On Monday, Phorest UK successfully held their live stream event, Uplift! After some technical issues on their first attempt on January 25^th, The Uplift! event came back bigger and stronger for its rescheduled date of Monday February 8^th. Along with motivational and uplifting presentations from guest speakers such as Chancellor of the British Fellowship of Hair and mindfulness leader, Ashley Hodges, and Royal Marine Jason Fox with an inspiring speech about resilience, Phorest professionals shared many inspiring stories as well as tips and tricks to persevere through the pandemic.

The day started with an introduction by Ronan Perceval, CEO of Phorest, introducing the speakers, presentations, and prizes. The prizes that were offered this year included an Apple Watch, an iPad, and a one-year subscription to Headspace App for mindfulness.

Chief Technology Officer at Phorest John Doran, and Head of Product, Evelyn Balfe, then presented on How 2020 Changed Our World. John and Evelyn shared stories from several salon owners and hairdressers throughout UK and Ireland, and how they coped and adapted through Covid with the help of some of the features Phorest Booking and Management Apps have to offer. They also included videos from Phorest users from all over the world, talking about their concerns throughout Covid, and some of the ways Phorest had been able to help.

“Phorest was the first of our suppliers who contacted us and told us, that we didn’t have to stress about the invoicing. They would spread our payments, and take the pressure off us. Phorest were definitely leading the way.” – Gerri Dangerfield Keane, UK.

The next presentation was offered by Head of Product Marketing and Retention Rob Hewitt, and Aisling Scolard, Product Manager. Rob and Aisling’s presentation focusing on marketing, what that means for salons in 2021, and some helpful tips and advice on how to make marketing work for you this year. According to Rob, “Marketing starts with clear, strategic goals, if you want proper results.” In this session, Rob and Aisling discussed all the challenges of the last year, the impact on consumer habits, and what are some ways we can adapt to consumer demands. One change that is certain is the shift to digital. Rob and Aisling offered several solutions to make sure that salons are able to effectively reach their clients online, through Phorest features like: Email Marketing Editor, SMS Marketing Editor, and Client Reconnect.

Next, the Feature Reveal was presented by Richard Cullen, Senior Product Designer, and Verna Wall product researcher, with the topic: Resilience, Motivation, and the Team Effort. Through the data system that Phorest has access to, they were able to compile a list of trends and patterns that successful salons all have in common. There are many misconceptions about what drives success, such as being located on the high street, being expensive, and having a massive team. But Phorest analytics found that these are not always indicative of success. Instead, what they found every successful salon to have was an educated and focused team. The rest of their presentation shared tips on how to motivate staff, how to help them be self-reliant, and to monitor personal and shop goals through the My Performance tool in the Phorest Go app. This tools monitors staff performance, and increases awareness, and helps to avoid awkward one-to-one meetings. This is a free tool and will be available from next week on.

The next presentation was given by guest speaker Ashleigh Hodges, who began her presentation with a group meditation to promote mindfulness. Ashleigh Hodges offered some advice on wellbeing, and how to juggle busy lives. Ashleigh’s presentation encouraged listeners to allow themselves and their staff time to look inward, take care of themselves, and recharge, before they to spring into action to help everyone else, as they are used to doing. During Covid, Ashleigh explained, “we have all had time to think about what is important to us, and clients have had time to realise how important we are to them.” Ashleigh’s advice to listeners is: learn to say no, set boundaries, and treat your wellbeing as just as important as your clients.

The next session was presented by Niamh Greaney, Head of Adoption & Client Education, who educated attendees on how to evaluate and improve your own online health, to ensure businesses are reaching their clients to the best of their abilities. Phorest have created an online calculator to assess your online health, in terms of online marketing, social media, online reputation, and your salon website. This tool is available on Phorest’s platform and online. Niamh encourages owners to check their score, create a strategy, and revisit the calculator, until they are happy with their online health.

Finally, the last presenter of the day, Jason Fox spoke to the audience about resilience and mental health, and his experience in Afghanistan as a Special Forces Officer. Fox shared an inspiring story of how he dealt with a hostage rescue mission in Afghanistan. Fox shared with the attendees his personal ethos of:  courage, determination, unselfishness, and cheerfulness in the face of adversity, and it is these four qualities that have helped him get through traumatic experiences, and will help others face day-to-day struggles throughout their lives, such as getting through this pandemic.

Overall, the day with at Phorest’s Uplift shared inspiring stories of perseverance, adaptability, and determination from salon owners, public speakers, as well as Phorest professionals. Phorest also shared many tips and tools that their software platforms offer to help salons throughout the pandemic, and into the tech-based future.

To learn more, go to https://bit.ly/2MQ8ts5

We at BarberEVO, along with the rest of the barbering world, are shocked and devastated by the loss of legendary barber and friend, Allan Stone.

46 year old Allan Stone was the owner of Stoney’s Barber Shop in Laygate, South Sheilds. Allan was a named a Grandmaster Barber by the British Master Barbers (BMB) Alliance, he was a Master Barber, and was also recognised by the British Barbers’ Association. Allan Stone was a a big supporter of the barbering industry ­– always pushing for higher standards and education, and he was a regular at most barbering shows, always offering advice and kind words.

