CO-FOUNDERS AND OWNERS OF ONE OF THE UK’S BEST BARBERSHOPS, RUGER BARBER, ALAN AND REECE BEAK HAVE MADE A NAME FOR THEMSELVES IN THE INDUSTRY AS AN INCREDIBLY SKILLED AND TALENTED DUO

Alan created Ruger Barber in 2015 with his brother Reece – the two of them boasting over 18 years combined experience in the hair industry. Despite only being open a few short years, their presence in the barbering world is undeniably one of the biggest in the UK. Now a Booksy ambassador, Alan is looking forward to a busy Festive period and making plans for the year ahead.

Alan was just eight years old when he first noticed his interest in barbering, intrigued and curious about the atmosphere and the environment of the barbershop. At just 12 years old, he bagged himself a job working in his local barbershop on the weekends, working there until he was 21.

“When I turned 21 I went headfirst into the industry, I gave it my everything,” says Alan. “I studied online, I studied old books, I raided the hairdressing department in the library, I did hairdressing courses, barbering courses, teaching courses, I became an assessor and a tutor in college… there was no stopping me!”

When he first started cutting hair, Alan was determined to become the best version of what he wanted to be that he never stopped. Constantly training himself and learning from others, Alan was incredibly focused, something he thinks he gets from his hard-working parents.

“I would never just settle, I would always have to make sure that I was the best I could be,” says Alan. “I worked hard for everything that I have now, but it has still gone further than I ever could have dreamed. I’ve met a lot of the goals I set for myself but the only problem with that is, I just keep setting myself new ones.”

Reece began his career at 16, working on ladies hair before transitioning to barbering at the age of 23 after some encouragement from his older brother. “We’ve always been really close, we’ve always had a similar vision and we knew we’d work well together,” says Reece.

When Alan and Reece first started Ruger Barbers, it was the beginning of an incredible journey. Since opening the first shop, the brothers have grown and developed the Ruger brand to be more than just a barbershop: “We didn’t want to be known just as the brothers who owned the barbershop, we wanted to do other things and there are other people involved, we all work for the brand, we all work under the Ruger name.”

“We wanted to create a family-led environment and we balance each other out so well we knew it would work,” adds Reece. “We’ve never been competitive with each other, it’s always been about supporting each other.”

Opening that first shop remains, for Alan, his biggest achievement to date, realising a dream he and his brother had chased for so long. Having to walk away from the barbers they had learned from to open their own shop was difficult, but Alan being the ambitious, focused person he is, he knew it was time. Alan still believes that everything that he has been able to do over the past few years, from travelling the world to gaining high-profile clients, all stems from and is because of that barbershop. One of the biggest challenges barbershops can face is managing busy periods. Summertime, back to school and Christmas are all notoriously busy for barbers, particularly for walk-in shops. At Ruger however, Alan and Reece use Booksy.

“Our appointments are always scheduled, so everything is organised – Booksy eliminates the Christmas rush,” says Alan. “Yes, we get more messages in December with people trying to get squeezed in, but now there is a waitlist on the Booksy app. We don’t need to use the ‘rush’ word in our shop anymore because Booksy schedules everything for us.”

The Booksy app also allows them to add bonuses, special offers and discounts and, more importantly, send out email blasts and reminders to clients. Like most appointment-based shops, Ruger suffers occasionally from no-shows and lateness, so to encourage clients to turn up on time, Alan can use Booksy to send emails or texts to remind clients to take extra time and care at Christmas.

Alan first became involved with Booksy after being introduced to them through Lee Resnick. At the time, Alan was working with Luke Dolan on an event called the UK Barber Lab at Luke’s shop in London. The event was non-profit, so when Booksy asked to come along, Alan said yes, choosing not to charge them to exhibit.

“Myself an Luke are advocates for the evolution of the industry and we work really hard trying to progress this industry, so bringing appointments to the UK, particularly to barbershops rather than just salons, was something we were very keen to be involved in,” says Alan.

“I’m a firm believer in trusting your intuition and I got such a strong feeling from the Booksy guys when I met them. I had that gut feeling that this was going to be a good thing and a benefit to the business, so I just went for it. The guys never acted like a sales team, they were never pushy, and when I saw how easy and user-friendly the app was, I just knew it would make life so much easier for us and our clients.”

Looking to the year ahead, Alan and Reece have a long list of plans in place for 2020, but their main focus is to keep on working hard and standing by their mission statement. It is something that Alan reads a lot and goes back to in order to keep him focused. That statement is to become a globally identifiable brand recognised for the positive growth and development of others. 

