It has been a difficult few months for our beloved industry. The pandemic has affected us all in different ways, but barbers are resilient and we know that they will come back from this stronger and better than ever.
Speaking of a comeback… we are so excited to share this new issue of BarberEVO with you. As UK and Irish barbers all prepare to get back to doing what they do best, we hope that this comeback edition of our magazine can inspire and inform you as best as possible.
We made the decision early on, as the pandemic set in, as difficult as it was, to postpone the May edition, and hold out until barbers were back behind the chair. Therefore the July ‘comeback’ edition is here!
But we haven’t hidden under a rock…! Between our March edition and now, we decided to focus our efforts on keeping this industry updated and making sure that we continued to support you in the right way. EVOLive was born! And you can read all about it in this edition.
Our cover star is none other than Johnny Baba. We exclusively spoke with the King of Barber Barber about the ‘new normal’ and his thoughts on how the industry can bounce back.
We also speak with Keith Conniford, Registrar and CEO of The Hair and Barber Council, about the topic of mandatory state registration for barbers, and how this pandemic has perhaps brought this issue closer to home.
We talk to Natalie Cresswell about her bold decision to revamp her shop during lockdown, and how Booksy has been a godsend to her and will be pivotal for a successful return to business.
Globally renowned barber Robert Braid shares his lockdown stories and explains why Squire is going to make all the difference when he returns, and a host of leading barbers, stylists and colourists share their thoughts on how to fix those pesky DIY home haircuts.
While a safe reopening is of the utmost importance, it is just as important to look after ourselves too, in both body and mind, so we have put together advice on how to take care of your own mental and physical wellbeing too.
We’re also delving into retail – an important resource for barbershops keen to claw back some of that lost revenue – with advice from the shops and barbers who have used retail to their advantage, and who will be putting an even bigger emphasis on it in the coming months.
As we navigate through this new normal, we will continue to do all we can to support the barbering industry, and we want to personally wish each and every one of you the best of luck for your return to work.
Enjoy this new issue of BarberEVO. We can’t wait to hear all about everyone getting back behind the chair in the coming days and weeks!