Stone began his career in the industry as a young man, working as a Saturday worker at Saks Hairdressers in Newcastle while he was still at school. Allan Stone, was dedicated to sharing his knowledge and skills, and worked as part-time lecturer at South Tyneside College, while running two locations of his barbershop in South Shields.

We, at BarberEVO, are absolutely devastated to learn the news of the passing of our friend Allan Stone.

Full of energy and a real zest for life, Allan truly was one of the most genuine, larger than life guys you could ever wish to meet.

His presence MADE barbering trade shows worth attending alone, Allan put a smile on everyone’s face, almost effortlessly and we will cherish those memories forever.

Only last week Allan reached out to check in on Andrew and David, full of that Geordie banter and light-hearted exchanges that epitomised why Allan was liked by so many.

Our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the very many industry peers throughout the UK and beyond who will be truly saddened to hear of his passing.

If you are able to do so, please consider making a donation to this fund set up to help support Allan Stone’s family with funeral costs.

The outpouring of emotions in the aftermath of Allan’s passing has been truly sad, but equally heart-warming to read all of the kind words every single person has had to say about the one and only Stoney.

Rest easy Stoney.

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/allan-stone?utm_term=AxGXWgeAv&fbclid=IwAR0HwgUWVLTjoSY_X9wtDbKyzTwhojtxKj9HwwbNyWXLVBudpFQNY3Q1fN8

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Legendary Sea Cliff, NY barbershop Bart’s has continued to operate, despite plans to close last October.

Owner Joe Mazzeo had announced back in October his plans to close the establishment, with the 78 year old having worked in the shop that his father, Bartolomeo had opened, since the early 1960’s.

The Coronavirus pandemic, and subsequent lockdown last year actually forced Joe towards ‘a taste’ of retirement ahead of schedule. However he has since reopened, but is still passionate about selling the business to another barber who can take the business on.

Good luck to Joe. Joe is the epitome of what barbers mean to the communities they serve. We salute you Joe!

WE’VE ALL BEEN WISHING AWAY 2020, AND WE CAN ONLY HOPE THAT 2021 BRINGS ALL THE THINGS WE MISSED OUT ON LAST YEAR. WE NEED STABILITY, THE RETURN OF CLIENTS TO THE BARBER’S CHAIR, AND UNITY WITHIN THE INDUSTRY.

We are delighted to welcome an esteemed barber to our list of columnists, Robert Rix of The Company of Master Barbers in Southport. Robert comes to us with a wealth of experience, and he will forever stick in my mind from an event I attended when BarberEVO was in its infancy. Surrounded by the young, the flashy and the talented, all eyes were drawn to Robert and his traditional values, his outstanding techniques, and his insight into the business. We are honoured to welcome him to the BarberEVO family. 

In this issue we have pulled together a really strong array of opinions on hair trends for 2021. It seems that longer hair is on the way back and the lockdown has forced prolonged hair growth that is here to stay. 

We were all saddened to hear of the death of our friend Sam Wall, and we felt it only right to update our readers on the outstanding response that Sam’s friends pulled out the bag in honour of a much-loved guy. Team Sam Wall have been pounding the streets racking up the miles and raising more than £15,000 for charity. We salute you! 

We would also like to mark the passing of the legend, Tony Roberts of Just Gents, in Milton Keynes, a grand master barber, and a wonderful character, we send our thoughts to his family and friends. 

Back to the content in this issue and we take a look at the benefits of investing in studio time when it comes to putting together a collection. Kevin Luchmun tells us why opening his own studio has been a game changer. We are also able to bring you exclusive behind the scenes coverage of a fantastic day of shooting by Liam Oakes.

Finally, we catch up with Luka Chitty about his ongoing Together Create project which encourages you to think local when sourcing a venue for your next shoot. 

Enjoy the read, as always, we’ve enjoyed pulling the issue together and we hope you enjoy it too. 

You can purchase a hard copy here.

Unfortunately, due to the increased levels of transmission of Covid-19 throughout England, more areas have been placed into Tier 4 restrictions, meaning that more barbershops have unfortunately been forced to close as we welcome the new year.

In an announcement made on 30th December, the UK Government Health Secretary Matt Hancock advised that the entire South-East, large parts of the Midlands, North-East and South West would move into the higher Tier, thus forcing closure of all close contact service businesses.

The full list of locations in Tier 4 can be located here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/full-list-of-local-restriction-tiers-by-area

We hope everyone in the affected areas stays safe and hopefully can successfully return to work and reopen their businesses as soon as possible.

A barber from Giffnock, Scotland, went above and beyond for his clients, by opening his shop on Christmas Day.

Tony Mann’s Barber Shop opened up on December 25th, in order to provide clients the opportunity to get a haircut, prior to the impending Scotland-wide lockdown, which meant that all barbershops would require to close as of Boxing Day.