“We want to create unity between cultures worldwide,” says Alan. “It’s something we are doing with our products, we’ve spent so much time working on them and we now have stockists all around the world. It’s something that we strongly believe in – we don’t get a huge monetary return from them but internally it just feels great to see our brand on a shelf in Tenerife, in Jakarta, in Sao Paolo… it makes us incredibly proud.”

It is through pride and ambition that Alan has become the man and the barber he is today, and with his brother beside him, we don’t doubt they will continue to stay at the forefront of this industry for what we expect will be many years to come.

We were joined by both Eddie Lopez and Jeff Cruz of Scalp Artist International on Wednesday 20th May on EVOLive.

We discussed the amazing business opportunity for barbers that comes from Scalp Micropigmentation – and the ability to teach and provide this amazing service for balding clients.

Don’t worry if you missed it – you can watch the full discussion below!

New 2-piece Hair Gripper accessory gives great hold to enhance cut precision.

Now that you’ve got the right Andis clipper and trimmer for every technical cut, the new 2-piece Hair Gripper pack from Andis is the perfect accessory to refine every style.

Quick and easy to use, the Andis Hair Gripper allows barbers and stylists to hold hair in place, and longer hair out of the way, so you can focus on clipping and trimming each section without interference or distraction. More convenient and effective than hair clips, Andis Hair Grippers are reusable and easy to clean in between each use.    

Price: £7.95 for a 2-piece Hair Gripper pack

Discover at www.andis.com Call SPUK on 01635 279 824 for your nearest stockist or buy online https://bit.ly/Andis-Gripper

Having provided the hair and beauty industry with ongoing advice and insights throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, NHBF has published to the public its ‘Back to business’ guidelines for barbershops and hair and beauty salons.

This in-depth guide is based on government guidelines and includes NHBF recommendations for how these guidelines can be put in place in barbershops and salons, is free to download for anyone in the industry and will be updated accordingly should any government guidelines change.
The guide covers everything from what to do before reopening, to health & safety, taking financial control and advice for chair, space and room renters.

This advice is crucial to getting the hair and beauty industry back on track and gives shop and salon owners and their employees clarity moving forward.

The guide has been developed thanks to the ongoing conversations between the NHBF and the government, helping MPs and government officials see that it is possible for the hair and beauty industry to return to work in a way that is safe for both client and colleague.

The full guide is available to view now: https://bit.ly/3g0Uo4J

In a world gripped by the Coronavirus pandemic, the impact on barbers and hairdressers is profound. As businesses remain closed, incomes continue to be affected and with the industry facing uncertain times, Andis Company was keen to help those falling on hard times. To support the industry and show solidarity with fellow professionals at this time, Andis is delighted to become the newest Sponsor of the Hair and Beauty Charity and boost their Covid-19 Relief Fund on JustGiving with a £1,000 donation.

As the industry’s recognised charity, the Hair and Beauty Charity is perfectly positioned to support professionals in particularly challenging circumstances. It has responded to the Coronavirus pandemic by setting up a Relief Fund on JustGiving and, as Andis Senior Manager – Corporate Communications Bruce Bock says, it’s just what Andis was looking for. “As a company we invest in charitable programmes and projects that make a difference to local communities, so we were especially looking to contribute to a Relief Fund in the UK to help barbers and stylists affected by Coronavirus. The Hair and Beauty Charity does incredible work in support of professionals who find themselves in challenging situations and their initiative to set up a specific fund for businesses affected by Coronavirus is a perfect fit for us.”

Andis joins many leading brands, media partners and industry professionals in their support of the charity and those who are striving to reach the Covid-19 Relief Fund’s £20,000 target.

“In addition to our support of the charity and the Covid-19 Relief Fund, we will be helping to raise its profile through our PR and social media to make barbers and stylists aware of the charity and what it does,” says Bruce. “We very much look forward to working in partnership with the charity and their team.”   

Visit the Hair and Beauty Charity visit https://www.hairandbeautycharity.org 

Support the Hair and Beauty Charity Relief Fund visit https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/relieffund  

For more information on Andis visit www.andis.com 

We want to do our best to help you find your new normal once restrictions have been lifted, and safely prepare for the re-opening of your salon for future visits. That’s why we’ve introduced a new feature that will help you easily notify your clients when it’s perfect time to come back into your salon and everything has been prepared to safely start the appointment. Introducing, I’m Ready!

