight Award in Paris.

A haircutter and career educator, Stephen says, “I am thrilled to join JPMS, a company whose heritage and commitment is fully aligned with mine—dedicated to helping hairdressers excel in their craft and enjoy a highly successful career.” According to Jason Yates, President of JPMS, “Bringing Stephen on board, with his globally recognized name, reputation and strength in educating, reinforces our commitment of support to the professional salon community. As a fellow hairdresser and educator, I have known Stephen to always be relatable, approachable, and full of fresh ideas. He is a perfect cultural fit for JPMS, and we could not be happier to have him in a leadership role with our artistic team.”

Manufacturer backed scheme introduced to support the industry during challenging times

Just as the damaging economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have started to subside with salons and barbers reopening, welcoming clients back and returning to near-normality, new and unwelcome economic threats have started to emerge. As hair, beauty and grooming businesses continue to recover from what has been a difficult two-years, rising costs, inflationary pressures and the cost-of-living crisis have all combined to create a perfect storm that undermines their recovery by imposing fresh challenges to the running of a profitable hair salon or barbershop.

A Positive Outlook

However, against this gloomy economic backdrop there are many positives too. Demand for hair, beauty and men’s grooming services is growing exponentially, clients are investing more in their image and well-being than ever, and the potential outlook is one of hope for businesses that have decided to invest and create new and more luxurious service experiences for their clients.

The Industry’s First 0% and Zero Deposit Finance Lease Scheme

In response to all these issues and opportunities, Takara Belmont has taken the lead with the launch of the industry’s first manufacturer backed 0%, zero deposit Finance Lease scheme. This means there’s never been a better time to invest in new equipment. Launched today (18/7/22), the company has backed the scheme with its leasing partner to support the industry, as it continues to recover and invest for the future. Now, businesses can invest with complete peace of mind and build success into the future with renewed optimism and confidence.

“This scheme gives salons and barbershops access to 0% Finance with zero deposit over 2 years,” says Katie Wrighton, Takara Belmont’s National Sales Manager. “It’s so exciting, as it means they can invest to build their business for the future without large capital outlay. As the number one equipment brand, it makes our world-leading products even more accessible and affordable, plus it’s tax efficient and will help salons and barbershops manage their cashflow too. Many products cost as little as the price of a haircut per week, so why wait?”   

Delivered through a quick and easy application process, hair and beauty businesses can now fast-track an equipment upgrade to improve their client experience, introduce new service opportunities and even redesign their space with Takara Belmont’s free* Salon Design service. Katie Wrighton: “Recently we’ve reduced delivery times on some of our most iconic equipment to just a few weeks, and our salon design team can help businesses reimagine their space. The combination of this with 0% finance makes now the perfect time to invest and grow.”

Key benefits of the 0%, zero deposit Finance Lease scheme are:

• Opportunity

With 0%, zero deposit Finance Lease, there’s never been a better time to invest. This scheme gives your business the scope to maximise your business potential, enhance the service experience for clients, and transform the working environment for your team

• Better cashflow management

This scheme enables salons and barbershops to purchase equipment in a way that improves cash flow by retaining cash in the business for other important investments such as training, staff recruitment and marketing

• Flexibility

At the end of the agreement, your salon or barbershop can own the goods outright for one extra monthly payment, or upgrade again and start a new agreement

• Quality and value

As the number one salon furniture and equipment brand, this scheme means you can benefit from the world’s best equipment at a price you can afford

• Tax relief

Lease Purchase is the sensible way to invest as you receive tax relief for the full duration of the lease agreement

• Make your life easy

A single fixed monthly payment means you can budget and enjoy complete peace of mind. Once you have everything in place, you can focus on providing great service and on your business without worrying about your equipment

Enquire and apply now at https://www.takarahairdressing.co.uk/finance

To apply, contact Takara Belmont on 0207 515 0333 or email applications@takara.co.uk

Discover more about our free* Salon Design service https://www.takarahairdressing.co.uk/salon-design-service

* Free Salon Design service is subject to T&Cs. See website for details

…and get discovered thanks to Booksy

Singing along with famous musicians and head banging to guitar solos are part of what makes being in the crowd of a music festival so exhilarating. Now, imagine being backstage, not as a fan, but as a beauty professional responsible for those artist’s head turning hairstyles on stage. You can win chance to style some of the country’s most popular musicians through Booksy’s Get Discovered Backstage contest and make this dream a reality.