Owner Tony Mann commented, “I wanted to ensure all my loyal customers looked sharp for the next three weeks,” he said. “They have been good to us since we reopened earlier this year, so it’s one way for me to give back. Christmas Day was really the last day that they can get a haircut. We had a lot of people coming in – those who celebrate Christmas and those who don’t. It was humbling to see them before we shut.”

All barbershops in Scotland have now closed due to the ongoing Covid restrictions, with a minimum closure period of three weeks, subject to review in due course.

Following a recent spike in Covid-19 infection rates, the Prime Minister has announced a new ‘Tier 4’ for London and parts of the South East and the East of England.

This will come into force from Sunday 20th December.

Barbershops, salons and beauty parlours can continue to stay open in all Tiers 1-3 elsewhere in England.

In Northern Ireland, all close contact businesses must close on Boxing Day – for what will be a 6-week long lockdown, subject to a review after 4-weeks.

In Wales, all close contact businesses will shut on December 19th as part of a level 4 lockdown which will be reviewed in three weeks.

In Scotland, all beauty salons, hairdressers and barbers must close for three weeks from Boxing Day.

These are concerning times for all barbershops and beauty salons throughout the UK, our thoughts are with each and every one of you at this difficult and challenging time.

Without question one of our most random news stories in 2020, is that McDonald’s in Sweden have opened a barbershop offering one specific cut, the 90’s inspired ‘Golden M’ haircut.

We know it’s a bit of an advertising stunt with a difference, as the so called ‘Golden M’ haircut is essentially a center part, or ‘curtains’ as our team knew from the 90’s… but McDonald’s Sweden allege that the cut is similar to the fast food chain’s famous Golden Arches logo. Who are we to disagree?

Influencer hairstylist Adam Lukacs provided virtual haircut lessons to those fortunate enough to book in digital appointments. Ensuring that ‘clients’ can confirm that they do indeed have the ‘Golden M’ haircut perfected.

Those who took a virtual session, were not only treated to some 90’s inspired haircut lessons, but also, and perhaps most importantly, were treated to a complimentary Big Mac – should their haircuts pass the McDonald’s Golden M Detector digital app.

Good fun ensued!

The Vocational Training Charitable Trust (VTCT) have appointed a new Chair and Vice-Chair for their board of trustees.

Jenny Sworder is the new Chair, following 7 years as a trustee on the board and also previously being the Vice-Chair. Jenny has extensive experience in the Beauty and Retail Industry (over 20 years) with the likes of Fenwick’s stores, the Fragrance Foundation UK and the Cosmetics Executive Women UK.

She takes over from Professor Dr Chris Laws, who is retiring after 10 dedicated years of voluntary service as both a trustee and Chair to VTCT.

On taking up the new role, Jenny said, “I am delighted to take forward the great work that Chris has done for VTCT, over the past ten years. During this time he has helped to steer VTCT to being the wonderful organisation it is today. I look forward to further building upon this and tackling the new challenges within vocational and technical education, ensuring that learners remain at the heart of what we do as a modern and progressive Awarding Organisation.”

Jenny will be joined by Isabel Sutcliffe, the new Vice-Chair of VTCT. We wish them both the very best of luck in the new roles!

Despite the ongoing pandemic causing many high street businesses to close their doors, MR. Barbers has continued to grow from strength to strength. MR. Barbers new finance package offers existing barbershops a complete rebrand and refurbishment package with no upfront fee and monthly repayments of under £300 per month.

This is creating opportunities for barbershops that are struggling to make headway, to come onboard with the MR. family and start afresh. With ongoing support, a brand-new shop fit including chairs, as well as a website, booking app and marketing and social media presence, they do all the hard work to get your shop the recognition and presence it deserves. 

Of course, the virus has had its impact on the brand, but the company has looked to set itself apart from the competition by making it the safest place in each town to get your hair cut. With a strict COVID hygiene policies and staff training in place, every haircut continues to reach the high standards expected with the business, whilst delivering it in a completely safe way.

MR. Barbers have three more shops opening over the next 2 months. Shop number 29, MR. Halesowen is opening its doors on December the 5^th, shortly followed by MR. Woodbridge opening on the 7^th of December. MR. Huntingdon will follow closely behind opening early in the New Year.

The effects of the pandemic are not just physical, people are struggling, and times are hard. MR. Barbers Halesowen is donating all proceeds from their grand opening on December 12^th to the Black Country Foodbank. At a time like this, it is now more important than ever to give back to those in need.

In 2019/20 approximately 1.9 million people have used a foodbank in the United Kingdom, around 300,000 more than the previous year. If this wasn’t enough of a strain, new analytics have forecasted a 61% increase in the use of foodbanks in October to December alone. The pressure on foodbanks is immense. Black Country Foodbank is a local charity to Halesowen that helps vulnerable individuals and families in crisis. They provide people with 3 days’ worth of emergency food supplies while a longer solution is developed. This service provides relief and help to those in need at a very difficult time. 

For more information about rebranding with MR. email info@mrbarbers.co.uk. Or visit www.mrbarbers.co.uk