Picture this: the COVID-19 lockdown has been lifted and you’re ready to re-open your business. As the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we think about health, safety and hygiene procedures, you’ll want to make every effort to make your clients feel safe during the visit. Many of your customers are looking forward to using your services again, but may still be afraid of being in contact with a large number of people in a small space. That’s why we’ve introduced I’m Ready, a new feature that will help to make your clients comfortable while visiting your salon, knowing that you’ll be ready to give them your undivided attention in a safe space.

Thanks to the new I’m Ready feature, you can easily notify your clients via the Booksy app that they can already come into your salon and start their appointment. Now you can minimize footfall in your salon and reserve some padding time between appointments to sanitize the tools and workspaces, while your client waits outside your salon until you’re ready to go. So if they want to avoid the busier spaces and don’t want to cross paths with other people inside your salon, they can wait until you ask them directly to come in. 

I’m Ready! How does it work?

1. Choose an upcoming visit in your calendar and go to the appointment details.
2. Click the “I’m Ready” button at the bottom and send a confirmation to notify your client that you’re ready for the appointment.

3. Clients using the Booksy app receive an SMS or Push notification telling them that you are ready for their visit and they can now come into your salon.

And it’s as easy as that. With our new I’m Ready feature, you’ll be able to give your clients some much needed peace of mind when it comes to heading back out and enjoying their health, beauty and wellness treatments. 

Check out what other safety steps you can take to re-open your salon once restrictions have been lifted. Discover our new features like online services and custom forms to help you prepare yourself to bounce right back into business.

The £1.7 Million Haircut tells a personal story about a global issue – men believing that they can’t or shouldn’t talk about their mental health and feeling that there is no way out other than to take their own lives. This is the story about one man’s mission to change this and to saves lives, one haircut at a time. 

‘The £1.7 Million Haircut’ documentary recounts the story of a life lost to suicide and an ambition to create safe spaces for men to talk, open up and work towards a world free from suicide. 

After the death of his friend Alex, Torquay based barber Tom Chapman founded the charity ‘The Lions Barber Collective’. Its mission is to create non-clinical, non-judgemental safe spaces where men feel comfortable to talk about their mental health and to signpost them to support and information.

Recognising that barbers and hair professionals are often a trusted confidant and friendly ear to their customers, the documentary shows Tom’s efforts to develop a clinically backed training programme (BarberTalk) for hair stylists to support their clients and communities. 

With someone in the UK taking their own life every 120 minutes, 75% of them being men, the need for change is more crucial than ever. ‘The £1.7 Million Haircut’ follows Tom taking the challenge head on, to break down the stigma around men discussing their mental health. Tom meets with influential leaders in the South West to expose the stark reality the impact suicide has on communities, healthcare services and the economy. 

Tom Chapman said “The economic impact per suicide is something I had not really considered before, loss of earning, loss of employment, inquests into the death, it amounts to so much more than we could ever imagine. It now makes what we are doing as a charity even more important, to save lives and make a difference to families out there who have been subject to such tragedy. I am now making it my mission to create a world free from suicide, how could we ask for anything less?”.

Tom Chapman said “The economic impact per suicide is something I had not really considered before, loss of earning, loss of employment, inquests into the death, it amounts to so much more than we could ever imagine. It now makes what we are doing as a charity even more important, to save lives and make a difference to families out there who have been subject to such tragedy. I am now making it my mission to create a world free from suicide, how could we ask for anything less?”.

Made by ‘Films by Wonder’, the film is produced by Lisa Gardiner, directed by Josh Pratt and demonstrates the charity’s obvious impact on people’s lives. We meet the official ambassadors of the charity, Dan Davies, Darren Birch and Wez Jones who help deliver the BarberTalk training across the country and beyond. Each share their story of helping their clients as well as close personal accounts of the reality of coping with mental health issues – from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder to experiencing suicidal thoughts. 

Due for release in May, the documentary builds on the charity’s momentum to become a global movement by training barbers all over the world to recognise when someone is struggling and support them to find further help. And, despite the positive aspects of meeting Prince William, The Duke of Cambridge as well as Tom receiving the Points of Light Award from former Prime Minister, Teresa May, it also shows the reality of the challenges of running a charity. The viewer sees upfront the ever-growing burden of trying to acquire funding and the tough decisions that Tom must make to secure its future.