Booksy, the leader in booking and business technology for the beauty industry, has partnered with Idle Hand Collective (@idlehandcollective), a group of traveling barbers and hairstylists who provide complimentary haircuts to top performers and artists at music festivals around the world. Idle Hand Collective understands how difficult it can be for touring artists to get a show-stopping haircut or style, so they have spent a combined 30+ years on the road helping performers and other professionals look and feel their best before their gigs.

Booksy and Idle Hand Collective have joined forces to create this once in a lifetime contest for beauty professionals. Imagine the opportunity to cut and style hair for some of the country’s top music artists and having the chance to Get Discovered Backstage! Barbers, stylists, braiders, and nail artists have a chance to win a unique opportunity to showcase their talents backstage at major music festivals across the country like Riot Fest, Furnace Fest, and EDC Orlando from September to December 2022.

This contest supports Booksy’s “Get Discovered” campaign which launched in early 2022. Thanks to this contest, beauty pros now have the opportunity to Get Discovered Backstage by well-known performers and share their work just like they can get discovered by new clients on Booksy’s marketplace.

Booksy providers from across the country can enter to win the opportunity to join Idle Hands Collective and a current Booksy Ambassador this summer at one of many well-known music festivals all around the US and provide service to artists preforming at the event.

This talent-based contest officially kicks off on July 11^th, 2022 and will run through November 2022. Many beauty pros will win the opportunity of a lifetime – the chance to work on nationally acclaimed artists at one of over 20 multiple-day music festivals. This is YOUR chance to shine.

To enter this contest, visit www.booksy.com/blog/us/get-discovered-backstage/. Booksy providers must meet these three eligibility requirements:

1. Must have an active Booksy account
2. Have at least 10 reviews on your profile
3. Have cumulative profile review rating of at least a 4.8 or above

Category-specific winners will be selected on a rolling weekly basis beginning in August, with the first participating festival in September. Booksy Ambassadors will be on hand and act as a mentor to the winners. Winners will also be able to experience exclusive one-on-one education, as well as learn and ask questions about the industry.

An opportunity to create the look of your favorite artists that have been on the top of your playlists does not come around often, so act fast and enter now.

Download the Booksy Biz mobile app or visit Booksy.com/biz to learn more.

In its latest effort to support the industry, the NHBF has responded to its Members’ concerns about energy costs by partnering with leading energy consultancy Direct Business Solutions (DBS) to help them save on their utility bills.

The new partnership comes in direct response to the NHBF’s State of the Industry survey in March reporting that 94% of salon owners across the UK had seen an increase in utility bills compared to the same period last year, with 32% stating that utility bills were their largest overhead.  

Energy is essential for most businesses, especially for salons and barbershops, from charging hair clippers or hairdryers to running high tech body and face treatments, as well as lighting and heating your salon. Your needs differ from an average household and, as energy prices continue to rise, this adds to the pressure that salons are feeling across the UK.  

With energy prices skyrocketing over the past year, finding the best deal for your salon is now essential. The new NHBF partnership with DBS aims to help salon owners manage the energy pricing crisis as simply as possible by finding the energy contract best suited to the individual business’s needs. 

The new Members only partnership provides:

•   Great prices and deals on your utilities

•   A choice of like for like quotes, putting you firmly in control

•   Simplicity – your dedicated account person will make this process hassle-free.

•   Clarity on your energy pricing and broker costs

•   Fit – Matching the supplier with your business needs

Richard Lambert, NHBF chief executive said: “Rising electricity and gas costs are a real concern to salons across the hair and beauty industry. Coming on top of already increasing staff and business costs, they are pushing many salons at breaking point. We’ve partnered with DBS to help salon owners manage their rising energy costs by finding the energy supplier and tariff that suits them best. We hope that this will help to alleviate some of the pressure that the sector is feeling whilst it is still making a slow and steady recovery from covid.”

Liam Spence, DBS Environment and Sustainability Operations Manager said: “Direct Business Solutions are excited with our partnership with the NHBF and look forward to assisting it’s members with their ongoing energy and carbon reduction requirements.”

On Sunday, June 26^th,  amongst the hustle and bustle of the ISSE2022 show floor, stood 4 beauty entrepreneurs ready to make their pitch for a shot at $10,000 to take their business dreams to the next level.

WorthUp Alliance founders Ted Gibson and Jason Backe were inspired to establish the program based on their own careers as beauty entrepreneurs. As celebrity stylists, salon owners, and product innovators, they have seen and done it all! Worth Up is uniting a coalition of change agents, dream makers and expert advisors like Ted and Jason who are committed to nurturing and empowering emerging entrepreneurs through education, business coaching, mentoring, networking and start-up capital grants.  The Dream Capital program consists of a mentorship period where finalists meet for weekly sessions with Ted, Jason and guest mentors leading up to a business pitch where the winners are determined. This season’s guest mentors were Zan Ray and Tom Collins from Global Beauty Business Academy and Jenny Strebe, founder of Aiir Professional.

At the conclusion of the mentorship season, finalists of the grant competition traveled to Long Beach to present their business proposals in person to a panel of industry heavy hitters. This season’s judges included Founders Ted Gibson and Jason Backe along with:

Matty Conrad – Barber, Educator, and Founder of Victory Brand Products

Janine Jarman – Curl Cult Founder, Hairroin Salon Owner, Educator and BCL Mentor

Nina Tulio – Salon Business Educator, Former Salon Owner, BCL Mentor and OligoPro Ambassador

Dionne Phillips – Luxury Lash Expert, Pioneer of Lash Extensions, Educator, Esthetician and Salon Owner

As each finalist made their pitch, the judges asked probing questions about the beauty pro’s plans, finances, and vision for their business while scoring against a standardized rubric. After deliberations, the Dream Capital Grants were allocated awarding $10,000 to Erika Martin-Ware, $5,000 each to Misha Mills and Michelle Robertson, and $3,000 to Ebony Smith. The finalists were awarded live on the main stage Sunday afternoon, followed by a celebratory toast hosted by Beauty Changes Lives. 

Beauty Changes Lives is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering and equipping the next generation of beauty professionals by providing valuable resources, scholarships, education, and mentorship opportunities. In a time when it’s never been more important to support the industry, all proceeds raised from the Beauty Changes Lives Experience will go to changing the lives of beauty professionals. In 2021, the organization raised over $700k in scholarships, and has awarded over 700 scholarships since it’s founding. Beauty Changes Lives is shaping the future of the industry.

To learn more about Worth Up Alliance please visit https://beautychangeslives.org/worth-up-alliance/.

Meet the winners of the Spring 2022 Dream Capital Grants here: https://beautychangeslives.org/dream-capital/

The fabulous founder of Stylebook Directory, Sarah Yorke has been recognised as one of the best in the business after being named a finalist in the Great British Entrepreneur Awards!

Sarah is one of the shortlisted business leaders from across the nation to have been selected out of over 5,300 entrants – the most the awards has ever had. A well deserved announcement we think!

The Great British Entrepreneur Awards, in partnership with Starling Bank, acknowledges and champions the hard work and uplifting stories of business owners across the UK, with an emphasis on their journey and resilience over financial achievements.

Twelve awards will be given out per region for categories including Disruptor of the Year, Entrepreneur for Good Award, and the Great British Entrepreneur of the Year. Notable winners from previous years include Social Chain founder Steven Bartlett, who went on to become the youngest ever investor on BBC’s Dragon’s Den.

Sarah is super ecstatic about being shortlisted for such a fantastic award and is over the moon to have been selected out of thousands of entrants! She looks forward to attending the awards in autumn to build her ever-growing network and cheer on other fellow finalists too.

This year’s awards will also feature a brand new award highlighting the organisations investing in the training and development of young people. The John Caudwell Blaze Your Own Trail Award looks to recognise outstanding examples of businesses offering apprenticeships, vocational training, and diversity and inclusion initiatives, all in the name of improving young people’s access to work.

The winners will be announced at a Grand Final, held at the Grosvenor Hotel in London on 21st November.

This year is the 10th anniversary of the Great British Entrepreneur Awards. The alumni has collectively generated over £30 billion in revenue and employed more than 450,000 people.

To mark the milestone year for the programme, entrants will have the chance to win over £30,000 worth of marketing support and a tree will be planted for every application submitted with the support of Ecologi.

Founder of the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, Francesca James, said the quality of this year’s entrants exemplified the strength of entrepreneurship across the UK: “The quality of applications is consistently excellent year on year, but we have been especially blown away by the innovation, drive and determination demonstrated this year. Shortlisting from so many inspiring contenders has been more challenging than ever, with many deserving cases put forward and an ever-growing business community thriving across the country.

“From the pandemic to the ongoing cost of living crisis, business owners haven’t had it easy over the past few years, but it’s a testament to the tenacity and perseverance of these entrepreneurs that they have continued on their path and refused to give in.

“This year’s finalists should be so proud of what they’ve already achieved both in business and in being shortlisted for an award – we’re looking forward to seeing everyone at the Finals and unveiling the winners!”