“Tom’s work has saved so many lives. Suicide is the biggest killer of men under 45. Our fathers, our brothers, our sons. I’d urge everyone to watch this film – not only to hear about Tom’s important work but to also be inspired by the impact that one person can have.”

Dr. Sabrina Rachel Cohen-Hatton, Psychologist and Writer.

“Like Professor Green passed the baton to Tom Chapman, who has run exceptionally, beautifully to the finish line, inspiring thousands in the process.”

Eddie Temple Morris, Producer and Virgin Radio DJ.

“I defy anyone not to be moved by this film or fail to be inspired by Tom’s passion and the commitment of those he has motivated to follow his lead. We must not ignore him. Tom and his Lions Barbers Collective have never felt so important and I wish them heart felt success in going from strength to strength.”

Dr. Annie M Procter MB BCh MSC MD, Director of Mental Health Services, Cardiff & Vale University Health Board.

‘The £1.7 Million Haircut’ is released on 18 May 2020 on Vimeo on Demand. View on Vimeo on Demand: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/millionpoundhaircut

Visit the Documentary website: www.the1point7millionpoundhaircut.com

We were delighted to be joined on EVOLive on Friday 15th May by the founder and owner of the Barbershop Connect platform and Barbercon, Lee Resnick.

We discussed the important matter of ego V education in the barber industry today.

If you missed it, don’t worry… watch it below!

Following the publication of the Welsh Government’s roadmap out of lockdown, the NHBF has welcomed their clarity for hairdressers within their traffic light guidance system.

There are four possible phases to the Welsh system: Lockdown (Black), Red, Amber and Green. Although no dates have currently been allocated to when each phase will play out, the government has listed ‘hairdressing’ as a ‘personal service under appointment’ in the Amber Phase of their roadmap. This is alongside non-essential retail and accommodation businesses (without shared facilities).

The NHBF has already written to the government about its decision to include ‘personal care’ services in Phase 3 alongside hospitality in England.  Hairdressing, barbering and beauty are usually included in with retail, for example for the purposes of business rates.  Many salons benefit from the retail business rates relief.  We have written to the Scottish government in similar terms.

Much like the UK Government’s Covid-19 recovery strategy that was released earlier this week, the Welsh roadmap is subject to continued progress in containing the spread of the virus, and each phase has its own social distancing measures. The Welsh Government has also said that things will not move ‘wholesale’ from one phase to the next, and that changes will be made slowly and with great care.

The NHBF represents 234 salons in Wales, and has already volunteered to support the Welsh Government by calling on their Members who want to take part in any pilot schemes.

Hilary Hall, chief executive of the NHBF says, “The safety of our industry has always been our top concern. We welcome the Welsh Government’s clarity that hair and beauty sits alongside retail and accommodation businesses. We will continue our conversations with the UK Government and the Scottish government about where hair and beauty should sit within the plans for lifting lockdown in England and Scotland. We have recently released robust guidelines to our Members and government contacts to show that salons and barbershops can operate safely whenever it’s time to re-open.”

Takara Belmont’s National Sales Manager Katie Wrighton explains how leasing can transform your barbershop, expand service opportunities and boost business income.

Takara Belmont is famed for timeless, iconic design, unrivalled performance and durability. But did you know that our range can be lease purchased, and that we offer a free Salon Design Service for barbershops looking to create an inspirational interior and deliver the ultimate service experience?

With a national distributor network, barbershops can get the best chairs and equipment whilst managing expenditure by leasing. Leasing ensures that you can maximise your service and income potential whilst managing cashflow, as well as benefiting from tax efficiencies. You need to invest in things other than equipment, so buying outright or taking out loans can divert money away from things like training and recruitment. Leasing not only frees up cash resources for other priorities, it enables you to benefit from premium furniture and equipment in a manageable, low interest and tax efficient way with fixed monthly payments.

Leasing also makes sense because buying inferior equipment can cost more in the longterm. The cost of repairs or replacement equipment not only means barbershops typically spend more over time, business can suffer from lost revenues due to service disruption, downtime and equipment failure. 

In addition to equipment, Takara Belmont has also designed some of the world’s most inspirational interiors. Our free* concept-to-completion design service ensures your dream of the ultimate barbershop is realised! 

Now is the perfect time to look at your equipment options so visit takarahairdressing.co.uk/leasing or email hairdressing@takara.co.uk for your nearest distributor

* Salon Design Service is free subject to equipment purchases and T&Cs. See website for details. Leasing is available through our distributors and not directly with Takara Belmont.