Anne Boden MBE, Founder of Starling Bank, headline partner of the Awards, said: “Congratulations to all those businesses who have made the shortlist. It’s great to see the passion, resilience and amazing ingenuity from entrepreneurs across so many categories.” For the full list of finalists, visit greatbritishentrepreneurawards.com

Following a phenomenally successful and impactful O.P Awards 2021 the team is back this year with an even bigger and better O.P Hairshow & Awards 2022. Held on Sunday 25th September in the centre of Birmingham.

“The energy you put into what you do is the energy it will be received with,” – is a quote often used by Josh and never more relevant than when planning this event.

He said: “The O.P Hairshow 2022 will be an event like no other in the UK. An event dedicated to you. Each and every one of you. No sales, no vendors, no marketing, no gimmicks. Just pure, organic energy, education, information and inspiration. The O.P Hairshow is your day. To surround yourself with like-minded, motivated individuals. To network. To learn. To leave a more confident, determined and better you.”

The O.P Hairshow will consist of a full day’s education. Fully representative of Barber.josh.o.p Education in covering every single aspect of our industry:

– Cutting demonstrations – Long, Medium & Short hair. Modern & Classic. Scissor work, Fading, Styling and Creativity.

– Cutting theory presentations – The D.F.S Formula, Line Theory and much more.

– Business seminars

– Social media growth and marketing seminars

– Photography and content creation seminars

– Mindset and motivation seminars

– Self Study seminars

– Networking

Light refreshments will be provided.

This will then be followed by the second annual O.P Awards. Josh said: “Last year was an unbelievably powerful evening where our online academy members from across the globe came together for an evening of joy, inspiration and emotion. The evening was described by many members as ‘a family reunion’. All our finalists got the opportunity to take the stage and share their story, their journey and their inspirations and in doing so each finalist lit up and inspired the entire room. This year will not be the same. No. This year will be even better!

“The O.P Hairshow & Awards 2022 will undoubtedly be the event of the year and we are delighted to say that you are invited.

“Our differences are the most beautiful thing we have in common and here at Barber.josh.o.p Education we look to ensure that no matter who you are, what ‘category’ you fit into within our industry, that you are celebrated. That you have a place to come to learn, to grow, to network, to share, to laugh and to most importantly be fulfilled. We make it our mission to help every individual find what makes them fulfilled and build a life where they can maximise their fulfillment and in doing so maximise their success.” Head to barberjoshop.com to purchase your tickets and we’ll see you there!

On Monday, June 27, 2022 at Medinah Country Club, Andis was a featured hole partner at the outing where funds benefitted Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.  In just one day, over $1.2 million was raised and will go directly to the hospital.

As well as raising an incredible amount for charity, celebrities in attendance received Andis products including: the At Home inCRED Clipper, inEDGE Trimmer, reSURGE professional shaver, and the inLINER Corded Trimmer. 

Celebrity guests included: Kerry Wood, John Brotherton, Roger Clemens, Jim McMahon, Fred McGriff, Kenny Lofton, Kevin Butler, James “Big Cat” Williams, Brian McCaskey, Dan Pasqua, among many others. 

This past weekend (Sat Apr 9 – Monday, Apr 11) the SalonEVO and BarberEVO team packed their bags and took off to Chicago to attend the 99th annual America’s Beauty Show put on by Cosmetologists Chicago.

Beauty professionals, from barbers, cosmetologists, and beauty and skincare experts gathered for a weekend full of education, inspiration, demonstrations, networking, and of course, a little bit of fun too!

This year, EVO took their booth to the next level, offering attendees a unique opportunity at being on the coveted front cover of SalonEVO, with an incredible life-size, interactive, walk-in front cover photobooth. The EVO booth was also the spot to be if you wanted to learn from amazing educators, such as Miguel Rosas from Wahl Pro and Lici Febo from Andis who both performed live demos to an inspired audience.

The EVO front cover photo booth was graced by many of North America’s leading hair and beauty lights, such as the Ulta Beauty Pro Team, with Nick Stenson and Anna Manukyan, Danielle Keasling, David Lopez and Michelle O’Connor. As well as educators like the effervescent Kristin Kaide, Queen of the South, Nieves Almaraz and many, many more!

The team also had the enormous privilege of attending the 10th Annual Beauty Changes Lives Experience, which was an incredible night of fun, inspiration and education, bursting with industry icons all keen to support this wonderful charitable cause.

Thanks to all who stopped by and said hello! Until next year at ABS!

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

•